Wanuskewin and U of S announce partnership

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Wanuskewin Heritage Park and the University of Saskatchewan are joining forces to improve awareness and understanding of First Nations culture among all people in Saskatchewan.

The two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding on April 25, creating a partnership that was almost a year in the making.

"The agreement in spirit is an agreement that acknowledges the growing importance of First Nations people in Saskatchewan, and our needs as Saskatchewan people to work together and to make sure everyone goes ahead, and part of that is cultural awareness," explained Wanuskewin CEO Sheila Gamble. "So the agreement struck between ourselves and the university is a partnership to forward both of our goals of creating awareness, knowledge and sensitivity of First Nations people."

Wanuskewin and the U of S will work together on a number of joint initiatives under the agreement, Gamble explained.

"Our Elders from Wanuskewin are going to be recognized as, I call them the PhDs of First Nations. And we're going to work with the University of Saskatchewan on cultural programming. So that's important to us."

The university, in turn, will be able to help the park with some of its projects by doing the necessary research.

"We're looking at doing several new projects at Wanuskewin, one of which is an Elders lodge where an Elder and his or her family can live, and there's a ceremonial room attached. And there's a fair bit of research that goes with that. And so, on things like that, we can partner with the University of Saskatchewan on research initiatives to tap their expertise."

Among the contributions Wanuskewin will bring to the partnership is provision of Aboriginal awareness education to university staff and students. The park also plans to develop an on-site satellite campus, allowing both First Nations and non-First Nations university students to take classes at the park. Elders will play an important role in the on-site studies, sharing their knowledge with the students.

Under the partnership, Wanuskewin and the university will also be looking for opportunities to jointly sponsor events, such as the university powwow the two organizations collaborated on last fall.

"So we're looking at more and more events like that, where we can work together. And we're also looking at Wanuskewin as a place where university personnel can come to practice or get involved in cultural and perhaps, if they're ready and that's who they are, in the spiritual side of our park," she said.

"So that's where the agreement starts. And as quoted in the agreement, it's meant as the foundation for a dynamic, productive and evolving relationship between the two parties in the service of Aboriginal education."

While Wanuskewin and the U of S have had a working relationship in the past, this agreement brings that relationship to a new level, Gamble explained.

"There has been a relationship, but its never been identified as a partnership, and its never been to the extent that this partnership will be. I mean, the University of Saskatchewan has discussed putting their crest on our gate, and putting our crest at the University campus, to truly feature this partnership."

While the partnership with the U of S is the first such agreement entered into by Wanuskewin, it is far from being the only partnership the park is developing. Wanuskewin is also working on partnership agreements with other organizations, including the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, and the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College (SIFC).

The partnership agreement with the SIFC was actually signed April 26, but further details remain to be worked out before a formal announcement is made.