Introduction

Saskatchewan as a politically defined entity is relatively young, yet the history and heritage of this province run deep. Community organizations, educational collectives, and not-for-profit initiatives are at the root of safeguarding the heritage of Saskatchewan. Living heritage and intangible cultural heritage are terms that describe the intrinsic connection Saskatchewan residents have to their individual history, which, collectively, makes up the heritage of our young province. Living heritage refers to the day-to-day aspects of life, passed down to us through cultural practice, that we as Saskatchewan residents consider to be unique to our situation in the world. One example of this is wearing green on the Roughriders’ “game day.” No matter where we go, green on game day means something to many of us with Saskatchewan roots. Simple practices that we have made our own, like going to coffee row, listening to the stories of our elders, learning how to make a horse saddle, finding new purposes for old landmarks, and so on, have direct impacts on how we view the world. Though it is easier said than done, these cultural traditions sometimes need help to be revived or preserved. As the world changes, so do our traditions and ways of life.

The University of Regina’s Living Heritage: Identities, Communities, Environments Research Cluster dedicated resources to the development and sustainability of research in the field of human experience and heritage. This cluster gave the opportunity for UNESCO’s ideals of intangible cultural heritage to be explored on an academic level. Dr. Jérôme Melançon, a professor and researcher at the University of Regina, has endeavoured to bring people together so that those who work in the field of  living heritage in Saskatchewan may share how they  document, record, and bring living heritage to life through new ways of communication. This project allowed for Sarah Hoag, an M.A. student at the University of Regina, to conduct a series of interviews with community representatives about their living heritage engagements. Heritage Saskatchewan, the leader in living heritage within the province, through the work of Kristin Catherwood, has collaborated with us to ensure these interviews can be documented and made available for the inspiration and education of our province!

We sincerely hope you enjoy these examples and stories of professionals and community volunteers in living heritage in the province. The projects described here are meant to be examples that illustrate what living heritage is, and what the safeguarding and adaptation of living heritage can be. There are a great number of other wonderful projects, some of which were shared during the Living Heritage Sharing Series at the University of Regina and are available through the Humanities Research Institute’s website. We hope these efforts give inspiration to other Saskatchewan based heritage groups in their efforts to safeguard local living heritage. Heritage is alive – it grows and reshapes itself over time. It is a reminder of our past that gives us new aspirations for the future. It is passed down to our children and shapes their worldview just as it shaped our own.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who agreed to be interviewed for the making of this publication.