by Keith and Heather Nicol
While in
Saskatoon we recently visited the Wanuskewin Heritage Park. This Heritage Park
celebrates various aspects of the Native peoples who lived in this area for
6000-8000years. This area has had a rich
history of settlement for its buffalo jumps and other food sources. The centre
is located just outside Saskatoon and the main building has an interesting
pointed roofline which embodies the symbol of several teepees. Inside the building
are various plaques and displays which highlight the importance of the buffalo
to the Indians as well as samples of their clothing and other artifacts. We
also really recommend that visitors time their visit for the 2:00 pm dance
demonstration. We thoroughly enjoyed watching Jordan Thunderchild do his
interpretation of a Grass dance.
Heather walking toward the entrance of the Wanuskewin Heritage Park |
He explained that
his clothing was fringed to represent the undulating grass of the prairies and
that traditionally when his people would move to a new area it was the Grass
dancers that would find and bless the new hunting grounds. Jordan mentioned he
has been dancing at Powwows since he was 7 and he is now teaching his young
boys how to dance. He did 2 dances and then had all of the audience join him in
doing a round dance. We were also told that many different dancers perform at
Wanuskewin Heritage Park so if you visit on a different day you may well see
someone else performing.
Jordan Thunderchild performing a grass dance |
A buffalo jump overlooking the South Saskatchewan River |
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