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 First Nations pre-historical history and First Nations History
 February 1 to 7, 2010 is Archives week. In Celebration of this week, the provincial archives is hosting a number of events. Among them the Historical photo blog. for other events see this news and events listing.
The Saskatchewan Council for Archives and Archivists archive week .
Saskatchewan archive week on facebook
Saskatchewan Celebrates Archival Treasures February 1-7, 2010 Proclaimed Archives Week in Saskatchewan
Museums Association of Saskatchewan - Museum Events,
Celebrate Archives Week.
Archives week will be followed by Heritage week between February 15-20
Present-day Saskatchewan named Rupert's Land
Many of the early settlers in the 1800's came as traders or hunters. The North West Company
was of French-Canadian extraction and traders arrived out west in Saskatchewan from Eastern
Canada via inland routes. The British (in 1670) had given Rupert's Land to the Hudson Bay Company which
gave the company dominion over lands where there was water passageway from the Hudson Bay.
These traders arrived to the Saskatchewan area via Hudson Bay and then travelling westward. In 1774
the first inland trading post (Cumberland House) was built in Saskatchewan. At this time northern
Saskatchewan was settled as southern Saskatchewan had experienced drought like conditions during
early explorer expeditions, and was considered a part of the US desert. This area is
north of the tree line in the geo-physical shield area.
Saskatchewan part of the North West Territories
Canada became a nation in 1867. Saskatchewan didn't become a province of Canada until 1905,
before this it was a part of the North
West Territories. The first Capital of the North West Territories was Fort Garry, Manitoba (1870 - 1876), followed by
Fort Livingstone, Northwest Territories (1876 - 1877). The nearest community to Fort Livingstone is Pelly, Saskatchewan, and is also named Fort Pelly or Swan River. The next capital of the Northwest Territories was
Fort Battleford, (1877 - 1883).
The North West Territories was divided into provisional territories on
May 8, 1882. The south provisional district was named Assiniboia (currently south Saskatchewan),
The provisional district in central present-day Saskatchewan was named Saskatchewan and
Athabaska was the provisional district of the North West Territories for the northern portion
of present day Saskatchewan. Maps
Saskatchewan becoming a province of Canada.
In the late 1800's and early 1900's the railway and the Dominion Government of Canada wanted
more settlers out west to unite Upper and Lower Canada -the eastern provinces of Canada with
British Columbia. The rail lines didn't want to lay track over land with no settlement as it wasn't
economically feasible. The demand for furs declined, the buffalo population declined, Saskatchewan
started noticing the agricultural land capabilies in the middle and southern portions of the
province, the drought was over. The population in Saskatchewan evolved from a trapping
community a farming community. Settlement, towns and rail lines developed the plains, or prairies, south of the tree line. The site of Pile O' Bones or was chosen as the capital of the North West Territories in August 23, 1882, 1883. Regina remained the capital city of the province of Saskatchewan, the area now known as Saskatchewan joined Canada on September 1,1905.Immigrants were attracted to Saskatchewan by the
Homestead Act which granted a
quarter section or 160 acres to homesteaders if they could 'prove' the land in three years. The immigration pattern resulted in ethnic bloc settlements which are seen on these maps in the Atlas of Saskatchewan
Ethnic origins and History |
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