SHAUNAVON, JULY 18-19, 2009
Presented by the Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre in partnership with the Rural History and Culture Association, the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society and Burning Sun Productions with major financial support provided by the Building Pride Program of the Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. Additional support was provided by the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation and SaskEnergy.
During the weekend of July 18-19, the Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre in Shaunavon hosted the fourth of six Celebrate the NWMP Trail festivals. The NWMP Trail events were incorporated into Shaunavon’s annual Boom Town Days, which no doubt contributed to the great turn out at the NWMP Trail events. Over 30 pictures from all six of the festivals can be viewed on the RHCA’s Flicker site.
On July 18, the historic Plaza Theatre in Shaunavon featured the History of the Trail by Garrett Wilson and Everett Baker’s Trail with Terry McKauge of the Saskatchewan History and Folklore Society (SHFS). With 130 people in attendance, the theatre was filled close to capacity. South West Television News interviewed Garrett prior to his presentation. 
He provided background on how the NWMP Trail was once more famous to most North Americans than Ottawa or Toronto as well as fascinating stories about the life of early Mounties on the Trail. Terry paid tribute to Everett Baker, who lived much of his life in Shaunavon, and who founded the SHFS. Using Baker’s own photographs, Terry told the story of how Baker led the effort to mark the NWMP Trail in the early 1950s and 60s.
The next day, around 400 people gathered in Shaunavon’s beautiful Memorial park to participate in other festival events. Hosted by local MCs and kicked off by local singers, the afternoon featured a wide variety of entertainment starting with the Spirits of the Trail. The Spirits of the Trail tells the story of NWMP Officer James Walsh and Sioux Chieftain Sitting Bull. 
Aptly called a “horse opera” by its writer/producer Ken Mitchell (who also plays Metis guide Louis Leveille in the production), the story is a theatric remembering of relationship between Walsh and Sitting Bull. Starring Geordie Grassick as Walsh and Errol Kinstino as Sitting Bull, it also features First Nations elder Bob Smoker and Melissa Wurme, a traditional First Nations dancer and singer.
Following Spirits, Errol Kinstino was MC for First Nations cultural performances from Bob, Melissa as well as a Emil Lomas a local powwow performer. A few members of the crowd even accepted Errol’s invitation to participate in the Grand Entrance and Round Dances at the beginning of the performance.
The remainder of the afternoon featured four of Saskatchewan’s most exciting concert performers and singer/songwriters. Megan Nash of Mortlach led off the afternoon with her infectious enthusiasm. She was so well received that she was even able to recruit members for her new back up band, The Boomers, named after Shaunavon’s annual celebration. Following Megan was Karen Blackwell Jones of Dinsmore. Karen’s songs, drawn from her experiences living in rural Saskatchewan, resonated strongly with the crowd. Elegant Carrie Catherine from Saskatoon continued from there. Carrie mesmerized the audience with her soulful soul/pop songs that had toes tapping and shoulders swaying. Jeff Straker of Punnichy, one of Saskatchewan’s best-known young artists brought the concert to an exciting conclusion. Jeff got the audience clapping their hands along to songs and his witty repertoire was almost as good as his songs, which were awesome! The videos featured on this page feature performances from Megan, Karen, Carrie and Jeff.