Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Georgetown Day School

CASE STUDY

SASKATOON, SK // COLLABORATION WITH CROSBY HANNA & ASSOCIATES

Wanuskewin’s playground is a microcosm of this unique and culturally significant gathering space that many indigenous nations have used for living, hunting, and spiritual practice for more than 6,000 years.

Wanuskewin Heritage Park is a Canadian National Historic Site and cultural centre near Saskatoon.

At least 70 different Nations have continuously lived or passed through this land for more than 6,000 years. Not all of those Nations exist anymore; however, there are still many for whom Wanuskewin is a sacred and meaningful space.

Structures are highly open-ended, but could be interpreted to reflect things such as a bison’s hump. Glacial rock tumbles are part of the story, as the land was scraped by glaciers, leaving rocks behind in their path. How it’s used is open to the imagination.

Archeological and inherited resources on the site are reflected in the playground, such as in a buffalo rubbing stone—a tall piece of granite that has been made smooth by the bison rubbing up against it over the years. That rock is part of the story of the landscape, as are the beaver dams in the natural area.

The playground is designed to be remarkable and a destination, but not so imposing that it detracts from the natural environment. The play elements reflect the landscape and allow for a depth of learning.

School groups can find and enjoy spaces in the playground where classes could meet for storytelling and where interpreters could further explain the site. Miniature gathering areas are interspersed within the playground. Tower structures allow the children to overlook the river valley to view the bison herds that have been returned to the site.

Designing the playscape involved listening and learning about creation, the relationship of certain numbers to the stages of life, and the importance of the land and creatures. The decisionmaking process was very fluid. Stories were shared that required contemplation; absorbing layers of stories helped the design to evolve.

Wanuskewin means “seeking peace of mind” in the Cree language.