Coyote Flats Pioneer Village

Picture Butte (Alberta)

The Coyote Flats Oral History Project grew from a desire to preserve the knowledge of older residents of the Picture Butte, Alberta, area. Coyote Flats Pioneer Village partnered with Picture Butte High School to help establish the school’s new media lab.

Guided by the mentorship of the Centre for Oral History and Tradition at the University of Lethbridge, the media students filmed seniors sharing stories and memories at Coyote Flats, and then edited the footage to produce short videos. Project coordinators also filmed longer interviews with seniors in their homes.

This growing collection of oral history videos is being archived at the University of Lethbridge and will be available for viewing online. The project resulted in strong partnerships, mentorship opportunities between seniors and youth, unique hands-on learning for students, and an engaged community appreciating its history.