Place and Culture

Afterword

Once the relationship to land has been made, it becomes a strong compulsion and produces an inherent sense of place; calling one back time and again, regardless of where one goes. However, for many people, that sense of and relationship to place has been lost, especially those that have spent the majority of their lives in urban settings as well as those that have been forcefully removed and relocated. Finding connection to the land – kikawinow aski (Mother Earth) – is a critical first step for Indigenous peoples’ journey towards reclaiming what was lost due to colonization.

Land has always been at the crux of Indigenous/Settler relations, and will continue to be a place of tension. The dichotomy between ownership of land to settlers versus belonging to and with the land to Indigenous peoples is one of the fundamental differences and causes of conflict and misunderstanding. These stories of place and culture show the impact of colonization, of governmental policies, and settler advancement have had on First Nations and Metis communities in Saskatchewan. Truth and Reconciliation cannot advance until the truth is heard, and believed.


Introduction

Stories from Our Land The Story of Pinehouse The Story of Stanley Mission

Afterword Check Your Knowledge Reflection