Curriculum Connections

All of the guided programs offered at Wanuskewin supplement the Saskatchewan Curriculum by bringing together Indigenous ways of knowing and classroom-based learning.

Click on any of the programs below to open a PDF document of detailed curriculum connections and specific indicators for that program.

Archaeology Walk – Grade 3 to Grade 12

The Archaeology Walk program gives an overview of the archeological efforts made at Wanuskewin and how archaeologists have pieced together the Opimihaw Valley’s history with the help of archaeological artifacts and oral history from Indigenous Elders.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies and Science curriculums to show how archaeologists use both the scientific method and oral history to piece together the past.

Bison Walk – Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

The Bison Walk is a modified and one hour version of the wâhkôtowin: Bison Kinship program that introduces learners to a holistic overview of the Northern Plains Indigenous People and their spiritual and physical relationship to bison, and the importance of bison to the Great Plains.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies curriculum to provide a holistic overview of the Northern Plains Indigenous People and their relationship to bison, and the relationship of the bison to the Great Plains.

Dance Presentations – Kindergarten to Grade 12

Join us for a public programming Dance Presentation (put on daily during our summer hours) or book a dancer with your tour to learn about different Pow Wow dance styles, their meanings, origin, and ceremony, and the dancers’ regalia.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Arts Education, English Language Arts, and Dance curriculums to share Indigenous dance styles as an art form and ceremony, a personal expression of the dancer’s culture and identity, and a way to share and preserve Indigenous culture.

Gallery Tour – Kindergarten to Grade 12

Join our gallery team for a guided Gallery Tour of the art and artists currently being featured in our galleries. Our two galleries provide space in which Indigenous artists can present their artwork of all kinds of mediums including visual art, performance art, and auditory and visual media from contemporary and traditional Indigenous artists. You can see our current exhibitions on our Art Exhibitions page.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Arts Education and English Language Arts curriculums to expose students to artwork created by Indigenous artists, and to explore the patterns and themes, and the historical and personal contexts that the artwork was created in.

Native Plant Walk – Grade 4 to Grade 12 (Special Request)

The Native Plant Walk has been created in partnership with Elders to share their knowledge of the abundance of medicinal and edible plants that grow in the Opimihaw Valley that Indigenous people have used for sustenance, shelter, and tools.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies and Science curriculums to teach students about the relationship between Indigenous people and the land, our role as stewards of the ecosystems we live in, and past and present resource use and survival.

Northern Plains Technology – Grade 3 to Grade 12

The Northern Plains Technology program is an interactive learning opportunity that explores technology developed by Northern Plains Indigenous People from the resources found on the landscape of the Great Plains; special focus is paid to the importance of bison to Northern Plains Indigenous People and how they used every part of the bison to provide food, tools, shelter, weapons, toys, and even glue.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies curriculum in relation to resources and resource-use by Northern Plains Indigenous People, and Indigenous People’s relationships to the land and how they maintain the landscape.

Opimihaw Walk – Grade 1 to Grade 12 (Special Request Program 2 hours)

The Opimihaw Walk is a two hour specialty program that showcases the full Opimihaw Valley from the Tipi Village to the Medicine Wheel. It includes aspects of all of our programs: Learn about the archaeological artifacts and history from the Archaeology Walk, the plant knowledge from the Native Plant Walk, the glimpse into life on the Great Plains from the Step Back in Time Walk, and the importance of bison to the grasslands and to Northern Plains Indigenous People from the wâhkôtowin: Bison Kinship program.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies and Science curriculums to provide a holistic overview of the Indigenous people’s relationship to the land, the history and archaeological record of the Opimihaw Valley, and how Northern Plains Indigenous People lived at Wanuskewin in the past.

Step Back in Time Walk – Kindergarten to Grade 12

The Step Back in Time Walk provides a glimpse into what life was like in the Opimihaw Valley thousands of years ago when Northern Plains Indigenous People hunted bison using various methods like Bison Jumps and Bison Pounds, processed bison at primary and secondary sites, and lived their lives in tipi villages across the Great Plains.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies curriculum and explores how Northern Plains Indigenous People lived on the Great Plains hundreds of years ago, and how they relied on the bison and the grasslands ecosystem.

Tipi Teachings – Kindergarten to Grade 12

The Plains Cree tipi teachings we share in the Tipi Teachings program were gifted to Wanuskewin by Elder Mary Lee. This program incorporates the values and lessons associated with each of the fifteen tipi poles and the protocol of building a tipi with the reasons that tipis made such good houses for the Indigenous people living on the Great Plains.

The curriculum connections focus predominantly on the Social Studies and Health Education curriculums to give a holistic view of Plains Cree well-being, health, and culture.

wâhkôtowin: Bison Kinship – Grade 4 to Grade 12 (Special Request Program 2 hours)

wâhkôtowin: Bison Kinship is a two hour specialty program that provides the scientific and cultural importance of bison to the Great Plains and to the Northern Plains Indigenous People. Part I explores ecological concepts and Part II explores the understanding the Indigenous people have with bison.

The curriculum connections relate to many subjects, but focus predominantly on the Social Studies and Science curriculums to provide a holistic overview of the Northern Plains Indigenous People and their relationship to bison, and the relationship of the bison to the Great Plains.

Grade 4 –  PRE & POST VISIT – STF Resource – Bison as Teachers