Folklife and Superstition: The Luck, Lore and Worldviews of Prairie Homesteaders

Witness to Yesterday (The Champlain Society Podcast on Canadian History)

Greg Marchildon talks to Sandra Rollings-Magnusson about her book, Folklife and Superstition: The Luck, Lore and Worldviews of Prairie Homesteaders. The homesteading era on the Canadian Prairies (1867–1914) saw hundreds of thousands of migrants from northwestern and eastern Europe settle in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, seeking prosperity or fleeing hardship. Historian Sandra Rollings-Magnusson emphasizes the personal stories of these homesteaders, using archival sources to showcase their lives filled with humor, superstition, and resilience. She explores practices like water-witching and neighborly pranks, illustrating how they adapted to challenges and formed diverse communities. This blend of traditions created a unique Prairie culture, enriching our understanding of this significant period in Canadian history. Sandra Rollings-Magnusson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at MacEwan University with over thirty years of research on western Canadian homesteaders. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Regina and a PhD from the University of Alberta and has published numerous articles and three books on homesteading life. Image Credit: Heritage House If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society’s mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada’s past.