Saskatchewan turns 100

Page 4

People from across the province joined together to celebrate on Sept. 4 as Saskatchewan officially celebrated its centennial.

Fifteen communities from across Saskatchewan -Estevan, La Ronge, Meadow Lake, the Battlefords, Yorkton, Prince Albert, Lloydminster, Regina, Swift Current, Melville, Melfort, Moose Jaw, Saskatoon, Humboldt and Weyburn-were selected to host regional centennial celebrations. The day-long celebration was capped off with a fireworks display in each community, all synchronized to create the largest fireworks display in the history of the province.

Centennial celebrations also took place on Flying Dust First Nation, where a powwow was held to mark the centennial and the 127th anniversary of the signing of Treaty 6. A host of dignitaries were on hand for the celebration, including Prime Minister Paul Martin, federal finance minister Ralph Goodale, Premier Lorne Calvert, Lt.-Gov. Lynda Haverstock, provincial minister of First Nation and Metis Relations Maynard Sonntag and Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Chief Alphonse Bird.

In Meacham, Sept. 4 saw the final performance of All My Relations-Wahkotowin, a centennial play written by Maria Campbell and Trevor Herriot that toured to 50 communities across the province over the summer months, celebrating the land that is Saskatchewan.

Although the province has officially turned 100, centennial celebrations will continue throughout the rest of the year. For more information, visit the Saskatchewan centennial Web site at www.sask2005.ca