Indigenous Awareness Hub
It is important that we learn more about First Nations, Métis and Inuit people, cultures and experiences, and work together toward Truth and Reconciliation.
According to the 2021 Census data, 17 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population self-identified as Indigenous; the population is younger and expected to keep growing hence cultural leaders must build their understanding of change needed to increase the participation of Indigenous peoples in the cultural eco-system in the province.
Ready to begin?
- Learn more about Truth and Reconciliation by reading, and then committing to take action, on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action.
- Watch/Listen/Read to build understanding of the experiences of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada. There are many resources that share how residential schools sought to “kill the Indian in the child” by removing children from their families in the effort to destroy the cultural identities and family structures of Indigenous peoples. Check out resources to learn more.
Next, take action...
- Attend events and activities hosted by Indigenous groups and leaders to help build understanding and relationships with Indigenous peoples in the province.
- Connect and partner with Indigenous cultural leaders to build inclusive programming and services.
- Honour Indigenous peoples by recognizing their outstanding achievements by celebrating National Indigenous History Month and commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day.
- Seek to better understand First Nations, Métis and Inuit experiences by taking part in the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation each year.
- Take meaningful steps towards Truth and Reconciliation.
Attend
Joining events that honour Indigenous peoples’ achievements is an important part of building relationships with First Nations and Métis people in the province, as is participating in events and dates that publicly commemorate the painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools.
There are many events and activities throughout the year that people can join to gain a better understanding of Indigenous peoples and cultures. Watch for upcoming 2026 events and visit Saskatchewan's Arts and Culture Events Guide for upcoming Indigenous cultural experiences and events.
On September 30, SaskCulture recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, as a time to learn more about the true impact of Residential schools on First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit peoples living on this land, understand change needed, and make a commitment to action. Public commemoration of Residential schools' painful history and ongoing impacts is a vital component of the Truth and Reconciliation process.
2026 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation events:
- Saskatoon: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Gathering 2026 (Wanuskewin)
- Saskatoon: Event series for National Day of Truth and Reconciliation by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner (Multiple locations)
- Saskatoon: Annual Truth and Reconciliation Sharing Circle (359 1st Avenue N)
- Regina: 3rd Annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – Honour Walk and Awareness Event (Circle Project)
- Regina: WRIII Métis Truth & Reconciliation (Western Region lll Community Space)
- Regina: Have You Seen nikosis? A Performance for Orange Shirt Day (Resurrection Roman Catholic Parish)
- Regina: Annual Smudge Walk (First Nations University of Canada)
- Regina: Honoring their spirits gathering (Newo-Yotina Friendship Centre)
- Regina: Annual Smudge Walk(First Nations University of Regina Campus)
- Regina: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Honour Walk ((Victoria Park)
- Regina: Orange Shirt Day (mâmawéyatitân centre)
- Regina: Talk by Betty Ann Adam and aspecial screening of Meadowlarks (Regina Central Library)
- Bienfait: National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Lunch(Souris Valley Museum)
- Fort Qu'Appelle Walking Together: A TRC Cultural Gathering (Qu'Appelle Valley Friendship Centre)
- Weyburn: Walk for Reconciliation: Metis Timeline(Credit Union Spark Centre)
- Weyburn: Medicine Wheel Workshop (Collabartive Studios)
- Humboldt: Walk for Reconciliation and screening of the film 'Indian Horse' (Civic Park)
- Shaunavon:National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Mother Earth's Garden Opening(Grand Coteau Heritage & Cultural Centre)
- Swift Current: Swift Current Truth & Reconciliation (Swift Current Market Square)
- Prince Albert: Orange Shirt Day - Make a Beaded Pin with Kaley Svendsen (Margo Fournier Arts Centre)
- Porcupine Plain: Bannock & Beads: A Day of Reconciliation (Porcupine Plain Community Hall)
- Lloydminster: Cultural Connections - A Truth and Reconciliation Learning Experience (Weaver Heritage Park)
- Maple Creek: Truth and Reconciliation Day ( Jasper Cultural Centre)
- Moose Jaw: National Day For Truth And Reconciliation Event (LD.V. Currie VC Armoury)
- Fort Qu'Appelle: Walking Together: Annual Truth & Reconciliation Gathering (Old Indian Hospital Grounds)
- Indian Head: Singing Back the Buffalo Movie Screening (The Grand Theatre)
- Yorkton: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Orange Shirt Day ( Yorkton Tribal Council)
Watch
- Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference Video Archives
- Sharing Traditional Knowledge of the Land in the Cypress Hills
- Knowledge Keepers - Sharing Stories of a Métis Community - Indian Head Museum
- 21 Things you might not know about the Indian Act (2020) - The Agenda, TVO Today
- National Indigenous Peoples Day - Access Now
- A Conversation about Louis Riel with Maria Campbell and Marilyn Poitras - Gabriel Dumont Institute
- Everything is Connected: A Dialogue Between MMIWG and Sixties Scoop
- Indigenous Identity: the impact of pretendians in the academy - Saskatchewan NEIHR Network
- Learning our way: Sharing our knowledge and learning on conducting searches for unmarked graves - File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council
- Picking Up the Pieces: The Making of the Witness Blanket- Canadian Museum for Human Rights
- Returning Home - Crave
- Little Bird - Jennifer Podemski, Crave
- Canadians Have Been Breaking Their Promises to Indigenous People - Tasha Hubbard, CBC Docs
- How to Create a Reconciliation Plan
- How to Engage Effectively with First Nations Communities and Governments
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation - YouTube Channel
- Traditional Knowledge Keepers Video Series - Royal Saskatchewan Museum
- Phyllis Webstad's Presentation on Orange Shirt Day
- What Non-Indigenous Canadians Need to Know
- Stolen Children: Residential School Survivors Speak Out - CBC News: The National
- 8th Fire: Wab Kinew's Walk Through History - CBC
- What is Reconciliation? Indigenous Educators Have Their Say
- Namwayut: We Are One
- We Were Children - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Trailer
- We Stand Up (2020)
- Separating Children from Parents: The Sixties Scoop in Canada
- Orange Shirt Day Stories 2020
- Finders Keepers: The Spirit of Repatriation and the Role of Saskatchewan Museums
Listen
- Song: This Land was Made for You and Me- Keith Secola
- Song: Stolen Sister - Riva Farrell Racette
- Podcast: Understanding Indigenous History: A Path Forward - University Canada West
- The Truth Behind the Boy in the Picture - Episode, The Secret Life of Canada Podcast
- This Place Podcast: a 150 year journey of Indigenous resilience
- Actors & Ancestors Podcast
- Stolen: Surviving St. Michael's - Connie Walker
- Native Currents Podcast
- All My Relations Podcast
- The Jig is Up Podcast
- Still Here Still Healing - Jade Roberts
- Residential Schools - Historica Britannica
- Truth Before Reconciliation
- Reconcile. Everyday Conversations - Warren Isbister Bear, City of Saskatoon
- Residential Schools Podcast Series - The Canadian Encyclopedia
- Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild - CBC Radio One
- Voices from the Land Podcast - The Legacy of Hope Foundation
- Indigenous Leaders Discuss Truth and Reconciliation in the Nonprofit Sector Podcast - CharityVillage Connects
Learn
- The Lands We Walk: A Guide for Land and Territorial Acknowledgements in Canada
- Calls to Action Accountability Report 2022
- Métis Gathering
- 4 Seasons of Reconciliation Online Course - RBC, First Nations University of Canada, Reconciliation Education
- National Indigenous History Month
- Resources for Reconciliation/ConnectR
- First Steps as an Indigenous Ally
- #ActOnReconciliation - Saskatoon Tribal Council
- Reconciliation Saskatoon
- 150 Acts of Reconciliation - Crystal Fraser and Sara Komarnisky; A compilation of 150 everyday acts that average Canadians, as well as others, can undertake that will encourage people to think about Indigenous-settler relationships in new ways.
- Beyond 94 - Interactive Website
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Education Resources
- Did You Live Near a Residential School?
- Truth before reconciliation: 8 ways to identify and confront Residential School denialism - The Conversation
- How to be an ally during pow wow season - Catherine Hernandez, CBC Arts
- 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act - Bob Joseph
- Certificate of Reconciliation Studies - First Nations University of Canada
- Indigenous Canada - University of Alberta; Take as a credit, a certificate or a free online course
- Residential Schools in Saskatchewan - Location Map, University of Regina
- The Decolonial Toolbox: An Educational Pathway - Free Educational Pathway by Concordia University, Mikana and the Montreal Indigenous Community NETWORK
- Authentic Engagement of First Nations and Métis Traditional Knowledge Keepers - The Wîcihitowin Conference Committee
- Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts - CARFAC
- ayisiyiniwak A Communications Guide - The City of Saskatoon in partnership with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner
Read
- Truth and Reconciliation Reading List - Office of the Treaty Commissioner
- How Do You Like Your Reconcilation?
- Summary Report of 2nd National Gathering on Unmarked Burials
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, 2015
- Truth and Reconciliation Reading List - ConnectR
- Read for Reconciliation - Regina Public Library
- Orange Shirt Day and Honouring Residential School Survivors Book List - Saskatoon Public Library
- OTC Recommended Reads on Residential Schools - CKUW 95.9FM Podcast
- Smudging Spaces with Aaron Tootoosis - Webinar hosted by Prairie Central District for Sport, Culture and Recreation
- Orange Shirt Day: Reading list of Adult & Children's Books by Indigenous Authors - The FOLD Canada
Act
- Cultural Humility Training, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan
- Create your ReconciliACTION Plan
- 10 Things You Can Do: Kamloops Residential School
- Activities for Orange Shirt Day
- Orange Shirt Day Activities
- Support Indigenous Businesses, Indigenous Business Directory, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce
Donate
- Legacy of Hope Foundation
- Orange Shirt Society
- ProMetals Every Child Matters, proceeds going to scholarships for Indigenous Youth, proudly supported by Pasqua First Nation
- Reconciliation Canada
- Truth and Reconciliation Week Fund, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
Connect
- Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan
- Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN)
- First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv)
- Gabriel Dumont Institute (GDI)
- Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre Company
- Regina Aboriginal Professionals Association
- Sâkêwêwak Artists’ Collective
- Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre (SICC)
- Saskatchewan Ânskohk Writers’ Circle Inc. (SAWCI)
Some of the resoures identified in this list were excerpted from Celebrating Orange Shirt Day, prepared by the Regina Chamber of Commerce.