Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan

General Info

District of the North West Territories, 1882-1905,
Province of Canada, from 1905.

Meaning of the Name

Both branches of the river were known by this name to the Cree from well before contact with Europeans. The word derives from the Cree for “swiftly flowing river”, kisiskâciwani-sîpiy. Modern Cree speakers refer to the province as kisiskâciwan or saskâciwanihk.¹⁾

Saskatchewan covers approx 651,900 sq kms.
Population in 1996 was 990,237
- 2001 Census= 978,933

One-half of the province is covered by Forest
One-third is Agriculture
One-eighth is covered by fresh water

Symbols

Flag of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's flag was officially dedicated 22 Sept 1969.
It is divided horizontally, green above and yellow below. On the green portion near the staff are the Provincial Arms. In the fly over both tincture,s is the Provincial Floral Emblem, “The Prairie Lily” (see below).

Crest of Saskatchewan

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms was granted by King Edward VII, 25 Aug 1906
The Crest, Supporters and Motto by Elizabeth II, 16 Sept 1986.
Motto: “Multis e gentibus vires.” “From many peoples strength” Coat_of_arms_of_Saskatchewan

Provincial Floral Emblem

The Prairie Lily
aka: Western Red Lily,
Known botanically as: Lilium philadelphicum L. var. andinum
Note- This is a Protected Species, “PLEASE DO NOT PICK THIS FLOWER!”

Milestones in Saskatchewan's History

Milestones in Saskatchewan's History, as per the Bienfait SK. History Book, printed in 1955, *= additions not in book

1690/91- First White Man, Hudson's Bay Company Explorer, Henry Kelsey,visits the Saskatchewan River
1750- French Fur Trader, LaVerendrye, builds Fort Paskoyac on the Saskatchewan River
1754/55 - Anthony Henday,Hudson's Bay Company explorer, traverses the whole Saskatchewan and sees the Rockies
1776- Sturgeon Post, near site of Prince Albert, established by Montreal Fur Trader, Peter Pond
1778- North West Company post set up near present day- Battleford
*1792- First wheat grown in Saskatchewan was at Fort a la Corne.
1798- Hudson's Bay Company founded Fort Carlton
1821- North West Company absorbed into Hudson Bay Company
1857- Captain Palliser investigates the open prairies to report on their possibilities for settlement.
1866- Reverend R.W. James Nisbit founds Prince Albert
1869/70- North West passes to the Dominion of Canada, and is organized as the Northwest Territories.
1874- North West Mounted Police ride from Manitoba
1876- Indian Treaty signed at Fort Carlton
1877- First North West Council meets
1882- CPR reaches Regina, (new N.W.T. Capital) and Moose Jaw founded
1883- Saskatoon Founded
1885- North West Rebellion, fighting at Duck Lake, Fish Creek, Cut Knife, and Batoche
1888- Legislative Assembly established for the North West Territories
1897- Responsible Government for the North West Territories, after agitation led by Premier Haultain.
1901/02- In the great western boom Saskatchewan's population grows at fastest of the prairie provinces, nearly 440% from 91,279 to 492,432
1905- September 1- Province of Saskatchewan Formed
1906- Aug 25, Saskatchewan Coat of Arms was granted by King Edward VII
1911- Marquis Wheat introduced (early maturing- later replaced by rust resistant varieties like Thatcher and Saunders.
1912- Regina devastated by Tornado, but quickly rebuilt
1914-18- First World War
1924- Saskatchewan Wheat Pool established
1930- Control of her natural resources transferred to Saskatchewan
1935- Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Act to Conserve and develop water and improve land use
1939- Second World War
*1944- Saskatchewan voters elect the First Socialist Government in North America, CCF, led by Tommy Douglas
1947- Provincial Free Hospital Plan established
1949- Oil Development spreads in west-central Saskatchewan
1952- Saskatchewan wheat crop reaches 435 million bushels
1953- Uranium production begins at Uranium City
*1966- Nov 28- First Grey Cup win for the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football team https://www.riderville.com/
*1969- Sept 22- Saskatchewan's present Flag was dedicated
* 1990, January 15 - VIA cuts half of its passenger network. Included in these cuts are a decision to run just one transcontinental train between Toronto and Vancouver via CN through Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Jasper.

Note on Native History

Note- These web pages cover only the European/Asian History of this area, of the last hundred years or so. I will leave the First Nations to record and publish their own history, as I have limited information available to me. The term “Indian” is used where it is the historically accurate term, in regards to job titles etc., and is not meant in any derogatory way. If the term is being quoted from a book, census, etc, then it will be written in my pages that way. I don't personally agree with the way the European came and took over this land, but I am not going to judge them here, after the fact. Just as it is important to have a record of Native history in the area, I also feel these men and women need their history saved. This is the purpose of this web page.

External Web Sites I Recommend for Saskatchewan History Searches:

Vital Stats, some century they might finish this one!
http://genealogy.ehealthsask.ca/vsgs_srch.aspx

Saskatchewan Newspaper Archive, getting better and better
http://sabnewspapers.usask.ca/

¹⁾

Info courtesy Bill Barry, People Places