Lieutenant Russ Mirasty and Brenda Cheveldayoff during the presentation of the King Charles III Coronation Medal on October. 3. (submitted photo/Brenda Cheveldayoff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

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Doukhobor Dugout House founder receives Coronation Medal

Nov 6, 2024 | 12:37 PM

The legacy of the Doukhobors has been honoured after Brenda Cheveldayoff, founder of the Doukhobor Dugout House, was bestowed with one of the King Charles III Coronation Medals.

“It wasn’t just about now, it’s about all the work that’s been done since the beginning,” the founder said of the Oct. 3 presentation.

Earlier this summer, the heritage property had a grand opening ceremony for an overnight experience and Cheveldayoff explained although Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty was unable to visit at that time, he came out a couple weeks later.

“I had an opportunity to sit and talk with him for 45 minutes alone without anybody around and we talked about this medal,” she said.

“He really believes in the historical significance of the place.”

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As they spoke, she related a tale involving a Cree man who was out gathering wild horses after seeing a group of settlers attempting to plant crops but were doing so without horsepower. Instead, he saw women pulling the ploughshare. As he watched the women toil in the mud, he went home and gathered up some horses to lend them.

“I said, ‘I really believe that we should have that storytelling onsite permanently,’” Chevaldayoff said, referring to the efforts to do just that alongside guidance from elders.

One of the dugout houses. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

The history of the location began with an archeological dig in 2004. The property was later designated as a national historical site and dedicated to the Russian exiles who came to Canada in 1899.

“I think it’s just another steppingstone towards the place being – it’s Saskatchewan’s place, it’s the people’s place – it’s all of Saskatchewan’s history,” she said.

“For the Doukhobor community being able to tell their story and educate people because there’s a lot of misconceptions about some of the stuff that’s gone on,” she said referring to one of the assumptions Douhobors are part of the breakaway sect known as Sons of Freedom.

“It’s nice to be able to have a place where people can come, and they can learn about the history and everything,” she said.

The medal itself is handed out to 30,000 recipients across Canada who have made significant contributions to their country.

“It sort of sets the record straight that this is a National Historical Site, and it needs to be treated as such,” she said.

“To be able to move forward and provide more education for people to have a place where people can come and feel that they will maybe want to talk about their heritage so, I’m really interested in bringing people together and sharing everybody’s stories.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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