Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Situated on land as far as the eye can see in any direction, the Wanuskewin Heritage Park is where we would first begin to understand the significance of the land to the Indigenous people of this region. It was also where we would first connect with our point of contact in Saskatoon, Candice Wasacase-Lafferty, the co-director of Honouring Nations Canada, a board member at the Wanuskewin Park and also a Fulbright Canada connect. She introduced herself, her own personal background, and began to explain the origins of the land here at the park and the told us land acknowledgement for this area. She also excitingly explained the biggest treasure of the park, which was their pure bred Bison.

Candace introduced us to Dr. Erine Walker who is an archeologist, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan, and a founding (still) board member for the Wanuskewin Heritage Park. He welcomed us to the park took us on a journey down a muddy road that looked out along the prairies and the fence line

to see the Bison and their newborn calves. We chatted with each other along the way and just took some time to enjoy the fresh air, the sunshine, and the slight breeze that the park was kind enough to offer us. When we got up to a gated area, Dr. Walker unlocked the outer gate and let us into see these beautiful creatures up close within the inside pen area. He explained that bison can sense a human coming from miles away, and the proof of this was that the bison had their tails up to suggest heightened awareness and the mothers circled themselves around the tiny orange calves and awaited our exit calmly. They are so beautiful and massive in person and the park is making conversation efforts to bring back these genetically pure bison to the area which not only is an ecological mission but a spiritual one for the people as well. Candace explained to us that the bison have a spiritual significance to the Indigenous community.

Bidding goodbye to Dr. Walker, we went into the small cafe and had lunch which was a variety of teas and Bison meat specialties, I myself tried the Bison poutine, which was a fun twist on a Canadian treat. We all sat and chatted about our food and community and soon we took a quick walk around different areas of the museum where Candace guided us to something that the Bison actually found, which was this beautiful Pareaglyth. Carved hundreds of years ago, not only does it confirm the existence of first nations people on this land, but also was discovered by the animals who they had brought back to these lands. Apparently, the bison like to dig up the soil and in one area of the park where the bison had been digging, Dr. Walker found this artifact and they were able to study and date it and save it for the museum. What a find!

We were then asked to move outside to see a music and dance exhibition by a local student who was able to answer a few questions asked by the audience. Not only did she explain the dances that she was sharing with us today, but also explained her dress, and where she came from. She was a student studying at the University of Saskatchewan and I was so impressed by how proud she was of where she came from, what it meant to be an indigenous person, and how she was able to share that with others. I am constantly blown away by young people when they are able to understand themselves and share their convictions so confidently with others. It makes me feel proud to know that she is currently in a teaching program and will one day be going into a classroom and sharing her love and pride of her identity with students like her.

To wrap up our time here, Candace then took us for a walk around the park and introduced us to the top of a small cliff which gave us a view of the valley below. She was able to then share some of the artifacts that have been found in the park, but also - to just give us a moment to take it all in. This beautiful valley with a creek, trees, and knowing that there are hundred’s of artifacts waiting to be discovered from past indigenous people just go to show what wonderful efforts this park has made to ensure the proud history left here for others to discover.