On July 1, 1867 the federal Dominion of Canada was founded from three British colonies that became 4 provinces: Québec and Ontario, known then as Lower and Upper Canada; New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. This year, we celebrate 147 years of what is called Confederation of these provinces. However, every year on this day, we appear to rarely tell of the saga of Canada's Pre-Confederation times! Our history is much older than 147 years! Year 2014 marks 480 years since the French explorer Jacques Cartier arrived on the eastern shores and claimed the land he called Canada for the King of France. There are so many events to make known in almost 500 years of Canada's history. Yes, it is in books, taught in classrooms of schools and universities, and told in documentaries such as the award winning 2001 CBC series called Canada: A People's History. Yet, for example, we have not capitalized enough on the exciting fur trade story both under the French regime between 1534 and 1763, and under the British since the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Also, there has been totally unnecessary conflict over the misunderstanding of our historic treaties, especially those made with our Aboriginal people, even after Confederation. It was because the British Monarchy and Canada recognized and honoured First Nations' right of title to the land and their surrender of large portions of these lands by these treaties, that settlement of the Canadian West ever took place.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722 heritage@yorkton.ca
