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| Indigenous dancer at pow wow |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Do you know that there are more than one million First Nations Peoples in Canada, who live in 700 unique Indigenous communities, each with its own traditions and history? First Nations Peoples speak more than 50 languages.
How do you find Indigenous cultural experiences across Canada? The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada created the Destination Indigenous website to help travellers discover First Nations cuisine, accommodations, museums and experiences.
You will learn where you can immerse yourself in cultural activities, participate in hands-on arts and crafts workshops and join nature tours, ranging from bear watching to guided hikes.
Their Indigenous events section provides information about pow wows, cultural festivals and dance competitions. You can choose Indigenous travel packages by region or category, such as heritage sites and wildlife.
Learning from the Elders
Indigenous Elders are the knowledge-keepers who pass on oral wisdom by storytelling. We had a memorable experience learning about Inuit culture, homes, songs, dances, tools, foods, clothing and games in the Canadian Arctic.
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| Elder informs visitors about Inuit culture |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
Our short time with the Inuk Elder gave us a much better understanding of Inuit lifestyles, now and in the past, and motivated us to learn more about Indigenous cultures.
Members of the Serpent River First Nation community in Cutler, Ontario enlightened us about Ojibwe traditions.
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| Opening a ceremonial tipi |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
They explained the rationale behind ceremonial tipis and sweat lodges. We learned about medicinal herbs on a nature walk. An Elder described how she made black ash baskets and taught the craft to younger Indigenous women.
We were touched by their willingness to share ancestral wisdom passed down through millennia.
Canada's longest-running archeological site
It was only when we visited Wanuskewin Heritage Park — 15 minutes north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan — that we learned that Canadian Indigenous history goes back more than 6,400 years. This means that many of the archeological findings discovered here — projectile points, pottery sherds and other artifacts — are older than Egypt's pyramids!
On one of seven kilometers of walking trails, our Cree guide showed us a 1,500-year-old medicine wheel and tipi rings left behind by nomadic Indigenous People.
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| Tipi ring at Wanuskewin Heritage Park |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
In the Visitor Centre, we enjoyed interactive exhibits, art galleries and impressive Indigenous crafts — including beadwork, porcupine quill baskets and jewellery — in the gift shop.
Wanuskewin's restaurant serves First Nations dishes, including bison stew, duck soup and freshly made bannock (baked or fried bread) with muskeg tea.
Treaty 7 First Nations cultures
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| Indigenous beadwork |
| Photo © Barb & Ron Kroll |
We learned how to bake bannock at an unlikely place — the Calgary Stampede. Surrounded by a circle of colorful tipis, Treaty 7 First Nations share their cultures with visitors at Elbow River Camp.
Interpreters answer questions, explain the significance of the tipi designs and demonstrate traditional outdoor cooking and how to make beadwork and jerky. Bannock Booth sells delicious tacos, burgers and breakfast sandwiches made with bannock.
We learned about traditions during storytelling presentations, talked to a chief about his horse as he prepared for the Calgary Stampede parade and listened to dancers describe the meaning of their regalia during daily pow wows. As with other Indigenous encounters, our experiences were enlightening.
First Nations Peoples in Canada have many stories to tell. If you are like us, you'll be eager to listen and learn.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
For more information, visit Destination Indigenous
