Featured presenters included Dr. Mary Malainey of the Brandon University, Department of Anthropology. She spoke about the findings in her report, “The Recent Investigations of Pre-contact Indigenous Farming and other archaeological sites in the Pierson Wildlife Management Area”. Malainey said the highest concentration of findings were located where Gainsborough Creek and Antler River meet the Souris River.
Elder Ozwald McKay, Sioux Valley First Nation presented some history of the Dakota Nation on Turtle Mountain.
Tracey Salamondra and Carla Cooke were both teachers at Hartney School when they received the 2022 Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Teaching. They initiated the Whitewater Park Project that involved Elgin, Hartney and area and resulted in the installation of history storyboards at Whitewater Park. The goal was to spark an interest in history.
“We wanted the students to figure out who they are in their community, to develop speaking and listening skills through interviewing local people. We asked the students to study ‘themselves’ and how their decisions impact the community,” said Salamondra.
The students learned how to think like historians. Their curiosity was piqued and they took complete ownership of the project, which included 23 stories that can be found on storyboards along a walking trail at Whitewater Park.
“The kids took the history from the museum and changed it into their own voice. Notably they were most interested in the years from 1915-1935 when they noticed how connected the community was at that time,” concluded Salamondra.
Jon Whetter spoke about the making of the film “Chain Lakes Barn” by Julie Watt. Jan McClelland tells the story from the barn’s perspective. The film is about the Whetter family farm and its large barn at Chain Lakes.
“All visitors, no matter their age or where they come from, naturally gravitate to the barn,” said Whetter, who is struggling to decide the barn’s future.
He spoke about the barn’s heyday when it was in full use and the heart of the farm. In 1965 the barn, which was built in 1918, was showing its age. Since there was a substantial Hereford herd on the farm, the barn was still needed and a work team came to do some restoration in the winter of 1965. They cut the roof down to eight feet, giving the barn a renewed life for many decades to come. Now the time has come again to consider what is to become of the cherished barn. Check out the video on YouTube at The Chain Lakes Barn: A History.
The final presenter was Troy Angus of Pierson, owner of The Den Authentic Barnwood. Angus purchased the Lake of The Woods and United Grain Growers grain elevators at Elva with the purpose of salvaging and reclaiming the contents and materials, in particular the wood and tin.
“I had a dress rehearsal for this as I had salvaged the wood from an elevator in Carievale, Saskatchewan where 50,000 board feet were saved. The special thing about Elva was I was able to purchase the elevators and the land, which gave me the time I needed. A video called ‘100 Years of Dirt: Massive Reclaimed Wood Project’ basically went viral. Once people got word they could purchase a piece/pieces of the antique elevators it made the project fly.”
“We were able to secure a government grant, which beefed up the digital presence and the word went worldwide. The post office was very busy, with the furthest place we shipped to being Australia. We were even contacted by U.S. salvage groups for advice. It put Elva back on the map,” concluded Angus.
In Dan Furlan’s closing remarks he saluted TMSPHA for its active organization and the tremendous turnout at the seminar.
He explained there continues to be decreased government support for the Manitoba Historical Society.
“We need to make more noise and do more networking. Southern Manitoba is doing very well, especially in its support to students and teachers. We need to continue to figure out how to facilitate reconciliation more effectively. We must provide education. We have to tell the real history, even though it’s not always pretty.”
“The Indigenous people were here for a long, long time before European settlement. We need a sharper focus, new strategic plan to tie in with Truth & Reconciliation,” he concluded.

by JUDY WELLS
Recorder staff