A new book by a former Yorkton resident highlights the history of Aboriginal people in Canada.
First In Canada: An Aboriginal Book of Days is the first book from Jonathan Anuik who grew up in Yorkton, and is now an assistant professor at the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.
Anuik said the book was a project which really grew out of other projects he was involved with.
"I had been writing about the first school in the Red River Settlement," he said.
Through that research Anuik said he became keenly aware of how education was being used to mold a society. The system was focused on bring Aboriginal peoples "into a modernizing society."
Anuik said it was a time of change for the west as the economy was evolving away from harvesting the beaver for fur. "It was being replaced with agriculture."
The paper Anuik wrote would eventually be included in an anthology Canadian Plains Research Center Press.
As a result of being in the anthology the CPRC would approach Anuik about doing a calendar highlighting the accomplishment of First Nations and Metis in Saskatchewan, an idea which would evolve to become the book focusing on the history of Aboriginal people across Canada.
"We cast the net quite wide," said Anuik, adding encompassing Aboriginal groups from across Canada "was definitely a challenge."
The book, which includes historical occurrences for almost every day of the year, supported by short history stories and photographs, is an opportunity to share what is widely an unknown history, offered Anuik.
"It brings indigenous people into the narrative, at the front of history," he said.
While wanting non-aboriginal people to recognize the significant contribution Aboriginal people have made to Canada from arts, to film to sport and of course the development of the country, Anuik said he also was keenly aware to make it a book for the people he was writing about.
"It was making sure it is inclusive, that people can see themselves in this book," he said.
While Anuik has written what would be described as 'scholarly' papers, First In Canada is a more widely accessible read.
"I produced the book in a sense as a textbook," he said, adding it is not a book designed to be a definitive history. " It's a touchstone to learning. It's supposed to pique your interest."
Anuik said while the collection deals with the more widely known aspects of Aboriginal history, the Riel Rebellion as an example, he wanted to bring out lesser known things, such as one of the stars of the popular Twilight film series being a First Nations actor from Canada.
"As a scholar you are interested in what is not known, what is not out there," he said, adding the lesser known stories "are important to bring forward in the book to enhance it."
Anuik said in many ways the popular history of Canada, having been largely written by non-Aboriginal writers, has discounted the contribution of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples. He hopes his book will start people wanting to look deeper at their contribution.
In that respect Anuik said First In Canada is "a book about relationships," including how the government has interacted with Aboriginal peoples, and how the different groups in Canada have interacted with each other.
The total story may not yet be told, said Anuik.
"A lot of material didn't make it in," he said, adding that has him contemplating follow-up projects, which could include another book, on an Internet extension of First In Canada.
While noting authors "never really feel we write the definitive work," Anuik said he is satisfied with what First In Canada achieves. "I'm very proud of it."
January - 1928, Saskatchewan artist Allen Sapp was born at the Red Pheasant Reserve.
February - 1870, Louis Riel's provisional government was proclaimed with Riel as president.
March - 1885, The First encounter between Louis Riel's resistance force and North-West Mounted Police and civilian volunteers took place at Duck Lake, North-West Territories.
April - 1885, Big Bear helped settlers escape Fort Pitt, North-West Territories.
May - 1906, Gabriel Dumont died of a heart attack at home in Bellevue, Saskatchewan.
June - 1985, 150 Dene and Metis around Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan, blocked access to uranium mines that were contaminating fish and wildlife and offering the local Aboriginals little employment.
July - 1946, The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) held a Metis Convention at the Regina Court House to revive the Metis Society of Saskatchewan.
August - 1969, The Educational Council, Government of Saskatchewan, approved the first Native Studies high school course in Saskatchewan for E.D. Feehan High School in Saskatoon. The course was entitled "History and Culture of Indian People."
September - 1875, Okanis, first Chief of the Okanese First Nation in Saskatchewan, signed adhesion to Treaty 4.
October - 1983, The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations held its first Legislative Assembly of Chiefs.
November - 1885, Miserable Man, Bad Arrow, Round the Sky, Wandering Spirit, Iron Body, and Little Bear (Crees), and Itka and Man Without Blood (Assiniboines), were hanged at Battleford, North-West Territories, for their role in the North-West Resistance.
December - 1955, Gwen O'Soup, of the Key Indian Reserves near Kamsack, Saskatchewan, became the first woman to be elected Chief in Canada.
