Walter Joseph Carl Cherwinski was born on 26 April 1942 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He earned both his BA (1964) and MA (1966) from the University of Saskatchewan, and his PhD (1972) from the University of Alberta. He worked as research assistant to Eugene Forsey, and as a sessional lecturer at the University of Regina and the University of Alberta, prior to accepting a permanent position in the history department at Memorial University, Newfoundland.
His research related primarily to prairie agricultural labour. He is author of numerous articles relating to labour issues, migrant workers on the prairies, and prairie history.