Edmonton, or as it is known by its First Nations name, amiskwacîwâskahikan (Beaver Hills House, meaning “House of the Beaver Hills” in the Cree language), is located within Treaty 6 territory and has been a traditional gathering, meeting, and travel site for numerous First Nations peoples for thousands of years, including the Cree, Blackfoot, Nakoda Sioux, Dene, Salteaux, Tsuu T'ina, and Métis. For newcomers seeking to truly understand Canadian history and culture, learning about the heritage of Indigenous peoples is a critical step. Fortunately, Edmonton offers an incredibly rich array of museums, cultural centers, educational programs, galleries, tours, and living cultural spaces where you can immerse yourself in the history, traditions, languages, spirituality, and contemporary life of Alberta's Indigenous peoples. These places and programs don't just tell the story of the past — they demonstrate that Indigenous cultures are alive, dynamic, and continue to shape the identity of Alberta and all of Canada.
Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park
One of the most impressive and comprehensive places to learn about the history of Indigenous peoples is the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park, which opened after a major renovation of the park and is the first exhibit of its kind in Canada. This immersive experience was created in close collaboration with Memorandum of Understanding Partners—the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations—as well as elders and community members, making it an authentic reflection of Indigenous perspectives told in their own voices.
The Indigenous Peoples Experience occupies a vast area of over seven acres along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River (kisiskâciwanisîpiy in Cree, meaning “fast-flowing river”) and includes a new 29,000-square-foot cultural centre, outdoor trails for discovering local plants, huge bronze animal sculptures, tipi camps, gathering places, gazebos, and numerous opportunities for interpretive programs and events. The concept is to go beyond the four historical periods represented by the rest of Fort Edmonton Park (1846-1929) and expand the timeline to include the millennia of Indigenous history prior to contact with Europeans, as well as the post-contact period and the present day.
As visitors enter the cultural centre, they are greeted by an impressive 360-degree installation where kisiskâciwanisîpiy (the North Saskatchewan River) flows across the floor, surrounded by illuminated paths symbolizing the movement of Indigenous peoples across the land over millennia. Wooden structures reminiscent of traditional Indigenous architecture rise to the ceiling, creating a sense of being in a sacred space. The room is filled with sounds—music, singing, stories told by elders from Treaty 6 and Métis communities. The Blackfoot, Plains Cree, Dene, Michif, Stoney, and Salteaux languages fill the space, reminding visitors of the linguistic richness that existed here long before the arrival of English and French.
But what is most unique is that the exhibition comes to life through moving images projected onto the surface of the tipi and other structures — works of art, creation stories, and the true history of the land are played out in vivid colors on all surfaces. This is not a traditional museum with artifacts behind glass and texts on the walls — it is an immersive experience where indigenous voices, perspectives, and epistemologies are at the forefront. All of the “artifacts” on display are contemporary works by Indigenous artisans, emphasizing that Indigenous cultures are not ‘historical’ or “extinct” but continue to thrive and evolve.
Much of the exhibition is devoted to the history of the Métis, a unique Canadian nation that emerged from marriages between French-Canadian fur traders and Indigenous women. A structure resembling a traditional Métis hut comes alive with the sounds and vibrations of jigging to the tune of the Red River Jig. The story continues through the Métis perspective, reminding visitors that the Métis are a distinct people with their own language (Michif), culture, and history that is inextricably linked to the history of Alberta.
Outside the cultural centre, visitors can explore the open spaces of the Indigenous Peoples Experience, including traditional tipi camps built in the authentic style of the First Nations, a trapper's hut that simulates a traditional Métis winter camp from the 1870s-1890s, trails for discovering local medicinal plants, and huge bronze sculptures of animals that were important to the way of life and spirituality of Indigenous peoples. Throughout the year, special events, ceremonies, traditional craft workshops, storytelling by elders, and cultural programs are held here.
Critically, the entire experience was created in collaboration with Indigenous communities—more than fifty Indigenous elders, community members, educators, and historians contributed their knowledge, stories, and perspectives. This means that visitors are not presented with a colonial historiography, where Indigenous peoples are portrayed as passive victims or romanticized figures of the past, but instead hear authentic voices telling a complex, multifaceted story of survival, resistance, adaptation, and resilience.## Royal Alberta Museum and Indigenous GalleriesThe Royal Alberta Museum, the largest museum in Western Canada, plays a critical role in preserving and presenting the history of Alberta's Indigenous peoples. The museum has a vast collection of Indigenous artifacts—approximately 18,000 objects of Indigenous origin, spanning from the mid-1800s to the present day— making it one of the strongest collections of its kind in Canada, particularly with regard to the Nechiyawak (Plains Cree), Nitsitapi (Blackfoot), Dene, and Métis.In the museum's new building, which opened in 2018, the Human History Hall includes several galleries dedicated to Indigenous peoples. The Ancestral Lands gallery immerses visitors in the distant past, exploring how Indigenous peoples lived in Alberta for millennia before the arrival of Europeans. The exhibition shows complex societies with developed systems of governance, spiritual practices, technologies, and deep connections to the land. Visitors can see a 1,600-year-old roasting site where the Blackfoot people prepared feasts, learn about the intricate beadwork techniques used by the Métis, and see the various materials Indigenous peoples used to build canoes for traveling on the water.The Worlds Meet gallery presents multiple perspectives on the cultural and economic exchanges between Indigenous peoples and European newcomers from 1680 to 1880. Instead of the traditional colonial narrative of “discovery” and “settlement,” the exhibition demonstrates how Indigenous peoples were active participants in the fur trade, forming treaties and alliances with European traders, and how their knowledge of the land, climate, animals, and navigation was critical to the survival of Europeans. The museum shows the personal stories and tragedies of this period, acknowledging that contact brought not only trade and cultural exchange, but also disease, conflict, and the beginning of colonization.
The After Buffalo gallery tells a particularly difficult part of the story—the period between 1859 and 1900, when the destruction of bison herds, the signing of treaties that took away indigenous peoples' lands, the introduction of the reservation system, and assimilation policies led to catastrophic changes in the lives of indigenous peoples. Bison were not just a source of food — they were the center of the culture, economy, and spirituality of many peoples of the plains, and their near-total destruction over several decades (partly due to deliberate policies aimed at undermining the foundations of the indigenous way of life) brought indigenous nations to the brink of survival. The exhibition tells a story of resistance and resilience—how indigenous peoples fought for their rights, refused to “disappear” as colonial policy intended, and how they adapted to new realities while preserving their cultural identity.
The Why We Are Strong gallery is a circular installation of cultural objects from indigenous peoples, crowned with a strip of looped videos showing the contemporary life of indigenous peoples throughout the seasons. Singing and drumming fill the space, creating an atmosphere of celebration not only of the past, but also of the present and future. The title of the gallery itself is a powerful statement—Indigenous peoples are not “extinct” or exclusively “historical”; they are here, they are strong, their cultures continue to thrive, and they have much to say about the future of Alberta and Canada.
Critically, the Royal Alberta Museum works closely with Indigenous communities to ensure culturally sensitive and respectful care of the collection. The museum engages cultural knowledge holders to advise on how to store, display, and interpret objects. Some objects are sacred and require special protocols—the museum respects these requirements and works with communities to ensure proper handling. The museum also actively works to ensure that contemporary Indigenous experiences are represented in the collections, not just historical artifacts, recognizing that Indigenous cultures are living and continue to evolve.
kihcihkaw askî — Sacred Land
kihcihkaw askî (Sacred Land) is a truly unique urban space in Canada — it is the country's first urban Indigenous ceremonial and cultural lands located within Edmonton. Located at 14141 Fox Drive NW, this 512-acre space is a joint initiative between the Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom Centre and the City of Edmonton and was created as a place where diverse Indigenous cultures can practice essential ceremonies, pass on teachings and knowledge, and where healing can take place.
This place has deep historical and cultural significance. Long before it became agricultural land, this space was used by Indigenous peoples for centuries to gather medicinal plants for healing purposes. A rare mineral called ochre was found nearby, which was and remains an important aspect of spiritual and traditional ceremonies for many Indigenous groups. Due to the significant history of the location, this place was chosen as the home of kihcihkaw askî.
The space functions as a place for ceremonies, including sweat lodge ceremonies, sun dances, full moon ceremonies, and other traditional spiritual practices. It is also a place for intergenerational learning, where elders can pass on knowledge to younger generations about traditional ways of life, plants, animals, stars, stories, and values. For many urban Indigenous people, especially youth and families, kihcihkaw askî provides access to cultural resources and ceremonial practices close to the heart of the city, which can be challenging in an urban environment.
Importantly, the space is open to all Edmontonians, not just Indigenous peoples. The vision for kihcihkaw askî includes creating a place where all Edmontonians can recognize and reclaim their role in reconciliation by building relationships with Indigenous peoples and their territories. It is a place where reconciliation is not an abstract concept discussed in conference rooms, but a living practice that occurs through shared experiences of land, ceremonies, and teachings.
kihcihkaw askî is governed by the kihcihkaw askî Elders Council and promotes the study of Indigenous history, culture, languages, and values. For newcomers, visiting this space (provided that protocols are followed and the ceremonial nature of the place is respected) can be a deeply transformative experience, allowing them to see and feel Indigenous spirituality in action, rather than just reading about it in books.
TELUS World of Science and Indigenous Spaces
TELUS World of Science in Edmonton may seem like an unexpected place to learn about Indigenous cultures, but the science center has taken significant steps to integrate Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous Ways of Knowing into its exhibits and programs, recognizing that Indigenous peoples have millennia-old traditions of scientific observation, experimentation, and understanding of the natural world.
Inside the research center, there are three different spaces used to promote Indigenous culture and Indigenous Ways of Knowing. The Douglas Cardinal Indigenous Traditional Room, located near the entrance behind Lance Cardinal's mural, is a welcoming place for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to gather. The room contains local Indigenous artwork, ceremonial drums, blankets, and sacred medicines. It is a space where one can meditate, talk with elders, participate in ceremonies, or simply spend time in reflection.
The Northern Lights Indigenous Cultural Space, located in The Nature Exchange gallery on the second level, is a place where Indigenous knowledge intersects with Western science. The space includes the Northern Lights Library, which has a variety of books written by Indigenous authors about Indigenous histories across Turtle Island (the Indigenous name for North America). An interactive dreamcatcher created by local Ojibwe artist Eli LaGrander adorns the space. Visitors can sit, relax, and read, immersing themselves in Indigenous perspectives and stories in a comfortable, cozy setting.
The Medicine Garden is an outdoor space south of the main entrance to the science center, designed according to the teachings of the Medicine Wheel. The Medicine Wheel can be divided into four sections, each representing the four directions, colors associated with the direction, and plants that typically grow in that direction. This garden teaches visitors about traditional medicinal plants that have been used by Indigenous peoples for millennia and how spirituality, ecology, and healing are intertwined in Indigenous epistemologies.
Lance Cardinal's mural “amiskwacîwâskahikan” at the entrance to the science center is a powerful artistic statement of Indigenous presence. The mural depicts a beaver, which represents one of the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings—Wisdom. The image demonstrates the wisdom and science of traditional learning on the land, where elders teach us the stories and wisdom of the stars and the natural science of Mother Earth.
TELUS World of Science is also organizing special programs for Truth and Reconciliation Day (September 30) and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), including kulik (Inuit traditional lamp) lighting ceremonies, tipi installations, drum circles, free IMAX screenings of Indigenous stories, craft workshops, and cultural presentations.
Bearclaw Gallery and Indigenous Art
For those who want to see and purchase contemporary Indigenous art, Bearclaw Gallery at 10403 124 St NW is one of the most prestigious venues in Western Canada. The gallery has been operating for over fifty years (celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024) and specializes in showcasing the work of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists.
The gallery represents the work of world-renowned Indigenous artists, many of whom are recipients of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honor. Among them are Daphne Odjig, Norval Morrisseau (founder of the Woodlands School of Art), Alex Janvier, Jane Ash Poitras, Roy Thomas, Maxine Noel, Jim Logan, Aaron Paquette, Jason Carter, Linus Woods, and many others. The collection includes original paintings (oil and acrylic), soapstone sculptures, wood carvings, ceramics, jewelry, and traditional crafts.
Bearclaw Gallery began operating in the early 1970s, when Indigenous art was still slowly gaining recognition in the Canadian art market. The gallery played a critical role in promoting the pioneers of the Woodlands School of Art and other Indigenous artists, helping to establish them in collections across Canada and internationally. Today, Bearclaw continues to support Indigenous artists by providing them with a platform to display and sell their work, organizing exhibitions, and facilitating connections between artists and collectors.
A visit to Bearclaw Gallery offers a glimpse into the incredible diversity of Indigenous art—from traditional depictions of animals and spiritual beings to abstract works exploring contemporary Indigenous identity, from intricate mosaics of Métis beaded floral embroidery to powerful political statements about colonization, residential schools, and survival. The gallery staff is knowledgeable and friendly, ready to talk about the artists, their styles, the meanings of symbols, and the stories behind the works. For newcomers, especially those from Ukraine, where there may be less familiarity with North American Indigenous art, a visit to Bearclaw can be a revelation of the richness, complexity, and beauty of Indigenous artistic traditions.
Art Gallery of Alberta and Curator of Indigenous Creativity
The Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) in downtown Edmonton has a dedicated position of TD Curator of Indigenous Creativity, demonstrating an institutional commitment to representing and supporting Indigenous artists and perspectives. The gallery regularly organizes exhibitions of Indigenous artists, both historical and contemporary, exploring Indigenous identity, history, politics, and creativity.
For example, in 2025, the AGA presented two powerful exhibitions: “nâpêhkâsowinowâk” (translated from Cree as “bravery and courage”), a group exhibition of younger Indigenous male artists exploring what it means to be a warrior today, beyond traditional roles, including political issues, fashion with traditional designs, healing through grief, poetry, and music. The second exhibition featured the work of Eugene Alexis of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, whose vibrant landscapes capture the beauty of the Alberta sky and a deep connection to the land and tradition.
The Art Gallery of Alberta offers free admission on the last Thursday of every month from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., making Indigenous art accessible to all. The gallery shop also features works by local Indigenous artists, including jewelry, prints, books, and crafts. Visiting exhibitions and participating in AGA programs allows you to see how Indigenous artists use a variety of media—painting, sculpture, installation, video, performance—to explore contemporary Indigenous experiences and identities.
Edmonton Public Library and Indigenous Resources
Edmonton Public Library (EPL) has numerous resources and programs dedicated to Indigenous history, culture, and languages, and these resources are free and accessible to all Edmontonians, including newcomers. The EPL library system has a dedicated Indigenous Collection that includes thousands of books written by Indigenous authors or about Indigenous topics for readers of all ages, from children's picture books to scholarly research.
The Prairie Indigenous eBook Collection brings together over two hundred eBooks from publishers in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta written by Indigenous authors. This significant addition to the Alberta eBooks repository increases access to Indigenous authors' stories and writings about Indigenous culture, and is the first of its kind in Canada. The Indigenous Peoples of North America collection includes newspapers, manuscripts, drawings and sketches, photographs, maps, periodicals, monographs, reports, legal materials, organizational records, and census records, as well as materials in Indigenous languages, including dictionaries, Bibles, and primers.
EPL's Elders in Residence program provides access to Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers for EPL patrons. The Elder-in-Residence conducts biweekly programs and special programs focused on Indigenous knowledge and works to make ceremony an active part of the library system. Through classes, events, and ceremonies, the program brings people of all backgrounds together to learn about Indigenous culture, protocols, and processes. Kokum Lorette Goulet, one of the Elders-in-Residence, received her Traditional Name Miskinâhk Iskwew (Woman-Turtle) thirty years ago and began her journey walking the Red Road, carrying a legacy of love, kindness, and compassion.
EPL also offers the Exploring Reconciliation Series, which provides opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of reconciliation and how it affects Canadian society. The Mâmawô ayâwin series (meaning “all together” in the Plains Cree language) reflects EPL's intention to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples together to learn, discuss, and celebrate various topics. This series uses Indigenous language to bring visibility to Indigenous languages within EPL.
The flagship Stanley A. Milner Library has a dedicated space called PÎYÊSÎW WÂSKÂHIKAN (Thunderbird House), an Indigenous gathering space designed in consultation with Indigenous communities. This space incorporates traditional design elements, Indigenous artwork, and is a venue for ceremonies, programs, and gatherings that celebrate Indigenous cultures.
Talking Rock Tours and Indigenous Heritage Tour
For those who want to explore Edmonton's Indigenous history directly on the land, Talking Rock Tours offers unique research tours that combine geology, history, and Indigenous perspectives. This nationally recognized, 100% Indigenous-owned and operated company offers small group walking, hiking, and snowshoe tours that explore Alberta's natural wonders through an Indigenous cultural lens.
The Edmonton River Valley Tour takes participants along the North Saskatchewan River, sharing how this river has been critically important to Indigenous peoples for millennia—for travel, trade, fishing, gathering food and medicine—and how sacred sites along the river continue to be significant to Indigenous communities today. The tour includes Indigenous ceremonies, storytelling, and teachings, creating lasting memories. Participants learn about the natural and cultural history of the region, as well as pre-1867 Canadian history (i.e., history before Canada was established as a country, when this land was exclusively Indigenous territory).
The Edmonton Indigenous Heritage Tour by minivan transports participants to various sites of significance around Edmonton, including Fort Edmonton Park, Rossdale Memorial (a burial site near the Epcor plant where Indigenous remains were found and a reburial ceremony took place in 2007), Alberta Legislature Grounds with its Garden of Reconciliation, and other locations. This is more than a sightseeing tour—it is a respectful journey into Indigenous history, heritage, and land. Participants see traditional dwellings, hear Indigenous languages, learn about spiritual beliefs, and explore how people lived on the land long before modern Canada.
Professor Dr. Dwayne Donald from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education, who is of Papachees Cree descent and has ties to the Blackfoot Nation, also leads walking tours of the Edmonton River Valley, teaching students and the public about the history of the Papachees Cree — a nation that once occupied the territory that is now southeast Edmonton (including the entire Mill Woods area) and whose land was illegally taken in the 1880s. These tours are a powerful reminder that Indigenous history is not a distant past — it is here, beneath our feet, and continues to shape modern Edmonton.
Métis Crossing — Métis Cultural Centre
About an hour's drive northeast of Edmonton, near Smoky Lake, is Métis Crossing — Alberta's first major Métis cultural interpretation centre. Built on the original riverfront homesteads of Métis settlers from the late 1800s, this 688-acre site is a tribute to Métis heritage, values, and innovation.
Métis Crossing offers immersive programs that invite visitors to actively engage with Métis customs, celebrations, and teachings. Visitors can explore the Historic Village, which includes some of the original buildings constructed by Métis settlers. Métis interpreters tell stories, answer questions, and teach traditional Métis crafts, including floral embroidery, moccasin making, and sash weaving.
A variety of experiences are available to enhance the visitor experience. Tales from the Trapline is a four-hour program where elder Lilyrose Meyers, who herself has over thirty years of experience as a trapper, leads participants into the world of the trapline. Participants don traditional Métis wool coats called capotes, visit a traditional one-room hut (similar to the one where Meyers herself was born), and learn about everything that goes into a trapline survival kit, from axes to homemade pemmican. Participants then head into the forest and attempt to build their own temporary shelters, learning practical survival skills that have been used by the Métis for centuries.
In the summer, you can paddle down the North Saskatchewan River in a voyager canoe, hone your archery skills, or visit the bison enclosure. The restaurant offers Métis-inspired cuisine and storytelling sessions, which are a great way to end a day of learning and fun. For those who want to extend their stay, there is a campground, sky-watching domes with clear ceilings for stargazing, and a 40-room boutique luxury lodge.
What makes Métis Crossing particularly valuable is that it was created by the Métis themselves to tell their own story. As Krista Leddy, former experience development coordinator for the center, said, "Other places have told the story on our behalf. And it's not always the right story. We want to share the story of who we are, what we have done, and where we are going—from our perspective." For newcomers, especially those who may not know about the Métis as a unique Indigenous nation in Canada, visiting Métis Crossing is an education on how cultures have mixed, adapted, and created something new and unique.
Enoch Cree Nation and Cultural Space
Enoch Cree Nation (ᒪᐢᑫᑯᓯᕽ, maskêkosihk in the Cree language) is a neighbour of Edmonton, located just west of the city along Highway 60. The Nation signed Treaty 6 in 1877 and is a proud member of the Treaty 6 First Nations Confederacy. Although Enoch is a sovereign nation with its own government, it works closely with the City of Edmonton on various initiatives, including joint park management, transit planning, and cultural tourism.
The Enoch Cree Nation is developing Traditional Lands near Yekau Lake, which has functioned as a traditional land use area for over thirty years. The project includes improving access to the site by constructing a new parking lot, walking trail, and self-contained washroom facilities. Possible future developments may include the construction of a footbridge to Yekau Lake. This site is significant for cultural ceremonies, gatherings, and land-based learning.
River Cree Resort and Casino, owned by the Enoch Cree Nation, is located in the northeast corner of the reserve, near Edmonton. The resort regularly hosts cultural events, including the Annual Night Market, where you can purchase indigenous crafts, sample traditional foods, and enjoy cultural performances. Attending these events is an opportunity to support Indigenous businesses and interact with Indigenous communities.
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society and CNFC
Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a non-profit organization that has been serving Indigenous children, youth, and families in Edmonton and the surrounding area since 1994. Dedicated to guidance, support, and healing, Bent Arrow supports mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being through culturally responsible programming guided by the teachings of Elders and Knowledge Keepers and the wisdom of Indigenous communities. The founders of Bent Arrow firmly believed that it was critical to keep culture at the center of their mission.
Bent Arrow offers numerous programs, including Practise as Ceremony, a program that brings indigenous teachings to the community. Services include workshops, ceremonies, and cultural teachings that can benefit clients and staff of organizations. They offer indigenous cultural teachings, Medicine Wheel teachings, rites of passage for women and men, medicine teachings, tipi teachings, Elders' teachings, individual Elders' support, tobacco protocols, singing teachings, language teachings, ceremonies, an annual cultural camp, and powwow practices.
Bent Arrow also hosts monthly Soup and Bannock Lunches, which are open to the public and offer a chance to sample traditional foods and meet members of Indigenous communities. The Wahkomatowin Seniors Wellness Program works with Indigenous seniors, providing culturally responsive support and creating social connections through cultural activities.
The Canadian Native Friendship Centre (CNFC) is another important organization serving urban Indigenous people in Edmonton. The CNFC was originally organized to assist Indigenous newcomers to the city with referral services and social and recreational programs. Today, the Centre continues to provide cultural, recreational, and social programming, serving approximately 10,000 people annually through various programs, services, and functions. The CNFC organizes events on National Indigenous Peoples Day, including festivals, powwows, and cultural presentations.
University of Alberta and Public Events
The University of Alberta has a significant Indigenous population of students, faculty, and researchers and offers numerous public events, lectures, exhibitions, and programs dedicated to Indigenous themes. The Native Studies department is one of the leading programs in Canada and regularly hosts public lectures by Indigenous scholars, activists, artists, and community leaders.
Indigenous Celebration Week is an annual celebration of Indigenous culture, teachings, and languages that aims to share knowledge and create positive energy. The week includes events led by Indigenous elders and other community members as a way to honor traditional elements in a modern context. Events may include ceremonies, storytelling, traditional craft workshops, dance performances, Indigenous artisan and vendor fairs, and social gatherings.
The University of Alberta Library is pioneering work in the field of Indigenous data sovereignty, collaborating with Indigenous communities to create Data Sovereignty and Care Taking Directives—unique agreements that allow Indigenous research participants and communities to retain full control over the digital records of their Elders and knowledge, now and in the future, forever. In September 2024, a ceremony was held where copies of the signed agreements were placed in two birch bark bags and officially handed over to the principal investigator and university librarian as custodians of the University of Alberta's data. This ceremony represents a unique and historic moment, as it propelled the university forward in the way indigenous data sovereignty can be practiced.
The University of Alberta's free online course Indigenous Canada explores indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. There are twelve lessons with topics including the fur trade, land claims and environmental impacts, legal systems and rights, political conflicts, alliances and activism, and contemporary Indigenous life and art. The course is open to everyone and provides an in-depth, academically rigorous introduction to Indigenous issues from Indigenous perspectives.
Indigenous Book and Craft Stores
For those who want to support Indigenous businesses and bring home books, art, or crafts created by Indigenous people, Edmonton has several options. Magpie Books at 9553 76 Ave NW is an independent bookstore owned by Indigenous people that prioritizes books by 2SQTBIPOC (Two-Spirit, Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color) authors in amiskwacîwâskahikan. Magpie Books was founded with a mission to provide a space for community members to gather, read, write, and support social and political movements. Magpie's curation prioritizes literature written by Black, Indigenous, racialized, queer, and trans authors, and themes that focus on liberation, oppression, activism, grassroots organizing, and mutual aid.
Audrey's Books at 10702 Jasper Ave, Edmonton's oldest new bookstore celebrating 50 years of selling books, has a good selection of Indigenous authors and books and has very helpful staff ready to help find specific titles or recommend books.
I.A.M. Collective (Indigenous Arts Market) is an Indigenous arts collective that includes over 170+ First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists who promote authenticity over appropriation, providing a place for market visitors to purchase authentic, local Indigenous art. I.A.M. has a permanent store in the Indigenous Peoples Experience building in Fort Edmonton Park (open May through October Wednesday through Sunday, and November through April Saturday and Sunday), as well as every Saturday at the Old Strathcona Farmers Market. The collection includes handcrafted items such as jewelry, dream catchers, bags, clothing with traditional designs, art, carvings, and more, all created by Indigenous artisans.
Samson Gallery at West Edmonton Mall has coloring books and books in the Cree language for children, as well as other Indigenous cultural items. The Royal Alberta Museum shop also sells books by Indigenous authors, coloring books featuring Indigenous art, traditional crafts, and souvenirs created by Indigenous artisans.
National Indigenous Peoples Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Two national holidays provide special opportunities to learn about Indigenous cultures and history: National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (September 30). Both days are celebrated in Edmonton with numerous events, ceremonies, cultural performances, and educational programs.
June 21, which coincides with the summer solstice—a spiritually significant day for many Indigenous cultures—symbolizes a new season of life. Edmonton hosts numerous events, including powwows (traditional gatherings with dancing, singing, and drumming), cultural festivals, craft fairs, storytelling, ceremonies, and celebrations at various locations throughout the city. Bent Arrow organizes National Indigenous Peoples Day with cultural activities, Enoch Cree Nation hosts a Night Market, CNFC organizes the Indigenous Peoples Festival, and numerous other organizations offer free programs, traditional craft demonstrations, workshops, and performances.
September 30 is National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, dedicated to honoring those who survived residential schools and the children who never returned home, as well as their families and communities. Residential schools were a system of government-run boarding schools where Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families and communities, forbidden to speak their languages, practice their cultures or religions, and forced to assimilate. This system operated for over a century and affected approximately 150,000 Indigenous children across Canada, thousands of whom died.
Edmonton is hosting numerous events on September 30: Fort Edmonton Park is offering reduced admission and focusing on the Indigenous Peoples Experience; TELUS World of Science is hosting a kulik lighting ceremony, tipi setup, Indigenous drumming and dance circle, and free IMAX screenings; the Royal Alberta Museum is hosting storytelling by elders; and the Art Gallery of Alberta is hosting an Indigenous Arts Market. Ceremonies and presentations are held at the Alberta Legislature Grounds in the Kihciy Maskikiy / Aakaakmotaani Reconciliation Garden.
An important part of the day is wearing orange shirts as a symbol of solidarity with the victims of residential schools. This tradition stems from the story of Phyllis Webstad, who had her new orange shirt taken away when she arrived at residential school at the age of six.
Conclusion
Edmonton offers an incredibly rich and diverse range of opportunities to learn about the history, culture, languages, spirituality, and contemporary life of Alberta's Indigenous peoples. From immersive museum experiences at Fort Edmonton Park and the Royal Alberta Museum to living cultural spaces such as kihcihkaw askî and Métis Crossing, from Indigenous art galleries to walking tours that explore Indigenous history directly on the land, from library resources to cultural organizations such as Bent Arrow and CNFC—the opportunities for learning are nearly limitless.
What makes these resources particularly valuable is that many of them were created in collaboration with Indigenous communities or are run by Indigenous people themselves, meaning that visitors hear authentic Indigenous voices and perspectives rather than colonial narratives about Indigenous peoples. Most of these resources are either completely free or very affordable, reflecting a commitment to making Indigenous history and culture accessible to all.
For newcomers, especially those from countries where there are no Indigenous peoples or where they were assimilated centuries ago, learning about Alberta's Indigenous peoples is critical to understanding what it means to live in Canada. Canada is built on lands that belonged (and continue to belong, according to Indigenous understanding) to Indigenous peoples, and the treaty relationship between the Crown and Indigenous nations is the foundation of Canadian society. Understanding the history—both complex and painful—of colonization, residential schools, cultural genocide, but also resistance, survival, adaptation, and the contemporary resurgence of Indigenous cultures, is essential to being an informed and responsible member of Canadian society.
Participating in Indigenous cultural events, visiting museums and galleries, reading books by Indigenous authors, supporting Indigenous businesses, and taking part in tours and educational programs are all ways to not only learn about Indigenous peoples, but also to actively participate in the process of reconciliation, which is one of the most important projects in contemporary Canada. Reconciliation is not just the responsibility of the government or institutions — it is the duty of every Canadian and everyone who chooses to make Canada their home to learn about, recognize, and honor the Indigenous peoples on whose lands we all live.