Page 4 Cassiar Courier July 1987 PRAIRIE CANADA MUSEUMOBILE and its doors were only open a few minutes before dozens of people strolled the lengths of three 14 metre long trail- ers viewing “the past”. For the majority of youngsters, this was their first introduction to a museum. Many kids, both young and old, toured the facility several times and each time spotted something they had previously missed. The Prairie Canada Museumobile introduces visit- ors to the rich physical landscape and diverse population which have shaped a vital and vibrant Alberta, Saskat- chewan and Manitoba. From the majestic dinosaurs of prehistory to today’s steely oil rigs, the Prairies abound with people, places, events and experiences - testimonials all to its opulent heritage. Fk . & ee DINOSAURS BONES WERE A CURIOSITY TO JAMIE HARRISON, DEVON WALKER AND ERIN MCKENNA The first unit introduces the visitor to the geog- raphy, plants, and animals of Prairie Canada. Much of the region’s natural heritage ~ its soils, minerals, groundwater, lakes, streams, timber and wildlife - owe their presence ultimately to an almost incomprehensibly long period of geological evolution. A colourful diagramatic time scale portrays the great lengths of time involved in all the geological processes. An animated video-tape pre- sentation relates the story of the ancient seas, and ex- plains how the resources, now considered to be typical- ly “western”, owe their origin to these seas. A series of graphics, photographs, and models of dinosaurs illustrate the continuous evolution of life forms in the area. Mod- els of the Giant Sloth and primitive horse represent some of the many species that came to North America across the Bering Land Bridge during the great ice ages. TO THE EDITOR Dear Sir: It has been brought to my attention that many Cassiar area residents have expressed some concern regarding the change in ownership of the Cassiar Shop- ping Centre. As I do not live in the Cassiar area and cannot deal directly with you all the time, I have asked four Cassiar residents to form a committee and to meet with me once a month, to advise me of your concerns and also to help you understand my position as Owner/ Operator. If you have any problems or questions please contact the Cassiar Shopping Centre management or one of the following committee members: Mrs. C. Terris 778-7677 Mrs. B. Carter 778-7751 Mrs. S. Hickman 778-7440 Mrs. B. Liddle ae It is my intention to provide Cassiar area resi- dents with a store that provides good service and good quality at the most reasonable price possible. Your input can help us to reach this goal. B. Koch Owner/Operator With the retreat of the last continental ice sheet, six distinctly different life zones, or biomes, emerged each populated with the plant and animal species best adapted to local conditions. Dioramas featuring the grouse species illustrate well how even closely-related species can, and must, adapt to ecological conditions ROBBY HOWARD GETS A CLOSE LOOK AT MOOSE BONES AND INDIAN ARTIFACTS Maintaining nature’s precarious balance is further explored in Trailer Il of Prairie Canada. A number of moose and bison-related artifacts illustrate the various ways in which the Cree and Plains Indians adapted to their habitats, living and dying by the same ecological laws that govern all life. A diorama of a beaver lodge signifies the importance of the fur trade, the first of many disrup- tions that would affect the harmony between humans and nature. A series of trade goods, metal utensils, and glass beads typify the fur trading society, one which recruited native people as trappers while at the same time drastic- ally altering their lifestyles. A unique spin-off of the fur trade period was the evolution of the Metis. Half Indian and half European, they adopted a lifestyle that bridged the gap between the two cultures. Sometimes businessmen, hunters and trappers, their colourful lifestyles, evidenced in their dress, entertainment, and government, is captured in a number of impressive artifacts and graphics. The immense responsibilities assigned to the North West Mounted Police are conveyed by a series of vignettes correlated to an imaginately designed graphic. Rare example of a N.W.M.P. uniform pays tribute to the first recruits whose distinctive dress soon became. the symbol of the force. : The remainder of the unit is devoted to illustrating Sir John A. Macdonald's vision for a strong and united Canada. A diorama showing track-laying across the Prairies epitomizes his dream of linking East and West. His further dream of populating the “great lone land” is shown by a colourful assortment of promotional materials which succeeding in luring thousands of people to western Canada. Settlers poured in from almost all parts of the world, eager to tame the prairies with their own brand of ingenuity and fortitude. A selection of artifacts reflects the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the many who chose to settle between the Rockies and the Red River. Whatever their destination, city or country, formidible obstacles awaited them. While examining the interior of a sod house or the overcrowded room of a tenament building, the visitor is invited to ponder the hardships endured by these hardy pioneers. Dear Sir/Madam: In the last provincial general election 314 voters in the constituency of Atlin registered to vote on election day. Left off the voters’ list, they were exercising a right enjoyed in most other provinces - a right that the Social Credit government is planning to wipe out in British Columbia. Across BC over 157,000 people voted in. this manner in 1986. In the Atlin riding over 13 percent of all votes cast on election day were registered at the polling station. But if the provincial government has its way, voters like these, missed by our sloppy voter registration system, will be denied the right to register and vote on polling day. The solution, of course, is to improve our system of voter registration. But the small improvements in Bill 28, the Election Amendment Act, in no way compen- sate for removing voters’ rights to register on election day. ; Instead of disenfranchising citizens who are left oft the voters’ list, we should develop a full enumera- tion at the beginning of each election. For the few people missed by this process the right to register on polling day must be maintained. BC has a long and unfortunate history of unfair election practices - like redrawing the political map TURNING THE CORNER,SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE STARTLED BY THIS MENNONITE WOMAN Not all the newcomers who came dreaming of suc- cess achieved it. The class distinctions, urban slums, economic exploitation, the vice and immorality - which many had sought to escape - were now evident in their adopted land. A number of groups, represented in a large mural at the entrance of the final unit, organized to era- dicate the injustices and inequities which were wasting their society. Rare film footage from the Winnipeg General Strike allows the visitor to witness one of the most dramatic and traumatic labour-management confron- tations in Canadian history. In the decade that followed the Great War, west- ern Canadians experienced a return to prosperity. The quality of life improved for most Canadians, and social change for western men and women developed out of the technological improvements and economic upswings. that took place during the decade. A large photographic album captures the sense of adventure and spirit of op- timism that epitomized the Golden Decade. . The New York stock crash of 1929 shattered the promises of the “recovery decade”. Prices for wheat, coal and lumber plummetted and so too did: the spirit of westerners forced to watch their dreams turn to dust. Collages of stark images and heart-rendering reminiscences dramatically reveal the human misery that was pervading the land. Despite the dust, drought and depression; many farmers were able to weather the uncertainty of the times by using their resourcefulness to somehow ‘“‘make-do”. Displayed is a selection of innovative “homemade” items, implements, and a diorama of a “Bennett Buggy”. Visitors will be able to listen to the same songs that gave city relieferes and isolated prairie farmers a chance to’ dream and forget their troubles. : The outbreak of World War II united and mobil- ized western Canada. A new and highly industrialized and international world was now calling not only on Prairie Canada’s wheat and cattle, but also on its non- agricultural resources. Intricately detailed models and - interactive displays help the visitor to discover Prairie Canada’s rich resources - the key to economic growth and diversification. Growth and prosperity have conjured an efflor- -escence of the performing, representational and conserv- atory arts throughout Prairie Canada. The finale of the exhibition invites the visitor to explore the great variety of literary and artistic wealth which abound in the region. Among many of the artists featured are Allen Sapp, Russel Uristy and Joseph Farard. Their work, like that of many contemporary artists, is yielding sensitive and striking new images of Prairie Canada and exploring the nature of western consciousness, one which views the past with pride and the future with concerned and conscien- ious optimism. : registration at each election, and denying people the right to register on voting day, Bill 28 writes another sad chapter in that history. Gordon Hanson, MLA New Democrat Spokesman on Fair Election Practices. May 28, 1987 OUT FOR A SPINI Oe eS ee TY A Letter From Telegraph Creek sy “Generation Gap” by Father Roger Holmes On’ Victoria’ Day;, May 18th; Télegrapli Creek witnessed the’ funeral-of the oldest’ woman in Canada, Emma Brown, who died-at the age ‘of 106. Granidma Emma. she was. to all, and: actually grandmother: to a sizeable proportion