Culture Plan

We are continually tracking and evaluating the work accomplished through the culture plan.

• 2024 Culture Plan Year in Review
• 2024 Culture Plan Action Area Progress
• 2018-2024 Culture Plan Action Area Progress

Prince Albert is on Treaty Six Territory and homeland to the Métis and Dakota Nations. It is one of the oldest settlements in the province and is rich with history, culture, and a diverse population. We have one of the highest Indigenous population ratios in the country at 42%. Our immigration community continues to grow. Remaining relatively unchanged since 1981, this population has grown more than 4 times since 2011. We have a range of settlers that came to this area from European countries generations ago and have well established ethnocultural communities including active Ukrainian, German, and French societies that work to celebrate their own unique cultures and heritages.

Through the Prince Albert cultural planning process, community members identified opportunities for Elders and Indigenous communities to be fully engaged in the decision making process. This includes municipal planing initiatives and planning of cultural events and activities or any other undertakings that have an impact on Aboriginal traditional territory/region and Aboriginal rights. We also identified the need for newcomer and ethnocultural communities to be more engaged in our city. The Cultural Diversity and Protocol Policy is one way forward to work together with the Indigenous and the newcomer and ethnocultural communities to be a strong, proud, connected and diverse city. 

The Municipal Cultural Action Plan had already established a set of actions and priorities around how the City can be a leader in creating a stronger cultural community through the support of a variety of arts and cultural initiatives. This Cultural Diversity & Protocol Policy is about voicing a commitment to the ways that the City, as a leader in the community and an employer, can actively engage and build relationships with Indigenous and newcomer communities.

There have been many successful initiatives undertaken already that address the policy, such as:

• Aboriginal Awareness Training, provided by John Lagimodiere, Aboriginal Consulting Services for all full-time City of Prince Albert staff (2019 and 2020). Note this addresses the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action #57, "We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to pubic servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism."
• The following land acknowledgement at public events and meetings organized by the City of Prince Albert (if such an acknowledgement has not been made previously at the same event) by City Council and City staff: "We recognize that Prince Albert is located on Treaty #6 Territory and is homeland of the Métis and Dakota Nations. We extend our respect to all Indigenous people for their valuable past and present contributions and recognize and respect the cultural diversity within the City of Prince Albert."
• Since 2017, we have partnered with the Prince Albert Multicultural Council and the Prince Albert Grand Council to have a reconciliation ceremony as part of the Canada Day events.
• The City helped to start and is an active member of the Prince Albert Urban Indigenous Coalition (PAUIC). The PAUIC focus is on relationships, reconciliation, awareness and education. It is funded through Indigenous Services Canada.

Why commemorate Indigenous history in our community through the naming of streets, parks and other civic assets?

• Prince Albert has one of the highest Aboriginal (First Nations, Metis and Inuit) population ratios in any Canadian City at 41.5% (2016 Census).
• By naming our civic assets we call attention to a particular history.
  • Many of our monuments, buildings and assets are named after non-Indigenous settlers.
  • The stories of Prince Albert’s Indigenous history and the people and leaders involved are not proportionally represented in our community.
  • We often think of history as starting when settlers arrived the process of building our towns and cities. In fact, there was an entire pre-settler history that is not proportionately acknowledged or celebrated.
  • There is a broader call to action from the Truth and Reconciliation commission for a strategy to recognize Indigenous history and commemorate residential schools sites, history and legacy. Identifying and supporting the future naming of potential City assets is one part of achieving this goal.

This is an opportunity to celebrate and commemorate many facets of our Indigenous history and to recognize and remember the legacy of residential schools and the contributions of Aboriginal people in our community.

The first step was taking an inventory of what assets have an Indigenous name in Prince Albert. While almost 42% of our population is Indigenous, only nine locations were identified.

1. River Street Signage in local Indigenous Languages

You may have noticed 3 sign posts along River Street at 1st Avenue West, 1st Avenue East and 6th Avenue East. These sign posts provide the language translation for "River Street" in our local six Indigenous languages of Plains Cree, Swampy Cree, Woodland Cree, Dakota, Denesuline, and Metis (Northern).

The project was approved by City Council following recommendation from the Historical Society’s First Nation and Metis Knowledge Keepers' Committee.  The committee assisted with prioritizing and recommending names and locations to present to the City’s Community Services Advisory Committee and City Council.

The location was chosen in part because of the significance of the river to Indigenous communities as the historical meeting place. 

Watch this video to learn from Traditional Knowledge Keepers about the meaning of, and how to say the Indigenous names for "River Street":

The MCAP event micro grant will support new, emerging or developing events that are linked to the Culture Plan (MCAP) and are not supported by the City of Prince Albert Destination Marketing Fund (DMF), Community Grant Program, major event, or special event policies.  Whenever possible, requests should be made 3 months in advance of the event. Requests will be evaluated based on how it serves the community, with an emphasis on hiring Artists and Cultural Workers. They will be assessed and awarded on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Events will be funded no more than 3 consecutive years. Applications for funding to a maximum of $500 can be submitted at any time throughout the year and are first come, first serve.

 Apply online here

The Municipal Cultural Action Plan (MCAP) Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) micro grant will support community initiatives and projects that ensure that inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility are thoughtfully considered and build intercultural awareness and understanding in the community. Whenever possible, requests should be made 2 months in advance of the initiative/project. Requests will be evaluated based on how it strengthens inclusion, diversity, equity and/or accessibility in our City. They will be assessed and awarded on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The same initiative/project will be funded no more than three consecutive years. Give PA your best IDEA!

 Apply online here

The City of Prince Albert was one of the first northern communities in Saskatchewan to lead an exciting and innovative process known as cultural planning. The Culture Plan has received awards through the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute – Excellence in Planning Award, and the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association - Community Development Award.

The Locals Culture Video was one of the first initiatives completed as part of the Culture Plan. The purpose of the video was to showcase the abundant and diverse assets or strength ad services in Prince Albert's downtown cultural district. The video is all about our local assets. “Locals” was written by singer/songwriter LJ Kimbley. The video showcased local dancers, local businesses, local arts and culture facilities, local events, and more! We have lots to offer locals and visitors and our Culture Video showcases that pride. The Locals video was nominated for Video of the Year in the 2018 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards and was the recipient of the Community Development Award from the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association.