Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan - archaeological project in Canada

Park visitors view a dig in progress.
COURTESY OF TOURISM SASKATOON

Explore the longest-running archaeological project in Canada on a site that’s been a traditional meeting place for centuries

The grasslands seem endless when standing on the Saskatchewan prairie: A vast carpet of flora, fields of grain and distant clusters of farm buildings. At Wanuskewin Heritage Park, on the outskirts of Saskatoon, 360 acres make up an undulating palette from pale cream to deep green with occasional patches of yellow, thanks to wildflowers.

It’s a soothing visual, but the park’s secrets lie beneath. Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a national historic site since 1987, is home to the longest-running archaeological project in Canada.

“Every major flat area you can see is an archaeological site,” archaeologist and professor Ernest Walker says. Since 1982, 19 sites have been excavated by Walker and his team. Most of the artefacts they’ve found predate the arrival of Europeans and date well before the building of the Great Pyramids in Egypt. A medicine wheel unearthed here is one of the oldest on the continent, Walker explains. “This site is unparalleled as an archaeological resource in North America,” he says. “It goes back 6,000 years, and tells us so much about the Plains peoples.”

University of Saskatchewan field students continue the excavations of this historical site under Walker’s direction every May and June, slowly revealing the legacy of a meeting point for nomadic Plains tribes. Although visitors aren’t permitted to channel their inner Lara Croft or Indiana Jones to excavate, guided tours bring participants to watch the dig in action and examine recently found objects.

An aerial view of the open-air museum.
COURTESY OF TOURISM SASKATOON

But more than unearthing history, Wanuskewin offers multiple ways to experience centuries-old Plains tribal culture such as playing traditional ball and running games and learning about how the tribe followed and hunted bison (and observing the newly arrived bison herd). Visitors can also enjoy gathering native plants from the grassland to learn about their healing benefits and the significance of a tepee – with the ability to spend a night in this traditional dwelling. Adults can reserve a spot for the seasonal Han Wi Dinner series, which includes a guided tour of some dig sites, a locally sourced multicourse dinner by chef Jenni Lessard on the grasslands and storytelling under the stars.

At this open-air museum, Wanuskewin visitors can experience why the Plains peoples returned to this land repeatedly over centuries: a meeting place to share, swap and celebrate.

How to get there
The Heritage Park is a 15-minute drive north from downtown Saskatoon on the Louis Riel Trail (formerly Highway 11). Turn right to exit on Penner Road and follow the bison signs. (You can also cycle or walk to the site heading north from downtown on the Meewasin Valley Trail.)

What to bring
Wear comfortable walking shoes and layers; it’s easy to work up a sweat wandering the numerous pathways of this extensive park.

Where to stay
The Alt Hotel Saskatoon is adjacent to the River Landing recreation area and the Meewasin Valley Trail alongside the South Saskatchewan River, and across the street from the Remai Modern, the province’s newest modern art collection

*BY WAHEEDA HARRIS, SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL