French

History

The French were one of the first groups of Europeans to live and explore western Canada. French immigrants made the voyage from France to Canada because they wanted to make money from the fur trade.

An Illustrated world map highlights the countries of Canada and France.

To get to Saskatchewan from France is about a 7000 km journey.

A map illustration highlights the country of France and also shows the surrounding countries of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

The country of France and the surrounding countries.

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Men from Hudson Bay Company use a toboggan and snowshoes to travel in the winter.

Many of the French immigrants were men who worked as fur traders for the Hudson’s Bay Company.

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An Illustrated york boat travels on a river with four fur traders and some goods to trade to the First Nations people.

The first French immigrants explored Canada by travelling in boats along the rivers.

Many of the French married First Nations women. Over time, the people of mixed ancestries formed their own nationhood and called themselves Métis. There were Métis settlements near the South Saskatchewan River, particularly around Batoche and Duck Lake. French families who immigrating to Saskatchewan from France also settled near Duck Lake.

The Duck Lake museum shown flying the Canadian, Saskatchewan, Métis, and Fransaskois flags.

A French couple and their three young daughters are dressed up and posing for a family photo

Photo Credit: SASKATCHEWAN HISTORY ALBum

This French family immigrated to Canada.

Settlement

The French settled all over the province, including the Qu’Appelle Valley, Meadow Lake, Cypress Hills, Spiritwood, and Batoche. These communities in the Prairies were home to French Canadians, Métis, and other European immigrants. As the bison population dwindled and the fur trade declined, these settlers turned to agriculture to make a living. Life wasn’t easy for them at first – they had to learn how to survive harsh winters, care for livestock, learn English, and manage the risks of farming on the prairies.

A French man and his wife and nine of their thirteen children pose for a family photo in front of a fence and trees.

Photo Credit: Saskatchewan History Album

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This woman married a man who grew up in France and moved to Canada. This photo, taken in 1949, shows her helping on their family farm near Duck Lake, Saskatchewan.

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Two photos are shown; one of a young woman and the other of a young man.

PHOTO CREDIT: SASKATCHEWAN HISTORY ALBUM

This French family is working together to harvest their crop on their farm in 1938.

There were many other French settlements throughout Saskatchewan, and French culture is still represented in the province today.

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The father in this family was born in France, and when he was just 5 years old, his family moved to Saskatchewan. He married his wife in 1912 in Bellevue, Saskatchewan and they had 13 children.

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Culture

Some communities remained French and adapted to farming on the Prairies. French culture has had a strong influence on our province, and there are still some Francophone communities in Saskatchewan today. Duck Lake, Ferland, Saint-Denis, Gravelbourg, Zenon Park, Bellegarde, and Ponteix are all communities with a strong Francophone heritage, and they are proud to be Fransaskois.

An illustrated Metis man is wearing a vest with flowers on it as he plays the fiddle.

The Fransaskois Flag

The majority of Francophones in Saskatchewan live in the large urban areas of Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert.

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There are 15 Fransaskois schools in Saskatchewan designed for students with French heritage, where all subjects and activities, except for English class, are taught entirely in French up to grade 12. Additionally, there are 85 French immersion programs across the province!

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We see evidence of French culture all around us – in our schools, food labels, TV and radio stations, festivals, and food.

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