Wanuskewin

For over 6400 years every Nation from the Great Plains has gathered at Wanuskewin. They came here for trade, ceremony and for bison hunting. The lush Opimihaw Valley has acted like a magnet offering medicines, food and refuge from the prairie winds. Today the park is on the cutting edge of conservation, recently planting wild prairie grasses as habitat for a new herd of Plains Bison. These bison are the decedents of the last 1000 animals left on the plains, nearly extinct, down from over 30 million at one time. These bison are a cultural herd and teach our guests about the special relationship of kinship and resiliency to prairie nations. Wanuskewin is home to the longest running archeological dig site in Canadian history. Arrowheads, pottery sherds, and bison bones litter the valley where our visitors of today walk the 6km of hiking trails. Bison jumps, tipi rings and the worlds most northerly Medicine Wheel all can be found within the park boundaries. In December of 2017 the park was named to the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Designation, and hopes to be officially recognized as the first site in Saskatchewan’s history in the coming years. Like it was thousands of years ago, Wanuskewin remains a gathering place, and is a beautiful example of Northern Plains culture, featuring art, dance, cuisine, and education all under one roof. Guest are invited to go on a medicine walk, do a tipi sleepover, dine on bison, and learn about the bison hunt and the sacred connection to the earth. Wanuskewin has twice been named as the “Indigenous Tourism Destination of the Year” by the Tourism Industry Association of Canada and aims to become recognized as centre for global excellence in fostering education and respect for the land based on expressions of Indigenous culture, heritage, and the arts. The park is located 5 minutes from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and is easily accessed by car, taxi or bike.