Culture
editFarmFest
editFarmFest or Terreferme celebrates Willow Bunch's rich history on the Campagne family’s reconstructed farm that's 15 kilometers from town. The festival is a place for farmers, cowboys, artists and families to mingle and bridge both culture and language. The two-day is held at the end of July, or at the beginning of August and features wagon rides, performances, and a pancake breakfast.[1]
Of the six Campagne siblings, Paul, Annette, Michelle and Suzanne reformed as their old-time band, Hart-Rouge. The band performs its ‘80s hits and foot-stomping folk harmonies. The other two family members, Solange and Carmen, join the other four to perform as their previous band, Folle Avoine. The family band sings in French, English, Spanish, and Mi’kmaq.[2]
The festival's fifth anniversary in 2013 also welcomed Connie Kaldor, Heather Bishop, J.J. Voss, Michel Lalonde, and Anique Granger.[3] Most artists are francophone or fransaskois, and their CDs are sold at the event.
The town’s population decreased by 3.7 percent from 2006 to 2011[4]; therefore, FarmFest is a way for the Campagnes to give back to a town that gave them so much.
Métis
editA region known as “the hamlet” used to divide the town’s Métis and settlers. The majority of Métis lived in squalid shacks while others lived in miserable hovels that were scattered across the barren land.[5] The old, abandoned homes can be seen outlining a coulee that’s south of town.
Métis' Art
editMétis’ art blends both European and First Nations tradition. The materials used are quills, beads, ribbons, and silk embroidery threads. Women were considered to be great needleworkers who added colour to all household and personal objects. The five-petal rose became a popular symbol used by Metis women; however, some families developed a variation of the flower for self-representation.[6]
Dutch Hollow Art Club
editThe club was formed in February 1954. The country school of Dutch Hollow closed; therefore, some members felt that they needed to keep the community spirit alive. The club’s initial hobby was shell craft although they ventured into sewing, ceramics, and cookbook making. The original nine members consisted of Emma Tindall, Violet Pulfer, Jean Paterson, Kathleen Gibson, Gladys Carey, Helen Fritz, Kathryn Eger, and Lois DeBlois. Tony Fritz loaned the group $40 to initialize. Thereafter, it charged ten cents for each cup of coffee to raise funds. Members celebrated the 20th, 25th, and 40th anniversaries at the parish hall by playing cards and games, and feasting.[7]
Tourism
editSt. Victor’s Petroglyphs Provincial Park
editThe park holds a Saskatchewan mystery. The site is home to over 300 petroglyphs, which contain carvings of bison footprints, elk, deer, bear and bird tracks, and human faces.[8]
Visitors can camp among the coulees that are lined with white poplar, ash, maple and American elm at the neighboring Sylvan Valley Regional Park.[9] Camping is also available six kilometers southwest of town at Jean-Louis Légaré Regional Park.
Willow Bunch Golf Club
editThe golf club is near the campsite that sits within the park. The land was bought for $4,000 and development began in 1959. The nine-hole course was built using the natural terrain; however, some elevation changes were made to accommodate the large hills and valleys.[10] For 50 cents an hour, workers had to climb and mark trees with ribbon, dig out roots, and blast out four-foot tree stumps. It was a five-year project that finished in 1965.[11] The course hosts a men’s and women’s tournament along with kid’s night golfing.
After a game, Willow Bunch's Jolly Giant Pub offers drink and food specials for golfers. A contest was held to win a trip to Las Vegas in 2013.
Willow Bunch Museum
editThe museum supplies the history of its town and surrounding area in a former convent of the Sisters of the Cross. The Museum was established in 1972 by a group of local students through a government summer employment program. It has two full floors of eight exhibits, which are individually dedicated to Édouard Beaupré, pioneers, the chapel, town archives, homemakers, Métis, Northwest Mounted Police/tools and technology, and the hospital. Local and former residents donated the artifacts; however, many of them are packed in boxes that are still waiting to be displayed.[12]
--Jeremy Simes (talk) 22:47, 12 November 2013 (UTC)
- ^ Willow Bunch FarmFest Festival Terre Ferme,” last modified November 11, 2013, http://www.farmfesterreferme.ca/Farmfest_Terre_ferme/Home_page_dacceuil.html
- ^ Levesque, Roger, "Celebrating a Giant of a Homecoming; Hart Rouge Returns to Musical Roots with Disc Dedicated to `Willow Bunch Giant'." Edmonton Journal, September 20, 1997
- ^ “Les Artistes/Artistic Lineup,” last modified November 11, 2013, http://www.farmfesterreferme.ca/Farmfest_Terre_ferme/Artists_Artistes.html.
- ^ “Census Profile,” last modified November 11, 2013, http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=4703028&Geo2=CD&Code2=4703&Data=Count&SearchText=Willow%20Bunch&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=Population&Custom=&TABID=1
- ^ Longman, Harold, “Co-op farm solves Métis’ problem.” Regina Leader-Post, October 3, 1951
- ^ Metis Decorative Arts, document, Willow Bunch Museum, Willow Bunch.
- ^ Willow Bunch Historical Society, Poplar Poles and Wagon Trails (Willow Bunch: Willow Bunch Historical Society, 1998), 78-79.
- ^ “St. Victor Petroglyphs History,” last modified November 11, 2013, http://www.saskparks.net/Default.aspx?DN=87e637b7-2f3f-43a8-bb2e-7a28dffe1e2f&subDN=079e38ac-61b6-4266-ab4e-8e2b5a51976f
- ^ Wright, A. Robert. Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, ed., s.v. “Trees.” Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, 2007.
- ^ Willow Bunch Historical Society, Poplar Poles and Wagon Trails (Willow Bunch: Willow Bunch Historical Society, 1998), 81-83.
- ^ “Course History,” last modified November 11, 2011, http://www.willowbunch.ca/golf/course_history/
- ^ “Museum History,” last modified November 11, 2011, http://www.willowbunch.ca/museum/history/