The Backcountry as Home: Park Wardens, Families, and Jasper National Park’s District Cabin System, 1952-1972

• Author / Creator

  Eckert-Lyngstad, Nicole J

• This research examines home life as experienced by single and married National Park Wardens, their partners and children who resided year-round in the backcountry of Jasper National Park (JNP) between 1952 and 1972. Since the establishment of JNP in 1907, park wardens were responsible for maintaining, monitoring and patrolling large backcountry districts, and used cabins as home bases and overnight shelters. Although the district system officially ended in 1969 and no wardens have lived year-round in the backcountry since 1972, these historic cabins remain in the park and are maintained for use by current park personnel. I have drawn upon interviews with twelve retired park wardens and family members, archived and onsite cabin register entries and travel to three selected former district cabins to explore their sense of home and the challenges and pleasures of this way of life.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • National Park Policy
  • Narratives
  • Park Warden Service
  • Jasper National Park
  • Place and space studies
  • Cabin
  • Backcountry
  • Home

• Graduation date

  Spring 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3FD7P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.