Introduction
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum, located in the center of downtown Regina, is a great site to learn about the history of the province as well as participate in cutting-edge research. This historic site, which has been offering educational opportunities for more than a century, has displays on archaeology, conservation ecology, and indigenous life (“Royal Saskatchewan Museum,” 2021). One of the oldest museums in Saskatchewan is the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. The museum was created in 1909 as part of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee festivities, with the bulk of its collection made up of items donated by local residents. In 1928, they built their building at 2445 Albert Street, which was located in the heart of the city and within walking distance of many inhabitants. Previously, it stood on property that later became known as Regina College. People of all ages and income levels are encouraged to make a donation, but it is not needed.
One of Western Canada’s oldest museums, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM), is located in Regina. Archaeological and natural science exhibitions at RSM have been pioneers in the development of innovative means of preserving, explaining, and exhibiting Canadian and global cultures. Geophysics and ethnographic exhibits have also been developed by RSM. Over five million objects, spanning from prehistoric times to current times, are preserved at the museum. One of Saskatoon’s most popular tourist attractions and a recognized North American institution with comparable programs, the museum’s ever-expanding permanent displays give an educational experience while studying areas including art galleries and interactive scientific laboratories (“Royal Saskatchewan Museum,” 2021).
I highly recommend visiting the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. A visit to the museum’s collection of unique objects, such as fossils, minerals and aboriginal artworks, made using diverse media, such as beads will have you riveted for hours. RSM also has an outstanding collection of intriguing artifacts, making it a must-see every time you’re in town (if only we had enough time in our lives.)
The report will concentrate on four distinct biomes that may be found in Saskatchewan. Because of its location on the Great Plains and its proximity to forests, the Prairie has a warm, humid climate with low levels of precipitation and heavy winds; the Taiga is located near forests where cold winters allow trees to thrive; and the Boreal Shield has cooler summers than other pine-dominated forest zones because they’re at higher altitude. Boreal Plain, on the other hand, has a more consistent year-round temperature, but more severe weather occurrences like blizzards.
Prairie
This is Saskatchewan amid North America’s huge prairies. An aspen parkland ring divides the grasslands from the boreal forest in an area with aspenbluffs. The southwest is dominated by the Cypress Hills, which are characterized by undulating plains and eroded uplands. The area is dominated by thick glacial deposits, resulting in chernozemic grassland soils. Because of its fertile soils, the area has become a popular destination for farmers. The area’s aquifers are supported by thick glacial deposits and other characteristics. Compared to the rest of Canada, it has a mild climate, with long, severe winters and short, scorching summers. Because of the low levels of moisture, most of the vegetation is made up of grasses, however there are a few floral species located lower on the land. Human population growth has had a significant impact on the extinction of wildlife species because they have specialized feeding habits (grazing) and fewer nesting trees (shelters), which makes raising young more difficult unless the animals travel more frequently or leave their habitats when they are mature (2021).
For humans, the Southern Alberta plains are a complex and tough environment to manage because of their immense size. It is difficult to strike a balance between conservation and consumption in this area because of the high expense of exploration. With reservoirs and dams controlling the flow of water downstream, natural vegetation has been damaged. Because of the high population density, decisions about natural resources here are more critical than in less populated areas like Northern Canada or Western Montana, where conservation efforts on private landholdings and public lands such as national parks or preserves are overseen by government agencies dedicated to environmental protection, are far more effective in relative terms (2021).
Saskatchewan
The original plains of Saskatchewan are part of the Moor Biome, which formerly spanned the prairie boonies all the way to the Mexican border. Climate, fire, and huge grazing animals have all had a role in shaping these grasslands. There is a severe humidity gap in late summer, poor rainfall-to-vaporization ratios, and periodic droughts in the typical grassland environment, which is characterised by early summer rainfall. The transition in the nature of Saskatchewan’s herbal regions from the warm, dry southwest to the northeast, which has equivalent rainfall but minor temperatures and evaporation, is what we’re referring to here. Soil samples from the Chernozem region reveal carbon-rich grassland with black or brown A horizons. Sedge populations, animals, fungi and microbes all interact with one other in moor habitats. Grass and graminoids rule the roost in grassland plant communities (grass-like floras such as sedges). Small shrubs (half bushes) are common in climate-defined grassland (steppe). Other non-graminoid forbs, such as herbaceous ones, may be found across the prairie, but they are less common. Plain and prairie are often used interchangeably. A parkland is a transitional area between grassland and forested areas with scattered trees (“Grasses and Grasslands, Native – Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – University of Saskatchewan,” 2021).
A hierarchical approach to ecoregions is used. There are three distinct neighborhoods here. In terms of magnitude, this is the most important ecozone. It displays big, vital ecosystems while neglecting political borders at the subcontinental scale. The ecozones follow the precipitation gradient throughout the province, extending from northwest to southeast. Independent communities are formed in ecozone subdivisions because of their distinct climatic or landform characteristics. Ecoregions are divided into ecodistricts, each of which represents a distinct set of environmental conditions, such as temperature, soil, water availability, and soil liberation. Southern Canada’s ecodistricts are dynamic and diversified, a haven for wildlife and human culture alike. A wide range of settings, from taiga woods to plains, provide many opportunities for naturalists and photographers alike. With eleven distinct ecoregions and two to four subregions in each of the four zones, this region provides something for everyone who is searching for adventure (and more) (2021).
Taiga shield
Northernmost ecozone of the province is covered by glacial drift and underlain by crystalline rocks of the Precambrian Shield. Multiple lakes have formed as a result of poor drainage and postglacial undulations, the most noteworthy of which being Lake Athabasca. Long, cold winters are forcing plants to seek refuge in lichen forests and lowland bogs. There is minimal vegetation in the province’s lowest ecozone. The region is home to a wide range of creatures that aren’t generally seen in more temperate climes. The fact that agriculture is tough to maintain makes it one of the few areas where people may be found. There are several mineral deposits in the area. (2021).
The Boreal Plain
One-third of the province’s 18.7 million hectares is covered by the largest ecozone in Canada, which comprises mostly of boreal forest on bedrock. Glaciers have sculpted the landscape, resulting in lakes ranging in size from vast bodies of water to tiny ponds, such those found in Taiga or the wetlands of Birch Lake Provincial Park on Black Bear Island near Port Elgin.
How the land changes have affected the first nation communities of Canada
Indigenous peoples of Saskatchewan have been influenced by Canadian and European influences for thousands of years. Animal extinction, fatal illnesses, and fur trade were only some of the hardships endured by individuals who sought to adapt and live through the aforementioned events. A policy of cultural erasure was implemented against Indigenous peoples when Canada acquired the Northwest Territories from the British Empire 235 years ago. Indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures have flourished and expanded over North America’s northern plains in the past 11,000 years since the glaciers receded. Bison hunters used fluted spear points to extend their range as long back as 9000 BC, as shown by archeological finds. Evidence suggests organized hunts for these animals began on the prairies about 3000 BC, when a hunting technique was developed by predecessors laying down foundation cultures, which may have contributed to this expansion’s westward movement of Eastern Early Archaic peoples around 6000 BC (“Indigenous Peoples of Saskatchewan – Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – University of Saskatchewan,” 2021).
Challenges faced by the people
- Land management disputes
For their prosperity, indigenous people must improve the way they manage their land and their finances. Additionally, First Nations people have difficulties in funding since they are prohibited from selling their land by the Indian Act, which prohibits them from doing so (“Indigenous Peoples of Saskatchewan – Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – University of Saskatchewan,” 2021).
- Health problems
Indigenous health has greatly benefited by the treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Diabetes and AIDS have emerged as two of the most pressing contemporary health issues for Indigenous peoples. In order to deal with these additional challenges, the First Nations and Inuit Branch of Health Canada provides assistance to community health clinics on reservations and Indian hospitals like Fort Qu’Appelle and Battleford.
- Economic stability
The lack of economic security has been a major issue for the province’s First Nations. Indian agriculture has traditionally failed because it cannot provide the “economic salvation” promised by treaties as a result of defective government policies that don’t function well together. One of these weaknesses is a lack of support for technical development. Today, the economy of the reserves is primarily reliant on government payments, but opportunities have shrunk and unemployment is rampant.
- Social and economic issues
As a whole, indigenous people are younger than the province average, with 49.9% of the population under the age of 20, compared to 26.5 percent in 2005. (Stats Canada). There are 5 percent of non-indigenous individuals in the United States who are poor and under-educated. In Saskatoon, 64% of Indians are below the Low Income Cutoff Poverty Line, compared to 18% of the total population. Housing reflects this reality and the high death rates in these communities compared to the broader population, which has a greater life expectancy than Indians. When it comes to imprisonment, Indians make up an alarming 54 percent of the population, despite only accounting for 3 percent of the total population.
- Law and justice issues
The federal government seeks to execute First Nations’ constitutionally guaranteed treaty rights, but provincial wildlife control clashes with those rights. That’s the first challenge. To avoid conflict, they have included them in enforcement and licensing efforts, and this has worked out well for them. Managing water resources, such as lakes and rivers, is another major concern, and it often prevents Indian lands from being exploited to their full potential as a result (or other sources). Neil Stonechild’s Death Investigation Commission is a challenging case to investigate since indigenous people make up more than 70% of provincial prisons.
References
Esask.uregina.ca. (2021). Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://esask.uregina.ca/tmc_cms/modules/customcode/includes/print_entry.cfmentryid=7347D82A-1560-95DA-430326DC72EE39D8.jsp.
Grasses and Grasslands, Native – Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – University of Saskatchewan. Teaching.usask.ca. (2021). Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/import/grasses_and_grasslands_native.php.
Indigenous Peoples of Saskatchewan – Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia – University of Saskatchewan. Teaching.usask.ca. (2021). Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/import/indigenous_peoplesof_saskatchewan.php.
Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Gbif.org. (2021). Retrieved 9 June 2021, from https://www.gbif.org/publisher/39fd7088-af63-4ad5-8d30-479a720a368b.
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