Guide includes Native history

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Saskatchewan's image has long been tied with miles of golden wheat fields, prairie sunsets and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Tourism Saskatchewan produces an annual vacation guide to expand the potential of the province as a vacationer's wonderland of lakes, valleys and friendly people.

In the newly published 1998 Saskatchewan Vacation Guide there's an inclusiveness of Aboriginal tourist initiatives and acknowledgement of the contributions of the first inhabitants of Saskatchewan - before the pioneers.

"We are really focusing on the Aboriginal and ecotourism potential we have here in Saskatchewan," said Kathy Rosenkranz, information collection co-ordinator for Tourism Saskatchewan.

The guide notes, "Anyone who thinks Saskatchewan is a young place is in for a big surprise."

It mentions the First Nations Gallery at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina and smaller exhibits on prehistory at the Harris Heritage Society Museum, the Kindersley Plains Museum and the Notukeu Heritage Museum in Ponteix. The meaning of the St. Victor petroglyphs (rock carvings), has been lost in time.

"It's thought they may have played a role in ancient rituals, including shamans' attempts to control the buffalo herds," states the guide.

Louis Riel and the debate of his hero or traitor status is played out on page 11, outlining the happenings at Batoche and inviting travellers to put the story of the uprising of 1885 together by visiting Duck Lake, Battleford, Cut Knife and the Fort Pitt/Frenchman Butte areas.

Wanuskewin is "The Pride of First Nations" notes the 1998 Vacation Guide.

Wanuskewin, which means, "seeking peace of mind" in Cree, is an educational, cultural and scientific research centre near Saskatoon. A captivating photograph of a young First Nations man in traditional dress, framed against a vivid red Saskatchewan sunset, invites all cultures to visit Wanuskewin.

It reads, "Thousands of years ago when the Pyramids of Giza and King Tut's tomb were mere glimmers in a pharoah's eye, a gathering place existed near what is now Saskatoon. Northern Plains Indians came here, generation after generation, to hunt, to gather herbs, to escape the winter winds."

Other tourist attractions and references to Aboriginal activities include golfing at Last Oak Golf Club on the Cowessess First Nation, skiing at Ochapowace Mountain near Broadview, a celebration of Metis culture at Back to Batoche Days, and fur trade history at Fort Walsh in the Cypress Hills.

Aboriginal artists draw much attention to this province. The Allen Sapp Gallery is located in North Battleford. The Native Heritage Foundation Gallery in the Legislative Building in Regina displays Aboriginal artwork and artists including Bob Boyer, Gerald McMaster and Michael Lonechild.

Rosenkranz encourages Aboriginal tourism operators to contact Tourism Saskatchewan to list in the guide. Established tourism businesses have the opportunity to list their location, phone/fax and e-mail addresses, hours of operation and a description of their services and attractions. Contact 1-800-667-7191 for further information.