Alberta: History 

In this activity, you will complete a timeline of early Alberta.

1. Visit the Aspects of Alberta Archaeology Web site. This site was created by
     the Provincial Museum of Alberta.

2. Using information from the site, fill in the dates for each event in this timeline.
    Click here to print a copy of the timeline

1._____________

People live in campsites along the mountains. Most of Alberta is ice-free. Hunters use large thrusting spears. Giant ice-age mammals like the mammoth have disappeared.

Sand dunes move across parts of Alberta. Drought is extensive. Lakes dry up, and forest fires are common.

People begin to use the more effective spear thrower to hunt animals from a greater distance.

People begin to make pemmican as a form of food preservation.

The tipi is developed for housing.

Trade with people from the areas now known as Oregon, North Dakota, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico is an important practice.

The bow and arrow are introduced to Alberta hunters by people from the far north. Pottery is introduced by people from the areas now known as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Buffalo jumps, such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump west of Fort Macleod, provide large amounts of buffalo meat.

The Hudson’s Bay Company receives its Charter. It can now trade in Western Canada.

Anthony Henday becomes the first English-speaking European to visit Alberta. He works for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

The term “homesteader” came into use at the end of the 1800s. It described people who came to build a home on the almost-free land. Homesteaders came to Alberta from around the world. Often they did not know exactly what hardships they would face.

In this activity, you will prepare a brochure and present it to your class.

1. The year is 1905. Imagine you are a storekeeper in a small town along the
    railway in  Alberta. You have created a “survival kit” for homesteaders. This kit is
    made up of all the items homesteaders have told you they cannot live without.

2. Create a brochure explaining what is in your survival kit. Include a creative name
    for the kit. Add colourful pictures to make the items stand out.

The brochure must:
•   be neat and easy to read
•   describe each item in the survival kit
•   explain why each item is so important to homesteaders

The brochure should also provide additional information about the area, such as climate, famous people, or events.

See The Last Best West: Advertising for Immigrants to Western Canada Web site for samples of early Canadian posters. These posters may give you some ideas about what to show in your brochure.

3. Present your brochure to the class. Your presentation should be at least
    two minutes in length.

Include props to help make it more realistic. They could include sample items from the kit, photographs, and a copy of the brochure to pass around.

1. Visit the Adventurous Albertans Web page.

2. Click on one of the names at the right-hand side of the page. Read
    the information about this settler.  

3. You will be writing an interview with this person. Look at magazines and
     newspapers for examples of interviews.  

4. Write your interview. It should consist of your questions and the
    settler’s answers. Include interesting details about how the person looked
    and acted during the interview.