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| Wanuskewin Heritage Park | |
|---|---|
 Wanuskewin Heritage Park | |
 | |
| Location | Corman Park No. 344, nearSaskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Created | June 27, 1992 |
| Operator | Wanuskewin Indian Heritage Incorporated Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority |
| Website | https://wanuskewin.com/ |
| Official name | Wanuskewin National Historic Site of Canada |
| Designated | 1986 |
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is anarchaeological site andnon-profit cultural and historical centre of theFirst Nations just outside the city ofSaskatoon,Saskatchewan. The faculty's name comes from theCree language word ᐋᐧᓇᐢᑫᐃᐧᐣ orwânaskêwin, meaning, "being at peace with oneself". The site is aNational Historic Site of Canada due to the importance of its archaeological resources representing nearly 6000 years of the history of theNorthern Plains peoples.[1] In 2016, it was announced that Wanuskewin intends to seekUNESCOWorld Heritage designation,[2] which would make it the firstWorld Heritage Site inSaskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Wanuskewin Indian Heritage Incorporated (WIHI) organization was established[when?] to present the interests of regional First Nations in planning the park. The Wanuskewin Heritage Park Authority (WHPA) is a 12-member organization responsible for the operation of the park. The WHPA board has representation from the First Nations community[which?],Government of Canada,Province of Saskatchewan,City of Saskatoon,University of Saskatchewan andMeewasin Valley Authority and theFriends of Wanuskewin.[3]
For more than 6,000 years people have gathered at this place. The migratory nations who roamed the Northern Plains came to hunt bison, gather food and herbs, and to find shelter from the winter winds. Some of the sites uncovered date back thousands of years. Wanuskewin is also the site of an arrangement of boulders called amedicine wheel, of which fewer than 100 remain on the northern plains.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park is located near the west bank of theSouth Saskatchewan River onOpimihaw Creek, just three kilometres (1.9 mi) north ofSaskatoon, Saskatchewan(/ˌsæskəˈtuːn/). Within its 240 hectares (590 acres) there are 19 sites that represent the active and historical society of Northern Plains Peoples composed ofCree,Assiniboine,Saulteaux,Atsina,Dakota, andBlackfoot.[4] On site there are summer and winter camp sites,bison kill sites,tipi rings, and artifacts such as pottery fragments, plant seeds, projectile points, egg shells and animal bones, all within a compact area.[5]
Wanuskewin Heritage Park officially opened in June 1992. Scientific investigations in the area began in the early 1930s with theUniversity of Saskatchewan now managing an archaeological research program at Wanuskewin with active archaeological digs. The Park was designated a Provincial Heritage Property in 1984, the only such site inSaskatchewan featuring prehistoric artifacts. It was named a National Historic Site in 1986. The following year QueenElizabeth II unveiled a dedication plaque. In 2001, KingCharles III, thenPrince of Wales, was namedPisimwa Kamiwohkitahpamikohk, meaning "the sun looks at him in a good way", by an elder in a ceremony at Wanuskewin.
Wanuskewin's mission is to operate, on a sustainable basis, a Heritage Park under the leadership and guidance of First Nations people that contributes to increasing public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the cultural legacy of theNorthern Plains First Nations people.
During the peak summer season about 40–45 people are employed at the park. The place serves as:
A herd ofplains bison were reintroduced to this historic bison hunting ground for numerous Indigenous groups in December 2019 when six calves were brought fromGrasslands National Park. Later that month, one bull and four pregnant cows travelled fromSouth Dakota. The bull comes from awild herd in Yellowstone National Park.[6] The herd grew by one on 22 April 2021 when for the first time a calf was born on the territory since 1876.[7] On 12 September 2021, a male calf was born; bringing the total number of bison at Wanuskewin to 18.[8] The herd is expected to grow to 50 animals.[6]
| Opimihaw Creek | |
|---|---|
 Opimihaw Creek seen from outside the Wanuskewin complex | |
 | |
| Etymology | FromPlains Cree 'opimihaw' meaning 'one which is swift/quick' |
| Location | |
| Province | Saskatchewan |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Saskatchewan River |
| Landmarks | Wanuskewin Heritage Park |
Opimihaw Creek is a small creek in the park that flows into theSouth Saskatchewan River.[9] The name comes from thePlains Cree word ᐅᐱᒥᐦᐋᐤopimihâw (/opɪmɪhɑː/) meaning 'pilot' or literally ‘one which is swift’. The creek has a long and historic connection with Plains Indian peoples and their cultures.
Opimihaw Creek is notable for its valley, which carves into the river bank and is filled by wetland and various fauna. Many First Nations people historically used the valley as abuffalo jump, and so it is a notable site for archaeology. There are around 20 dig sites situated around the creek in the park; some of the dig sites date back as far as 6,400 years, predating thePyramids of Giza inEgypt.[10][11]
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52°13′25″N106°35′42″W / 52.22361°N 106.59500°W /52.22361; -106.59500
