Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia


Heritage Trails

CKUA and the Heritage Community Foundation are proud to present this series of features about Alberta history. Freelance writer and producer Cheryl Croucher has conducted exhaustive research and extensive interviews to present this entertaining and wide-ranging set of three minute features. Cheryl tells the tales behind historic placenames, shares stories, and recounts the thousands of fascinating events drawn from both the history and pre-history of Alberta.

The Heritage Trails series has been produced with a generous grant from the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation.

Below are links to various Heritage Trailsaudio (MP3) files about Alberta's Black pioneers.

Amber Valley and Black Settlement
Hear about the first black settlement in Alberta and Jefferson Davis Edwards, one of its most important members. Then discover how Amber Valley got its name. Historian Merrily Aubrey explains the importance of Amber Valley as a centre of black settlement in Alberta.
(Running Time: 2:17)

Bar U Ranch: Cowboy Life
Listen to Simon Evans explain living conditions for the riders at the Bar U, where legendary Black cowboy John Ware worked, and hear about the famous cowboy, Charlie Miller.
(Running Time: 2:52)

Homesteading, Part One: Political Context
Before people could settle in newly-bought Rupert's Land, the Canadian government put policies in place that would secure it for various purposes, including homesteading.
(Running Time: 2:53)

Homesteading, Part Two: Advertising For Settlers
How did the government of Canada attract settlers to Alberta? Listen to learn more.
(Running Time: 2:48)

Homesteading, Part Three: Getting Here
Alberta's first settlers had to endure many hardships before they even arrived in the province. Learn how immigrants dealt with the arduous journey into Alberta.
(Running Time: 2:20)

Homesteading, Part Four
Who was allowed to come to Alberta? What were the provisions of settlement, and what could settlers bring with them? Listen to find out.
(Runing Time: 2:43)

Homesteading, Part Five: Getting Started on the Land
What were the immediate prospects for the new settlers? You'll discover this was no time to relax!
(Running Time: 2:29)

Homesteading, Part Six: Breaking the Land
Before the settlers could build their homes, they needed to clear and break the land. Listen to historian Pat Meyers describe the implements and the hard work of these pioneers.
(Running Time: 2:44)

Homesteading, Part Seven: Seeding
Learn how homesteaders spent their first spring and summer in the fields. Hear about the first season of seeding their new land.
(Running Time: 2:52)


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            For more on Black settlement in Alberta, visit Peel’s Prairie Provinces.

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