Statement made on 13 April 2010 by Senator Pana Merchant
Hon. Pana Merchant:
Honourable senators, 2010 marks the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the North-West Rebellion of 1885, which is being commemorated by a tri-provincial marketing initiative to attract tourists from across Canada and beyond. This program, entitled Trails of 1885, is a narrative that crosses the modern boundaries of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Trails of 1885 is planned as a joint project of tourism agencies and will draw on the multitude of historical references and sites from life on the Prairies in the 1880s.
Trails of 1885 will embrace the story of the Metis, First Nations and settlers who chose the Prairies as their new home. In fact, the cultural interaction among Metis, First Nations and the thousands of immigrants of 125 years ago is a defining moment in the history of Canada. The buffalo were gone, the railway was coming and vast tracts of lands were cleared by immigrants from dozens of nations.
Many important national historical sites can be found on the Prairies. Included among them are Fort Pitt, the fur trade post; Steele Narrows; Frenchman Butte; Fort Carlton; and the Caron Home at Batoche. As these sites are vibrant tourist attractions, the potential economic impact of increased tourism throughout the region is substantial. Circle tours and U-drive tours are being developed to bring life to our historical legacy by way of charting the Louis Riel story and the stories of the other leaders who preceded us.
It is my hope that Canadians and honourable senators will join with us as we commemorate the history of our young country and retrace the Trails of 1885.