An introduction to Martensville and Warman: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
Indigenous history of Martensville and Warman
Martensville and Warman are neighbouring cities just north of Saskatoon on Treaty 6 territory. Long before either city existed, the Northern Plains peoples gathered at Wanuskewin, reached by Highway 11 in Saskatoon. The land around both cities falls under Treaty 6, first signed at Fort Carlton on August 23, 1876. Mistawasis and Ahtahkakoop were head chiefs of the Carlton bands. The treaty added a medicine chest and a famine and pestilence clause, terms not found in earlier numbered treaties.
Treaty and territory
Martensville and Warman are on Treaty 6 territory, the lands of the Cree and other nations, and the homeland of the Métis.
Nearby: Saskatoon · Osler · Dalmeny · Langham · Hague
Indigenous Martensville and Warman today
The two cities share an active reconciliation effort. The Prairie Rivers Reconciliation Committee formed in January 2018. Its founders were Great Plains College, the City of Warman and the Office of the Treaty Commissioner. Warman Mayor Sheryl Spence and Charmain Laroque of Prairie Spirit School Division have co-chaired it. More than 40 representatives have joined the committee. They come from Warman, Martensville, Osler, Dalmeny, Aberdeen, Corman Park and Duck Lake. One Arrow First Nation and Mistawasis First Nation also take part, along with groups like Mennonite Central Committee. The committee focuses on education and relationship-building in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. In 2019 the committee held a planning retreat at Wanuskewin. Martensville has hosted its Rural Reconciliation Conference, with the 2019 edition aiming for 400 attendees. Wanuskewin, reached from Highway 11, offers interpretive trails, galleries, guided tours, tipi sleepovers and weekend dance and music presentations. It shares the evolving cultures of the Northern Plains peoples and is one of Canada's proposed UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
More on the region: Indigenous Saskatchewan · all of Canada.
How an order to Martensville and Warman works
Orders to Martensville and Warman leave Saskatoon within three business days, printed on Gildan, ALSTYLE, Independent and Bella+Canvas blanks, in the same shop that prints XUSI’s own designs.
The brand is owned by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan, and every word on the clothing is Cree, with the meaning written by them. Browse all XUSI, or read the Meanings page.
Shop all XUSI →
