The Doukhobor Dugout House located south of Blaine Lake officially opened for the season July 5.
Brenda Cheveldayoff, site owner, continues to express her appreciation to the many individuals that assisted her over the years to realize the historical significance of the area.
The seasonal theme focuses on the correspondence between Peter Verigin and Leo Tolstoy. Volunteers always dress in period costume to capture the atmosphere of the era. Pasha Ponomarenko as Leo Tolstoy and Yasha Ponomarenko as Peter Verigin began the guided tour atop the North Saskatchewan riverbank. The actors read their corresponding letters in a conversational attempt to draw the visitors back in time. The depiction emphasizes how Verigin was instrumental in influencing Tolstoy in supporting the Doukhobors in their fight for peace.
Cheveldayoff continued the tour by guiding the visitors down the path to the spring where volunteer Donna Choppe demonstrated washing clothes with lye soap.
"I often ask some members from the group to partake in the wash to give them a hands-on perspective of what it was like to perform daily tasks at that time," explained Choppe.
The tour continued to the site of the dugout house where Cheveldayoff explained the relevance of the site and the artifacts that were found during the archeological excavation.
Visitors were then guided back up the bank to participate in the plough pulling event. Twelve people volunteered to demonstrate pulling while one person manned the plough.
"It is important to share these ancestral events with other cultures," explained Choppe. "It adds clarity by providing an opportunity for questions to be answered."
Choppe identified one of the big misconceptions, that the women were forced to pull the plough as a means of punishment. This is not true but rather, the women devised the system to assist in clearing land for gardens and crops while the men were away earning money. Women would often spend their time working the land while singing songs of praise. It was a difficult time but yet a time of peace and opportunity to draw close with their creator.
The tour concluded at the building identified as the Prayer Home. Guests were greeted by Choppe, also in period costume, who shared the significance of being a Doukhobor.
Visitors were encouraged to visit the quonset where numerous artifacts and memorabilia were displayed. Also available were refreshments and traditional home made bread served with butter or jam.
There was a good cross-section of visitors bridging the gap between generations in attendance throughout the day. Approximately 450 individuals attended the opening day event.
The site is open only on Saturdays during the month of July and guided tours are offered at 11:00 am, 1:00pm and 3:00 pm. A nominal admission fee is applicable to individuals over 12 years of age. For more information on the Doukhobor Dugout House and its tours, please visit www.doukhobordugouthouse.com
