Success Stories

Increasing involvement in cultural experiences: Back to Batoche gets record attendance in 2023

Themed the ‘Year of the Youth’, the 2023 event was designed to engage more young people.

Dance develops strength, flexibility, confidence and a connection to culture

Relationship-building key to careful interpretation of Indigenous artifacts

Increasing equity and belonging for youth: Teaching hoop dancing helps build cultural connections

Volunteers Key to 20-Year Old Indigenous Storytelling Series

Volunteerism a Strong Connector in the Ukrainian Community

Training helps staff become allies in change

Ribbon Skirt-Making Project Reconnects Community after COVID

Connections to Others Key to Common Ground

Room for Exploring Cultures Together at the Reading Place

Traditions and Language: Oasis Programs Adapted During Pandemic

Keeping Museum Conversations Online

Métis Celebration Encourages Reconciliation

Gathering Opens Conversation on Care of Ancestral Objects and Knowledge

Reconnecting Youth to Mother Earth

Building Community and Sharing Culture Through Art

Helping Indigenous Peoples Trace Their Roots

Beading Program Re-Connects Students to Their Culture and Traditions

Karon Shmon: ‘I feel like I am innately a teacher’

Métis Cultural Immersion

Learning about Métis traditions during Culture Days

Getting a Taste of Culture

The Museums Association of Saskatchewan shows how food triggers Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Power of Plants

Learning traditional knowledge of plants and healing

Discovering Your Unique Sense of Place

An interview with intangible cultural heritage stewards: Dale Jarvis and Kristin Catherwood

RIIS to the Path of Healing

How a film about uncovering the past unexpectedly brings two filmmakers on a surprising personal journey

Adventures in Archaeology

On tour with the Saskatchewan Archaeology Society

And We are Witness: Canada’s Internment Operations

How Ukrainian and Japanese Canadians became prisoners of war in their own country during the World Wars’.

Maple Creek Moves Forward

How a town in southwest Saskatchewan discovered that the preservation of its past can spur cultural growth today.

Language festival promotes cultural pride

“Love Your Language, Speak with Pride.” This was the message bestowed on over 450 First Nations students at the province’s first-ever Indigenous language Festival.

Oskayak Culture Camp connects youth to tradition

In May 2013, students from Oskayak High school in Saskatoon travelled north to the shores of Waterhen First Nation by the Meadow Lake Provincial Park.

Borden Threshermen bringing history to life

Borden’s annual Threshing Day, this year held in conjunction with Culture Days, offers guests an opportunity to leave their cars behind and ride a wagon into the past.

Main Street Program continues to revitalize Saskatchewan Communities

Traditionally, Main Street has been the hub of the community for towns and villages throughout the province. Four Saskatchewan communities are now taking steps to ensure it remains that way for years to come.

Yanessa Days celebrating past and modern culture

In the 1980’s, Sam Herman, then mayor of La Loche, encouraged community members to dress up in old-time clothing for a culture day celebration at the local elementary school. Thus, the Yanessa Days were born.

Community partnership leads to cultural growth

An interest in cultural planning by five Saskatchewan communities has blossomed into an innovative regional partnership, which includes involvement in the Main Street pilot projects and increased community momentum.

Opera house inspires community's culture planning

A shrine to Saskatchewan’s rich history, the Town of Battleford has moved its historic Town Hall/Opera House onto centre stage as part of its most recent municipal cultural plans.

Maple Creek capitalizing on its cultural roots

A couple of years ago a group of community-minded people gathered in maple Creek for a community planning meeting. Twenty-one citizens representing 13 groups in maple Creek drafted a vision at that meeting.

Getting attention for heritage

Heritage Saskatchewan is eager to bring more attention to the importance of heritage in the province. Incorporated in 2009, the organization is bringing the heritage community together to share common concerns and to work to raise greater awareness.

Neighbours in southwest create positive opportunities for youth

A partnership between Neekaneet First Nations and the Maple Creek’s Southwest Saskatchewan Oldtimers Museum and Archive builds on the strengths of neighbours to create cultural opportunities for youth and increase cultural awareness and learning.

Northern community uses art and technology in language revitalization project

Mackasey decided on an art project that would further develop how the Dene language could be more easily communicated by using technology.

Connecting to the land inspires Indigenous artist’s practice

Walking the path to Reconciliation, one step at a time

Supporting Truth and Reconciliation practices: Decolonizing begins with building relationships

Métis Local Connects Community Through Moccasin-making

Volunteers Contribute to Growth of Historical Society

Dream Brokers: Creative programs popular for handling COVID

Culture Days in Oxbow Sets a Direction for Truth and Reconciliation

Honouring the Voices of Descendants of Regina Indian Industrial School Students

Living Through History: Documenting COVID-19 Culture in Saskatchewan

Combining In-Person and virtual Programming for a new Cultural experience

Culture Days Supports Community-Building in Weyburn

Creating Platforms for Revitalization

Incorporating Land-based Learning into Programming

Restoring Worldview: Centralizing Traditional and Holistic Birthing Practices in First Nations Communities

Classroom Learning Experience Keep Indigenous Cultures and Traditions Alive

Living Heritage: Making Sense of Our Past in the Present

Culture Days: Creating the Platform to Share Cultures and Engage with Communities

Nikaniwin: Youth Leaders Bring Arts and Culture Opportunity to Community

Bringing Back Tradition

Workshops highlight the importance of the buffalo in First Nations culture

Intercultural Sharing through Storytelling

Story Slam promotes understanding between cultures

Try Something "Old" at Culture Days 2016

Discovering the Town of Allan's heritage

Food Creates Cultural Connection

How a feast helps students share their culture

Art Workshops Connect Youth to Indigenous Traditions

How SYCAP is transforming lives through creativity

A Train Trip to the Past and the Future - The inspiring story behind Ogema’s railway tour

The Town of Ogema fought back from rural decline with the development of a railway tour that would help steer the community towards a brighter future.

Digging in the Dirt

The Saskatchewan Archaeological Society engages newcomer youth in uncovering the past.

Five things you might not know about the Ukrainian Museum of Canada

You may know the Ukrainian Museum of Canada tells the story of many people's immigration to Canada from Ukraine, but here are five other things you might not know about the first ethnic museum in Canada.

NAIG Opportunity Highlights Culture in Saskatchewan

Prairie Wind and Silver Sage conserve prairie landscapes

This past summer, Prairie Wind and Silver Sage was excited to launch phase one of their ecomuseum project exploring the unique character of the Grasslands, Val Marie and the surrounding area.

Culture Days Q & A with the Museum of Antiquities

The museum of Antiquities at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon was a first-time Culture Days activity organizer in 2012. Michelle Brownridge had the opportunity to speak with Tracene Harvey, the director/curator at the museum.

Saskatchewan Genealogical Society preserving the province’s past

With the province turning 108 years old in 2013, residents of Saskatchewan and its many communities are accustomed to celebrating centennials.

Wanuskewin draws a crowd for Culture Days

“Culture Days at Wanuskewin Heritage Park was a great success this year. We were expecting around 100 people, but throughout the day over 500 people visited the park," says Cameron McRae, visitor services manager, Wanuskewin Heritage Park.

Luseland wild about Whooping Cranes

The Town of Luseland is preparing to welcome back a former resident. The Luseland and District Museum is planning to add a new wing to their centre that will focus on educating the public about Whooping Cranes.

ArchaeoCaravan out in Saskatchewan

This has been an exciting year for the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society (SAS). Acting executive Director Kim Cloutier says the SAS’s success comes largely from two new initiatives designed to introduce archaeology to those who are unfamiliar with it.

Museum in a suitcase

The Kroneau Heritage Museum has designed an outreach program to take the museum’s exhibitions to those who would, because of mobility issues, have difficulty visiting the museum in person.

Doukhobors: keeping tradition alive on the prairies

A popular way of sharing a particular culture with others is through song. Always looking for ways to engage the public in their culture and traditions, the Doukhobor Cultural Society of Saskatchewan is planning to make their music even more accessible.

Raising Awareness of African-Canadian contributions in Saskatchewan

Preserving and celebrating a little known part of this province’s heritage is the mission of the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum Inc. (SACHM).

Active engagement in cultural activity benefits youth

Historic Trail Walks share stories from the land

Youth connect to traditional land use at winter camp

Volunteer Helps Cultural Centre on a Sustainable Path Forward

Understanding the Role of Helper - Important to Indigenous Communities

How Kelsey Starblanket's teachings help youth find purpose

Fransaskois Festival Success a Result of Strong Leadership

Teaching Traditions to Students Important to Cree Knowledge Keeper

Moose Jaw on Track with its Culture Plan

Rooted in Tradition: How Dream Brokers Created a Medicinal Plant Teaching Project

Finding new Ways to Safely engage

Everyone Has a Story to Tell

Gathering Focuses on Reconciliation and Relationship-Building

Learning Cultures and Building Literacy through the Arts

Some young Regina students are learning and getting immersed in cultures through innovative art program.

Walking the Path to Reconciliation

Gathering Helps Tell the True Story of Chief Big Bear

Shiloh Community History Inspires Descendants to Embrace Identity

Elbow’s Small Town Charm Big Part of Culture Days

History Returns Home

Chief Poundmaker’s belongings came back to the museum that bears his name

Finding Your Family Roots

Traditional languages provide insight into heritage

Jamming for Culture

Keeping a food tradition alive for future generations

Dance Opportunity to Explore Métis Culture

Dance project gives Saskatchewan residents a chance to learn Métis Culture

Humboldt Leading the Way with Intangible Cultural Heritage

Humboldt making way for Living Heritage

Living Heritage Contributes to a Positive Way of Life

Haunted History and the Darker Side of Heritage

The words ‘heritage’ and ‘history’ on their own do not always elicit excitement. But add the word ‘haunted’ and the past takes on a mysterious allure.

Heritage Moments: How youth are finding inspiration through history

Saskatchewan students are taking an active interest in their heritage thanks to a school program designed to explore history and culture.

Junior curators helping preserve the past in Meacham

The Junior Curators Program was established in June 2013 to give local children an opportunity to become further involved with the museum.

New home, new name for the Regina Plains Museum

The Regina Plains Museum is now called the Civic Museum of Regina. Besides a new name, it also has a new address.

Production shares important Métis history

Live theatre has the power to touch audiences in a way few other art forms can. The play The Trial of Louis Riel has been reaching out and touching people with its story for 47 years.

Everett Baker Photo Collection brings Saskatchewan's history to life

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the worth of the Everett Baker photo collection is priceless.

Saskatoon’s Heritage in the palm of your hand

A university of Saskatchewan student is rewriting Saskatoon’s history—and now that history fits in the palm of your hand.

Artists part of celebrating 100-year old Legislative Building

This year, Saskatchewan artist Laura Hale has been hired to creatively engage others in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Saskatchewan Legislature Building.

Year of Fransaskois celebrating 'joie de vivre' in 2012

Back in December, the provincial government declared 2012 as the Year of the Fransaskois in Saskatchewan and events marking this year-long celebration have been taking place across the province.

Macklin: heritage helps define community

Macklin – A small town hugging the Alberta border. This extreme westerly area in Saskatchewan was relatively late to be settled. European settlers had only begun to seek settlement in 1906.

Four lakes, four seasons, five communities for culture

“I have always been interested in revitalizing our main street,” says Elaine Hanson, town councillor and business owner, Fort Qu’Appelle. “We tend to use the beauty of the Qu’Appelle Valley as an excuse to do very little to improve the aesthetics of the t

Duck Lake identity shaped by vivid heritage

Duck Lake has been busy with many projects aimed at bringing its history alive through arts, education and celebration. The area surrounding Duck Lake is rich with culture and the community has been busy working on ways it can reflect its vivid history.

Heritage valued in the heart of Humboldt

Organized by the Humboldt and District Museum and Gallery, the Heritage Project gathered community input about its heritage and developed 12 heritage themes that reflect the life of the Humboldt community.