Mural in Beaver Hills Park. Photo by Ashlee Ganton
Amiskwaciwâskahikan is the Cree name for the area that is now Edmonton. This land, referred to as Treaty 6 Territory, and has the second-largest Indigenous population of all Canadian municipalities. The treaty dates back to 1876 and encompasses the traditional territories of numerous Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, and Nakota Sioux. Celebrate Indigenous history, as well as present-day artisans, chefs, makers, and business owners, in Edmonton.
Shopping
Whiskeyjack Art House
In addition to housing artwork by local Indigenous artists, this new gallery space also offers an impressive selection of home goods, gourmet foods, and beauty products from local Indigenous businesses. || 11051-97 St NW #102. whiskeyjackarthouse.ca
Mother Earth Essentials
This Indigenous-owned beauty and wellness shop offers a variety of luxurious soaps, lotions, teas, and more, all made from traditional ingredients such as sweetgrass, sage, and peppermint. Their amazing gift sets make for thoughtful gifts all year round. || 12318-111 Ave NW, (844) 551-6609. motherearthessentials.ca
Indigenous Artist Market Collective
Find locally handcrafted works by Indigenous artists at the Indigenous Artist Market Collective’s
booth at Edmonton Downtown Farmers’ Market every weekend. The featured artists are rotated weekly. || 10305-97 St.
Ôte Nîkân Papaschase Petro Canada
This First Nation-owned gas station is the first of its kind in Edmonton. On top of being a 24-hour gas and convenience store, it features the history of Papaschase First Nation—including a mural painted from an historic photograph— and handcrafted artworks from local Indigenous artists. || 3003 Calgary Tr.
Dining
Creations Dining Room & Lounge
Regional and Canadian fare is offered, but the menu has broad appeal to accommodate a number of
preferences. The Indigenous-influenced establishment uses regional, environmentally friendly ingredients wherever possible. Try the Bison Chili, Annisabo (traditional Cree-style pea soup), or a range of snacks, salads, and flatbreads. || Sawridge Inn Edmonton South, 4235 Gateway Blvd., 780-989-4439
Homefire Grill
With all the elements of a perfect night out—extraordinary food, a notable wine list, and service that pampers—Homefire Grill is a fantastic dining spot. All of its dishes—including the Bison Burger and Bannock with whipped maple butter—offer bold flavours of the prairie, mixed with an Indigenous influence from its ownership. || 18210-100 Ave., 780-489-8086
Native Delights
Enjoy First Nations cuisine like the Mostos Bison Burger, Newiyawak Taco, and Rez Dog Hot Dog.
Watch for their food truck during the warmer months, or stop by their year-round weekend kiosk in the SuperFlea Market. || 12011-111 Ave., 780-237-0717
Pei Pei Chei Ow
Chef Scott Iserhoff offers a wide menu of contemporary Indigenous cuisine for catering large and small events, as well as offering private online cooking classes for those interested in learning how to make everything from bannock to Indigenous Tacos. || www.peipeicheiow.com
Museums & Artwork
Bearclaw Gallery
Specializing in Canadian First Nations, Métis, and Inuit art, this gallery carries a wide selection
of original artwork, showcasing the creativity, varied experiences, traditions, and histories of
leading Indigenous artists in Canada. Find paintings, stone sculptures, wood carvings, clay works, jewellery, crafts, and gifts. || 10403-124 St., 780-482-1204
Iron Foot Place
Set in the floor of Ford Hall in Rogers Place is the stunning Tsą tsą ke k’e (or Iron Foot Place) designed by Alex Janvier, an artist of Dene Suline and Saulteaux descent. The 1,600-square-foot mosaic honours the land where Edmonton is located and its history and continuing legacy as a meeting place.
|| 10220-104 Ave.
Royal Alberta Museum
Working collaboratively with Indigenous communities and Elders, the Royal Alberta Museum
opened the new building with a traditional ceremony to bless the space and acknowledge the
Treaty 6 territory. A significant addition to the new RAM is the integration of Indigenous histories throughout the six galleries in the Human History Hall. If you make a stop in the gift shop, you’ll find that more than half of the products are made by local and Indigenous makers from Alberta.
|| 9810-103 A Ave., 825-468-6000
Parks & Memorials
Alex Decoteau Park
This downtown park features open green space, a community garden, and a fenced off-leash. The park’s name and featured artwork pay tribute to Alex Decoteau, the first Indigenous police officer in Canada. || 105 St. & 102 Ave.
Beaver Hills House Park
This bustling downtown park includes the Aboriginal Walk of Honour, a tribute to Indigenous artists who blazed trails in the film industry. || 105 St. & Jasper Ave.
Garneau Monument
The Garneau area is one of the oldest neighbourhood’s in Edmonton, and Métis activist and settler Laurent Garneau was one of the first to obtain property for farming. A monument for Garneau currently exists in Adair Park. || 110 St. and 90 Ave.
Indigenous Art Park
The Indigenous Art Park—ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞—is located within Queen Elizabeth Park in the river lot formerly homesteaded by Métis settler Joseph McDonald. Opened in 2018, it hosts artworks that celebrate the city’s rich Indigenous history. The featured Canadian artists created their proposals after consulting with Elders, Indigenous residents of Edmonton, and several other Indigenous organizations in the area. || 10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Rd.
Rossdale Memorial
A cemetery for Indigenous Peoples and Fort Edmonton settlers, including the burial ground for Chief
Papaschase, existed in the Rossdale area where EPCOR sought to expand. While activists sought to
protect the site, the city was forced to act when human remains were recovered, thus removing and
reburying them in a protected area. Both a monument at the traditional burial site (105 St. & River Valley Rd.) and the new memorial site (101 St. & 96 Ave.) exist to honour the respective ancestors.
Aboriginal Veterans’ Monument
This monument on the Alberta Legislature Grounds was placed in 2004 to honour the Indigenous veterans of Alberta who have served in Canada’s military.
Indigenous Garden
The Indigenous Garden at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden features plants that have traditional uses by Indigenous peoples, including medicinal, dietary, and ornamentation.
