THE RURAL HISTORY & CULTURE ASSOCIATION
OF SASKATCHEWAN

Everett Baker - SHFS Picture

Everett Baker, the first President of the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society, was instrumental in marking the North-West Mounted Police Trail between Fort Walsh and Wood Mountain.  In addition to his work with the SHFS, Baker is also renowned for the vast number of colour photographs that he took of Saskatchewan people and places during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.  These pictures have been produced into slide shows by the SHFS, featured as museum exhibits, developed by SCN into TV vignettes and most recently the story of these pictures has been told in a popular book by Bill Waiser.  This summer the slides that relate to the marking of the NWMP Trail will be featured in a special program created by the SHFS for the Celebrate the NWMP Trail events that are taking place in communities between Wood Mountain and Fort Walsh between July 1 and August 2, 2009.  The slides will tell the story of how Everett Baker and the SHFS marked the Trail and give participants the chance to learn why Baker considered the marking of the Trail so important.

Look for this issue at a news stand near you!

Some of the events and activities organized by the Rural History and Culture Association (RHCA) have received positive notice in Canada’s National History Magazine, The Beaver.  The March-April edition, which has just hit the stands includes an article entitled “Local Historians Keep Grassroots History Alive,” by Christopher Moore.  The story quotes RHCA President Mike Fedyk and includes information about RHCA events.  The RHCA is mentioned along with other organizations in Canada that are promoting popular history and attracting a lot of attention and support for their work.  This marks the fourth time that the RHCA has gained national attention for it work.  In 2003, Tommy Douglas Vs Ross Thatcher: The Debate of the Century was referenced in Time Magazine, in 2006, The Celebration of Rural History and Culture was promoted on the Historica website and in 2008, CBC radio did a documentary of James Gardiner Vs the Ku Klux Klan: The Struggle for a Multicultural Future on its program Sunday Edition.