Visit these impressive Indigenous sites
Interpretive centres open doors to sacred history
I stood on a hill overlooking the South Saskatchewan River at Wanuskewin Heritage Centre near Saskatoon. The wind blew across the hot earth as I imagined Indigenous families travelling this land thousands of years ago.
I was awestruck by what I saw. I have that feeling every time I visit an Indigenous travel site.
If you’re looking for an excuse to leave the city of Edmonton and get connected with nature and history, look no further. There are many Indigenous Heritage sites across Alberta and Saskatchewan that offer amenities like camping, parking, exhibits, and more:
For an Alberta day trip, Métis Crossing is Alberta’s first and only Métis cultural interpretive centre. Located in Smoky Lake, it’s a pleasant 90-minute country drive northeast of Edmonton. Tours on the land feature animals such as bison and elk. You could even stay overnight at the campsite, in the hotel, or in an unusual sky-watching Dome. Don’t miss the food in the café. Best bison stew you will ever eat!
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site
I first visited the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre on a bus tour. Later, I came back by car, with ample parking available. This UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site focuses on more than 6,000 years of Buffalo Plains culture. Outdoors, visitors can walk along trails showing where hunters drove bison off towering cliffs. A successful hunt fed everyone throughout the year.
Inside the air-conditioned interpretive centre, levels of well-planned exhibits lead up to an exit on the hilltop. From here, short and long walks along the cliff are possible. Watching a documentary film, possibly hearing an Elders’ talk and stopping by the gift shop make for a satisfying experience. And if you want to stay the night, then Fort McLeod is nearby for an overnighter.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai'pi)
Much further south, Writing-on-Stone or Áísínai'pi is located in the heart of Traditional Blackfoot Territory along the Milk River. The rock paintings of Áísínai'pi are mysterious and elusive, well-protected by the caretakers of this sacred site.
Everywhere you look, the hoodoos are astonishing. Vast columns of twisted sandstone were created more than 85 million years ago during the last ice age by meltwater from receding glaciers. For at least 10,000years, people have lived here: where water, wood, game, berries, and shelter were bountiful.
As explained on the website, in Blackfoot traditions, “Special places like Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai'pi are here for a reason. This is where significant things happened to the ancestors of the Blackfoot. This is where the ancient stories took place.”
Trails lead to the protected rock paintings, some barely visible after thousands of years. If you are fit enough, the challenging pathways are worth the effort.
Opened in 1957, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park offers a shady, accessible place to camp. Reservations are suggested. A convenience store offers cooking supplies and more. Close working relationships between the park and community members are key to the long-term protection of Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai'pi.
Go exploring in Saskatchewan and head for Wanuskewin Heritage Park just minutes out of Saskatoon. The recently expanded interpretive centre is the launching pad to explore a vast park overlooking the South Saskatchewan River. You can hike the trails for hours or simply enjoy lunch at the tasty and friendly restaurant.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park has recently refurbished and expanded its impressive visitor centre on the site of Canada’s longest-running archaeological dig.
A National Historic Site, Wanuskewin Heritage Park honours a gathering place for all nations of the Northern Plains for more than 6,000 years. A visit allows for interpretation of ancient traditions that are still fresh today. The site features 19 pre-contact sites, a medicine wheel, tipi rings, and buffalo jumps. If you yearn to see a Plains bison, this is the place to check it off your bucket list. A trail leads to bison paddocks where a raised platform safely accommodates viewers.
All sites have entry fees. Check out their websites for full information.
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