Saskatchewan, often referred to as the “Land of Living Skies,” is a province located in the central part of Canada. It is known for its vast prairies, beautiful sunsets, and diverse landscapes.[1]. The name of the province comes from the Cree name for the Saskatchewan River, “Kisiskatchewanisipi” or “swift-flowing river.” The modern spelling was adopted in 1882 when the area became a district of the North West Territories.[2] Saskatchewan covers an area of approximately 651,036 square kilometers (251,366 square miles), making it the seventh-largest province in Canada.[3] As of April 2024, the population of Saskatchewan is estimated to be around 1,231,043.[4]
Saskatchewan’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, mining, and energy. The province is often called the “Breadbasket of Canada” due to its significant agricultural output.[5] It produces more than half of Canada’s wheat and is a leading exporter of canola, lentils, and dry peas.[6] Additionally, Saskatchewan is one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of potash and uranium.[7] The province also has substantial oil and natural gas reserves.[7] Saskatchewan has two national parks, Prince Albert National Park is known for its diverse wildlife, including bison, elk, and bears and year-round recreational activities such as camping, hiking, and cross-country skiing. Grasslands National Park features mixed prairie grasslands and is home to endangered species like the burrowing owl and pronghorn antelope. In addition, Saskatchewan has eleven provincial parks including Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Meadow Lake Provincial Park, and Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Saskatchewan is known for other natural wonders and unique attractions that include, Athabasca Sand Dunes, Big Muddy Badlands, and Castle Butte.
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History of Saskatchewan
There are 75 First Nations in Saskatchewan. First Nation is one of three groupings of Indigenous people in Canada, the other two being Métis and Inuit. First Nations in Saskatchewan are part of the Assiniboine (Nakoda), Sioux (Dakota, Nakota and Lakota), Cree, Dene, Denesuline (Chipewyan) or Saulteaux.[8]
The first European to explore the area now known as Saskatchewan was Henry Kelsey, an Englishman, who arrived in 1690.[9] The first permanent European settlement was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company at Cumberland House in 1774, founded by Samuel Hearne.[10] This marked the beginning of European influence in the region, primarily driven by the fur trade.[11]
Saskatchewan became a province on September 1, 1905, through the Saskatchewan Act, which was passed by the federal government.[12] This act carved Saskatchewan out of the vast North-West Territories, which had included most of the Canadian Prairies.[3] The creation of the province was part of a broader effort to encourage settlement and development in Western Canada.[13]
From colonial times through the 19th and 20th centuries, Saskatchewan’s economy evolved significantly. Initially, the fur trade dominated the region’s economy, with trading posts established by both the Hudson’s Bay Company and the North West Company.[9]
In the late 19th century, the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway facilitated the settlement of European immigrants, who were encouraged to farm the fertile prairie land. The Dominion Lands Act of 1872 played a crucial role in this agricultural settlement by offering land to settlers willing to cultivate it. The development of high-yielding wheat strains, such as the Marquis wheat, further boosted agricultural productivity.[14]
By the early 20th century, the province’s economy diversified with the discovery of oil and natural gas, as well as the development of potash and uranium mining.[15] These industries, along with agriculture, have continued to be the backbone of Saskatchewan’s economy.[16]
Demographics of Saskatchewan
The demographic distribution of the Saskatchewan population is as follows:[17]
At the 2011 census, the racial composition of Saskatchewan was 81.6% white, 6.3% visible minority, and 14.9% Aboriginal (9.6% First Nations, 5% Metis). The visible minority groups include:
- Chinese: 1%
- South Asian: 0.5%
- Black: 0.5%
- Filipino: 0.4%
- Latin American: 0.3%
- Southeast Asian: 0.3%
- Arab: 0.2%
- West Asian: 0.1%
- Japanese: 0.1%
Saskatchewan has the highest percentage of Canadians of Norwegian descent in the country. The province also has a high number of Aboriginals. Because of high birthrates among Aboriginals and emigration of non-indigenous peoples, it's estimated that the Aboriginal population of Saskatchewan will make up about 35% of the total population of Saskatchewan by 2045.
Most common surnames in Saskatchewan
Researching family history in Saskatchewan
The Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan has a broad collection of genealogically valuable records and you can search the Online Catalog for their holdings. The National Library and Archives Canada and the Hudson Bay Company Archives have records from before the formation of Saskatchewan as a province. Saskatchewan's public library system is made up of 11 library systems and over 300 library branches. The Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Inc. (SGS) has one of the largest genealogical lending libraries in Canada. The Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society also has valuable genealogical records. The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia provides many resources to aid in genealogical research related to the history, cultural history and genealogy of the Germanic settlers in the Russian Empire and their descendants.
Saskatchewan administrative subdivisions
Saskatchewan does not have counties, unlike many other provinces. Instead, the province has eight types of municipalities that are responsible for local governance, including: northern towns, northern villages, northern hamlets, villages, resort villages, and rural municipalities. In southern Saskatchewan there are 445 are urban municipalities. These include:[19]
- 16 cities;
- 147 towns;
- 239 villages; and
- 43 resort villages.
- 296 are rural municipalities.
In northern Saskatchewan there are 25 incorporated municipalities:[19]
- 2 northern towns;
- 11 northern villages;
- 11 northern hamlets; and
- The Northern Saskatchewan Administration District (NSAD).
See also
Explore more about Saskatchewan
MyHeritage.com has six collections of genealogical records from Saskatchewan, these include: the 1916 Canada Census of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, Canada, Saskatchewan Births, 1832-1921, and Canada, Saskatchewan Deaths, 1869-1951. The remaining genealogical records can be accessed from the Saskatchewan Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ Why is Saskatchewan called Land of the Living Skies? - ruggedthuglife.com
- ↑ Origin of the names of Canada and its provinces and territories
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Saskatchewan (Province)
- ↑ Saskatchewan's Dashboard - Population
- ↑ Saskatchewan continues to live up to the title of breadbasket of Canada
- ↑ Farming in Saskatchewan: 20 Facts & Statistics
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Saskatchewan - Agriculture, Mining, Forestry | Britannica
- ↑ First Nations in Saskatchewan
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Exploration
- ↑ Samuel Hearne
- ↑ The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan | Details
- ↑ https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/fur_trade.html
- ↑ The Development of Western Canada
- ↑ History of Agriculture to the Second World War
- ↑ https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/history-of-agriculture
- ↑ Saskatchewan
- ↑ Saskatchewan Population 2024
- ↑ Most Common Last Names In Saskatchewan
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid
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