PHOTO CREDIT: WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM
Many mothers and their children had to make the journey to Canada without their husbands. Husbands would go ahead to set up the homesteads and have their families join them after some essentials were set up.
Family
Overview
There were many differed tasks involved in living on a homestead. In order to get everything done, these tasks were shared by all members of the family, regardless of age. When all the chores were done for the day, and if there was any time left, the family might gather around the fire and listen to stories. There was not much leisure time after a long day of hard work. Bedtime came early because all of the family members had work to do the next day.
PHOTO CREDIT: WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM
Settlers have their carts loaded full with all of their belongings as they travel a long journey to find their homestead.
The settlers who came to Saskatchewan faced hardships just like the settlers who arrived in the United States.
Dad
The main responsibility for the men was taking care of the farm. They worked long hours in the field, planting crops and then harvesting them. They spent the winters keeping the animals safe and feeding them. The men chopped wood for the fire. Fathers were also in charge of protecting the home, the family, and animals from any dangers, such as wildlife or prairie fires. Fathers did not generally do any of the work inside the home and did not usually take care of the children during the day.
PHOTO CREDIT: WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM
Neighbouring men and their sons are working together to harvest this crop.
This man is chopping wood to heat his home for his family.
Men mainly took care of the farm, the farm animals, and their families.
How have Dad’s roles in the household changed over the years? Do Dad’s help with the house chores now?
Mom
Mothers started their days very early and the day did not end until everyone was in bed. Mothers’ tasks were almost all things related to food, home, and children. The amount of work they had to do depended on the time of year. At harvest time, there was a large amount of food preparation. The threshing crews were big (as many as 30 men) and it was the responsibility of the woman in the home to prepare the meals for them.
Women spend a lot of their time preparing food, including gardening.
Early women settlers had a major impact on agriculture in Saskatchewan.
Harvest was also the time for preserving fruits and vegetables from the garden so that the food would last all winter. Mothers had to keep the house clean, the laundry done, and everyone fed. It was also the mother’s job to take care of the children until they were old enough to take care of each other.
This farm wife is feeding chickens in 1946.
A farm wife driving a tractor.
Children
The children helped with many different jobs on the farm and started helping from a very young age. The children would help their parents with any job they would be working on. They would help make soap, care for the garden, and feed the animals.
PHOTO CREDIT: WESTERN DEVELOPMENT MUSEUM
During harvest time, children spend a lot of time helping their parents in the field.
Children were often responsible for tasks, such as keeping the wood supply for the fireplace and stove stocked and filling their water tank in the house that stored water for the family. Children would go to school and have to do these jobs before or after school.
Children growing up on farms started doing chores and helping out at a very young age. Feeding the chickens was often a child’s first job.
Girls were taught to sew and knit while the boys learned how to work the fields and take care of the land. Once the children were older, they would also help look after their younger siblings.
Photo Credit: Western Development Museum
A mother and her six children stand in front of their sod home.
Grandparents
Many of the grandparents would live with their children and grandchildren when they became too old to take care of themselves. The grandpa would help with the farm work that the father was doing, and the grandma would help with the work of the mother. Because the conditions were so harsh in both the summer and the winter, grandparents had to rely on their family in order to survive.
Photo Credit: Western Development Museum
This grandpa helps out his family by sawing wood.
Grandparents often lived on their own farm until they could not do the work on their own anymore.