Doukhobors Featured in 100 Saskatchewan Stories Documentary
Series
by
Jonathan J. Kalmakoff
The Doukhobors are featured in an episode of 100 Saskatchewan Stories, a
thirteen-part television documentary that tells the story of the people,
places and events in the history of Saskatchewan. The half-hour episode,
entitled “Left, Right & Centre – Part 1”, originally premiered on the
Saskatchewan Communication Network (SCN) on January 25, 2006. It has since
been regularly aired by SCN.
In 1899, over 7,500 Doukhobors emigrated from Russia to Saskatchewan in
order to escape religious persecution. They settled in large blocks of
homestead land reserved for them in the Pelly, Arran, Kamsack, Veregin,
Canora, Buchanan, Langham and Blaine Lake districts. There, they cleared and
broke the land, planted grain fields and established over sixty communal
villages as well as brickworks, sawmills, flourmills, gristmills, elevators,
warehouses, general stores, blacksmith shops, roads, bridges, ferries and
other communal enterprises. In 1907, a crisis over land ownership resulted
in hundreds of thousands of acres of Doukhobor homestead lands reverting to
the Crown. Thereafter, the majority of community Doukhobors relocated to
British Columbia while independent Doukhobors settled on individual
homesteads. Subsequent Doukhobor settlements were established in the Veregin,
Kylemore, Sheho, Insinger, Kelvington, Wadena and Watson districts in the
Teens and Twenties. Following the demise of the Christian Community of
Universal Brotherhood in 1937-1938, the communal lands in Saskatchewan were
sold and the vast communal enterprise was dismantled.
The 100 Saskatchewan Stories episode “Left, Right & Centre – Part 1” tells
the unique story of the Doukhobors in Saskatchewan. The story is woven
together with photographs, illustrations, music, interviews, narration and
archival and current footage. The episode features extensive interview
footage with Doukhobor writer and historian Jonathan J. Kalmakoff, who
discusses the Doukhobor contribution to the 100-year history of the
province. A four-minute Flash streaming video excerpt of the Doukhobor
episode “Left, Right & Centre – Part 1” on 100 Saskatchewan Stories is
available below.
“Doukhobor immigration has had a profound effect on the character and
prosperity of Saskatchewan,” said Kalmakoff. “They were the largest single
mass immigration of settlers to Canada, and for that reason alone, they
remain unique in their contribution to Saskatchewan.”
100 Saskatchewan Stories is a documentary series alive with the history of
Saskatchewan. It is a celebration of the province’s past with a shining
outlook for its future. The stories cover the province geographically and
span a timeline from the pioneers who first broke soil, to the scientists
who have developed some of the latest cutting edge technologies.
100 Saskatchewan Stories is produced by Dacian Productions Inc. and produced
and directed by Regina-based filmmaker Jarrett Rusnak. “The series builds
bridges between our people, and connects us to our land,” said Rusnak. “Some
stories will make us laugh, others will make us cry, and many will surprise
us. All the stories will captivate us.”
For information or inquiries about the 100 Saskatchewan Stories television
series or to obtain a DVD copy of the series visit the 100 Saskatchewan
Stories website at:
http://www.dacian.biz/100/indexGO.html.
Episodes of 100 Saskatchewan Stories re-air regularly on SCN television. For
television program schedule and information, or to view the entire series
online, visit the SCN website at:
http://www.scn.ca/.
