Unforgettable Indigenous Attractions in Saskatchewan Canada: Best Places To Connect with the Land, Art, and Indigenous Cuisine

Immerse yourself in Indigenous culture, from art to cuisine, through these Indigenous attractions in Saskatchewan, Canada. Beyond Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, my recent 10-day Canadian road trip revealed a hidden gem within Canada. I discovered a side of the country I hadn’t previously explored, a landscape woven with rich Indigenous history and culture. Beyond the picturesque prairies, I encountered the vibrant traditions, art, and stories that have shaped the nation.

Saskatchewan has a long Indigenous history. It is home to various First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Today, Saskatchewan offers a range of Indigenous cultural experiences, providing visitors with unique opportunities to learn about their way of life.

Experiencing Indigenous culture firsthand has been a transformative and enriching experience, helping me gain a deeper appreciation for Canada’s rich cultural heritage.

Are you curious about what to see in Saskatchewan, Canada? Are you seeking authentic cultural experiences that are educational? While exploring Saskatchewan, I connected deeply with the Indigenous culture, experiencing the art, history, and cuisine at three cultural Indigenous attractions. 

Discover Indigenous art and traditional crafts, explore the site of Canada’s longest-running archaeological dig, savor the unique flavors of the prairie, and delve into the history of the Métis community that flourished along the South Saskatchewan River. 

Continue reading or listen to the podcast episode below.

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This episode is made possible with the support of Tourism Saskatchewan and Discover Saskatoon. 

This is Part I of a two-part series exploring Indigenous attractions, history, and culture across the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Click here to read: Indigenous experiences in Manitoba.

Where is Saskatchewan, Canada?

Saskatchewan is a province in Western Canada. It is bordered by Alberta on the west and Manitoba on the east. Most people live in the southern prairies. The largest city in the province is Saskatoon, followed by the provincial capital, Regina (a.k.a. Queen City).

Nicknamed the “Land of Living Skies,” Saskatchewan is a sight to see, with prairies in the south and deep forests and crystal-clear lakes in the north.

If you’re like me, a first-time visitor, let me tell you the open landscape and golden fields stretching as far as the eyes can see are (absolutely) breathtaking. I’ve never seen anything quite like it!

With a constant horizon that stretches for miles, they say you can see a dog running away for three days straight. Yes, it’s that flat!

Saskatchewan is an agriculture hub and gets the most sunshine of any Canadian province. The nation’s breadbasket, Saskatchewan, is a major wheat, lentils, and canola producer. 

Side Note: Driving by the bright, highlighter-yellow canola fields on a hot summer day is a mesmerizing experience. Just as you would look out at the blue ocean, you may also feel a sense of endlessness here.  

Indigenous peoples have lived in Saskatchewan for millennia. The province is home to various Indigenous nations, including Plains Cree, Nakota, Dakota, Métis, and more. Their connection to the land is spiritual and practical as they developed hunting, fishing, and agriculture practices to sustain their communities. 

What is Indigenous Tourism?

Indigenous tourism immerses visitors in Indigenous people’s rich cultures, histories, and traditions. It can involve cultural tours, historical sites, nature experiences, and events like Pow Wows, festivals, and ceremonies.

Indigenous tourism breaks down stereotypes and helps travelers gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous perspectives. It offers unique learning opportunities and a respectful exchange of ideas.

It also supports Indigenous businesses and communities by creating jobs for Indigenous peoples who have historically faced economic disparities and hardships.

Why is Indigenous tourism important?

Indigenous tourism has the potential to promote cultural diversity and drive economic development.

While it promotes understanding and shares Indigenous knowledge and traditions, it can also expose dark truths about the mistreatment and injustices suffered by Indigenous peoples.

Throughout my travels in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Indigenous tourism shed light on historical injustices, raising awareness of the challenges and traumas Indigenous communities have faced, such as forced displacement, cultural genocide, and systemic discrimination and oppression.

When done respectfully, Indigenous tourism can develop an inclusive tourism industry and contribute to healing and reconciliation.

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Best Saskatchewan Indigenous Experiences & Destinations

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1. Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Approximately 15 minutes from Downtown Saskatoon, Wanuskewin Heritage Park has been a gathering place for over 6,400 years. It’s one of the best places to see in Saskatchewan.

Today, it’s an archeological site and cultural and heritage center where you can learn about the history, culture, and customs of the Northern Plains Indigenous people.  

Wanuskewin links the past to the present through interactive exhibits, art galleries, performances, demonstrations, and culturally immersive events like the Han Wi Moon Dinner, which celebrates Indigenous ingredients, cuisine, and culture.

Smudging Ceremony

We started the evening with a smudging ceremony, a spiritual ceremony practiced by many Indigenous peoples around the world, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis in Canada. It provides protection, blessing, and thought to purify the body and soul and clear the mind. 

Gathering around in a circle, the smell of sage, a sacred Indigenous plant, filled the air as our host, Honey Constant-Inglis, a Plains Cree archaeologist, artist, and heritage educator from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, initiated the smudging ceremony.

As the smoke drifted in front of me, filling my nose, I guided it to cover my eyes and ears. I then moved the smoke in a circular motion over my head from front to back and finally placed it on my heart. Setting intentions, I prayed for peace and clarity and welcomed goodness into my life.   

Han Wi Moon Dinner 

Days before our dinner, the renowned Métis Chef Jenni Lessard from the Qu’Appelle Valley near Regina foraged and harvested ingredients from the region, such as stinging nettle, which she used to create the puree for our bison tenderloin.

The long row of tables was beautifully set, accommodating over a dozen guests for an intimate multi-course dinner in a natural setting.

Chef Jenni Lessard welcomed us to the tipi village and explained the significance of the ingredients and cooking techniques used. 

Surrounded by prairie wilderness and not too far from an ancient bison jump, our first course consisted of a garden salad, Lakota squash puree, charred corn, and heirloom beans topped with juniper vinaigrette. Chef Jenni puts so much creativity into her culinary creations. 

Although I do not eat meat, my friends raved about the bison tenderloin seasoned with yarrow sage – they said it’s one of the best bison dishes they’ve had.

For dessert, the traditional berry stew with birched whipped cream made my heart soar. It was perfectly balanced, not too sweet. 

With our bellies full, it dawned on me that Han Wi Moon Dinner was more than a culinary experience. We just had dinner on ancestral land where diverse Indigenous communities historically hunted bison and may have broken bread here for thousands of years. I am now part of Wanusekwin’s long and ever-evolving history. 

Next, we returned to the visitor centre, where we enjoyed a nonverbal dance performance and sat down with Dr. Ernest G. Walker, Chief Archaeologist, and Wanuskewin’s co-founder. He shared how the park started and what it was like finding artifacts from forty years of excavations, from arrowheads to pottery, bison bones, petroglyphs, and more. 

At Wanuskewin, you will learn that bison are a keystone species of the grasslands. They have an impact on every species in the ecosystem. Bison have historically been used for food, clothing, tools, and more.

Home to millions of bison, by the late 1800s, they were nearly extinct due to over-hunting. Their disappearance negatively impacted Indigenous communities. However, with great effort, a herd of genetically pure bison was reintroduced to the park in 2019, their original prairie home. 

Visitors of Wanuskewin can get up close and personal with bison during a guided bison walk and learn about the critical relationship between the bison, the grassland ecosystem, and the Northern Plains Indigenous peoples.

Do you enjoy listening to podcasts? Listen to this podcast episode on Spotify.

2. Batoche National Historic Site

An hour north of Saskatoon, we visited Batoche National Historic Site, an important location in Canadian history, especially for the Métis people. 

The land at Batoche is known as the heart of the Métis nation. Once the home of a thriving Métis community, Métis people lived on river lots on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River before the North-West Rebellion of 1885. River lots are long stretches of land providing water access for farming. 

Who are the Métis? To give you some background, the Métis are an Indigenous people of Canada with mixed First Nations and European ancestry (mainly French and Scottish). Distinct from their ancestors, they formed their own communities, spoke their own language – Michif – and developed a unique culture that blended the two cultures and traditions. 

At Batoche, journey back to the 19th century as you explore the East Village and the Saint Antoine de Padoue Church (built in 1883), the spiritual center for this community. Inside is adorned with statues, images, and candles. By the way, the Métis practice Roman Catholicism.

What happened at Batoche?

In the late 1800s, things got heated when European settlers and the Canadian government started encroaching on traditional Métis land. Racial tensions and oppression led to the North-West Rebellion of 1885. Led by Louis Riel, the leader of the Métis nation and founder of Manitoba, the rebellion lasted four days and ended with the defeat of the Métis.  

Batoche is a historic place where sad things happened. Although there was a lot of loss, the Métis people did not lose hope. A community of Métis lived here before, during, and after the battle. 

Batoche symboles Métis resilience and cultural preservation. Visiting Batoche helped me understand the early tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the 1800s and their future implications. 

While Batoche is a fantastic destination for history buffs, it also caters to outdoor enthusiasts. It’s a great place to visit for sightseeing in Saskatchewan.

Wanting to enjoy the scenery, we hiked the nature trails and ended the tour with vista views from various cliff viewpoints. 

These are the same trails Métis people would have used to get from one place to another and gather as a family to pick berries and hunt.

Driving back to Saskatoon, I noticed the Métis flag flying proudly throughout the region. It features the infinity symbol, symbolizing the blending of two cultures.  

3. Ramai Modern

In Saskatoon, Ramai Modern houses 8,000 modern and contemporary art pieces. It’s one of the best places to see Indigenous art in Canada. Admission is free, so donate what you can.

Here, you’ll see that Indigenous culture and art aren’t a relic of the past but alive and thriving. Indigenous culture is vibrant and expressive. 

One of the pieces that stood out to me is by Ruth Cuthand, a Canadian Saskatoon-based artist of Plains Cree, Scottish, and Irish ancestry. Cuthand’s art often examines First Nations living conditions, settler/Native relationships, and Indigenous people’s health. 

At Ramai Modern, ‘Brain Scan Series,’ a collaborative exhibition with Cuthand’s son, Theo, brings awareness to the mental health crisis in Indigenous communities and Canada’s larger population. 

Adopting the traditional craft of beading, Cuthand uses glow-in-the-dark beads to depict MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) of individuals with various mental health issues, from ADHD to anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. 

While the beads are colorful and beautiful, they made me think about disease and how it impacts individuals, families, and communities in a whole new way. 

“The Museum and its Discontents” by Métis realist painter David Garneau is another piece that stood out to me. Addressing the concept of decolonizing museums, it depicts human beings and objects in bubble wrap, calling out that museums often protect human remains and cultural knowledge but don’t care for the communities whose works are displayed. 

Before heading out, reconnect with the land by stepping outside and spending time at the outdoor medicine wheel garden. ‘The Indigenous Medicine Teachings’ was created to decolonize urban spaces and pass down traditional Indigenous knowledge to future generations. It’s divided into four quadrants and holds the four sacred medicines used in ceremonies: tobacco, cedar, sage, and sweetgrass. 

Visiting Ramai Modern opened my eyes to the perspective of Indigenous artists: their lived experiences, what they care about, and the societal issues that matter to them. 

We’ve only scratched the surface. Saskatchewan offers so many incredible Indigenous cultural attractions and immersive experiences. It’s quickly becoming a top destination for Indigenous tourism in the world. People from all over are visiting Saskatchewan to learn about Indigenous culture, explore their roots, and understand Canadian history and the significance of reconciliation. 

Indigenous people in Saskatchewan and across Canada have stories to tell. I’m grateful for all those who shared their lived experiences, art, food creations, stories, and traditional knowledge with me, which I can now share with you, and you will share with others. 

Where to Stay in Saskatoon

Alt Hotel Saskatoon, a Germain Hotel, is our top pick for Saskatoon hotels. This modern hotel is located in the heart of downtown Saskatoon, overlooking the South Saskatchewan River and right across from Remai Modern Art Gallery. My waterfront room view was epic!

In addition to the stylish room (king bed), I enjoyed the spacious bathroom with a rainfall shower and the Nespresso coffee machine for a quick pick-me-up before starting my day. Take full advantage of the 24-hour gym and on-site bar and lounge. Underground parking is also available for a fee.

Have you visited Saskatchewan or the city of Saskatoon? If so, what are some of your favorite things to do? What cultural experiences are you adding to your wish list? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Can’t get enough of Saskatchewan? Watch this video by Christopher Rudder for the best things to do in Regina, Canada!

Planning more Canada travel?

• Indigenous experiences in Manitoba: Bannock in Riding Mountain and Inuit art at Qaumajuq (Part II)
• How to plan a trip to Newfoundland: What to book first and mistakes to avoid
• Best day trips from Toronto (less than 2 hours away)

Danielle Desir Corbett

Danielle Desir Corbett is an award-winning and 6x grant-funded travel writer and podcast host who went from financial struggle to visiting 27+ countries all without waiting until retirement. Her story is proof that budget doesn’t limit adventure. Tune into The Thought Card Podcast for practical strategies to travel smarter and live on your terms. Say hello: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.

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