Interior PlainsLand of Open Skies5

CHAPTER

124

In the late 1700s, explorer and mapmaker David Thompsontravelled west after exploring the Canadian Shield. He kept

a journal as he travelled, and this is how he described theregion that would be called the Interior Plains.

What I now relate is of the great body of dr

y

land at the east foot of the mountains, the

northern part of the forests, and

the southern

part of the plains, through which roll the Bow

and

Saskatchewan Rivers with their many branches.

The Bow River flows through the most pleasant of

the plains, and is the great resort

of the bison

and the red deer.

The snow of the glaciers of the mountains,

which everywhere border the west side of these

plains, furnish water to form many rivers. The

rivers that roll through this immense unbroken

body of land of plains and forests

are beautifully

distributed... The climate is good, the

winters

about five months, the summers are warm, and

the autumn has many fine days. The soil is rich

and deep... and agriculture will succeed...

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Canada: Our Stories Continue

Inquiring Minds

Here are some questions toguide your inquiry for thischapter:

• How did the physicalgeography of this regionshape its history?

• How did settlers changethe region?

The Interior Plains is a large region that covers parts ofManitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, as well as parts ofthe Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory. This region isfairly flat, with low hills. It has areas of grassland, woodedparkland, and large northern forests. First Nations, such asthe Blackfoot, the Cree, and the Dene, have always livedhere. As the fur trade expanded into the West, Francophonetraders, Métis, and British explorers travelled throughoutthe region and built trading posts. Years later, people fromdifferent countries settled here. Communities and citiesdeveloped in the grasslands and parklands. Naturalresources, such as coal, oil, gas, and forests led to thegrowth of communities throughout the region.

?

Prairies

Canadien explorers gavethe name “prairie,”meaning “meadow,” tothe vast grasslands thatcover much of the region.

More About. . .

125

? Critical Inquiry TIP

Retrieving

Look at graphs, maps,tables, charts, anddiagrams when you aredoing research. They are allsources of information.

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Let’s Explore the Interior

Edmonton

St. Albert

NORTHWESTTERRITORIES

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

ALBERTA

SASKATCHEWAN

MANITOBA

YUKONTERRITORY

Red DeerBatoche

Calgary

GrandePrairie

PeaceRiver

FortMcMurray

Camrose LloydminsterPrince Albert

Saskatoon

ReginaGravelbourg

MooseJaw

SwiftCurrent

EstevanBrandon Winnipeg

Portagela Prairie

Hay RiverFortResolution

Fort Providence

FortSimpson

Deline

Fort Good Hope

GreatBear Lake

GreatSlave Lake

Red River

LakeAthabasca

LakeWinnipegosis

Saskatchewan River

LakeWinnipeg

LakeManitoba

CumberlandHouse

105ºW120ºW

105ºW120ºW

135ºW150ºW

45ºN

Cypress Hills

MedicineHat

Assiniboine

River

Qu’AppelleValley

Esterhazy

Lac Ste. Anne

Mackenzie

River

Fort St. John

Drumheller

Lethbridge

Winnipeg was built where the RedRiver meets the Assiniboine River.

The Cypress Hills area is uniquebecause it is hilly. Why is itcalled a “prairie island”?

126

Hello! My name is BrianneLysenko. I live on a farm inSaskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle[kah-pell] Valley. Myancestors were farmers inUkraine in Eastern Europe.They came to this regionbecause they heard therewas good farmland.

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This rancher moves his cattlethrough a forested part of theregion. Why is cattle farmingwell suited to this region?

Why did so many wheatfarms develop on the flatland of the region?

People in Fort Simpsoncelebrate the BeavertailJamboree, a winter festival.

Plains!

NUNAVUT

ONTARIO

QUÉBECJames Bay

HudsonBay

Legend

Elevation

5000 m

200500100020003000

sea level

Cities with 75 000 people or more

Cities with 30 000 people or more

Trans-Canada Highway

Highways

Railways

Towns with 10 000 people or more

Towns with 10 000 people or less

Canada/U.S. border

N

S

W E

90ºW 75ºW 60ºW 45ºW

60ºN

kilometres

0 200 400

127

Thinking It Through

■ Identify the major transportation routes shown on the map.Where are cities located in relation to those routes? Why do youthink the cities are located there?

■ Reread David Thompson’s journal entry on page 124. How do hisdescriptions compare to the map and the images on this page?

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128

The Interior Plains has many natural resources, such as oil,natural gas, coal, forests, and farmland. It often has severeweather—droughts, flooding, tornadoes, hail, dust storms,blizzards, and ice storms.

What Are the Roots of theRegion?The Saulteaux, Cree, Blackfoot (Siksika, Piikani, andKainai), and Dene First Nations developed ways of life onthe Interior Plains, depending on where they lived. Theyhunted caribou, moose, or bison, and travelled on thegrasslands or through the forests.

In the 1700s, Francophones came to explore the regionand began to trade with the First Nations. Fur trading postswere set up, some of which developed into largercommunities. The Cree and Métis people in the regionsupplied food to the fur traders and acted as guides andscouts, allowing them to travel farther west and north.

The completion of the railway in the late 1800s helpedbring many settlers, including farmers, from different partsof the world to the Plains.

Why People Live Here TodayThe First Nations of the Interior Plains continue to live andwork here, as do the descendants of people who came tosettle in the region. Today, many other people continue tomove to the region from other parts of Canada and fromaround the world.

Natural resources, such as coal, natural gas, and oilprovide work for many people in this region. Thousands ofpeople also work in industries related to farming. In townsand cities, people work in government, manufacturing,medicine, and education.

The Interior Plains

Droughts are long periodswithout rain or snow.

Bison are also calledbuffalo.

words matter !

The Verreau family moved toBon Accord, Alberta, in the1890s.

Voicesof Canada

Identity

What does it mean to liveand work in this region?

I know that my identityis connected to that pieceof Alberta that hasbelonged to my familyfor over 80 years. To me,farming and ranching area way of life.

Gina Lorinda Yagos

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Winter in Lethbridge can be hard, withlots of snow and cold winds! But that’slife in the Interior Plains. The summerwill bring warm temperatures andsunshine.

People working in the oil industry worklong hours outdoors, sometimes inremote locations. The oil industryprovides a variety of jobs.

Mountain biking is a popular pastimein the parkland areas of the region.Visitors often come to enjoy its naturalbeauty and bustling cities.

Thinking It Through

■ Look at each example. How do the land, resources, andclimate affect ways of life for people in this region?

129

What Affects Quality of Life?

My older sister works at the university in Regina.When I visit, we shop and go to the museum andthe parks. I’m glad that we have such a large,beautiful city close by.

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130

Brianne’s Inquiry

[photo of Gordie and Matt]

Skill Smart

Easter is my favourite time of year! My cousins, aunts,uncles, and grandparents get together. My favourite foodis Easter bread. It’s called paska. My family makes thebest paska. We take it to church. The bread is blessedand then we take it home to enjoy.

I asked my Baba why everyone in my town does notmake and eat paska. She told me that our family camefrom Ukraine, and making paska is our tradition. Shesaid, “Our family has been farmers for manygenerations, and making special breads from our wheatshows how important that is to us.”

People from other places had also settled in theQu’Appelle Valley, some long before our family arrived.There are people coming to our community now, too!They have their own traditions.

I want to know more about the people in mycommunity. • Who lived here first?• What are their stories?• What was life like long ago?• What is life like today?

I made a plan to find the answers. I will ask myfamily questions, and look in our old photo albums. Ican ask students in my class why they live in ourcommunity. I will also go to the library, look on theInternet, and visit the Fort Qu’Appelle Museum.

4.10

ThinkingIt Through

■ Does your familyhave traditions andcustoms that comefrom your ancestorsor your homeland?How are they part of your life today?

■ Write down two questions you have about the peoplein the Interior Plains. Like Brianne, make a plan forhow you will find the answers.

? Critical Inquiry TIP

Processing

Look at old photos as youdo your research. Lookcarefully at what thepeople are wearing ordoing.

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131

SKILLPOWER Understanding Photographs

When Brianne looked through her family’s old photo albums, she sawlots of pictures from the past. She looked at the photos carefully.Photographs do not tell the whole story about the person, place, orevent. Important details may be missing. Long ago, people had to sitvery still to have their portrait taken. The cameras used in those daystook 30 seconds to take a single photograph, so people in old photosoften look very serious. Try smiling and staying perfectly still for 30seconds! Today, people can use technology to change photos. They canadd or delete whatever they choose.

Practise the Skill

Look at the photos on this page and on pages 126–127. What can you learnabout Canada and its stories from these photos? Think about these questions:

Type of Information Questions

Geographic • What is the land like? What was the weather like whenthe photos were taken?

Historical • What is in the photo?• What is the style of clothing, hair, or furniture?• What does this tell you about the times?

About People • What are the people doing?• Where do you think they are?• How do you know?

Viewpoint • Who took the picture? Why? How did the photographermake the photo look pleasing?

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Who First Lived on the Interior Plains?

132

The Plains Cree, Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai who lived inthe grasslands settled near sources of water and food. Theyalso hunted bison for food, clothing, and other items. Bisonroamed in large herds, eating prairie grasses. First Nationspeople who hunted the bison moved with the herds.

Just as important to the Dene were the caribou. Theseanimals provided food and clothing. Like bison, cariboutravel across vast distances looking for food. Many of theDene travelled too, following the caribou across the north.What do the Voices of Canada on this page tell abouttraditional ways of life?

Voicesof Canada

Rain and Caribou

Whenever it rains, thecaribou feeds [well], andthat’s how it gets fat.Long ago, when it rained,people used to exclaim,“Haaaay, it’s raining!That’s great, for thecaribou is going to befat!”

William Sewi, Dene Elder

Voices of Canada

Travelling the Land

We knew every detail of this land. Our people travelledconstantly throughout it, and their trails were well markedacross the grassland.

Nitsitapiisinni: The Story of the Blackfoot People

What can sites such as this one atDry Island Buffalo Jump ProvincialPark, Alberta, tell us about the past?

Deline is a Dene community onthe shore of Great Bear Lake.Deline used to be called FortFranklin. Suggest reasons why thename was changed.

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133

What Are theFrancophone Stories?The majority of the coureurs des bois,explorers, and voyageurs who cameto the region during the fur trade wereCanadiens. French was the firstEuropean language spoken in theInterior Plains. In the 1720s, Pierre deLa Vérendrye, with the help of hissons and his Cree guide, set up fortsalong the Saskatchewan River inManitoba.

Laurent Leroux, a Canadien fromMontréal, was a fur trader who set up Fort Resolution andFort Providence on Great Slave Lake. The trading fortsbecame centres for fur trade in each area. Most of thepeople who worked in them also spoke French.

Voicesof Canada

First People

The first people inAlberta, after the FirstNations, were the French.Most of them werefarmers. They first had toclear the forest beforethey could cultivate theland. So from a very earlytime you can see thecontribution of theFrancophones toAlberta’s growth anddevelopment.

Edmond Levasseur, Edmonton

La Vérendrye established FortLa Reine, which is now the cityof Portage la Prairie. The fortwas the headquarters for hisexplorations in the West.

The Qu’Appelle Valley Pauline E. Johnson, a poet from the Six Nations of the GrandRiver, wrote a poem called “The Legend of the Qu’AppelleValley.” In the poem, she told of a young First Nations manwho heard a ghostly voice calling his name. In response, hecalled “Kâ-têpwêt [KAA-tay-pwayt]?” When there was noresponse, he called in French, “Qui appelle [key ah-pell]?”Johnson based her poem on the local legend of theQu’Appelle Valley. The Francophone traders who built the furtrading post in the valley knew the story and called their fortFort Qu’Appelle. The valley has also been given the name,and the lakes in the area are sometimes called the “CallingLakes.” Find the Qu’Appelle Valley on the map on pages126–127.

More About. . .

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134

Father Albert Lacombe was aRoman Catholic missionary fromQuébec. Among many otheraccomplishments, he played animportant role in creating schoolsin this region. What othercontributions did Father Lacombemake?

GravelbourgGravelbourg was founded in 1906 by Father Louis-PierreGravel, a Catholic priest from Québec. He was given thetitle of “missionary-colonizer” by the Canadiangovernment. He travelled throughout the United States andEastern Canada telling Canadiens about the new town.Many families came to live in Gravelbourg as a result.Father Gravel also created a Francophone school.

The town became an importantcentre of Francophone presencein Saskatchewan.

How Did Some FrancophoneCommunities Develop?In the mid 1800s, as the population of Francophones grewin Western Canada, Roman Catholic priests and religioussisters came to Saint-Boniface and other settlements such asFort Edmonton and St. Albert to establish missions that hadchurches, schools, and hospitals. Some of them weretravelling missionaries, who ministered to the Francophonesettlers who had established communities in the West.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Catholic clergyrealized that many Canadiens in Québec were moving tothe United States to look for work. They encouragedFrancophone doctors, lawyers, and skilled tradesmen tosettle in the Interior Plains.

Voices of Canada

Beaumont

These stories tell of life in the Francophone community of Beaumont,around the 1930s.

[My father] had heard of a place called Beaumont, a [Canadien]settlement. He went there and he liked what he saw. He found aquarter section [of land], which he bought.

Marcel Accarias, 1980

My parents worked very hard and taught me many things aboutworking outdoors. I learned from [them] to love and care foranimals, which helped me on our farm today.

Madeleine Demers, 1983

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135

What Are the Métis Stories?The Métis were among the first to settle in the InteriorPlains. One big settlement was along the Red River, whereWinnipeg is today. It was an important meeting place fortwo reasons: the river and Lake Winnipeg led to fur traderoutes in the Canadian Shield, and the Assiniboine Riverled farther west.

Métis often worked at Hudson’s Bay Company andNorth West Company forts. They worked as trappers and asbison hunters, supplying food for the forts. The first Métissettlement in Saskatchewan was at Cumberland House, anHBC fort on the Saskatchewan River.

Voices of Canada

The Métis Nation

[The Métis] are a creation of the country, and our history, whenEuropeans joined with First Nations people... Métis are a verydiverse people. Some lean more toward the First Nations way oflife, and others lean more to a European way of life. I think,more than anything, Métis are good ambassadors of bothcultures...

Mark McCallum, Alberta Métis

Ambassadors are peoplewho are chosen torepresent or speak for agroup.

words matter !

Many Métis settled inSaskatchewan. Onetown was named aftera Métis trader andbusinessman namedFrançois XavierLetendre, dit Batoche.Batoche is now animportant historic sitefor the Métis. Thispainting shows whatBatoche looked like in1885. Find out twofacts about Batochethat explain why thearea is important to the Métis.

The Red River is called theRivière Rouge in French.What are other Frenchnames in my region?

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136

Métis Ways of LifeTraders and explorers from the Hudson’s Bay Company andthe North West Company relied on pemmican. These menwere travelling great distances into the West and the North,and they needed preserved food like pemmican to survive.Pemmican became an important source of income for theMétis people.

Voices of Canada

The Red River Cart

The Red River cart was usedby the Métis to transportgoods and people across theplains. It could also floatacross rivers. Why would thecart be a good way to travelin this region?

Sometimes, we spent the whole day riding on the cart. Thehardest part of our trip was listening to the wheels. When theyturned, it sounded like thunder. My moshòm [grandfather]would play the fiddle, and we would sing. It helped take ourminds off the noise!

Suzanne Cardinal

Voices of Canada

Pemmican

Pemmican comes from aCree word that meanslard or grease-like. Youmake it by pounding drymeat (usually moose,buffalo, or elk). You canadd dry berries... Thenyou mix the dry parthalf-and-half withrendered fat. This makes pemmican. It’s very nutritious andeasy to carry. You can eat it just like this, or you can put it in asoup or stew. One pound will last you three or four days.

Billy Joe Laboucan, Lubicon Lake Cree Nation, Alberta

■ List the titles,authors, and pagenumbers or Websites for threesources ofinformation aboutpemmican and RedRiver carts.

Skill Smart

These Métis are drying moose meat tomake pemmican at Île-à-la-Crosse,Saskatchewan.

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137

What Factors Shaped Ways of Lifeon the Interior Plains?

Life changed for First Nations people of the Interior Plainswhen trading posts were set up. Trapping furs for the furtrade became part of daily life. By the mid-1900s, manyFirst Nations, such as the Dene, began to live in permanenthomes near the trading posts.

The HorseWould it surprise you to learn that horses have only lived inthe Interior Plains for a few hundred years? For a long time,First Nations people such as the Siksika hunted bison onfoot. They call this time periodthe “Dog Days” because dogshelped carry people’s belongingsacross the Prairies. Horses arrivedon the plains from the south.Spanish explorers had broughthorses with them.

ThinkingIt Through

■ How did the horsechange ways of lifefor people in theInterior Plains?

Horses could travel farther and faster and could carry a greater load than dogs.These Blackfoot men are using a horse and travois to carry goods and supplies.

Moose Jaw,Saskatchewan,is one of themany cities

Rick Hansen visitedduring his journey. TheTrans Canada Trail inMoose Jaw is almost 10 km of wilderness trails,where people can hike,bike, ski, and horsebackride.

This is a cattle roundup inMarchwell, Saskatchewan. Howare horses still part of life in thisregion today?

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What Was the Red River Colony?In 1811, the Hudson’s Bay Company granted part of its vastterritory, known as Rupert’s Land, to an English nobleman,the Earl of Selkirk. Selkirk called it the “Territory ofAssiniboia.”

In Scotland, English landlords had forced many farmersoff their land. Selkirk’s plan was to bring these homelessfarmers and their families from the Scottish Highlandsand have them establish a new farming community inAssiniboia. These families became the settlers of the RedRiver Colony.

ThinkingIt Through

■ Many Métis and furtraders in the RedRiver area wereafraid that the newsettlement woulddisrupt their way oflife. Why do youthink theintroduction of anagriculturalsettlement mighthave an effect onthese people?

The Highlands are amountainous area inScotland.

words matter !

Assiniboine

RiverSouris River

LakeWinnipegosis

HudsonBay

LakeWinnipeg

LakeManitoba

Lake ofthe Woods

YorkFactory

Fort Douglas

CumberlandHouse

FortChurchillLegend

Territory ofAssiniboia,1812

0 200 400

kilometres

N

S

WE

RedRiver

This map shows the Territory of Assiniboia. What does it tell you about the landwhere the settlers started their colony? Why do you think it was chosen?

Their journey to Red River in 1812 was not easy. Theirship landed at Fort Churchill on Hudson Bay. They thenhad to travel all the way to York Factory on foot. There,they waited out the winter.

When they finally arrived at Red River, they built a fort,called Fort Douglas. By then it was too late to plant crops.During the winter, the Scots were saved from starvation bythe pemmican provided by the Métis who lived in the area.The next summer, they started to build houses and plantcrops along the river. The Red River Colony had become thefirst farming settlement in the Interior Plains.

Territory of Assiniboia

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How Did the North-WestMounted Police Help Shape theWest?Imagine that you are a settlerin the Interior Plains in 1870.The Hudson’s Bay Companyhas just given the newgovernment of Canadacontrol of Rupert’s Land,creating the new North-WestTerritories. Lately there hasbeen a lot of trouble in yoursmall, isolated community. Isthere someone you can turnto for help?

In 1873, Sir John A.Macdonald, first primeminister of Canada, wanted apolice force to bring law and Canadian authority to thenew Territories. The vast distances of the new Territoriesmeant that a mounted police force, or a cavalry, would bebest. So he created the North-West Mounted Police. Theysoon became known as the “Mounties.”

139

A cavalry is a group ofsoldiers or police who usehorses.

words matter !

ONTARIO

NEWBRUNSWICK

NOVASCOTIA

PRINCEEDWARDISLAND

NEWFOUNDLAND

BRITISHCOLUMBIA

N O R T H - W E S TT E R R I T O R I E S

QU

ÉBEC

MANITOBA

This map shows the North-WestTerritories as they were in 1876.Look at the maps on page 339 ofthe atlas section to see how theterritories developed. Why was itnecessary to have police presencein such a large area?

The North-West Mounted Police force was modelled after the British cavalry. Why?

North-West Territories, 1876

Legend

Territorial border

Undefined border

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The March WestThe new North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) trained inFort Dufferin, Manitoba. Then, in 1874, a huge line (about

4 km long) of Mounties andtheir supplies trekked from Fort Dufferin to the Sweet Grasshills in what is now Alberta—a journey on horseback of about 1500 km.

140

Voices of Canada

Respect

Newspaper artist Henri Julien was sent to observe the march of theNWMP. This is what he wrote when the march was over.

Our mission was over. The force had accomplished its duty forwhich it had been sent out. I must express my respect for themas men and for the worthy manner in which they performedthe arduous duties imposed on them by the government.

Henri Julien, October 1874

Some Mounties kept journals to record their travels.Why do these stories help us understand the NWMP?

Assiniboine

RiverSouris River

LakeWinnipegosis

LakeWinnipeg

LakeManitoba

Fort Dufferin

FortWalsh

SweetGrass

0 150 300

kilometres

N

S

W E

RedRiver

River

SaskatchewanSo

uth

Rive

r

River

Saskatchewan

Q u’Appelle River

Churchill River

Legend

NWMP route

North

ALBERTA

SASKATCHEWAN MANITOBAAthabasca Ri

ver

Saskatch

ewan

These NWMP officers werephotographed at Fort Walsh,Saskatchewan, during the1870s. Fort Walsh became theheadquarters for the NWMPin 1878.

Voicesof Canada

October 22, 1874

...I pushed on with thehorse teams and had thehardest trek that I haveyet undertaken. The trailwas worse than any wehad encountered. It wasknee-deep in black mud,sloughs crossed it everyfew hundred yards, andthe wagons had to beunloaded and draggedthrough them by hand.

Sam Steele

Route of the NWMP, 1874

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141

The presence of the NWMP on the Interior Plains meantthat people felt safer. NWMP were stationed throughout theregion, and also patrolled the isolated areas. More settlerswere willing to come to create new communities.

The Mounties also enforced the new borders that werebeing developed with the United States. Soon the red-coatedMountie was seen as a symbol of Canadian presence in theWest.

ThinkingIt Through

■ The NWMPbrought law andorder to the InteriorPlains. How do youthink this wouldhelp in thesettlement anddevelopment of theregion?

The NWMP are known today as the Royal Canadian MountedPolice (RCMP). What was and is asked for in new members?Why do you think the name was changed?

This RCMP officer is taking partin a ceremony in Victoria, BritishColumbia, in 2005.

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142

How Were People of the Interior PlainsAffected by the Railway?

Building the Canadian Pacific Railway began in 1881. Therailway helped bring many settlers to the Prairies andallowed the NWMP to move quickly in times of trouble.When the railway was completed, settlers were able to shiptheir produce by rail to both ends of the country.

The railway also changed ways of life for the FirstNations and the Métis who lived in the Interior Plains. Inorder to make sure the bison stayed off the tracks, railwaycompanies encouraged people to shoot them. During thelate 1800s, hundreds of thousands of bison were killed.Eventually, they were almost wiped out. For the FirstNations and Métis who depended on the bison for food,clothing, and shelter, this caused enormous hardship.

Why Were Treaties Made? First Nations people hadalways lived on the land onwhich the railway was built.They were very concernedabout how and where theywould live now. Their leadersand government leaders metto discuss a compromise,which became a series oftreaties.Treaty 8 negotiations, Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta, 1899. The treaty

upheld sharing of resources and peaceful co-existence.

Government of Canada Wanted First Nations Wanted

• to build a railway and bring • peaceful co-existence with settlers in to farm the land settlers

• to secure land for settlement • to make sure the land theylived on was not taken over by settlers

• to take away the rights of • to make sure they would First Nations people and have a home and food, and to assimilate them maintain their ways of life

I’ve read that the bisonwere also hunted duringthis time just for theirhides. I think I’ll find outmore about how the lossof the bison affectedquality of life for the FirstNations who depended onthem.

? Critical Inquiry TIP

Processing

A two-column chart, likethis one, is a way toorganize your research. The chart can help you see what each group ofpeople wanted.

124-155_Ch05_F4 2/1/07 7:30 PM Page 142

Some First Nations people do not think signing thetreaties was a good idea. They had always travelled freelythroughout the region. With the treaties, they were allowedto live only on land provided by the government. Often theland was poor and difficult to farm. Sacred gatherings wereforbidden, so they had to be held secretly. Despite thesehardships, First Nations people continue to preserve theircultural heritage and traditions.

How Were the Métis Affected by theRailway?The lives of Métis in the Interior Plains were also changing.Canada now controlled the land where the Métis had lived,including the Red River settlement. Many things made theMétis worry about their future:

• The fur trade had slowed down, and many Métis had losttheir jobs with the trading companies.

• More settlers had arrived on the Prairies. They werecreating communities where the Métis had once hunted,farmed, and camped.

• Bison were becoming scarce.

The Métis were given scrip at the same time that FirstNations signed treaties with the government. Scrip was acoupon that could be exchanged for land or money. But theconcept was not explained well to the Métis. Some peopletook advantage ofthem and persuadedthem to sell their scripfor less than it wasworth. Others forgedMétis signatures andtook their land. ManyMétis were left withvery little.

143

Voicesof Canada

Rights Denied

How does this quotecompare to the needsdescribed in the chart onpage 142?

A lot of things happenedthat took away the rightsof [First Nations] peoples,and tried to wipe outtheir language andculture... You could noteven carry a drum. [FirstNations] people were notallowed to gather ingroups, even if you justhappened to meet on thestreet.

Billy Joe Laboucan

This photo shows GabrielDumont in Red River. Give tworeasons why the First Nations andthe Métis would want to preservetheir traditional ways of life.

ThinkingIt Through

■ Some peoplethought the treatiesand scrip were agood idea. Othersdid not. Why doyou think peoplemight have differentopinions aboutthese issues?

■ How do the offersof treaties and scripcompare to theoffer given to theAcadians by theBritish?

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How Did Settlers Shape Ways of Life inthe Interior Plains?

In the late 1800s, land and work were scarce for manypeople in Eastern Europe. Canada offered greatopportunities for people from Russia, Ukraine, Germany,and Poland. Many settled in the Interior Plains, where thegovernment gave each family its own homestead. Theybrought with them farming techniques and ways of life.They cleared land, built schools and churches, and createdcommunities, many of which still exist today.

Read the Voices of Canada on these pages to discoverwhat it was like for new settlers in this region.

Ukrainian SettlersThe first Ukrainian settlers were mostly farmers. Educationwas very important, and the children of Ukrainian settlersoften became teachers. Today, the University of Manitobaand the University of Alberta both have centres forUkrainian Studies.

A homestead is the landowned by a settler.

words matter !

Voices of Canada

Homesteading

My parents arrived in 1898. From the first dayon the farm [near] Sifton we all worked hard.Though the soil was light it was not as poor aland as in the stony areas farther west.

Toma Demchuk, Ukrainian settler, Manitoba. He would

later help found a credit union in Sifton.

Russian SettlersMany Russian settlers were Doukhobors, a religious groupthat believed in peace and hard work. They settled vasttracks of land in the region. Some varieties of wheat thatare still grown in the region today were brought here bythese farmers.

After Ukrainiansettlers built theirhomes, they builtchurches. Whywere churchesimportant tocommunities?

Where can I learn moreabout settlers from Russia,Germany, Poland, andUkraine?

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Voices of Canada

A New Home

Our destination was Herbert, Saskatchewan. We were taken tochurch right away, and were given food and a house to live in.

Elizabeth Boese, German Mennonite settler, Saskatchewan. She helped her husband with his ministry.

Voices of Canada

Knowing a bit of the language and having some money, Idecided to open a store. This was in 1903. As time went on mybusiness was very extensive.

John Gilewich, Polish settler, Manitoba. He was the first Post Master of Elma.

German SettlersThe Mennonites were the first group of German-speakingsettlers to arrive in Canada. They were some of the mostsuccessful farmers in this region. In 1888, John Schultz, thechild of German settlers, became Lt. Governor of Manitoba andplayed an important role in the development of the province.

Polish SettlersPolish settlers farmed in the Interior Plains, and alsoworked in mines and in the forest industry. Thesesettlers created community groups and associationsthat helped other Polish settlers when they came toCanada. Today, Polish associations offer scholarshipsand support the community in many ways.

The Wawel Meat Market inWinnipeg specializes in Polishfood. It is located in an culturallydiverse neighbourhood.

The Klassen family lived inHanna, Alberta

Voices of Canada

Hardship

The hardships of the first few months of our pioneer life areunforgettable. We all lived in canvas tents which provided poorshelter against the cold, incessant rains. The tents dripped andleaked, so that everything inside was soggy and cold.

Tanya Postnikoff, Russian Doukhobor settler, Saskatchewan. She wrote a bookabout her experiences.

ThinkingIt Through

■ What can you seearound you todaythat shows thecontributions ofthese settlers? Thinkof community andstreet names, books,foods, organizations,or people.

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Why Did British Settlers Come?People from Britain were also encouraged to settle in theInterior Plains during the Great Migration. Many camebecause Britain was crowded, and jobs were hard to find.Owning their own land was something many familieswanted. Although some did not have farming experience,people like James Clinkskill would find other ways to makea living in Canada.

What Was the Barr Colony?In 1903, the Reverend Isaac Barr encouraged people fromEngland to come and settle in a new colony inSaskatchewan. About 2000 people agreed to come, butwhen they arrived they found that many of Barr’s promisescould not be kept. He also charged them money for foodand necessary equipment.

Soon the colonists voted on a new leader, a man namedReverend George Lloyd. With a new leader, the colonyprospered. The main community in the colony was namedLloydminster. It became a city in 1958.

Voices of Canada

Making a Living

My sojourn on the prairie convinced me that I was not cut outfor farming operations. I decided it was no use to start learning.I determined to try some other way of making a living. I [met] ayoung man from Ontario, and we agreed to combine ourmoney, and start a store.

James Clinkskill

The Corbett family arrives inSaskatchewan in 1911 fromSurrey, England.

Voicesof Canada

The Barr Colony

What could these changeshave meant for the BarrColony settlers?

In May 1903 at most onedozen tents were all thatcould be seen on the bareprairie and now [wehave] stores of all kinds,a fine building for thebank, drugstore, aprinting office... it is justmarvellous.

Alice Rendell, Lloydminster, 1905

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Has Farming and Ranching Changedin the Interior Plains?

Large areas of flat land and fertile soil meant thatagriculture has been an important way of life in the InteriorPlains. The first gardens in the region were at fur-tradingforts. Settlers in all parts of the region, from the southerngrasslands to the northern forests, raised animals andfarmed the lands to support themselves.

At first, settlers farmed small areas of land. They usedhorses and plows, but the work was slow and hard. Manyfarms remained small because more land meant more workthan one family could do. Ranches were often larger, sincethe animals needed a large area for grazing.

Farming TodayTechnology has changed farming today. Where there isfarmland but little rain, farmers use irrigation to watercrops. Combines are used to harvest grain, and truckstransport the grain to buyers. Chemicals fertilize crops andprevent insect damage.

Chemicals that are used on farms can also harm cropsor animals. Many people are concerned about chemicalsgetting into our food. Some farmers, like Marc Loiselle, haveswitched to organic farming. How might personal valuesaffect how someone chooses to run a farm?

Irrigation is water suppliedto dry land using pipes,ditches, or streams.

Organic farming uses nochemicals on plants oranimals.

words matter !

Voicesof Canada

Organic Farming

This farmer helps run anorganization for organicfarmers in Saskatchewan.

We started organicfarming in 1985. Theattraction to [organic]farming came from ourdesire to be betterstewards of the land andresources, without theuse of toxic substances.

Marc Loiselle, Vonda,Saskatchewan

Thinking It Through

■ Check the map of agricultural areas in the atlas section,on page 350. What are the main agricultural products inthe Interior Plains? Discuss how and why agriculturewithin the Interior Plains region might vary.

David Thompson wrote that the Interior Plains wouldbe a great place for agriculture. He was right!

Areas in the northern parts of theInterior Plains are also good foragriculture. This is the Peace RiverValley, in British Columbia.

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Ranching TodayThe Interior Plains region has good conditions for raisingcattle. The grasses, streams, and rivers provide food andwater. In the past, sheep and cattle were raised for thesettler’s family. The railway made a difference, enablinglarger ranches to sell their cattle and sheep to different partsof Canada.

Dangers faced by ranchers in this region were wildfires,drought, and severe storms. Disease among animals coulddestroy entire herds. Today, vaccinating animals helpsprevent many diseases. Some ranchers are also raisingdifferent kinds of stock, such as ostriches, elk, and bison.

What impact might a feedlot have on theenvironment?

The Factory FarmA “factory farm” is one where large numbers of only onetype of animal, such as cattle or chickens, are raised. Suchfarms began because of the huge demand for the animaland its products. Technology on these farms makes it easyto raise large quantities very quickly.

However, some people think that factory farms areunhealthy and treat animals cruelly. The farms also causepollution, especially from the large amounts of animalwaste.

Why have these animals become part of ranching inthis region?

ThinkingIt Through

■ What are theadvantages anddisadvantages ofnew technologiesbeing used infarming andranching?

Farms have grown sincethe days of the earlysettlers. My great-grandfather’s farm was120 hectares. Today, ourfarm is 520 hectares.

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What Are the Effects of Drought?The southern parts of the Interior Plains often have dryperiods during the summer. But what if these dry periodslast all year? What if there is little snow in winter? What ifthe spring rains do not come? This is what happened in2002 in southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan.The summer of 2001 was very dry, and over the next year,the earth continued to dry out.

Effects of Drought

149

In 2002, farmers in Ontario and Québec organized Hay West, aplan to ship hay from their own farms to farmers and ranchers inthe Interior Plains. What other ways could we help farmers in need?

Farmers lose their crops.There is no grass for cattle

to eat. Farmers andranchers lose money.

Other people affected are businessowners and farm workers.

Some farmers are forcedto sell their farms. Theymust find new ways tomake a living.

Some farmers choose tofind other ways to farm,or try new crops. This canbe hard to do.

■ Think of problemsthat farmers andranchers in theInterior Plains facetoday. Make aCause and Effectchart showing thesource of theproblem and theway it affectspeople.

Skill Smart

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ViewpointsViewpoints

150

We need large-scaleproduction of livestock. Wecannot satisfy the growingdemand for meat fromsmall farms alone.

How Should People Farm on theInterior Plains?Over time, farm equipment and farmland has become moreexpensive. Drought or flooding can ruin crops. The moneyfarmers make from their crops can be barely enough to liveon. People across Canada have started looking for other waysto farm. What are the advantages and disadvantages ofdifferent farming methods? Look back to pages 147–148 to review the information on factory farms and organicfarming. Then read the points of view below.

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1. As a class, discuss the different points of view. How do the different ways offarming have an impact on the land? How do they affect the farmers’ waysof life?

2. Find out about organic and factory farms in your area. How do they work?Hold a debate to discuss the pros and cons of each method.

Over to You

We are really worried about having so manyfactory farms. Some of these farms have morethan 20 000 animals on them! The waste madeby these animals is polluting rivers and lakes. Itcould make people very sick. We are afraid theanimals are not well cared for.

My family owns an organic

farm in Manitoba. Even

though we sold some of

our land, my parents said

we make more money

now than when we had a

big farm and used

chemicals. Many people

will pay more for food

they think is healthier. I am

very happy digging in the

rich soil and watching our

crops grow!

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How Do Natural Resources ShapeCommunities in the Interior Plains?

As you have seen in previous chapters, towns often developaround a place where there is a natural resource. TheInterior Plains have many huge deposits of oil and gasunderground. There are also large deposits of salt, gypsum,and potash. Other natural resources include forests, rivers,and rich soil.

Natural resources create jobs for thousands of people. Asa result, communities of different sizes have developedacross the Interior Plains. The map below shows mineraldeposits and oil and gas sources. Compare the map belowto the one on pages 126–127 to see where communities mayhave developed around these resources.

Potash is a substance that ismainly used in fertilizer. It isrich in potassium, animportant nutrient forplants.

words matter !

HudsonBay

Lloydminster

Calgary

Edmonton

Saskatoon

Regina

Winnipeg

N

S

W E

Legend

PotashGypsumSaltOil field

Gas fieldOil andgas field

Tar sands

0 200 400

kilometres

Esterhazy

ThinkingIt Through

■ How do you thinkthe naturalresources of theInterior Plains haveshaped ways of lifefor the differentgroups of peoplewho live there?

Esterhazy is known as the “potashcapital” of the world! How doyou think the presence of such animportant resource affects thepeople who live here?

This map shows some natural resources of the Interior Plains.What resources are there?

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Winnipeg, Gateway to the WestWinnipeg, Manitoba, began as a fur-trading postfounded by Pierre de La Vérendrye in 1738. In1876, the community adopted the nameWinnipeg. Railways coming from western farmstransport grain and other natural resourcesthrough Winnipeg and into Eastern Canada.

Today, Winnipeg has a population of over650 000 and the city is a centre for government,commerce, and the arts.

153

M a k i n g a D i f f e r e n c e

Protecting Natural Resources

The land west of Great Slave Lake has

always been a traditional hunting ground

for the Dene First Nations. The rich natural

resources of the area are still important to

the people who live in the area. In 2002, an

agreement between First Nations people

and the government of the Northwest

Territories was signed. With this agreement,

the government promised not to allow

development of oil or gas industries, mines,

or other industries.

The area has many lakes and large

patches of muskeg. It also has bird habitats

and caribou. The Horn Plateau, part of the

protected lands, is an International

Biological Program Site because of the

lichen that is found there. These unique

natural resources will now be protected.

Railcars transport Canadian grain to Winnipeg.

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Understand Photographs

Using books or the Internet, find photographs of early settlements andpresent-day communities on the Interior Plains. Examine the photosusing the Skill Power information headings on page 131. Answer thequestions. How do the historic and present-day photos compare?

Plan an Interview

Find out more about someone in your community. • Why do they live here?• What country did their family originate from? • What languages do they speak?Add five more of your questions to the list. After the interview, sharewhat you learned by creating a web.

Examine a Poster

The Canadian government advertisedthe Interior Plains as a good place tosettle. They wanted to attract manypeople to come there. Look at theposter on this page. Think about howa person in Europe might see thisposter. How would different peoplesee the poster? What would theythink about Canada from the poster?

Build Your Skills!

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Inquiring Minds?

For part of her inquiry, Brianne useda KWL chart to record her findingsabout her family’s history.

Take Time to Reflect

Before you go on to the next chapter, think aboutwhat you learned in this one. Make a cartoon toshow how the land and agriculture has shaped thisregion. What does it mean to the identity of theregion? It could show a part of history, much likeDavid Thompson’s observations in the past, or itcould show something from today. Save your workfor your Canada Collection.

Putting It All Together

155

Review the inquiry questions for this chapter:

• How did the physical geography of this region shape itshistory?

• How did settlers change the region?

What I Think I Know What I Want to Know What I Learned

My family came When did they come? They came in 1896.from Ukraine.

They made temporary What were they My Baba called thesehomes at first. called? homes burdei.

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