Behind the scenes of Wapaha Sk̄a Oyate: Living our Culture, Sharing our Community at Pion-Era, 1955-1969 Part 1: Mural Painting

We’re offering some behind-the-scenes videos of the building of the new exhibit at the WDM Saskatoon, co-curated with Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Wapaha Sk̄a Oyate: Living our Culture, Sharing our Community at Pion-Era, 1955-1969.

First up, take a look at the process of painting the mural surrounding the exhibit. Painted over the course of about three weeks by WDM staff with help from SCYAP (Saskatoon Community Youth Arts Programming), the mural features themes and images significant in Dakota culture.

The riverscape represents the Dakota connection to rivers; rivers provided medicine and food as well as means of travel and trade. The seven horses represent the Seven Council Fires or Oċeti Sakowiŋ – An alliance of seven Dakota, Nakota and Lakota groups, forming a powerful kinship network. The seven horses also represent the Seventh Generation Principle. Shared by many First Nations across North America, this principle considers how decisions will impact people seven generations into the future. The Seventh Generation Principle guides leaders in their decision making.