“prairie” or “Prairies”?
Close your eyes and imagine a prairie. What do you see? A flat, grass-covered landscape that stretches as far as the eye can see? Perhaps some grazing cows, endless wheat fields or even roaming bison? Some of the words typically used to describe a prairie include grassy, vast, rolling, wide, fertileadjectif pour dire qu’un sol est bon pour l’agriculture. and green. Does this help you better imagine it? The words meadow and prairie are synonyms.
Now, when we talk about the Prairies with a capital “P”, we’re talking about something a little different; in this instance we’re referring to three Canadian provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Take a close look at where these three provinces are located on the map of Canada: They are the centre of the country, between British Columbia to the west and Ontario to the east. To the south are the United States and the Northwest Territories are to the north.
By 1905, the Prairies were undergoing rapid development. There were still few inhabitants on this vast territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say "belongs"..., but this would soon change. This was very different from what was happening in the St. Lawrence Lowlands in Québec, a region that at the time was already developed, urbanized and industrialized.
Manitoba became a Canadian province in 1870, but its territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say "belongs"... was smaller than it is today. Because it was only a small square of land to the north of the U.S. border, it was called the “postage stamp province.” Saskatchewan and Alberta, meanwhile, would be created only in 1905.
While we sometimes hear about the settling of the Prairies, this territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say "belongs"... had long been home to Indigenous Nations, such as members of the Cree, Ojibwa, Nakoda Oyadebi, and Dene Nations. Members of these and other Nations lived on this territoryA territory is an area of land, or sometimes of sea, that we can say "belongs"... for centuries before the arrival of Europeans and still live on it today. Between 1871 to 1921, Indigenous Nations in the Prairies and the West CoastCoast - A coast is an area where the land meets the sea. Côte - Une... negotiated treaties with the government. Read more about the implication of these treaties here!
Wondering what the prairie we mentioned in the first paragraph has to do with the Canadian Prairies? Read the section, Rich soil and find out.
Service national du Récit de l’univers social. Translated and adapted by LEARN/RÉCIT.
