Page 149 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada

Mule deer bucks in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

THE PRAIRIES

The central Canadian provinces of Alberta,
Saskatchewan, and Manitoba are collectively
known as the Prairies, and cover a vast region of
boreal forest and fertile grasslands. For thousands
of years the First Nations thrived here, depending
on the herds of bison that roamed the land. They
hunted the animals not only for food, but also to
produce clothing, shelter, and ceremonial objects.
By the end of the 19th century, however, bison
were hunted almost to extinction, the likely culprits
being the horses and rifles that accompanied the
incoming Europeans. These same newcomers built
up farming communities on the fertile lands, some
taking Aboriginal wives and forming a new cultural
grouping, the Métis. By the 20th century, the area’s
economy had come to rely not only on grain but
also on other natural resources such as gas and oil.
Today, the Prairies are known for their endless flat
fields of golden wheat, punctuated by a series of
dynamic towns and cities.
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