Located on Treaty 6

Saskatoon is located on Treaty 6 territory, an area that has been stewarded by the Indigenous people for over 11,000 years. It is home to the Dakota, Plains Cree (nêhiyawak), Saulteaux, Nakoda, and Métis nations. When visiting Saskatoon, engaging in Indigenous-led conversations, meals, activities, and education is a key part of supporting Indigenous initiatives to reclaim and share culture. Whether you are enjoying a day at Wanuskewin, having a relaxing stay at Dakota Dunes, or engaging in the Indigenous stories being told at the Remai Art Gallery, when you visit Treaty 6, you are building connections to the land and the people who steward it, participating in a shared future with reconciliation at its heart.

Lyndon Linklater, Indigenous Elder, storyteller and knowledge keeper in Treaty 6 territory, was able to meet and share stories with us and convey the importance of good relations. After giving tobacco, a shared way to communicate respect and care to Indigenous elders, we began with the history of Saskatoon.

Saskatoon, a name derived from the Cree word for the saskatoon berry, misâskwatômin , was established in 1883 by a temperance group from Ontario who were looking to establish a dry community. When visiting the Whitecap Dakota First Nations (historically known as Moose Woods First Nation), Linklater remembers this story of John Lake, the leader of that temperance group.

In the late 19th century, John Lake consulted with the Dakota people in the area, choosing his settlement on the advice of Chief White Cap. This settlement is now the Saskatoon neighbourhood of Nutana, on the east side South Saskatchewan River. Saskatoon is now a flourishing city with a young and vibrant population – for Linklater, the story reflects the positive outcomes of developing good relationships and inter-connected communities.

Storytelling is a key link in sharing knowledge; it is one of the uniting factors of the people of Turtle Island, says Linklater. For him, this story reflected the importance of developing good relations. When we acknowledge and understand our shared histories, both positive and harmful, we can build new interconnected relationships that enrich the present and serve the future.

“We have to understand and learn about the past so that we can understand the present to plan for the future”

When you visit Saskatoon, engaging in Indigenous culture builds a strong community linked by stories. Whether you immerse yourself in the culture at the world’s longest ongoing archeological dig, stay at a nationally recognized Indigenousowned resort, or spend the day on the battlegrounds of the Métis Resistance, discovering Saskatoon means immersing yourself in these vibrant cultures. With no shortage of experiences, you and your family can be immersed in the rich landscape, heritage, and future of Treaty 6.