For over 6,000 years, people had been gathering at Wanuskewin. Archeologists and knowledge keepers increasingly recognized the historical and cultural importance of the site. This led to naming it a provincial and national historic site in the 1980s.
In 1988, we provided $3 million of funding to develop the Wanuskewin Heritage Park and visitor centre. Since then, the Government of Canada has invested nearly $10 million more to:
- bring bison back to the land
- maintain and expand the infrastructure
- improve tourism and program offerings for guests
- develop the park, along with nearby natural and historical sites
This support included over $550,000 under the Western Diversification Program. The funds helped expand the park by creating exhibit galleries. Park leaders consulted Elders and the Indigenous community, then created the new exhibits to immerse visitors in the history of this Prairies gathering place.
The exhibits include artifacts, archaeological displays and storytelling. These follow the traces left by the earliest Indigenous Peoples right up to current First Nations culture.
Visitors from around the world come to Wanuskewin to learn about First Nations culture and the rich history of the Prairies. This attraction has something for everyone:
- unique artifacts
- a resident bison herd
- the historic bison jump site
- the natural beauty of the valley
- knowledge gained through archaeological study and oral history of Indigenous peoples
Wanuskewin has been improving and expanding its site in recent years. It hopes to be named Saskatchewan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site by 2025.
Over the last 40 years, it has become the longest continuously running archaeological site in Canada’s history, and new discoveries are still being made. The expanded exhibits and galleries help tell more of that story as it is uncovered.
