Historic Trail Walks
The Historic Trail Walks are long-form walks that occur every two years along the routes of historic trails. The walks invite the public to engage in a direct and meaningful connection with the land and the people that live there—Indigenous, settler descendants, and newcomers. This includes stopping at communities along the route and arranging programs where walkers can meet people and learn about their histories. Along with promoting life-long fitness, the walks provide an opportunity for participants to reflect on the land, themselves, and their place in the world, promoting mental health and wellbeing.
Click on the buttons below to learn about each of the trail walks we’ve hosted so far:
Purpose of the Trail Walks
Saskatchewan’s communities are strengthened by their shared histories and folklore—the living traditions and historical knowledge passed between and within generations. The trail walks strengthen these histories as walkers share stories and histories that promote intercultural understanding, respect, and a sense of belonging in communities.
The SHFS recognizes that historic and contemporary practices, values and beliefs are linked in a continuum of past, present and future. Walking the trails is a way to link that continuum together in a physical and personal way.
The personal experiences of being in close, daily contact with the natural environment, considering the impacts to the land by post-treaty, colonial/settler development, settler colonialism, and time spent reflecting on one’s personal life, (and sharing all that in the company of others) are key elements to the trail walks that keep walkers coming back.
Reconciliation
Walking the land is a way to reconcile settler history and Indigenous history by seeing how groups came together along a route. Physically connecting people to the land provided a meaningful way for walkers to learn about this atrocious history.
The walks provide opportunities to study contemporary history through a lens that centres Indigeneity. For example, participants like professors Matthew Anderson and Ken Wilson have engaged walkers in examining the colonial mentality of concepts like land ownership, trespassing, the right to roam, and what counts as public land.
The walks engage walkers with Indigenous histories and invite Indigenous peoples to share their histories. To work toward reconciliation, the SHFS extends walk invitations to First Nations whose histories relate to the trails. Other ventures have included smudging ceremonies, Métis workshops for music and dance, meals and gift exchanges with First Nations and Band Councils, First Nations drum and dance performances, and talks by Elders. The SHFS always gives protocol gifts for First Nations and Elders and pays fees for any Indigenous performers.