Sharing Wisdom

Walk in the footsteps of countless generations and learn from those who came before us. Indigenous Knowledge comes in all forms… Share in a teaching from these museums and Cultural Centres across Canada.

Elsipogtog Mi’kmaq Cultural Center

Basket making was an important Cultural skill that allowed the Mi’kmaq People to subsist for many years; Elders talk about going to nearby towns to trade potato baskets for food, tools or fabrics. Traditionally we use black ash for the basket and white ash for the handles and other tools as well. Today we share this fine art of basket making with guests with our Traditional Mi’kmaq Basket Making Experience and all the Cultural teachings that are passed on while weaving. — heritagepathtour.com

Blackfoot Crossing

The Siksikaitsitapiiks’ traditional territory was Buffalo Country; buffalo were so important to the lifestyle of the Blackfoot the annual movement of the bands followed the herds. In winter many buffalo drifted into sheltered river valleys and small bands of the Blackfoot followed them; if hunting was good, they’d stay for weeks. The Blackfoot Crossing on the Bow River was such a place. The valley contained deep coulees and buffalo traps were everywhere. In 1877, Chief Crowfoot chose this site for the Treaty Seven negotiations. — blackfootcrossing.ca

Sncewips Heritage Museum

The Syilx/Okanagan people lived a semi-nomadic lifestyle following a 13‑moon calendar. While we moved about the 69,000 square kilometres of territory, we were engaged in land maintenance: prescribed burnings, deadheading and spreading seeds, and monitoring animals and fish so that we could sustainably enjoy the blessings of the land. The word “syilx” means to weave many strands; as a people we interweave ourselves with the land, the animals and each other, we are not separate from the world around us, but connected in a reciprocal relationship. — sncewips.com

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Our forests have a limited amount of trees available to harvest, and our people are witnessing cedar trees being over-harvested for their inner bark. The Squamish and Lil’wat Nations have an intimate relationship with cedar; we take only what we need, and we use everything that we take. Traces of our ancestors’ use can be seen today on culturally modified trees (CMTs) throughout our territories, evidence that stripping has been going on for centuries. — slcc.ca

Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre

Chu Nìnkwän, the Yukon River, is the heart of the Kwanlin Dün people. For generations, our people lived along the banks of the river, travelling ancient trails throughout southern Yukon to hunt, trap, fish as part of our seasonal round. Late summer was the most abundant time, when Chu Nìnkwän was full of salmon on their annual run. Kwanlin is Southern Tutchone for “water running through the canyon.” The Kwanlin Dün are the people of the water running through canyon. — kdcc.ca

Site d’interprétation Micmac de Gespeg

As Mi’gmaq history is shared orally, it is important to share our Knowledge, Culture, and Traditions with younger generations through songs, legends, storytelling and crafts. It’s not just entertainment but a great way of keeping our Culture alive. ‘IKO’ is the welcoming song of the Mi’gmaq people, it is used when the community welcomes other Nations or visitors onto our land. Songs like ‘IKO’ can be shared between different Algonquin communities as a way of staying connected. — micmacgespeg.ca

Métis Crossing

Métis families settled along the Victoria Trail using the unique long, narrow river lot system. Our homes were close to the North Saskatchewan river, our source of life: food, water and transportation. Our gardens and small livestock were close by. Further from the river, we planted crops and kept the north end forested for wood used in our fires and homes, as well as wildlife habitat. Our families’ and neighbours’ homes were close so that we could gather, share music and stories. — metiscrossing.org

Metepenagiag Heritage Park (MHP) 

The Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag have lived on their traditional territory since time immemorial. This knowledge has been handed down to us through generations of oral history. We have fished and hunted, built vessels for transportation, traded to the far reaches of the earth, spoken our language, raised children, buried our dead and celebrated the new seasons with reverence and respect. We are a communal people: self-sufficient, steady, proud. Through all adversity of time, we have endured. — metpark.ca

Millbrook Cultural Centre

Glooscap was endowed with supreme powers; portrayed as kind and benevolent but a warrior against evil. Glooscap appeared at a time of need; he was created with the strike of three lightning bolts on the Bay of Fundy. A speaker of all languages, he taught his people to hunt, fish, cultivate, cook and cure food. He was a wise leader among the Mi’kmaq people, but to his enemies he was ruthless in battle. He was a shape shifter and loved his people. He lived in Blomidon, Nova Scotia but his hunting grounds were from the Gaspé Coast of Québec to the Maritimes where his people lived. —millbrookheritagecentre.ca