Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Wanuskewin Heritage Park
What does Wanuskewin mean to me? Well that is what they ask at the interpretive centre on the outskirts of Saskatoon. Really, it was just another stop on the list of sites I wanted to show my friend visiting from out of town. What I found out there was a beautiful interpretive centre that pales to none.

There is a theatre with numerous, informative films about the area and the people. Inside the centre there are two galleries. One gallery has portraits on many aboriginal people of varying tribes, the other is currently featuring Allan Sapp. Until now, I had not been a fan of Allan Sapp. Keep in mind I have no artistic ability myself, so who am I to judge? The setting and beautiful space that the gallery has provided to showcase the artists work has given a magnificent arena to really see the art in its purest form. I was able to really see the stories that Allan had put to canvas. I was amazed by the beauty.

The the staff at the centre provide Tipi Raisings, Live Dance Performances, Traditional Games and many more daily activities. These all are listed on their website http://www.wanuskewin.com/tours_programs/.

The centre is located on 760 acres, within which the south Saskatchewan river runs. Although I was a first taken aback by the beauty of the landscape I them looked at the functionality of the area. Surrounding the centre there are 19 pre-contact sites that represent the active society of Northern Plains Peoples. You will find summer and winter camp sites, that have been located through archaeological digs. You will also find on your walk through the park, bison kill sites, tipi rings, and an arrangement of boulders called a medicine wheel.

So, what does Wanuskewin mean to me? A place of culture, beauty and function that brought the people together then and now.

My Fondest Halloween Memory

Well, Halloween is almost upon us, so I thought I would talk about how this is one of my favorite days of the year. I was talking about this blog with a coworker and she wanted me to go after the costume industry for only having female costumes with one common denominator; they all started with the word slutty. For example, slutty nurse, slutty referee, slutty cowgirl...you get the idea. As stimulating as this sounded I didn't want to go down that road for this blog. Then I thought the origin of the day and some general information about Halloween to enlighten everyone with my vast knowledge about this day in October. Well turns out I really didn't know much and there is an incredibly long history. Okay, then I read an article about a minister who was warning parents not to allow their children to take part in this evil event and was actually trying to get the Halloween carnival banned in their city. Wow, that would be fun to talk about but then I remembered a day that I will never forget. It was my fondest Halloween memory.

I worked at a treatment facility for youth for a number of years. The youth were 12-18 years old and there for numerous reasons. As a counselor we tried to normalize the stay at the program as much as possible and in fact tried to give the youth an opportunity to do things they would have missed out on as children. So one specific Halloween we got dressed up and went out and collected loads of candy (great for kids with issues focusing by the way). We went back to the program and like my parents did with me as a child, we sat down and sorted through the candy to make sure all had proper wrapping etc. Then a great Halloween tradition started, the candy exchange. You sort the favorite ones and the ones you don't really like and begin to bargain. Well, one of the youth had about 8 bags of chips but he liked chocolate bars better, and another liked chips better and she only had 5 bars. So I was helping and said okay you can give her 5 bags of chips and that would be fair. Then he said to me why not all of them. I was of course making sure no one took advantage of the other so I said it wouldn't be even. He then pointed out to me that he didn't really like them and she really did. Why not just give them to her if that would make her happy. At this point the teacher became the student and I just sat back and watched.

These kids who had very little were not concerned with "fair trade" or " getting what was coming to them". They were giving what they didn't want and they knew someone else would enjoy more. It was generousity that was so thoughtful, kind and pure that I was deeply touched and still get chills thinking about that moment to this day. This is my fondest Halloween memory.

Dalai Lama

Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama recently spoke to 20,000 people in the Saddledome in Calgary. I was one of the many fortunate people to hear his teaching that day. The topic was peace through compassion and the focus was on the youth of today or as he called them the “seeds” for future peace and compassion. He referred to himself as the simple monk. According to him he is no different than any one of the people in the building or the world. He said we must see beyond social standing and fortune and that we should treat one another as equals. This is the only way towards living in a world of peace. No one better, worse of more deserving. One nation.

The Dalai Lama told that a lack of fighting is not peace but a lack of war. As long as we have weapons to destroy one another it makes no difference whether we use them, there is intent. We will only have achieve true peace when we can coexist and not try to take from others because we feel we are more deserving. Violence will never be the answer.

He spoke of secular ethics which are separate from religion. Compassion and affection are human values that we all naturally have and they are not taught to us through any vehicles of religion. We can all act in a compassionate manner and we should not wish ill on others.

These are some of the words he spoke but there is something more to be said about being in the midst of this person. His laughter was contagious. He enjoys making people laugh, this was obvious. His message of compassion was moving. He spoke directly to the youth sitting in front of him with caring and concern. His message is simple ”Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive”. Lets all be his students.

Little Bear Lake

If you are looking to get away from it all this is definitely one of the places in Saskatchewan you should take in. Little Bear Lake is approximately 3hours from Saskatoon, close enough that you can go away for a weekend but far enough that the crowds are left behind.

The water in the lake is on a Artesian aquifer and does not rely on other water sources. The water is quite clean and would be worthy of taking some time away from fishing for a quick dip. The lake is quite long and narrow and has a fall at the north end that feeds the Heart Lake. You can leave your boat on the shore and walk a short distance to reach Heart Lake. If you feel like the "rat race" is getting to you, if cell reception is seen as a nuisance and you can't eat another bite of take out this is where you need to go.