THE RURAL HISTORY & CULTURE ASSOCIATION
OF SASKATCHEWAN

The Rural History and Culture Association (RHCA), which was formally established in 2006, will be dissolved on June 30, 2010.  The reason for the dissolution is that Mike Fedyk, the founding President, and most active RHCA member, is moving out of Saskatchewan on June 30, 2010.  Fedyk formed the organization to provide an outlet for his projects such as historical re-enactments, community festivals, Saskatchewan singer songwriter concerts and similar events, and without his presence, the other RHCA members are not willing to maintain the organization.

Between 2006 and 2010, the RHCA initiated 12 historical re-enactments, community festivals and other events in 11 different communities and also published one book.  RHCA events attracted over 10,000 people, major media attention and raised over $30,000 for heritage and community organizations in Saskatchewan.

The RHCA website will continue to be maintained in order that information on past RHCA events and activities will be available but no new information will be posted on the site.

Mike Fedyk is leaving Saskatchewan entirely for personal (romantic) reasons and his departure does not reflect any desire to seek the so-called ‘greener’ pastures that supposedly exist outside of Saskatchewan.  Fedyk expects to continue his interest in promoting history, including involvement in Saskatchewan history, once he is settled in Ontario.

The much anticipated release of Fort Walsh to Wood Mountain: The North-West Mounted Police Trail will take place in July 2010.  The book is the legacy aspect of the very successful Celebrate the NWMP Trail festivals that took place during the summer of 2009 in five south western Saskatchewan communities and Fort Walsh National Historic Site.  The book features 14 articles contributed by Garrett Wilson, Ken Mitchell, Thelma Poirier, Mike Fedyk and a number of other Canadian writers.  Richly illustrated with over 20 black and white historical photographs, the book also includes 16 colour photographs from renowned photographer Everett Baker, who was also the person most responsible placing historic markers on the Trail in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The book is expected to retail for $14.50 and will be available at a number of bookstores as well as through the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society (SHFS).  All profits from the sale of the book will go to the SHFS’s Friends of the NWMP Trail program, which maintains the NWMP Trail markers.  A complete list of outlets where Fort Walsh to Wood Mountain will be available and how to order a copy from the SHFS will be announced in mid-June along with the scheduled release date.

Trail riders at NWMP Trail markers near Fort Walsh

Thirty-four pictures taken at the six Celebrate the NWMP Trail events held in south-west Saskatchewan between July 1 and August 2, 2009, have been added to the Rural History and Culture Association’s Flickr site and can be viewed there.  The pictures include every aspect of the six events including “Spirits of the Trail,” the dramatic re-telling of the story of the friendship between James Walsh of the North-West Mounted Police and Sioux Chieftain Sitting Bull. Other pictures feature First Nations performances and Saskatchewan singer/songwriters.

Pictures of the T-Rex Discovery Centre in Eastend and the Eastend Historical Museum have also been added to the Museum section of the RHCA Flickr site.

A video of the highlights of the Celebrate the NWMP Trail events is currently being produced and should be posted to Youtube sometime in September.