Staff and supporters of the new Indigenous Outdoor Learning Centre stand in front of the tipis made for the centre. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

MITHO ASKIY KISKEYIHTAMOWIN

New Indigenous Outdoor Learning Centre opens at Hanin Creek

Jul 2, 2022 | 8:00 AM

SaskPolytech and the Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) recently celebrated the launch of a project meant to increase cultural awareness.

The Indigenous Outdoor Learning Centre is an extension of the Hannin Creek Education and Applied Research Centre near Candle Lake. Staff from the school and members of the PAGC were on hand to cut the ribbon for the new centre on Thursday.

“The new centre will be called mitho kiskeyihtamowin, which is Cree for good learning through experiences on the land,” said President of SaskPolytech Dr. Larry Rosia. “This is an exciting collaboration that will focus on land-based learning and will provide cultural awareness training and education about the ways and history of Indigenous people.”

Director of Education for the PAGC Ed Mirasty added the concept of land-based learning is key to Indigenous education.

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“When you braid the education aspect of it where you have language and culture and land, those three braids will create a strand that will allow for that Indigenous education,” he said.

Mirasty was one of several people who spoke at the ceremony along with Rosia, and Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte who joined by video call.

(Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

The Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation also collaborated with the project and President David Yorke said this is a continued expansion of a vision brought to them in 2011.

Yorke added the concept of land-based learning is very important to them as well.

“We deal with the land; we deal with the habitat, but we have to have the people knowing how to work with the land. This is certainly a very important piece of the puzzle.”

(Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

Three tipis have been built for the outdoor centre. Earlier this month, Knowledge Keepers from Wahpeton Dakota First Nation shared their tipi knowledge with SaskPoly and the Wildlife Federation who eventually built the structures.

All of this would not have been possible without the work of Jamie Hilts, a dean of SaskPolytech who passed away last weekend.

“It was his vision and his inspiration that got us all excited,” said Rosia. “He brought that to the table. The tipis are positioned kind of how Jamie would have liked to see them.”

During his speech, Rosia dedicated the opening ceremony of the learning centre to Jamie.

“My heart is still feeling sorrow for Jamie. I wish he would have been able to see his dream come true.”

—

derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @PA_Craddock