Full slate of National Aboriginal Day activities at Wanuskewin
- NC Raine | June 19, 2017
Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a First Nations heritage site with over 6,000 years of history, will be offering a full day of traditional games, performances, tours, and other activities in celebration of National Aboriginal Day.
In partnership with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre, Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, The Department of Canadian Heritage, CHEP, and Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre, Wanuskewin hopes to celebrate all aspects of the diverse Indigenous culture.
“For Wanuskewin, we are very much about educating and sharing culture. For us to be able to hold an exciting event like this is a great opportunity for everyone to come and experience Aboriginal culture in its many forms,” said Andrew McDonald, Sales and Marketing Manager at Wanuskewin.
On June 21st the celebrations kick off at 8:00 AM with a Pipe Ceremony. Then, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, a host of sponsored events will keep guests of all ages busy, including traditional food servings, dance performances, puppet shows, and interpretive walks, among others. Additionally, those completing all of the 'Story Robe Passport' stations can enter a draw for a Pendleton blanket.
“Our hope [through National Aboriginal Day] is to reach more people in the community, to bring it back to that mandate of education, awareness, and celebration of culture,” said McDonald. “The more people that we can reach and offer these rich authentic experiences to, the better. And we're very proud of being able to do that.”
In February, Wanuskewin announced its $40 million expansion plan, which includes reintroducing interactive exhibitions, improving educational offerings, expanding and renovating the facility, and introducing a herd of plains bison. The park also intends to seek UNESCO World Heritage Site designation – which would be a historic first in Saskatchewan.
Through National Aboriginal Day, Wanuskewin hopes to boost awareness to their development plans and to remind visitors of the importance of supporting cultural and historic centres.
“It's a good experience for us to talk about the expansions. For folks who haven't been to the park in a while, it's a good opportunity to come out and rediscover the park, and get a better understanding of what we're going to be doing with the expansions,” says McDonald. “It's a very exciting time to reconnect with everyone in the community.”
More information on National Aboriginal Day celebrations, including a full list of planned activities, can be found at wanuskewin.com