Events

Doukhobor Friends
Opening Day July 3

This was a re-enactment of what took place long ago between the Doukhobors and First Nations people. The Doukhobors needed to plant their crops and gardens to grow food. They had no animals to help with this, so they made a plough out of wood, 16 women hooked themselves up to it, and pulled the plough to plant crops, while the men were away working in Winnipeg helping build the railroad. The First Nations people in the region saw what the Doukhobors were doing and came to provide them with horses. In return, the Doukhobor people provided the First Nations people with food. Both sides were thankful for the mutual co-operation.

During the re-enactment, the Doukhobors pulled that plough on a field overlooking the river and the First Nations people came into the yard in a wagon in full costume to provide a horse, and also performed a traditional full costume ceremony setting up a tipi. In return the Doukhobors provided a heartfelt welcome and presented the First Nation people with a Doukhobor gift, reliving the strong friendships established between the two cultures in the late 1890s. The Keynote speaker and MC was Norm Rebin. Also present were other speakers and representatives of the Saskatoon Food Bank.

Proceeds from admissions went to the Saskatoon Food Bank.

Doukhobor Recipes
Closing Day, August 7

Remembering our culture, and our Doukhobor recipes. Visitors brought family, and their recipes, and tried one of our special recipes, watermelon kvass, throughout the day, as they tasted and experienced our history.