Culture and history

As you drive through the small village of Abernethy, Saskatchewan and onto the gravel road leading to Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site, the open prairie landscape is interrupted by a visual feast: a grand stone house, a commanding barn, flourishing gardens and rows of trees – the leaves trembling in the prairie breeze. Often described as a prairie oasis, Motherwell Homestead stands out from the surrounding fields.

The life of a homesteader was a challenging one! With little more than an ox or work horse, a plough, cart, and one's own hands, homesteaders carved out a living on the open plains. Dust storms, blizzards and grasshoppers all took their toll. Many homesteaders gave up; however, Motherwell and his family persevered.