Two Saskatchewan Doukhobor settlements recently designated national historic sites will help Canadians better appreciate the group’s importance to the Prairies.
The original Veregin settlement, of which the prayer home, machine shed, grain elevator and foundations of the old store survive, was the administrative, distribution and spiritual centre for the region during the first period of Doukhobor settlement in Canada.
The prayer home reflects the settlement’s importance to the Doukhobors as a religious and cultural centre and the authority and the vision of Doukhobor leader Peter Verigin.
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“The Canadian government is proud to welcome the Doukhobors at Veregin to the family of national historic sites,” said Garry Breitkreutz, Yorkton-Melville MP.
The commemoration will help Canadians understand the impact of early immigration policies on the development of the Canadian West, he said.
A site near Blaine Lake features the first dwellings of the new immigrants, dug into the side of the riverbank.
Constructed in 1899, they housed Doukhobors from Russia before being replaced with more conventional homes.
There are more than 930 such historic sites, 600 national historic persons and 400 national historic events in Canada’s system of national historic sites. Parks Canada protects 157 of them, but most are operated by private individuals and non-profit organizations.
Commemorative plaques from the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada will be on permanent display at both Saskatchewan sites.
“As with other immigrants, the Doukhobors embarked on their journey to Canada with dreams of freedom and prospects of peace,” said Breitkreutz.
“The story of the Doukhobors is an inspirational one of hardship and perseverance, determination and faith, and is an important chapter in our history.”
