KIRILOVKA: Cultural Landscape and a Wider Context

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KIRILOVKA Cultural Landscape and a Wider
Context

• Researcher Michelle Lau
• Media Assistant Amy Dang
• Section 102

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• Established in 1900
• Prince Albert Colony set aside for the Russian
  Doukhobors

Photo courtesy of Jack Dear
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The Railway and the River

• In the beginning, the reserve had 12 townships
  for the Doukhobors.
• By 1907, there were 21 townships included in the
  reserve area.
• Kirilovka village was one of the first three
  settled in western arm of reserve.
• Kirilovka was located on a flat plain overlooking
  the terrain of the North Saskatchewan River
  Valley.
• The Doukhobors allotted even numbered sections of
  land. The Canadian Pacific Railway was allotted
  odd numbers.
• The railway allowance waived in the first two
  areas so the settlement blocks could be more
  closely spaced.

NORTH SASKATCHEWAN RIVER VALLEY
Photo Courtesy of Daryl Mitchell
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY NO. 2317
Photo Courtesy of Steamtown Special History
Study Canadian Steam Locomotives
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Example Of A Township Kane Township 83 W Range
12 North

• Parcels of land in were divided up by the
  Canadian government.
• The Russian Doukhobors received the even
  numbered plots.
• Townships were divided into 36 sections, 4
  quarters per section, totaling about 640 acres of
  land.

Not a Kirilovka Township
Photo courtesy of John Shuck 2003
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The Neighbors

• Kirilovka close to the south bank of the North
  Saskatchewan River Valley
• Northwest quarter of Section 14, Township 39,
  Range 8 West of the third meridian.
• The former main street of the village was
  aligned roughly North-South
• 6 km from the present day town of LANGHAM.

Map by Shelley McConnell, WHS
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Map by Shelley McConnell, WHS
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The Economy

• The Doukhobors were involved with internal and
  external markets and exchange with the community.
  
• Surplus grain from each village was usually
  sold.
• Income source sheep, wheat fields, and
  successful fruit orchards.
• Doukhobors raised cattle to sell.
• In the first few years, a large proportion of
  the male community members worked away from the
  villages.

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Ethnic Groups

• Working abroad brought many ethnic groups and
  religious groups together.
• The Doukhobors lived in an Anglo-Canadian based
  society.
• The Victorian social class system and the
  concept of consumer choice were highly
  influential.
• Many of the neighboring towns were Ukrainian
  Orthodox

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Sources

• Kozakavich, Stacy
• 1998 A State of Change An Historical
  Archaeology of Doukhobor Identity at Kirilovka
  Village Site (FcNs-1). M.A. thesis,
  Department of Anthropology, University of
  Saskatchewan.
• (Chapter 3 Doukhobor Villages in Saskatchewan
  and the Village of Kirilovka pp. 33-57)
• Mitchell, Daryl
• 2002 Deco/Rational Pictures of Saskatechewan.
  Electronic document,
• http//members.shaw.ca/darylmitchell/pictures/s
  askpics.html, accessed October 15 2003.
• Steamtown Special History Study Canadian Steam
  Locomotives
• 2002 Electronic document, http//www.cr.n
  ps.gov/history/online_books/steamtown/shs3f.htm,
  accessed October 15, 2003.