Date

Materials

Description

Wooden model of a dog sled with two snowshoes strapped to the back with red felt. The snowshoes are made of small, thinner rods of wood that are rounded into a circular shape with the ends taped together. There is clear plastic netting glued to the back of the wood.

The Prince Albert Winter Festival originally began in the 1920s but ended in 1929. However, in 1964, the festival was revived and has been an annual tradition for the community ever since. While the festival now is a chance for the community to come together and take part in a variety of different events like dog sled races, trade shows, dances, cook-offs, fiddle shows, and snow sculpting, the festival was originally a celebration of Prince Albert's origins as a fur trading post. In 1862, James Isbister, an English Métis fur trader, settled on a river lot farm in what is now the west end of Prince Albert. Over time, more of Isbister's family came to the area and it was called Isbister's Settlement for a few years. It was not until 1866 that James Nisbet, a Scottish-born missionary, came to the area and established a Presbyterian Mission called Prince Albert. In 1867, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) started their own farm about four kilometres west of the Prince Albert Mission. Over time, the HBC's involvement in the area grew and they continued their operations in Prince Albert for many years. However, by 1915, the HBC was gone from the area. But, a raw fur division continued to operate in the city until 1987.

Based on the design of the husky head, it is likely that this model came from a Prince Albert Winter Festival held sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The dog sled races are one of the biggest events of the Winter Festival, with people from all across the country who come to spectate and participate. Dogsledding in particular has deep roots in PA, especially concerning the area's connections to the fur trade. Throughout the 18th century, sled dogs were used by First Nations and Europeans to travel long distances and transport hunting supplies. At the time, sled dogs were the best option for navigating the terrain of Saskatchewan and the surrounding provinces during the winter and helped establish trade routes between communities over the years. Eventually, in the 19th century, horses gradually replaced sled dogs as they became more readily available. However, dogsledding remained a popular recreational sport for people to watch and participate in, as evidenced by the prevalence of it in the province today.

Based on the stamp on the bottom of the sled, this model has a connection to the North Park Centre, the Saskatchewan “Training Centre for the Mentally Handicapped” in PA, which was in operation from July 1961 until it closed in February of 1988. 

Marks/Labels

“80.5.722b” written in black pen on the handle.

Category