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Historic day 130 years in the making for Original Humboldt

The sheer amount of stories linked to Original Humboldt is awe inspiring. Those stories had the chance to be told during the Original Humboldt event on June 8.
Original Humboldt delegates
Many interesting delegates chose to be a part of the June 8 Original Humboldt event with many of them speaking about the importance of the site Original Humboldt and the work that went into keep its history alive. Pictured (L to R): Master Warrant Officer Doug McIlvenna, Edward Novecosky, Royal Canadian Dragoons Capt. Rich Bulley, Reynold Fortowsky, Garry Jenkins, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Dennis Korte, Cultural Services Director Jennifer Fitzpatrick, Humboldt-Watrous MLA Donna Harpauer, Rev. Al Hingley, Humboldt Mayor Rob Muench, Chief Darcy Bear of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Lt. Col Scott Duncan and Sergeant Major Chief Warrent Officer David Munroe. photo by Becky Zimmer

The sheer amount of stories linked to Original Humboldt is awe inspiring. Those stories had the chance to be told during the Original Humboldt event on June 8.

Cultural Services Director, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, says that all these stories led us to where we are today.

The people keeping these stories alive will lead us into the future, says Fitzpatrick.

“People assume a historical site is just about history. It’s not, it’s about heritage, culture, contemporary life...The choices you make today and the decisions you make and the people you become friends with can help build a better community.”

There are many sides of history and life, says Fitzpatrick and she hopes people take a better understanding of that.

“It’s multifaceted and I hope they go away with new friends, go forth with new partnerships and teach their children that they can build a better future.”

The tent set up on the west side of the site was overflowing with people for the program which started with the singing of O’ Canada performed in the Dakota language by grade 1-4 students from Charles Redhawk Elementary School at the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

The crowd then got to hear the different stories about the people who were connected to the land starting with Therese Weber and the story of her four times great grandparents and their work as freighters along the Carlton Trail. Then came the stories of George, Catherine, and Birdie Weldon, who were the first European residents of Original Humboldt, Catherine as a telegraph operator and George as a lineman. Birdie Weldon passed away at the Weldon home at the age of four and was buried in Prince Albert. Margaret Liggett, Catherine’s sister, stayed with the family and became an expert markswoman before the family left the site in 1884.

The Governor Generals Horse Guard, Lt. Col George T. Denison, and Chief Whitecap of the Dakota First Nation are all connected to Original Humboldt care of the 1885 Resistance and Humboldt’s role as a military fort.

The  Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Vaughn Solomon Schofield, Chief of the Whitecap First Nation Darcy Bear, and Lt. Col. Scott Duncan all spoke about the importance of this site.

This is not Soloman Schofield’s first trip out to Original Humboldt. Her Honour was also out in 2013 for the presentation of the Métis flag. Her Honour is glad to see the Museum and Gallery carrying on their work to expand the site and keep the history alive.

Her Honour was also impressed with the multifaceted storytelling that was included on the day.

“The Museum is doing a terrific job of blending them all together into one and giving everybody’s side and combining it into history that we can all understand.”

Bear sees the rich history that is on the Original Humboldt site and was glad that the story of Chief Whitecap as a peacekeeper could be told.

“That acknowledgement today is great for our community...We were proud to be invited and to be a part of this day.”

Lt. Col. Duncan is the unit historian so to stand on the site and see in his mind the tents of Lt. Col Denison and the Whitecap  was very special for him.

 “Being from Toronto, (Denison’s troops) were probably a little soft compared to the guys who lived out here. It’s all a fascinating part of our history.”

Six new storyboards have been added to the Original Humboldt site written by the Whitecap First Nation. Other additions to the site this year are the teepees and tent art installation as well as the Ducharme house installation near the Weldon house.

A new plaque regarding the story of the Governor General’s Horse Guards was also unveiled during the ceremony. That plaque will be installed with the others at the access point.

It was magical to see everyone come together for the event and in every aspect of the program there were many volunteers willing to help, says Fitzpatrick.

The free event at Original Humboldt received funding from Department of Canadian Heritage through their Canada 150 program.

See more photos from the day on here.