National Historic
Site of Canada

The Inscription Reads:

Doukhobor Dugout House

This dugout house, built by Russian Doukhobor immigrants in 1899, is the only known surviving example of this form of temporary shelter in Canada. It recalls the hardships faced by many settlers of various ethnic backgrounds upon their arrival on the Prairies and the practical solutions they adopted in a setting largely devoid of trees. These dwellings were soon replaced by more permanent housing as required under the Dominion Lands Act. This site is part of a landscape of farm buildings and archaeological remains that speaks to the evolution of Doukhobor communities on the Prairies.

Constructed in 1899, the house is a rare surviving example of a practical and temporary form of initial shelter constructed not only by Doukhobors, but also by many settlers of various ethnic backgrounds upon their arrival on the Canadian prairies. These initial and expedient dwellings were typically replaced as quickly as possible by more permanent ones, as required under the conditions of the homestead policy in the Dominion Lands Act.

Doukhobor Dugout House received notification in late August, 2008, that the property has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. A letter from the then-Minister of the Environment John Baird indicated that the designation of the property had been approved by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada because the Board recognized the national significance of the Doukhobor Dugout House.

In Its Minutes Of The Meeting, The Board Noted The Following:

The Committees and the Board recommended the Doukhobor Dugout House for designation as a national historic site because:

• It is the only known partially surviving example of a practical and temporary form of shelter constructed not only by Doukhobors, but also by many settlers of various ethnic backgrounds upon their arrival on the Canadian prairies, and which played a crucial role in its settlement. These initial and expedient dwellings were replaced as quickly as possible by more permanent ones, as required under the conditions of homesteading under the Dominion Lands Act; and,
• It is closely and emotionally associated with the earliest history of the Doukhobors in Canada. It recalls the tremendous hardships faced by these and other early settlers and the practical ways in which they met and overcame them.