Doukhobor Village Museum: History

By the sixties, many Kootenay residents noticed that the villages were disappearing as they were purchased for individual dwellings and building materials, others destroyed by arson, artifacts were disappearing funneled across the continent by voracious collectors. Several concerned citizens realized that they would have to move quickly if any remnant or record of this lifestyle could be preserved for future generations.

By the time the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was formed in 1966, there was not a complete village in sound condition left suitable for a museum. The society listed among its projects; 'The building of a communal house as the first stage in the reconstruction of a complete village'. This premise was adopted as a Castlegar-Kinnaird BC Centennial '71 project, 1971 marking the Centennial of the province of British Columbia.

A second objective was: 'The collection and restoration of furniture, clothing, tools and handicrafts to furnish the house and preserve articles of Doukhobor culture'.

Since these modest beginnings, the present Doukhobor Village Museum has become home to over 1,000 donated artifacts, and the present day structure is a complete village consisting of ten buildings and its own irrigation and water system.

The Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was originally formed as a result of a Selkirk College Faculty Association meeting in 1966. John Mansbridge and Anna Gattinger began contacting the towns in the West Kootenays for support. Ed Mosby, Castlegar City Councillor and Mayor Little of Castlegar were early supporters. The neighbouring town of Kinnaird also supported the project. Various prominent Doukhobors such as Pete Oglow became involved in the creation of the Doukhobor Village Museum. Christine Faminoff became the permanent guide, a position she held from the museum opening in 1971, until her death in 1999.

By 1968, the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was a functioning reality, by 1971 construction of the Village began as a Centennial Project for the towns of Castlegar and Kinnaird. Thus, the reconstruction of an authentic Doukhobor Village was accomplished through significant volunteer labour and through local donations as well as Provincial and Federal grants.

Since its inception, the KDHS has created a unique tourist destination not only for British Columbia, but for the world at large, as a window to the vibrant Doukhobor culture of Canada as well as its links to its Russian ancestry. The last major construction took place in 1995, with the assistance of an Infrastructure Grant, which provided a modern water system and the basic completion of the Village buildings.

The Doukhobor Discovery Centre continues to provide a community, educational and tourist resource for the local residents and global travelers.

Through word of mouth advertising, and promotion including his Internet site, and frequent appearances in film documentaries, the Museum has attracted worldwide attention. A recent guest book includes visitors from Russia, Kazakhstan, Alberta, BC, Quebec, Oregon, Washington, England, Ontario, Texas, Germany, Montana, Australia, Austria, Wisconsin, Holland, Idaho, Switzerland, Minnesota, California, Belgium, South Carolina, Scotland, Hawaii, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, France, Ireland, and Norway.

The Discovery Centre has featured new exhibits yearly, presenting aspects of Doukhobor history and culture. The 2002 season featured special events to celebrate over thirty years of operation, as well as a major exhibit which featured the Agricultural History of the Kootenays, with special emphasis on the agrarian accomplishments of the Doukhobors.

With increased support from local institutions, and with an emphasis on heritage and scholarship as well as attractive visual displays, a well stocked bookshop of publications and Doukhobor crafts and paintings, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre looks forward to serving an ever increasing tourist audience in the coming years and to continue providing a unique attraction to this area, serving historian and educational purposes as well as the visiting tourist public.

Combining the Russian heritage with the Canadian experience, it presents a fascinating portrait of an age gone by including heritage and history, and the attendant development of the region as well.

Shown here Pete Oglow and Christine Faminoff, early dedicated workers at the Village		One of the attractive features of a visit to the Kootenays is the charming reconstruction of a Doukhobor Village in Castlegar across from the airport. Located on traditional Doukhobor orchard land, it is nestled in a picturesque site near the Columbia River, on the original Doukhobor property first purchased in 1908, known as Ootishenie, (The Valley of Consolation). It was here that the revered Peter V. Verigin led his people to a refuge after the unjust loss of their improved and cultivated lands in Saskatchewan. These religious refugees, registered as The Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood in 1917, flourished with unprecedented success in over ninety villages in BC, until the community was once again reduced to bankruptcy which resulted in the appropriation of their entire properties by the government and trust companies in 1938.
By the sixties, many Kootenay residents noticed that the villages were disappearing as they were purchased for individual dwellings and building materials, others destroyed by arson, artifacts were disappearing funneled across the continent by voracious collectors. Several concerned citizens realized that they would have to move quickly if any remnant or record of this lifestyle could be preserved for future generations. By the time the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was formed in 1966, there was not a complete village in sound condition left suitable for a museum. The society listed among its projects; 'The building of a communal house as the first stage in the reconstruction of a complete village'. This premise was adopted as a Castlegar-Kinnaird BC Centennial '71 project, 1971 marking the Centennial of the province of British Columbia. A second objective was: 'The collection and restoration of furniture, clothing, tools and handicrafts to furnish the house and preserve articles of Doukhobor culture'. Since these modest beginnings, the present Doukhobor Village Museum has become home to over 1,000 donated artifacts, and the present day structure is a complete village consisting of ten buildings and its own irrigation and water system. The Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was originally formed as a result of a Selkirk College Faculty Association meeting in 1966. John Mansbridge and Anna Gattinger began contacting the towns in the West Kootenays for support. Ed Mosby, Castlegar City Councillor and Mayor Little of Castlegar were early supporters. The neighbouring town of Kinnaird also supported the project. Various prominent Doukhobors such as Pete Oglow became involved in the creation of the Doukhobor Village Museum. Christine Faminoff became the permanent guide, a position she held from the museum opening in 1971, until her death in 1999. By 1968, the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society was a functioning reality, by 1971 construction of the Village began as a Centennial Project for the towns of Castlegar and Kinnaird. Thus, the reconstruction of an authentic Doukhobor Village was accomplished through significant volunteer labour and through local donations as well as Provincial and Federal grants. Since its inception, the KDHS has created a unique tourist destination not only for British Columbia, but for the world at large, as a window to the vibrant Doukhobor culture of Canada as well as its links to its Russian ancestry. The last major construction took place in 1995, with the assistance of an Infrastructure Grant, which provided a modern water system and the basic completion of the Village buildings. The Doukhobor Discovery Centre continues to provide a community, educational and tourist resource for the local residents and global travelers. Through word of mouth advertising, and promotion including his Internet site, and frequent appearances in film documentaries, the Museum has attracted worldwide attention. A recent guest book includes visitors from Russia, Kazakhstan, Alberta, BC, Quebec, Oregon, Washington, England, Ontario, Texas, Germany, Montana, Australia, Austria, Wisconsin, Holland, Idaho, Switzerland, Minnesota, California, Belgium, South Carolina, Scotland, Hawaii, Italy, New Zealand, Sweden, France, Ireland, and Norway. The Discovery Centre has featured new exhibits yearly, presenting aspects of Doukhobor history and culture. The 2002 season featured special events to celebrate over thirty years of operation, as well as a major exhibit which featured the Agricultural History of the Kootenays, with special emphasis on the agrarian accomplishments of the Doukhobors. With increased support from local institutions, and with an emphasis on heritage and scholarship as well as attractive visual displays, a well stocked bookshop of publications and Doukhobor crafts and paintings, the Doukhobor Discovery Centre looks forward to serving an ever increasing tourist audience in the coming years and to continue providing a unique attraction to this area, serving historian and educational purposes as well as the visiting tourist public. Combining the Russian heritage with the Canadian experience, it presents a fascinating portrait of an age gone by including heritage and history, and the attendant development of the region as well.