By Carol Baldwin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Wakaw Recorder
Culture Days is a national celebration of arts and culture that began on September 19th and will run until October 12th, offering three weeks filled with creativity and community engagement. The purpose of Culture Days is to promote appreciation for the artistic and cultural life in urban, suburban, and rural areas. This event encourages direct interaction between artists and the public, which helps deepen the understanding of art and culture, emphasizing that every citizen plays a role in their community’s cultural landscape.
Since its inception in 2010, thousands of people in Saskatchewan have participated in a variety of creative and cultural activities, including tipi-raising, needle felting, printmaking, pysanky, mandolin lessons, Métis jigging, and much more. The cultural composition of Saskatchewan continues to expand as more people make the province their home. As of July 1, 2025, Saskatchewan’s population reached a record high of 1,266,959 people, reflecting an increase of 19,091 residents over the past year, with 2,422 new residents added during the second quarter of 2025 alone.
While Saskatchewan’s population remains predominantly Caucasian, the Indigenous population is one of the highest in Canada, making up 16.9 percent of the provincial total. According to the 2021 Canadian Census, the largest visible minority groups are South Asian at 3.9 percent and Filipino at 3.8 percent. From 2006 to 2021, the visible minority population in Saskatchewan grew significantly, increasing from fewer than 40,000 individuals recorded in 2006 to just under 160,000 by 2021. Additionally, the 2021 Canadian Census indicates that the Caucasian population in Saskatchewan includes individuals of German, English, Scottish, Irish, Ukrainian, French, Norwegian, Métis, and Polish descent. (https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/as-sa/fogs-spg/Page.cfm?lang=E&topic=10&dguid=2021A000247) Wakaw may have once been of primarily Eastern European descent, but the community is now reflective of the diverse multicultural ethnicity found across the province.
Saskatchewan’s cultural community has consistently demonstrated a strong interest in promoting arts, heritage, and culture through collaboration. This commitment led to the establishment of “Culture Builds Community!” in 2000. During a cultural community summit in 2006, participants emphasized the need for a more focused initiative to promote arts and culture. They requested that SaskCulture and its partner, SK Arts, consider creating a Culture Week or Day in the province. The first Culture Days event took place in September 2010, engaging 23 different communities. Together, they offered over 180 cultural activities, which attracted more than 7,000 participants to registered events.
SK Arts, formerly known as the Saskatchewan Arts Board, is an independent funding agency that supports artists, arts organizations, and communities. Founded in 1948, it was the first agency of its kind in Canada, predating the Canada Council for the Arts by nine years.
Participating in cultural activities fosters empathy towards people from different cultures. Culture plays a vital role in communities by engaging citizens and providing support to those in need. Exploring one’s heritage and culture can provide youth with insight into their sense of self and help preserve our individual and shared heritage for future generations. Furthermore, cultural activities can build self-esteem and confidence, enhance teamwork skills, promote self-discipline and perseverance, and increase community diversity and vitality.
Involvement in the arts contributes to academic success, teaching young people how to overcome fear and take risks. This participation also supports personal health and wellness while offering individuals of all ages a means of self-expression. For instance, studying music develops areas of the brain associated with language and reasoning, positively impacting emotional and psychological well-being. Dancing promotes both physical and mental health, while singing can be a powerful and uplifting experience that enhances quality of life, overall well-being, and even physical health.
In the spirit of reconciliation, it is important to promote the sharing of cultures and cultural practices. On September 30th, Culture Days dedicates space to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. These events focus on sharing the experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people while honouring Indigenous cultural expressions. This day remembers the lost children and survivors of residential schools and acknowledges the history and harms done. Public commemoration is vital to the reconciliation process, and Culture Days is committed to recognizing this important day.
The Saskatoon Tribal Council is once again hosting its Every Child Matters Pow Wow at SaskTel Centre on Sunday, September 28 through Tuesday, September 30.
The Town of Rosthern and Good Neighbours Food Centre invite the public to join them in gathering at GNFC to learn and reflect on how to advance the calls of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, starting at 9:30. Enjoy some coffee and bannock, and after a greeting and an Elder blessing, join in the viewing of “Reserve 107: A Path Forward.” A Q&A with Gary La Plante and Barb and Wilmer Froese will follow. At 11:30, the One Arrow Drummers will gather at the fire pit, a beading demonstration will be held in GNFC, and tours of the facility will be available.
Saskatoon’s Métis Cultural Days is back for its sixth year and will be held October 3-5, 2025, at the Western Development Museum. People of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities are invited to come together and learn about Métis Culture and Arts and to celebrate the strength and vibrancy of the Métis community.
This year’s theme is the ‘Year of Community’. While fostering appreciation and support of the Métis artistic and cultural life, Métis Cultural Days also promotes direct interaction between Métis Culture and the non-Métis public. The free event is held at Saskatoon’s Western Development Museum, where visitors can step inside and learn from our Métis Elders as they sit and tell stories of our history, both in Michif and English. Have the children engage in games and activities of the Métis. Enjoy a tasting of our traditional food, shop at our Métis Market, or enjoy our Kayas Stage, on Boomtown Street, for performances that will bring you back to a time and place that is dear to all Métis.