Northern Alberta Four Day Indigenous Tour

Northern Alberta Four Day Indigenous Tour

  • Independent travel
  • 4 days
  • Calgary to Calgary
  • Oct
  • Tour code NAFI

About this tour

The Northern Alberta Four-Day Indigenous Tour offers a rich cultural experience, immersing participants in the traditions and history of the Ojibway, Cree, Mohawk, and Métis peoples. The tour includes activities such as a Forest Walk, archery lessons, a beading workshop, and visits to Painted Warriors Ranch, Edmonton River Valley, Elk Island National Park, and Métis Crossing. Participants will enjoy traditional meals, storytelling, and hands-on demonstrations, providing a deep connection to Indigenous culture.

Trip highlights

  • Painted Warriors Ranch: forest walk and archery lesson
  • Edmonton River Valley Tour: Visit historic and sacred sites, participate in a smudge ceremony, and learn about the fur trade
  • Elk Island National Park: Bison viewings and archaeological activities
  • Métis Crossing: Cultural introduction through art, dance, storytelling, and traditional practices
  • Beading Workshop: Learn traditional Métis beading and tufting techniques

Day by day

  1. Day 1 Calgary - Painted Warriors

    This morning, you will be picked up from the Telus Convention Centre and start your adventure. ETA of bus departure: 9:00am. Drive to the Painted Warriors Indigenous Experience at Painted Warriors Ranch. Enjoy an enriching experience which showcases the deep connection to nature and the traditions of the Ojibway, Cree, and Mohawk cultures. Settle into your cabins and enjoy a traditional lunch on site. Participate in an archery lesson where you will learn the skills required to use a bow and arrow, a vital tool historically used for both hunting and survival. The instructors, sharing their heritage, provide hands-on demonstrations of archery techniques, explaining how this practice has been passed down through the generations. This combination of cultural storytelling and practical skill-building offers a memorable and educational experience at Painted Warriors Ranch. Tonight, enjoy an authentic dinner followed by a campfire where shared stories will be told. Enjoy the surrounding natural quietness.

    Overnight: Mountain View Country Meals: Lunch, Dinner
  2. Day 2 Painted Warriors - Edmonton

    Enjoy a hearty breakfast before you experience a Forest Walk. The Bimose Stories of the Forest is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in our Indigenous stories and traditions. The guide will share knowledge on the traditional medicinal and edible plants used for healing, hunting techniques, and fire lighting skills. Learn to sharpen your senses as you learn lessons from the land using wind direction and other natural navigational cues to chart a course back to the ranch. With every step, you’ll shed worries and gain a deeper sense of connection—to yourself and to the land. Depart the ranch and head north to Edmonton. A stop for lunch on your own. In Edmonton, embark on a journey into the past as you walk to historic and sacred sites within North America’s largest urban green space, the Edmonton River Valley. Walk in the footsteps of Indigenous Peoples who continue to visit this sacred gathering place on Turtle Island for the last 10,000 years. Honour the local First Nations, Métis, and early European ancestors of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Translation: Beaver Hills House – Nehiyawak (Cree) traditional territorial name for Edmonton) by giving tobacco protocol and participating in a smudge ceremony. Discover the extensive history of our region’s fur trade. This evening, enjoy dinner as a group in Edmonton. Check into the overnight accommodation.

    Overnight: Edmonton Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  3. Day 3 Elk National Park - Metis Crossing

    This morning, enjoy breakfast before checking out and heading north. The first stop will be at Elk Island National Park. Receive a guided tour while enjoying Bison viewings, learning the Indigenous and Bison connection and history, feel a bison pelt, archaeological activities that bring history to life and peer into the underwater world of the living boardwalk.Next, arrive at MeMétisrossing. A meet-and-greet introductory experience will introduce you to Métis crossing and the Métis people through art, dance, storytelling, nature, and traditional practices. Join a Métis interpreter in an exploration of the unique history, culture, language, and way of life of conventional Métis people. Step inside historic river lot homes that once belonged to the Sinclair and Cromerty families who settled here in the 1800s. Put yourself in the shoes of these families as you explore their homes and yards and live as they once lived on this very lot. This evening, enjoy a traditional MeMétis course dinner.

    Overnight: Smoky Lake Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 Metis Crossing - Calgary

    Enjoy breakfast before joining in a beading workshop. Explore traditional Métis beading and tufting techniques to create a unique, handcrafted poppy to keep. Led by our Knowledge Holder, this workshop offers a hands-on experience that connects you with Métis culture while crafting a meaningful piece. Check out and enjoy lunch before departure.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
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What's included

  • Round-trip transportation from and to Calgary
  • Two overnight full Immersive indigenous experience
  • Meals as listed
  • Indigenous workshop/actitvies
  • Professional Tour Leader

What's not included

  • Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
  • Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
  • Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
  • Taxes as applicable
  • Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
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