Four Day Indigenous Tour in Northern Alberta

Day 1

This morning you will be picked up in Calgary. 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. Take part in an archery lesson where you will learn the skills behind using a bow and arrow, a vital tool historically 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

Day 2

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 enjoys dinner as a group in the City of Edmonton. Check into the overnight accommodations.

Overnight: Edmonton

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 3

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 to Metis Crossing. A meet and greet introductory experience will introduce you to Métis Crossing and the Métis peoples 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 traditional Métis people. Step inside historic river lot homes that once belonged to the Sinclair and Cromerty families who settled here in the 1800’s. Put yourself in the shoes of these families as you explore their homes and yards and live how they once lived on this very lot. This evening enjoys a traditional Metis 3 course dinner.

Overnight: Metis Crossing

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4

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. Return to Calgary.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch