What began in 2008 as the USask Indigenous Land Management Institute has been revitalized and re-energized as the Kihci-okawimaw askiy Knowlege Centre, which honours the Indigenous connection to the land.
Director of the Knowlege Centre, Candice Pete-Cardoso, says the name translated to English from Plains Cree is Great Mother Earth Gives Life.
The steering committee felt having the name in an Indigenous language was integral.
Cardoso adds that the goal is to have their name and vision statement translated to all of the representative languages from their steering committee.
There are First Nations and Metis representatives on the committee.
Cardoso says, “The steering committee members are stewards of the land. They value the importance of ecological balance and the importance of the health of Mother Earth.
One of the Knowledge Centre’s goals is to provide professional development opportunities that are relevant to Indigenous communities.
This fall, there were a series of workshops for Indigenous land managers, technical staff and those working with Indigenous communities to tackle land-related issues.

One of the programs is a mentorship which connects students with Indigenous communities to work on land-related challenges.
“It’s the communities that are providing an overview with the students of their vision for some of the work, some of the land-related challenges they would like these students to work with them on and to work with the communities.”
She believes it has been great for relationship-building between students and First Nations and Metis communities.