Waskesiu Lake Campground is a camping facility located in Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan, Canada. It was established in 1927 and is known for its beautiful scenery including forests, lakes, and wildlife. This land has deep Indigenous connections which are reflected through its name. “Waskesiu” comes from the Cree language and means ‘red deer’ or ‘elk’. This land was originally used by many Indigenous groups such as Cree, Dene, Dakota,  and Métis communities. These groups relied on the land for hunting, fishing, and gathering. Today, the resort recognizes the area as Treaty 6 territory and the Homeland of the Métis. There are many significant reasons as to why the Indigenous people lived here. The land provided a great number of natural resources such as fish, animals, and plants. The surrounding lakes and forests helped support more natural lifestyles and the land was a part of traditional travel and trade routes. The land also held lots of spiritual and cultural significance to the groups. Instead of ‘owning’ the land, many Indigenous groups believed in caring for the land and preserving it for the future generations to come. Some of these practices are connected to oral storytelling and knowledge sharing and respect for the animals and their environment. This displays their lifestyle of living sustainably and respectfully with the land. This land was turned into the Prince Albert National Park in 1927 because the Indigenous people were forcibly removed from their own traditional land. All their homes got destroyed and hunting and harvesting were restricted or criminalized. This disturbed traditional lifestyles and caused long-term harm. Now, there are efforts being made to acknowledge this history and rebuild relationships with the Indigenous communities. Currently, Waskesiu Lake is a popular campground and tourist attraction that offers many recreational activities such as camping, hiking, canoeing, beaches, and wildlife viewing. Overall, Waskesiu Lake is a place with deep Indigenous roots. For thousands of years, Indigenous groups lived sustainably on this land and developed rich cultures and traditions. Even though colonization disrupted their way of life, the Indigenous connections to this land are still strong. Understanding this history is crucial to help us respect the land and the people who have belonged to it.