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Cultural Crossings: 10,000 Years of Memories
Copyright (c) 2006-2023 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Written by: Travel Alberta
The First Nations – literally, the first peoples here – likely began settling in Alberta as early as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, after the glaciers that helped carve the Rocky Mountains and the prairies finally receded. In the south, peoples such as the Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan hunted the bison that in the early 19th century numbered some 40 million across the North American plains. Further north, First Nations such as the Woodland Cree and the Chipewyan took advantage of rivers and woodland to fish, and to hunt game such as moose and caribou.
The arrival of European explorers in the late 1700s, followed by fur traders, missionaries and settlers, placed such pressure on the First Nations that their traditional way of living on the land – moving with the game and the seasons – began to change, especially with the near extinction of the bison here by the late 19th century. Those years also saw the creation of a new people: the Métis, born of First Nations women and European fur traders, who bridged the two cultural traditions. Today, some 67,000 Métis – the country's largest population – live in Alberta.
Aboriginal culture and heritage proved fascinating to many Europeans. More than 100 years ago, a rockslide closed the Canadian Pacific Railway line near Banff, stranding tourists not far from where First Nations people were gathered at their traditional camping grounds. The First Nations were asked if they would share their traditions with the visitors – and they agreed, beginning an annual event that would last for some 80 years, setting a precedent for Alberta's Aboriginal tourism.
This summer, the Stoney Nakoda people are once again returning to those grounds, and once again generously sharing their culture with visitors through Stoney Banff Indian Days.
Intercultural consultant Annette Johnston explains: "That area, the old Indian grounds, was a sacred area where the Stoney and other tribes would meet. The Stoney Nakoda people still have very strong cultural traditions – there's an ancient wisdom that they carry with them. They want visitors to see them as people who still live in very traditional spiritual ways."
Which, she says, is why organizer Roland Rollinmud, an artist and Stoney Indian, has worked with his people and local visitor organizations for four years to revive the event. "His grandmother told him not to lose it, the tradition of coming back to connect with the land," Johnston explains. "The intent is to open it up to people who want to come onto the land in a way that keeps it sacred."
From July 21 to 24, she says, the Stoney Nakoda people will travel to the camping grounds to sleep in their teepees in the presence of The Chief (Cascade Mountain, which overlooks the town of Banff). They'll provide art and craft displays, dancing, drumming, story and talking circles, nature walks, and much more.
"My objective is to provide a venue to showcase our athletic abilities, artistic talents and heritage to inspire self-confidence in my people and respect for our society," says Rollinmud, who calls the return of Indian Days a dream come true.
A Holiday that Lets You Step Back in Time
The twin ideas of respect and authenticity run throughout Alberta's Aboriginal tourism opportunities, whether it's at the Calgary Stampede's Indian Village, which brings together five of the province's First Nations, or the travel packages recently launched in Fort Chipewyan. From the Rocky Mountains to Edmonton and into the north and south of the province, these packages are both designed and run by the Aboriginal peoples themselves.
"It's a very intimate, personal experience," says Fort Chipewyan's Dale Monaghan about the four Centennial travel getaways that the local community has developed in this northern community. "Our goal is to immerse visitors in the Fort Chipewyan way of life, rather than standing at a distance and looking at it."
That could mean learning the art of building the fishing boats known as "skiffs," discovering authentic Aboriginal and fur trade cooking, berry picking with the women of the north, or simply walking in the footsteps of the Chipewyan, Métis, Cree and Dene people.
You'll do it all amid the incredible scenery of the Canadian Shield, says Monaghan, which is a marriage of the boreal forest and the rock outcroppings of the Arctic, on the largest lake in Alberta. Fort Chipewyan – a fly-in community for much of the year – is one of the oldest settled places in the province, giving it a long history, and an isolation that has helped preserve its heritage.
"You truly step back in time," he says.
Into Infinity
On August 26, the Métis people – whose flag bears the infinity symbol that represents the coming together of two cultures, of indigenous North American and Europe – will begin telling the stories of their culture in a place that has long been a meeting point. Métis Crossing, 1.5 hours northeast of Edmonton near Smoky Lake, was one of the sites that opened Western Canada to Europeans, and it became a major Métis community.
It's now set to become a major interpretive centre, one that project manager Juanita Marois says will celebrate their heritage as it evolved through the 1800s to today. "We want the experience to be intimate and interactive," she says. "We're creating a place where people can experience the Métis culture, and where Métis people can come and be together and teach our children. It's our chance to be a celebrated people."
You'll be able to join the Centennial Opening on August 26, exploring exhibits in the restored historic barn, walking the nature trails, and hearing the stories of the Métis.
"The education that comes out of providing authentic experiences is truly life changing, and we shouldn't lose sight of how important that is," says Roland Bellerose, an aboriginal tourism strategic advisor in Calgary. "In the course of history, there are few peoples who can trace their history back 10,000 years."
To find your ideal Aboriginal adventure travel in Alberta, just enter the word "aboriginal" in Travel Alberta.com's 'search' feature, check out these links, or watch for local events on June 21, National Aboriginal Day.
Protecting History
Travel into Alberta's southern reaches, and it's easy to see why the United Nations designated Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump a World Heritage Site. At 5,700 years old, it's one of the oldest, largest and best preserved communal bison hunting sites in North America, providing an unparalleled look at the culture and history of the Blackfoot people.
But don't just go for the archaeology of the site – this is a place where you can learn about the lifestyle of the Blackfoot, and the mythologies and technologies that sustained it.
You can even get up close and personal on this Alberta travel adventure. From mid-May to mid-September, you can sleep in a Blackfoot teepee, learning firsthand about the land from an Aboriginal guide. And from July 6 to August 31, spectacular dancing, drumming and singing performances grace the Plaza every Wednesday, featuring some of the best Aboriginal performers in western Canada.
Not to be outdone, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park near Milk River preserves more than 50 rock art sites, where there's one of the largest concentrations of rock art – ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pictographs (rock paintings) – created by the Plains people.
From mid-May to early September, guides lead visitors into the archaeological preserve to see the rock art, but keep your eyes open – this is also a protected wildlife area, where you may see golden eagles and prairie falcons flying above you, and cottontails and jackrabbits in the cottonwood brush around you. By foot, guided through both history and nature, you'll find the perfect way to spend an Alberta travel getaway.
Copyright (c) 2006 Travel Alberta, All Rights Reserved
Travel Alberta is the destination marketing organization for the Province of Alberta. Guided by the Strategic Tourism Marketing Council, Travel Alberta is the steward for the effective delivery of tourism marketing programs. For information about our organization, please visit our Travel Alberta industry web site at http://www.travelalberta.com
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