Recording – Refusing to Harness a River – Shannon Stunden Bower

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Refusing to Harness a River: A Study of Dryland Farmers Resisting Irrigation in Mid-20th Century Saskatchewan

Shannon Stunden Bower

Centre for Human Rights Research – University of Manitoba

On October 30, 2025, the University of Manitoba’s Just Waters project, Institute for the Humanities and Department of History hosted Dr. Shannon Stunden Bower for a talk titled, “Refusing to Harness a River: A Study of Dryland Farmers Resisting Irrigation in mid-20th Century Saskatchewan.” This talk focused on dryland farmers from Saskatchewan’s Outlook-Broderick area in their efforts to resist the Saskatchewan government’s attempts to compel them to irrigate. Drylander resistance illuminates key features of this agricultural community in the mid-20th century: the importance of the ideals of rights and democracy; the significance of women’s roles, and the persistence and creativity of those who sought to protect their own ideas of how best to make good lives and good livings. Watch a video of the talk below.

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