Day 20: Respecting Native heritage

July 25:  Got away in good time so that we could visit the Wanuskewin Heritage Park outside of Saskatoon.  Once again the website sums it up the best:

...Wanuskewin’s uniqueness is not just the fact that there exists evidence of ancient peoples, but rather the composition of many different aspects of habitation, hunting and gathering, and spirituality – all in one place.

The Wanuskewin area contains some of the most exciting archaeological finds in North America, many of which pre-date the pyramids of Egypt. (...) The result is a remarkable complete and intact record of cultural development in the region over that time span. (...)

Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains came to the Opimihaw Creek area year-after-year. (...)  Wanuskewin today gives us the opportunity to delve into the past and discover what life was like for these nomadic hunter-gatherer peoples. The theme of Wanuskewin Heritage Park is one of interpretation – exploring and explaining the meaning of Plains cultures to gain a better understanding of ourselves, Saskatchewan’s Indigenous peoples, and our common heritage.

Aside from a neat interactive artistic exhibit and cool gift shop (!), we spent most of the time hiking the trails in the area, with evidence of a buffalo pound, medicine wheel, tipi circles, etc.  It was good to get out and get some exercise and a nice day for it:  a welcome change from the rain and 12 degrees we had yesterday.  We thought about exploring Saskatoon but we’re both kind of citied-out, so we opted for the Circle Drive bypass.  Another time.

I’ve decided that the occasional tediousness of the drive does not, in fact, spring from the flatness of the land -- although Saskatchewan is not as flat as it is famed to be.  It comes rather from the fact that the roads are all just straight!  The only turns are gradual, and the unswerving nature of it can become mind-numbing at times.

Yorkton seems a nice town.  Today’s hotel has not just a pool but a water slide -- woo hoo!!  We had a riot in it!

Quality Inn & Suites.  Very nice Jennifer at the front; fabulous warm pool and water slide:  definitely the best one yet. Back to Mr. Mike's Steakhouse!

Always wanted to see the inside of a tipi.

South Saskatchewan River

Main building