1. Saskatchewan Canada’s Breadbasket

2. Changing Ways of Life
Throughout the 1800’s European settlers came to the Plains region.
They changed the culture of the indigenous people
Changes came from trade goods
Pots, needles, weapons
Other changes
Diseases – measles
Europeans had an immunity to them, the indigenous people did not. In some groups 75% of people died.

3. A Way of life Lost
Late 1870’s the indigenous people’s way of life came to an end
Built their lives around buffalo – European settlers started killing the buffalo
Canadian and United States government started to take over their lands
Only a few indigenous peoples went to war with the settlers in Canada. UNLIKE what the indigenous people did in the United States.

4. Free Land Draws Newcomers
Indigenous population went down European population went up.
People were eager to farm the prairie and the government was even more people to come and do the same.
Why? (hint: economy)
Canada advertised free land in European newspapers to attract settlers in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
This brought people from all over, not just France and Great Britain (Ukrainians, Norwegians, Finns, Russian, Poles)

5. Free Land Draws Newcomers
The names of the newcomers showed the changes in Canada.
Swedes settled in New Stockholm
Icelanders founded Thingvalla
Danes – New Denmark
Hungarians – Esterhazy
Germans – Ebenezer
As you can see Saskatchewan had many ethnic groups.
Not all the ground was fertile
Hope is an important part of the culture here
“Next Year Country” – if the crops failed the people just looked to next year for better results
Saskatchewan Wheat Pool start in 1923.
Today it is the world’s largest grain cooperatives and is the leading company here.

6. Maintaining Tradition on the Prairies
¼ of Canada’s farmland is in Saskatchewan
2/3 of the farmland is used for wheat
Canada’s Breadbasket
What is an area in the US that is similar?
Immigrants still go to the prairies, but most move to cities like Regina and Saskatoon
Festivals!
Ukrainian, Icelandic, and German festivals include: traditional dancing, art, and music
Every summer the indigenous people host powwows
Some small towns people still maintains the European languages and customs of their ancestors