Saskatchewan: A New History

by Bill Waiser

"Authoritative, well-written... brilliant."
-- The Globe and Mail "Waiser's history tells the full, often gritty story of how politicians tried to carve a grid of European settlement, almost overnight, onto the wild Western steppe... Yet he does not shy away from the harsher the systematic attempt to extinguish aboriginal culture along with the bison; how women had to wait until 1979 to receive full property rights under law; or that farming culture began to die almost as quickly as it was born."
-- Canadian Geographic Bill Waiser leaves no stone unturned as he records the events and stories of the people who experienced from the province's earliest days when anything seemed possible through the years of the Great Depression, when the prospect of greatness seemed all but lost and to the second half of the century, when an intense, at times bitter debate raged over how best to govern Saskatchewan. Relying on the most up-to-date historical research available, Waiser offers new perspectives on traditional views and tackles previously neglected, often difficult, concepts and events.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Canada

563 pages, Paperback

First published May 24, 2005

Reviews

[Brahm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read. Waiser is a great historian and storyteller. This book clicked on so many levels. While I'm aware of some of the immigration-to-Canada stories in my extended family, it was fascinating to read this book and understand the macro social, political and economic context that my parents and grandparents grew up in, and that my great-grandparents immigrated to. This book made me feel like I better understand why I'm here.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it was written before A World We Have Lost: Saskatchewan Before 1905, this is the perfect follow up. You can trace the history of the area from pre contact right up until 2005. I did find some stories lacked a bit of detail I wish was there and perhaps some things were skimmed over (Colin Thatcher comes to mind). Overall, a great book for anyone interested in the history of the province.

[Gwen Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would figure that a history book about any province could be this interesting? Bill Waiser has done a masterful job compiling, knitting together, telling a compelling political story with extensive economic and social context, done with great sympathy for the indigenous peoples, metis, and all ethnicities of immigrants. It starts with the first sentence - "Sir Wilfrid was late."

I can't do a precis, but I can note two themes that most impressed me. Firstly, treatment of indigenous people by provincial and federal governments was universally appalling even though sometimes done with good intention - the outlook of the "do gooders" was fundamentally racist - this is clear again and again. Secondly, the federal government does not come out well in this account. Repeatedly, whether under the premiership of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, or R.B. Bennett, or Louis St Laurent or nearly anyone but John Diefenbaker, the federal government put the interests of eastern Canada ahead of Saskatchewan's (and presumably Manitoba and Alberta). I began to get some glimmer of an understanding of the origins of the resentment and distrust that we see today.

[Vontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical overview reference of Saskatchewan's development as a province in 1905, although only to 2005; written as a 100th anniversary project. I didn't read it all, focussed more on the later chapters of events of the last 40 years from about 1965-2005. Worth going back to this book at some time. I'm waiting for local libraries to have copies of Waiser's new book on the history prior to 1905.

[Beth Oehler]

Liked at first but found got increasingly hard to follow with political and opinion bits.