How Different Are We, Really?
Spend time on both sides of the Saskatchewan-Dakota border, and you'll notice something: it's hard to tell you've crossed a line. The accents are similar. The landscape is identical. The concerns—weather, crops, hockey, local news—overlap considerably.
And yet, 150+ years of different governance have created real differences. This forum explores both the similarities and the distinctions.
What We Share
Prairie Identity:
- Understanding of vastness, isolation, and self-reliance
- "Prairie nice"—the culture of friendliness to strangers (because you might need their help)
- Weather as a primary topic of conversation (always)
- Deep connection to agriculture, even for urban residents
- Appreciation for community institutions: churches, community halls, volunteer fire departments
Cultural Heritage:
- Strong Scandinavian and German immigrant heritage on both sides
- Ukrainian influence (more prominent in Saskatchewan)
- Indigenous presence throughout the region
- Similar patterns of settlement in the late 19th/early 20th centuries
Sports:
- Hockey (Saskatchewan is perhaps more intense, but North Dakota has strong college hockey)
- Football (CFL in Saskatchewan, college football in the Dakotas)
- Curling (huge in Saskatchewan, present in North Dakota)
- High school sports as community focal points everywhere
Where We Differ
Political Culture:
- Saskatchewan: History of social democracy (CCF/NDP), birthplace of Medicare, also conservative rural tradition. Politics swings.
- North Dakota: More consistently Republican, though with a "prairie populist" streak. Lower taxes, smaller government ethos.
- South Dakota: Similar to North Dakota, perhaps more libertarian-leaning.
Religion:
- Both regions are predominantly Christian
- Lutheran influence is strong in both (Scandinavian heritage)
- Catholic presence is significant in both
- Religious observance may be slightly higher in the Dakotas
Media and Information:
- Dakotans consume American news; Saskatchewanians consume Canadian news
- Different reference points: Super Bowl vs. Grey Cup, Thanksgiving in November vs. October
- Different political conversations: US culture wars vs. Canadian federal-provincial dynamics
Food Culture:
| Saskatchewan | Dakotas |
|---|---|
| Perogies (Ukrainian influence) | Lefse (Scandinavian flatbread) |
| Saskatoon berry pie | Kuchen (German dessert) |
| Caesar (the cocktail) | No equivalent (Bloody Mary instead) |
| Poutine (adopted from Quebec) | Tater tot hotdish |
| Rye and ginger | Beer (macro and increasingly craft) |
The Roughriders Question
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are more than a football team—they're a provincial identity. The sea of green and white, the pride in a small-market team that competes nationally, the way "Rider Nation" functions as a cultural touchstone.
The Dakotas don't have equivalent professional sports teams. Would Dakotans adopt the Riders? Would they want to? Or would they maintain their college football loyalties (NDSU Bison, USD Coyotes)?
This seems trivial, but sports allegiances matter for community identity. Integration would pose interesting questions about whose team is whose.
Language
Both regions speak English as the dominant language, with similar prairie accents. Differences:
- Saskatchewan has official French services (limited but present); the Dakotas do not
- Indigenous languages are present in both, with different preservation programs
- German and Norwegian were historically spoken in both regions; now largely disappeared
- Minor vocabulary differences: "bunny hug" (Saskatchewan) vs. "hoodie" (everywhere else)
Questions for Discussion
- What cultural elements would be easiest to integrate? Which would be hardest?
- Would Dakotans feel "Canadian" over time, or would regional prairie identity dominate?
- How have other border regions (e.g., US-Mexico border, European borders) handled cultural integration?
- What cultural elements from each side would you want to preserve?
This forum explores the cultural dimensions of integration—what binds the prairie together and what might keep us distinct.