Saskatoon Needs A More Indigenous Look: Prof

Saskatoon Needs A More Indigenous Look: Prof

Tuesday, June 08, 2010 at 14:45

A community planning professor says there needs to be some leadership in the city of Saskatoon if community planners are going to better reflect and recognize the Aboriginal history of the city and province.

Ryan Walker presented his ideas at an international roundable on Indigenous community planning in Saskatoon this week.

He says Saskatoon has some good examples of doing this — such as pioneering urban reserves — but he worries the city isn’t progressive enough.

Walker says there needs to be a community leader who will talk about this every chance they get and really push the idea.

He says Winnipeg also has some good examples, but he thinks the West Coast does the best job of incorporating what he calls “indigeneity”.

Walker says communities can do that through street art, architecture, streetscape design, landscaping and recognition of significant cultural sites.