Guide reveals Native history

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If you haven't been a tourist in Saskatchewan before, you will definitely want to visit after reading Discover Saskatchewan A Guide to Historic Sites.

Unlike a road map with point of interest indicators, this newly released text, edited by Dr. Ralph Nilson, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Activity Studies, University of Regina, is a walk through history.

The book is just one in a series published by the Canadian Plains Research Centre, University of Regina. "We started with historical sites," says Nilson. "The next issue, on regional parks is almost done and others on canoe routes, the Churchill River System, provincial parks, and walking and hiking trails are in various stages of production."

Nilson acknowledges that A Guide to Historic Sites is "scant" on coverage of Aboriginal history. "There was not much documented to glean evidence from on Aboriginal sites," says Nilson. "Most Aboriginal history is oral - no written material exists. There are also areas that Aboriginal people do not wish to have tourists visit and we respected that. It is important for tourists to understand the ethics of visiting Aboriginal sites."

History of the fur trade and the pioneer days is much easier to research and is portrayed in detail in the text. However, Nilson notes that the importance of women, like the contribution of Aboriginal people to Saskatchewan history, is only now beginning to surface.

Aboriginal place names are recognized in a guide to historic sites as a legacy from Saskatchewan's first inhabitants. Wawota, in the Moose Mountains, appropriately means "deep snow" in Dakota. Mistamin, east of Tisdale, is the Cree name for horse but translates as "big dog." Assiniboia, located along the Red Coat Trail southwest of Regina, comes from the Saulteaux term meaning, "one who cooks with heated stones." Wascana Park in Regina is named for the Cree word oskana, meaning "buffalo bones" and relates to the piles of bones at railway sidings where Regina now stands, collected by Metis and Aboriginal people for shipment east to fertilizer and soap manufacturers. Athabasca, Saskatchewan's largest lake, is derived from an expression in the Woods Cree language meaning "reedy".

Old Wives Lake, southwest of Moose Jaw gets its name from a legend of a foiled Blackfoot attack on the Cree.

The Cree were camped near a large salt lake. They decided to leave several elderly women behind to give the appearance of a sleeping camp while the rest escaped during the night. When the Blackfoot arrived, they found only grandmothers in the camp. It is said that on a warm summer night you can still hear the women laughing at the "folly of their foe".

The book also contains information on some of Saskatchewan's famous. At Crooked Lake, north of Broadview, lived internationally renowned runner Paul Acoose from the Sakimay First Nation. Almighty Voice, a Cree who was imprisoned for stealing a cow in 1895 and jailed at Duck Lake, escaped and eluded authorities for more than a year. His story was captured in a movie called "Alien Thunder" starring Donald Sutherland, Chief Dan George and Gordon Tootoosis, a Saskatchewan Cree actor. The movie was filmed at Duck Lake.

"A lot of research went into the Aboriginal content," says Nilson. "It passed through a lot of hands. We were most grateful for the input of Lorne Carrier from Saskatchewan Municipal Government on the Aboriginal heritage areas. There will be an update of the Guide to Historic Sites in 2005. With the co-operation we see between government agencies, First Nations and Metis people, the next edition is sure to have more balance on the side of Aboriginal history."

Discover Saskatchewan A Guide to Historic Sites is available for $19.95 from Tourism Saskatchewan and at bookstores.