"Welcome, there is room for everyone."

Tatawaw is a Cree word that speaks to the message that local groups hope to convey. The fruits of their labour were put on full display Saturday for the gathering prior to the Powwow. This week, leading up to National Indigenous People's day is marked by the historic renaming of the Old Wild Animal Park, now the Tatawaw Park.

Crystal Froese, City Counselor and President of the South Hill Community Association, detailed why it was important for her and the rest of the association to be involved.

"The idea around actually giving it an official name that was more relevant to our time is to open up to the possibilities and the vision of what this park is, and the significance of all of the areas, especially tied to the First Nations history and the ancestors here."

This project has been a lengthy one, with the help of many different organizations and community members, including the Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association. Lori Deets, on behalf of WACA, explains that things like these take time.

"This was over a year-long process, this stuff can't just be done. It has to be done with intention, it has to be done with meaning, you have to know the purpose behind it, so even though I say let's push forward, we have to learn how to do that in a good way, and that's not by rushing."

One of the first individuals to start the conversation was Grade 12 student Kaleigh Olsen, who has been involved for the past two years as an advocate for the heritage status of the land where Tatawaw park is currently located. She expressed her pride in the park's message of hope and unity.

Local Grade 12 Student, Kayleigh Olsen has been involved since the beginning and expressed her pride in the Park's message of hope and unity.

"It's for sure awesome in seeing non-indigenous people, that's awesome. It's part of reconciliation too, cause it makes me feel like not just indigenous people want to understand, but for non-indigenous people to understand, too, so that's very heartwarming too, for people to want to know what's down here, and the culture that we share."

Various activities will be held across Moose Jaw this week in honour of Nation Indigenous Peoples Day, on Friday, June 21st.

One of many events that have recently occupied the newly re-named Tatawaw Park, was WACA's 8th Annual Pow Wow.