A province full of history
First Nation powwows and 20th century pioneer villages
Saskatchewan is a province with historical significance from north to south and east to west.
Prince Albert, the third largest city in Saskatchewan, is located 150 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon. Named for Albert, prince consort and husband of Queen Victoria, the city is full of history to explore and experience.
One of the largest events of the year is the annual powwow. It takes place during Thanksgiving weekend at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. This year the powwow runs Saturday and Sunday, October 10 and 11, 2015.
According to Richard Ahenakew, Northern Lights Casino general manager, the powwow came about as "a positive way to celebrate our success within the community and to use it as a bridging event between First Nations and non-First Nations communities, and help bring us closer together.”
Singers, dancers and drummers from across Canada and the United States compete for prize money during the two-day event. It's all about family, fun and friendship. No alcohol or drugs are allowed.
Four museums in Prince Albert will keep history buffs busy
Diefenbaker House was the home of John and Olive Diefenbaker,and the Diefenbaker House Museum contains memorabilia and artifacts from the lives of Canada's 13th prime minister and his wife.
The Evolution of Education Museum and The Rotary Museum of Police and Corrections are located at the tourist information centre. Admission is free.
The Historical Society Museum resides in an old fire hall on River Street. Museum staff conduct walking tours on Sundays and Thursdays during July and August. Admission to the museum is $2, with no additional cost for the tour.
About 100 kilometres southwest of Prince Albert is Batoche, the site of Louis Riel's famous battle during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885. After visiting this historic site, take a side trip on Highway 212 at the Duck Lake junction and head to Fort Carlton Provincial Historic Park. This was a Hudson's Bay Company fur trade post until 1885.
Just over 320 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon is Yorkton. At the front entrance of Painted Hand Casino is one of the largest bronze commissions in Saskatchewan: the Counting Coup sculpture. The Counting Coup statue is an enlargement of a work created by Saskatchewan First Nations artist Lionel Peyachew, and depicts a historical game involving First Nations warriors on horseback trying to touch each other with "coup sticks."
At the visitor centre, you will find information on walking tours of historical sites including the City cemetery. Several buildings in the downtown are painted with murals depicting historical personalities.
The Western Development Museum tells stories of early pioneer history in the area. St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church is topped with an impressive silver dome.
In August, check out the Threshermen's Show and Seniors' Festival where you'll be taken back to a time when steam tractors and threshing units were the workhorses of the prairies.
A two-and-a-half-hour drive west of Regina is Swift Current, a city surrounded by numerous historical sites. Be sure to take in the Mennonite Heritage Village; it depicts the life and times of early immigrants from the1880s to the 1920s. This village is open from June 25 to September 1. The biggest attraction at the village is the Watermelon Festival. The 21st annual event takes place July 26th.
Over at Doc's Town Heritage Village experience a small prairie town from the early 1900s by exploring original buildings and hundreds of artifacts.
The Swift Current Museum is home to Big Bert, 92 million years old and the world’s most complete crocodile skeleton.
The Chautuaqua Theatre Festival runs July 9th to 12th at the historic Lyric Theatre. It's 1920s fun for the whole family.
Head two hours southeast of Swift Current into the Big Muddy Badlands and explore rugged hills and vast plateaus. Across the badlands there are stone effigies, ceremonial circles and ancient buffalo jumps. In the middle of these badlands lies Castle Butte, an Ice Age stone relic 60 metres high and half a kilometre in circumference.
