Introduction
Understanding the place
Wanuskewin, near Saskatoon, has been protecting archaeological sites and a meeting landscape used by many Plains peoples for more than six millennia.
To be retained
- Over 6,000 years of attendance
- Place of assembly of the Plains peoples
- Archaeological research and transmission
- Cultural Return of Bison
History and context
The excavations revealed camps, bison hunting devices, treatment areas, objects and traces of practices over a very long period of time. The park is now an indigenous centre for interpretation, cultural transmission and the return of the bison.
Why is this place spiritual?
Wanuskewin is presented by his officials as a sacred and gathering place. It does not represent a unique Aboriginal spirituality: the Plains nations have distinct languages, ceremonies and authorities.
What the landscape makes you feel
The trails descend into sheltered valleys and then go up to the prairie and sky. Cultural programs provide a context that cannot be provided by the landscape alone.
Energy, atmosphere and feelings
Respect for the place comes from the continuity of human and ecological relations. Reducing it to a "energy of the earth" would erase stories and peoples.
Discover with respect
- Participate in programs as directed by the custodians.
- Do not generalize all the traditions of the Plains.
- Do not collect objects or enter protected areas.
Sources
