To be fully immersed in the sacred traditions and culture of Indigenous people on “Turtle Island” (the traditional name for North America) requires openness and appreciation. In Canada, Indigenous peoples are made up of three distinct groups: Métis, First Nations and Inuit. All the activities in this feature take place on the traditional territories of Indigenous homelands.
When visiting Indigenous communities, it is important to follow local cultural protocols. In many First Nations traditions, offering ceremonial tobacco to elders and knowledge keepers is a meaningful sign of respect, however practices and expectations vary among Nations, as well as within Inuit and Métis communities. Elders and knowledge keepers will often share their teachings and beliefs, while captivating you with tales that reveal the history of their ancestors.
Here, deputy editor Lynne Maxwell reveals 14 ways to respectfully experience Indigenous culture in Alberta…
Across Alberta, you may have the opportunity to witness or participate in a smudge. Smudging is a traditional, sacred ritual, used in many First Nations communities to cleanse the mind, body, an object or physical space and dispel negative energy.
Burning either cedar, sweet grass, tobacco or sage creates a cleansing smoke for purification, which is then accompanied by a prayer or affirmation. The focus itself is an uplifting yet spiritual experience that offers insight into the values and teachings of the community sharing it, and gives you a newfound appreciation for life.
While you’ll find many living history museums throughout the province, a trip to Fort Edmonton Park, located on Treaty 6 territory, the homeland of the Métis, will leave you in awe. The 158-acre wooded parkland was a major point on the trading routes for Métis and First Nations peoples in the late 18th century and beyond.
The incredible interactive, immersive exhibitions, displays and artefacts were created in collaboration with 50 elders, who passed on their knowledge of their history, traditions and culture. Beginning in spring, the museum takes you on a journey through the seasons, showcasing replicas of hunting tools and everyday items, and revealing the Métis people's utmost respect for the formidable bison.
Intimate and stylish, Bernadette’s in downtown Edmonton is dedicated to Chef Scott Iserhoff’s grandmother. Serving up Indigenous dishes using seasonal and traditional ingredients that evoke childhood memories, Scott says: “We reinvent dishes and adapt them to our environment."
The freshly-made pappardelle with duck ragu paired with pinot noir from the Austrian/Hungarian border is delightful, while the bison tenderloin (pictured) served with mashed potato, cauliflower, Chantilly mushrooms and Saskatoon berry jus is a contender for the best meal you’ll ever have. Leave room for the melon sorbet with mint, washed down with mescal.
Situated in Smoky Lake, around 74 miles (120km) from Edmonton, is Alberta’s first Métis cultural centre. The inspirational site boasts a 40-room lodge, as well as camping facilities and 10 luxury sky-watching domes dotted around its 688-acre sacred land, formed from river lots that belonged to the original Métis settlers in the late 1800s.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll be spoiled with stunning views across the North Saskatchewan River or woodland complete with grazing bison, elk and horses. The food here is exceptional too. Bison lasagne and the site’s freshly-made Saskatoon berry lemonade will put a spring in your step.
One of seven signature experiences guests can enjoy at Métis Crossing is Meet The Métis. Accompanied by a Métis interpreter, you’ll enter the Upper Barn, where you’ll learn all about the fur trade and the traditions and cultures of Métis life.
Afterwards, wander along part of the original Old Victoria Trail, which once stretched from Alberta's capital, Edmonton, to the province of Manitoba, before visiting the Historic Village, where you can step inside the river lot homes of the Sinclair and Cromarty families (pictured). You’ll then test your creativity by trying an art activity, such as finger-weaving a mini Métis sash.
Another signature experience here is Whispers From The Stars (available in autumn and winter). When night falls, Shirley Pallister, a descendant of the Métis Nation, imparts the knowledge and wisdom she’s gathered from both elders and the younger generations over the years.
As the flames flicker around the campfire, Shirley will talk you through tales of the past that reveal the passion she has for the place she calls “home, kinship and family”. After her stories, she’ll answer any questions you have about the Métis traditions, and visitors will also enjoy delicious s’mores around the campfire.
The ultimate signature experience at Métis Crossing is Visions, Hopes and Dreams. Guided by Shirley in her trusty SUV, this wildlife tour launched in 2021 and continues to be a firm favourite among guests. Shirley has plenty of tales to tell on your bumpy ride up to the plains where wood bison, plains bison, Percheron horses and the elusive elk graze.
Keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready to capture these incredible animals that all play an essential part in Métis and other Indigenous cultures. Plains bison, or “buffloo” in Michif, were reintroduced to the area in 2021. Before that, none had roamed here since the 1860s, when thousands of Métis would gather for the bison hunts each spring and autumn. It’s a special adventure you’ll never forget.
Métis Crossing’s three-hour Paddle into the Past experience is equally unforgettable. You’ll canoe the three-mile (5km) fur trade route along the gentle but fast-flowing North Saskatchewan River to Fort Victoria, a provincial historic settlement where the oldest still-standing building in Alberta sits among lush scenery.
Along the way, beavers scurry and bald eagles fly overhead as you learn about the Métis people and how they lived, worked and traded alongside European settlers here. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never canoed before, as you’ll be accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide.
The four-hour drive from Métis Crossing to the Painted Warriors Ranch in Mountain View County is well worth it to discover one of the best Indigenous experiences in Alberta. If you're coming straight from Calgary, it's just 1.5 hours away by car.
The 82-acre ranch boasts 10 cosy cabins surrounded by spruce and aspen trees, and featuring separate washrooms, alfresco showers and a sauna. Your stay includes a hot homemade dinner and breakfast served up by incredible hosts Tracey and Tim, who will share their Ojibway, Cree and Mohawk heritage through an array of authentic activities, including archery and wildlife viewing.
Animal identification was paramount for the hunters and gatherers who lived off the land in Alberta, and this Indigenous experience at Painted Warriors teaches you the basics. Animals hunted here to this day include bison, moose, elk, deer, bears, antelope, caribou and ram.
Tracey talks you through the skins, footprints, skulls, habits and behaviours of the wildlife that live here, as she reveals insightful stories about her ancestors. You’ll also learn about fire survival, including which materials are best for fuel if you find yourself stranded while out hunting.
Check out of your cosy cabins at Painted Warriors and then head to the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park. Although the Athabasca Glacier has been shrinking for the last 125 years – it recedes by around 16 feet (5m) a year – it’s still walkable.
IceWalks has partnered up with Zuc’min Guiding’s Tim Patterson to introduce Indigenous Led Tours, a three-mile (5km) guided hike (reopens May 2026) up the stunning glacier and back. You’ll be kitted out in waterproofs and hiking boots with spikes, ready to tackle the ice while learning about the significance of this region to Indigenous communities. Expect breathtaking views as you witness water gushing through deep crevices (from a safe distance) and cascading waterfalls.
Just across the road from the Athabasca Glacier, you can celebrate your hiking achievements by tucking into a well-deserved dinner. Open seasonally (May-October), Altitude Restaurant serves up Canadian-inspired dishes using local produce, accompanied by beautiful panoramas of the glacier opposite.
Highlights include crispy duck wings with Saskatoon berry compote, and braised short rib beef served on a bed of creamy mashed potato topped with crispy shallots, broccoli and gravy (pictured). Save room for apple raisin strudel with vanilla sauce.
Prepare to be wowed. Jasper Park Lodge is a huge luxury resort located on the banks of the crystal-clear Lac Beauvert in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and it is spectacular. Everywhere you turn in the 700-acre Fairmont property, you'll discover beautiful views and tranquil spaces.
While guest rooms, lodges and signature cabins are smart yet comforting in equal measure, outside you can take advantage of the plentiful activities on offer. Try the glacial plunge followed by a sauna, or get active with time spent mountain biking, canoeing, swimming, skating and skiing (seasonal). As well as walking or jogging around the lake, you can hike the nearby Old Fort Point for gorgeous views across Jasper.
Head to Jasper-Hinton Airport, a 70-minute drive from Jasper Park Lodge, for an Indigenous tour like no other. Guide Lauren Moberly, from the Rocky Mountain Cree tribe, joins you as you lift off in a private helicopter into the peaks of this sacred landscape.
You’ll fly over formidable mountain Roche Miette, the gushing Snaring River, the thundering Snake Indian Falls, Mount Solomon and more, while Lauren relives the stories of her ancestors, who were forced to leave their historic homestead in the heart of Jasper National Park and walk 124 miles (200km) to Grand Cache back in 1909. Her emotive tales and incredible knowledge of the landmarks you fly over add to a memory that will stay with you forever.
There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Calgary International Airport, where you can take a connecting flight to Edmonton International. There are bus services and trains that reach many of the places included in this gallery.
Lynne Maxwell travelled to Alberta in September 2025 as a guest of Indigenous Tourism Alberta and Destination Canada.
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