A cape made of prairie chicken feathers in Dundurn, Sask. A reprinted book of 1886-era anecdotes in Brandon. Farmers seeding crops using true “horsepower.”
That’s a smattering of recent reports in this newspaper that deal with homage to the past.
It’s not unusual to read stories of pioneer exploits or features about museums, or see photographs of people making efforts to preserve history – in this newspaper and in other media.
Why do we do it? Not because of a preoccupation with the past, but because of recognition that where we are today is inextricably linked to where we were yesterday.
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Stories about the past invite comparisons to the present. Horse and plow versus multi horsepowered tractor and air seeder. The shack lit by lantern versus the farm home with satellite television. Threshing crews versus labour saving combines.
For museums, archivists and historians, as well as everyman, it’s a virtually endless list of progress, development, and cause and effect. It inspires appreciation for the contributions of prairie pioneers to our way of life.
Through them, we can better understand and appreciate the modern techniques and conveniences of today, which are explained and even celebrated in these pages each week. We cover agricultural history as it unfolds.
History is the basis of most summer community celebrations, from the Calgary Stampede to the threshing bees. Will you be taking in one of these events or visiting one of the many prairie museums this year?
Will you sit in a soddie in Saskatoon or Pincher Creek and contemplate the opening of the West?
Will you imagine the thundering hoofs of buffalo and experience Native culture at Wanuskewin or Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump?
Will you sit in the grass-overgrown trenches of Batoche and get a better understanding of the Northwest Rebellion?
There are those who question the spending of time and money on preservation of the past. They wonder whether such investments are worthy, given the needs of the present. It’s a legitimate question, and one worthy of debate.
Also legitimate is this question: how can we gauge how far we’ve come if that distance isn’t measured by history? How can we take pride in our own roots without knowing their origins?
It comes down to this: recognizing the past shows us the limitless potential of the future.
It’s something to think about when you’re planning activities this summer.
