SHF Partnerships

The Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation has partnered with several organizations in a number of different heritage initiatives, including:

Management of a First Nations Burial Site

In 1998 the Government of Saskatchewan, in co-operation with various First Nation agencies, acquired land for the creation of the Central Burial Site.  This land, situated near Saskatoon, will accommodate the reinterment of human remains and grave goods of ancient Aboriginal origin when the original grave site is not available or known.  Partners in this important initiative include:

• Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre
• Meewasin Valley Authority
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport
• Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Due to the sensitive nature of this issue, information on the specific location of the site is not available to the general public.  On behalf of all the other partners, the Heritage Foundation and Meewasin Valley Authority ensure appropriate maintenance of the site.

Saskatchewan Youth Heritage Fairs

The Saskatchewan Youth Heritage Fair Association Inc. was established in 2000 to:

- heighten awareness of Canadian heritage
- celebrate Canada's cultural diversity
- promote and publicize the variety and uniqueness of our heritage
- create an exciting learning environment for students of history
- encourage individuals and communities to celebrate their part in Canada's history.

From the onset, the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation has provided financial assistance to this worthwhile initiative, and furnished recognition certificates for one project of outstanding merit in each of the communities which host the fair.

J.M. Kaplan Fund to Preserve Rural Heritage Sites

The J.M. Kaplan Fund, established in 1944 and based in New York has provided financial assistance to a wide range of activities including art, architecture, publishing, design preservation of historic buildings, community economic development and human rights and social justice.

In 2002, in the "historic preservation" category, the J.M. Kaplan Fund initiated a partnership with the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation to support the preservation of rural churches and other heritage buildings in the northern Great Plains area of North America.  The initial grant of $50,000(US) was matched by a similar commitment from the Heritage Foundation and was distributed over a two-year period to a number of sites throughout the province that met the combined Heritage Foundation/Kaplan criteria.  Between 2004 and 2009 four additional allocations totaling $175,000(US) were received from the Kaplan Foundation for this work.  Most of the projects receiving Kaplan monies have been rural churches, but other site types have benefited as well.  At appropriate junctures, illustrated reports are submitted to the Kaplan Board of Directors outlining work achieved through the partnership.  Since 2002, approximately 110-115 projects have received some level of Kaplan support.