REGINA – Wascana Centre will become a living classroom Saturday as Oskana Day brings Indigenous culture, traditional knowledge, art and Saskatchewan wildlife into the heart of Regina.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the Queen Elizabeth II West Lawn and Legislative Landing, offering people of all ages an opportunity to learn through hands-on activities, demonstrations and cultural experiences.
Vivian Kelly, Visitor Services Supervisor at Wascana Centre with the Provincial Capital Commission, explained that Oskana Day is built around a partnership with Nature Saskatchewan and is designed to make Indigenous cultural education accessible to the wider community.
"So Oskana Day is our program that we host twice in the summer. And it's an Indigenous-based program. We work with the organization Nature Saskatchewan to put it on."
Visitors can take part in traditional Indigenous games, explore a tipi display and setup demonstration, and create buffalo-inspired artwork on canvas with artists from the Buffalo People Arts Institute.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum will also be on hand with an information table highlighting its new owl exhibit, which features all 14 owl species found in Saskatchewan.
Kelly emphasized that the programming is intended to bring generations together rather than cater to one specific age group.
"We are kind of focusing, our program is much more family friendly, but individuals from ages of two to 90 should be able to enjoy our activities that we have."
For Kelly, that broad accessibility is one of the most important aspects of the program. Oskana Day gives people an opportunity to encounter Indigenous traditions and knowledge in a relaxed outdoor setting.
"We take great pride in being able to offer these types of programs with our partners to showcase Indigenous culture and provide educational opportunities for people who might not have easy access to it."
The event is still relatively new, with this marking only its second year. Last year's programming included traditional hide tanning demonstrations led by Wade Big Eagle, giving visitors an opportunity to see traditional practices demonstrated firsthand.
"This is only our second year doing this program. Last year it went well. We did it twice last year as well, working with Wade Big Eagle, who had a hide tanning demonstration in the traditional practices."
Saturday's event also expands the program's partnerships, with the Buffalo People Arts Institute joining Oskana Day for the first time.
Kelly noted that the organization has participated in other Provincial Capital Commission programming, but this year's event provides a new opportunity to incorporate its artistic expertise.
"This is the first time that we're working with the Buffalo People Arts Institute. They have attended some of our other programming in the past, but never one of these events."
The name Oskana carries its own connection to the region's Indigenous history. The Cree word means "pile of bones," a reference to the bison bones that were historically abundant throughout the area and ultimately gave rise to the name Wascana.
The programming will be set up along Legislative Drive, near Legislative Landing and the Queen Elizabeth II gardens. Kelly said visitors should look for the event just west of the Legislative Landing dock.
"It's kind of just west of the Legislative Landing dock, by the QE2 gardens. So if you make your way down there, you'll be able to find us."
Visitors will also have another way to experience the area Saturday, with five-dollar boat tours running from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The tours are separate from Oskana Day but will take place nearby.
There is no admission charge and no registration is required, making the event an easy option for families, visitors and anyone looking for a different way to spend a summer Saturday.
Rather than simply observing Indigenous culture from a distance, Oskana Day invites people to participate, ask questions, create something and experience traditional knowledge firsthand.
And after just two years, Kelly believes the program is helping create the kind of public space where those connections can happen naturally.
"We take great pride in being able to offer these types of programs with our partners to showcase Indigenous culture and provide educational opportunities for people who might not have easy access to it."
