askiy Workshops

Buffalo as Relatives: Honouring paskwāw mostos and their role in our ecosystems

Presenter: kēhtē-aya (elder) Roland Duquette

This unique session was offered to a delegation of Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) youth who participated in a hands-on learning experience that explored the sacred relationship with paskwāw mostos (buffalo) as relatives and keystone species. Through stories, land-based knowledge, and ecological insights, the youth deepened their connection to the land and their role as future leaders.

This session took place at the Indigenous Farm and Food Festival on September 23, 2025. The festival was organized by the ē kanātahk askiy Soil and Agro Ecosystem (SAGE) Project and supported by the kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre.

Prairies from above: Tracking change where paskwāw mostos (buffalo) once roamed

Presenters:

• Dr. Xulin Guo, Department of Geography and Planning, College of Arts and Science, USask
• Dr. Irini Soubry, Department of Geography and Planning, College of Arts and Science, USask
• Dr. Lampros Nikolaos Maros, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, USask
• kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow, Indigenous Law Centre, College of Law, USask

This workshop was about the shifting face of grasslands through the eyes of satellite data. With only a few native grasslands remaining, it is important to monitor the balance between grasses, wildflowers, woody shrubs, and trees. A healthy grassland has about 5-10% woody plant cover.
Pre-settlement, First Nations people would use fire through cultural burns to maintain this healthy status and suppress woody species. Current bans placed on cultural burns and other methods of fire-suppression are threatening the above-mentioned balance. The workshop highlighted how this team’s research aims to identify areas where woody plants are encroaching upon Saskatchewan's grasslands using satellite data. This data will not only aid in their management but also enable the early detection of high-risk areas.
This project was supported by the Canadian Space Agency’s smartEarth initiative, through the Research Opportunity in Satellite Earth Observation (ROSEO).

Workshop participants engaged in an interactive session learning about how prairie ecosystems were once shaped by paskwāw mostos(bison). The presenters showed how satellite imagery reveals the transformation of these landscapes. All who joined online and in-person reflected on the role of paskwāw mostos in shaping the land, explored how Earth observation supports sustainable practices that honour kihci-okāwīmāw askiy (Great Mother Earth), and discussed about economics on communities stewarding these ecosystems.

This workshop was held on Thursday October 9, 2025, and subsequently two articles were written about it in the Western Producer. One article is about preserving the grasslands, and the second one is about how the loss of grasslands can also have a major economic impact on ranchers.

Repatriation of our ancestors and cultural items

Presenter: Dr. Jaime Lavallee, College of Law, USask

This workshop highlighted how museums, archives, and private collectors, can and should return Indigenous cultural items and relatives to their home communities in a respectful way. Dr. Jaime Lavallee, from USask’s College of Law and the Indigenous Law Centre, discussed her experiences with this important work from a legal and nēhiyawēwin perspective. This workshop was held online Wednesday November 19, 2025.

Exploring Knowledge Sovereignty: A multi-part series with kēhtē-ayak

Presenters:

• kēhtē-aya (elder) Julie Pitzel
• kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow
• Community-engaged artist Cheryl L'Hirondelle (guest presenter on December 11, 2025)

This five-part series was offered to view portions of a video that was recorded in July 2024 where knowledge sovereignty was discussed as the ethically responsible ways in which traditional knowledge is accessed, earned, and shared. Prior to viewing the video, participants learned about offering tobacco and were invited to make tobacco ties.  At each workshop one or more particpants offered tobacco to kēhtē-ayak on behalf of the group. Due to the topic and the discussion being led by kēhtē-ayak (elders), this series was only offerd in person. 

The video featured kēhtē-ayak (elders), oskayak (youth), and friends of the kihci-okāwīmāw askiy Knowledge Centre:

• kēhtē-aya (elder) Julie Pitzel
• kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow
• Leo Yahyahkeekoot
• Alfred Gamble
• Breanna Tremblay
• Kal Ledoux

Exploring Additions to Reserve and Treaty Land Entitlement

Presenters:

• Chris Lafleur, Director of Indigenous Law Centre, USask
• Tracy Desjarlais, Additions to Reserve Specialist, Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians (SALT)

This hybrid workshop was focused on Additions to Reserve (ATR) and Treaty Land Entitlement (TLE) and was held on January 21, 2026.  It was offered in partnership with the Indigenous Law Centre, in the College of Law, USask and Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians (SALT). 

Knowledge Sovereignty

Presenters:

• kēhtē-aya (elder) Julie Pitzel
• kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow

This session was held on October 2, 2024 at the Indigenous Law Centre in the College of Law.  The conversation focused on the ehtically responsible ways in which traditional knowledge is accessed, earned, and shared.

History and Current Impact: The Doctrine of Discovery

Presenter: Felix Hoehn, Professor, College of Law, USask 

Echoes of the Past: Unraveling the Historical Land Debates

Presenter: kēhtē-aya (elder) Keith Napolean Goulet

This workshop was held on October 24, 2024, and delved into the complex and contested issues surrounding authority and jurisdiction over Indigenous lands and territories. We explored the historical and ongoing debates in Canada and globally, shedding light on common misconceptions and the lack of knowledge about Indigenous peoples' history and their rights to the land. 

Drawing on research from the early 1900s on Alquonquian lands, the presenter examined the central issue of what constitutes the Indigenous understanding of the territorial meaning of "our land or our country." Through the lens of Keith Napoleon Goulet from Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, participants gained a deeper understanding of these critical issues and engage in meaningful discussions to broaden their perspectives. 

Policy, Legislation, and Indigenous Sovereignty

Presenters:

• Dean Bear, Lands Advisory Board Resource Centre (LABRC)
• Marina Atkinson, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)
• Breanna Salm, Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians (SALT)
• Alfred Gamble, Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians (SALT)

This workshop examined the current policy and legislative regimes affecting First Nations in Canada, and the importance of asserting Indigenous sovereignty. It was held on November 21, 2024.

Seven Generation Strategic Decision Making and Land Planning

Presenters: kēhtē-aya (elder) Julie Pitzel kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow Indigenous artist and advocate, Danii Kehler Community-engaged artist Cheryl L'Hirondelle

The Significance of Indigenous Creation Stories: Who We Are, Where We Come From, and How We Are All Related

Presenter: kēhtē-aya (elder) Barry Ahenakew

We welcomed the late, kēhtē-aya (elder) Barry Ahenakew from Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation, for storytelling about the significance of Indigenous Creation Stories. We were immersed in storytelling that enlightened us about Indigenous worldviews related to "Who we are, where we come from and how we are all related." This workshop was held at the Indigenous Law Centre, in the College of Law on March 18, 2025.

Exploring the 5 Dimensions: Learning Through nēhiyawēwin (the Plains Cree Language) and Artistic Expression

Presenter: Leo Yahyahkeekoot

Leo Yahyahkeekoot, ēwī pākwēnamakēt nēhiyawēwin, led an interactive workshop piecing together the five dimensions using the Plains Cree language. Participants created their own piece of art, guided by Leo, as he shared some teachings from a Cree perspective. This workshop was held in the Kenderdine Gallery, in the Agriculture Building, on March 25, 2025.

Mother Earth and Natural Laws: Reflections from kēhtē-aya, Joseph Naytowhow about Conservation and Reciprocity

Presenters:

• kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow
• Community-engaged artist Cheryl L'Hirondelle

We engaged in a conversation with kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow and community-engaged artist Cheryl L'Hirondelle about kihci-okāwīmāw askiy (Great Mother Earth) and the importance of conservation related work as it relates to the protection of askiy (land). We learned about Indigenous knowledges as it relates to natural laws and the importance of conserving Mother Earth and all her Relations for the next 7 Generations. This workshop was held in the Indigenous Law Centre, in the College of Law on April 8, 2025.

Indigenous Consultation, Consent and Engagement: Protections for Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in Law, Policy, and Practice

Presenter: Benjamin Ralston, College of Law, USask

Aboriginal and Treaty rights are protected under Canada’s constitution, including through the procedural protection of the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate. Indigenous rights are also protected through international law, including the right to free, prior, and informed consent, which is influential on protections available under Canadian law as well. In addition to these strictly legal standards, civil servants, academic researchers, and businesses often describe work they do with Indigenous peoples as Indigenous engagement where it is not aimed at fulfilling legal duties. While Indigenous consultation, consent, and engagement are each distinct concepts in theory, this presentation addressed how they closely relate to each other in practice, mapping out the fuzzy boundaries between them in Canada. This workshop was held online on April 29, 2025.

poko kwayask ka-manācihāyahk kahkiyaw kā-isi wāhkōtamahk - We Must Protect our Relatives: Reflections about Mother Earth and the State of all her Relations

PRESENTERS:

• Cheyenne Ironman from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Indigenous Kinship Circle Coordinator
• Christian Artuso from Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Hector Ortiz Cano, Conservation Scientist from the Chicago Botanic Garden

We discussed conservation and how the protection of migratory birds, sacred plants, and buffalo rematriation requires coordinated efforts and policies between Canada, United States, and Mexico. Our panelists included members of the Indigenous Kinship Circle, a community of practice for Indigenous people and allies, focusing on grassland conservation on Turtle Island.

This presentation was held online on May 14, 2025, and highlighted how Mother Earth can heal through a reciprocal kinship between plants, animals, and humans. 

Knowledge Sovereignty

Presenter: kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow

This session was held twice during this year on November 16, 2023 and January 25, 2024.  Each time the conversation was led by kēhtē-aya (elder) Joseph Naytowhow, and focused on the ehtically responsible ways in which traditional knowledge is accessed, earned, and shared.

The Treaty Learning Journey Series

Presenter: Representatives from the Office of the Treaty Commissioner

Developed by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner; the Treaty Learning Journey – Let’s Talk Truth educated participants on:

• Before Treaty (Worldview and Indigeneity),
• At Treaty (Pre-contact Treaties, numbered Treaties, Spirit and Intent),
• Breaches of Treaty (Indian Act, Indian Residential Schools, NRTA), and,
• Today (current Indigenous circumstances, myths and misconceptions).

The Treaty Learning Journey was presented from the Indigenous side of the story.

Why and How the Treaties were Negotiated 
The focus of this workshop was why and how the Treaties were negotiated and agreed upon. Participants also learnt about the history of the Treaty negotiations, the numbered Treaties, and the Spirit and Intent of Treaties. This workshop was held on November 2, 2023.

Presenter: Peter Soroye, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Assessment and Outreach Coordinator, 
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada 

Over the past two decades, a group of global organizations have developed a list of criteria to identify Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). These places are critical for the long-term health and well-being of animals, plants, waters, and the land, and a program has recently begun identifying these sites across Canada.

This session provided information on what the KBA Canada project is doing, how KBAs may help support Indigenous conservation, and how to help collaboratively identify these sites, which in many instances exist only because of the stewardship and relationships First Nations, Métis and Inuit have with these species and places. For more on the KBA Canada project, visit kbacanada.org. This workshop was held on October 12, 2023.

Mapping Exercise: Key Biodiversity Areas and Indigenous Stewardship

Presenter: Peter Soroye, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) Assessment and Outreach Coordinator, 
Wildlife Conservation Society Canada 

Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are places that are critical for the long-term health and well-being of animals, plants, waters, and the land, and are defined by an international set of criteria.

In acknowledgement of the past, present and future importance of Indigenous-led conservation, and the opportunities for KBAs to support this and to highlight and celebrate diverse values, histories and relationships related to people, lands, waters, plants and animals, the KBA project is working collaboratively with First Nations, Métis and Inuit to identify KBAs across the area called Canada.

In this interactive workshop that was held on October 18, 2023, participants explored KBAs and helped identify and mapped new potential sites. For more on the KBA Canada project, visit kbacanada.org.

History and Current Impact: The Doctrine of Discovery

Presenter: Felix Hoehn, Professor, College of Law, USask