The Yorkton branch of the SGS meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Yorkton Public Library. Meetings usually have a featured topic or speaker, and genealogists at any stage of research are welcome. Whether you are just beginning to trace your family tree or have been researching for a long time, you will find conversations and experiences that will help you on your family quest. There is no better time to record your family history than right now.
If one of your new year鈥檚 resolutions is to finally begin your genealogy research, the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society is hosting two workshops: Beginner Genealogy 鈥� Exploring Your Roots (Part 1) on Saturday, February 24, 2018 and Beginner Genealogy 鈥� Next Step (Part 2) on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Advanced registration is required. Space is limited so register now at 306-780-9207 or visit www.saskgenealogy.com for more information. Both of these workshops are in Regina.
There is an abundance of information at the SGS library. Their site says this: 鈥淭he Saskatchewan Genealogical Society Library and Research Room is made up of materials based on the needs and interests of its membership and the general public. These resources range from how to get started doing research in each area to indexes and records that enable the researcher to trace their ancestors from Saskatchewan back to the 1600鈥檚 in Canada and the United States, the 1500鈥檚 in Great Britain and Scandinavia and the 1700鈥檚 in Europe. A selection of gazetteers and maps help the researcher to find the names and locations of communities their ancestors lived in.鈥� The Saskatchewan Genealogical Society (SGS) Library and Research Room is located in Room 110 鈥� 1514 11th Avenue in Regina, Saskatchewan. The library is open to the public Monday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. 鈥� 4:30 p.m.
For a new approach to saving and compiling your genealogy information, go to the SGS site and click on the 鈥渆ducation鈥� tab; then on 鈥渄igital storytelling鈥�. This could be an amazing and memorable way to tell your family story.
For those who are researching First Nations or Metis genealogy, a good place to begin is the Government of Canada Library and Archives (www.bac-lac.gc.ca/english/discover/aboriginal-heritage). The 鈥減reface鈥� page on this site says that 鈥淕enealogical research can be a complex and lengthy process鈥� Other possible difficulties are many: the changing meanings of words and expressions over time; historical information rewritten from the perspective of the present鈥hese difficulties are compounded in aboriginal genealogical research. Locating records can be challenging, and once found, records can be hard to interpret. For example, records based on aboriginal perspectives of oral traditions and spiritual concepts can be difficult to understand for researchers of European origin.鈥�
But the search for family information is always fascinating and fulfilling. The place to begin is with what you know and work back. Write down the names and dates of relatives. Talk to the oldest family members and make notes of all their information and family stories. Explore on-line for sites that focus on aboriginal heritage. Talk to other genealogists to share research experiences and challenges.
Submitted by Debbie Hayward聽
