VisitorsHistory
Wanuskewin Heritage Park hugs the west bank of the South Saskatchewan River, just five kilometres north of Saskatoon. Within its 760 acres there are 19 pre-contact sites that represent the active society of Northern Plains Peoples. Here you will find summer and winter camp sites, bison kill sites, tipi rings, an arrangement of boulders called a medicine wheel, and artifacts such as pottery fragments, plant seeds, projectile points, egg shells and animal bones, all within a compact area. The story of Wanuskewin is still being known. Some of the sites uncovered date back thousands of years, making them older than the Pyramids of Egypt. Other sites remain mysteries to be solved. An award-winning interpretive centre that reflects First Nations cultural values helps visitors begin their journey of discovery of Wanuskewin. The centre features state-of-the-art exhibits, a restaurant highlighting traditional foods, gift shop and art gallery. Scientific investigations in the area began in the early 1930s. Today, the University of Saskatchewan manages an intensive archaeological research program at Wanuskewin. The Park was designated a provincial heritage property in 1984, the only such site in Saskatchewan featuring prehistoric artifacts. It was named a national historic site in 1986. The following year Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a dedication plaque. Wanuskewin Heritage Park officially opened in June 1992. Since then, hundreds of thousands of visitors have experienced what the Park has to offer: a window of understanding of First Nations heritage and culture, and the common roots all North Americans share. Wanuskewin was, and is, a place to seek peace of mind, a place of living in harmony. The lessons it has to offer are ageless. Walking TrailsTrail of Discovery (Red - 0.9 km - 30 minutes)Stop at the rest sites for a beautiful view of the valley. Path of the People (Blue - 2.5 km - 60 minutes)This main trail tells the story of the First Peoples living in the valley. Look for the Newo Asiniak and Opimihaw Buffalo Jumps, Juniper Flats Encampment, the Opimihaw Valley and the Amisk Rest Site. Trail of the Buffalo (Yellow - 1.3 km - 30 minutes)Climb to the East Prairie for a magnificent view of the river and the valley. Touch the buffalo rubbing stone, rubbed smooth by the thousands of buffalo who grazed here and drank from the creek below and then look below to see where the people camped. This is one of our challenging trails. Circle of Harmony (White - 1.5 km - 35 minutes)Begin in the valley, then walk up to the South Prairie, look for the Meewasin Creek Buffalo Pound, see the Sunburn Tipi Rings, and then walk to the Medicine Wheel. Come, and share the experience! |
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For more than 6,000 years people have gathered at this unique and beautiful place. The nomadic tribes who roamed the Northern Plains came here to hunt bison, gather food and herbs, and to find shelter from the winter winds. Walking in their footsteps, examining the evidence of their daily lives, you will understand why people chose this site as a place of worship and celebration, of renewed connections with the natural world, and of a deep spirituality.