WANUSKEWIN — Jessie Muhlbach did not have the chance to learn much about Indigenous culture while she was growing up. That’s why she’s excited about her role being a visitor services member at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Muhlbach, who is originally from Northwest Territories, will be leading the kids’ summer camp program at the park with Conexus Credit Union providing $5,000 of sponsorship to support Indigenous cultural education for the youth this summer.
She said learning the history and culture of the original settlers of Wanuskewin is an important experience for Indigenous and non-Indigenous kids.
“Teaching the younger generation the history of Wanuskewin is important, especially for Indigenous kids to learn about the culture of their ancestors. When I was young, I did not get a lot of education on my culture,” Muhlback told SASKTODAY.ca.
“I did learn some at school and by also being out to other camps. That is why our youth and their families need to have that option to come to join the camp at Wanuskewin and learn more about its history.”
She added that it has always been a great opportunity for her to share her knowledge of the diverse culture of Indigenous people.
“It is such a wonderful opportunity to bring the youth and to have them out here to educate them on my culture and the diverse culture that we have here at Wanuskewin, and doing that through hands-on learning and storytelling,” said Muhlback.
“[WHP] just celebrated its 30th anniversary, so there are a lot of stories to tell through just being out on the land. There will be lots of walks and [we] will be talking a little bit about the land the bison roam.”
Conexus Chief Employee Experience Officer Tara McKeown said supporting the summer educational camp is their way of helping truth and reconciliation through education and learning about Indigenous culture.
“We all have a role to play in truth and reconciliation, and the importance of education cannot be overstated. At Conexus, our first step is recognizing this and making education on Indigenous culture and history a priority within our organization,” said McKeown.
“The impact that cultural education has for [our] youth is critical for a healthy, inclusive future. We are so proud to support Wanuskewin in the operations of summer camps that do just that.”
Conexus previously supported Wanuskewin with $100,000 to help their Thundering Ahead Campaign, a $40-million plan to help the park become one of the country’s must-visit cultural destinations.
The Wanuskewin Kids’ Day Camps will start July 11 and will have Can You Dig It? and Where the Bison Roam programs for kids aged seven. The day camps will run for four separate weeks and will end Aug. 12.
The Can You Dig It? program will be from July 11 to 15 and July 25 to 29, where kids get to experience archaeology adventure. The focus will be on the different artifacts and other interesting finds that were uncovered in the park.
Participants in the camp will also get to be an archaeologist like Dr. Ernie Walker for the day when they try to find objects and other relics in mock digging sites that will help them understand the cultural and scientific connections in Wanuskewin.
The second and last weeks, July 25 to 29 and Aug. 8 to 12, will have the kids learn more about the bison that roam the plains and trails of opimihāw valley. Camp participants will study the bison herd, which returned to its original lands almost four years ago.
Guided trail and bison walks, archaeology information, bannock baking, teepee teachings, traditional dancers, exploring the art gallery and new exhibits, playground visitis, scavenger hunts and language connections are the other activities lined up.
For more information and to register visit wanuskewin.com.
