Fort Edmonton Park is Fort Edmonton Park is nestled on 158 acres of wooded parkland along Edmonton’s River Valley and began as a Canada Centennial reconstruction project in 1967. It is within Treaty 6 Territory- Amiskwacîwâskahikan  ᐊᒥᐢᑲᐧᒋᐋᐧᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ, the homeland of the Métis Nation and now Region 4, and the largest population of Inuit south of the 60th parallel.

Adjacent to the 1846 Fort, the Indigenous Peoples Experience features a new exhibit building within a 7-acre site that includes lush native plant discovery trails, bronze animal sculptures, tipi camps, gathering places, arbours, and open-ended opportunities for interpretive programming. Credit: Chris Hsiung/Hidden Story

The site is oriented around the Cultural Centre as the main attraction. The primary guest entry is located on the eastern face of the building. Local Indigenous teaching emphasized the importance of entering traditional and ceremonial spaces from the East. The design of the facility and entire site’s trail system was driven by this teaching.

The heart of the expansion is the Cultural Centre, a purpose-designed 30,000 square-foot facility housing an immersive exhibit, event space, classrooms, offices, and smudging and ceremony space for Indigenous groups. Credit: Clark Builders / Keen Creative

Trails feature tipi camps, flora relevant to Indigenous cultures, and life-like sculptures of animals native to the area with interpretive signs denoting their significance. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

The Arbours serve as focal points within the site, as they both become points of gathering and interaction. The Food Arbour provides a suitable setting for demonstrating Indigenous Peoples’ food preparation techniques. The Traditional Arbour serves as a space for performance and Pow Wows. The Arbours were designed and built by a local Indigenous contractor. Credit: Courtney Kleinman/Nassal

The design features use the circular form of a drum, a form important in Indigenous cultures, to form entry vestibules on the west and south entry. These curved faces express earthy textures and motifs – impressions of tipis. The circular Indigenous drum form and motif is carried up enclosing the entire Meeting Place, the pinnacle of the experience. Credit: Courtney Kleinman/Nassal

As visitors enter the front doors, they are greeted by a 360° view of the kisiskâciwanisîpiy as it runs through the floor, surrounded by lighted pathways symbolizing the movement of Indigenous Peoples. The media on the floor gives an overview of the past to the present, from roaming buffalo and migratory First Nations, to the Métis river lots, to the modern Edmonton landscape. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Image 6: Guests follow a custom, one-of-a-kind stained concrete floor representing the North Saskatchewan River from Arrival into the Indigenous Knowledge corridor. Here, tipi-inspired structures draped with images, text, commissioned Indigenous artisan items, and media rise to meet the ceiling. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Sound fills the room with music and stories of Indigenous Peoples, told by Elders from Treaty 6 Territory. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

The exhibit displays are brimming with tools, clothing, art, and structures that have been a part of Indigenous Peoples' histories since time immemorial. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Wooden Panels with quotes from local Elders explain the purpose and importance of artisan-made objects, recreated plants, and ethically-sourced taxidermy. Languages such as Blackfoot, Plains Cree, Dene, Michif, Stoney, and Saulteaux fill the space. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Local Indigenous interpreters greet guests and impart their own personal stories and history, adding unique and ever-changing depths to the experience for guests of all backgrounds. Credit: Courtney Kleinman/Nassal

The space comes to life as the lights dim. Immersive moving images play across the walls and tipis, accompanied by Indigenous music and voice. Artwork, stories of creation, and Indigenous history plays out in vivid colours on every surface. It’s unlike any other exhibit - this experience was created from the voices and perspectives of local Indigenous contributors. Credit: Chris Hsiung/Hidden Story

A second area explores local Indigenous history post European contact and the emergence of a new nation group, the Métis, represented by a projection covered traditional homestead. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

This area explores the history of Métis peoples in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton), payhonin (St. Albert), and surrounding areas. The homestead comes to life with the sounds and vibrations of jigging to the tune of the Red River Jig. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Inside the homestead, guests explore music, religion, family, cooking, and other aspects of Métis life. They might hear a recipe near the stove and pots or a fiddle playing through the gramophone. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

Immersive media across the roof celebrates the Métis perspective as visitors are reminded that the Métis are a distinct people with their own language, culture, and history. Credit: Chris Hsiung/Hidden Story

As visitors reach the end of the exhibit, they are greeted by a large rotunda with panel-like video screens flanked by wooden columns, The Meeting Place. The finale show and its originally composed music blends traditional and contemporary indigenous artists. Credit: Christophe Benard Photography

The feature acknowledges the difficult realities of treaty, such as residential schools and celebrates the powerful resurgence of the Indigenous people in Edmonton today. Guests are left feeling full of hope as many familiar faces of First Nations and Métis peoples flash across the screen.  Credit: Chris Hsiung/Hidden Story

The Cultural Centre is complete with flexible event space which can accommodate Indigenous smudging and ceremony, as well as two state-of-the-art multipurpose rooms outfitted with projectors, screens and plug & play audio capabilities. These fully accessible, inclusive rooms are clean and bright and feature glass doors that open up to a scenic and private patio area.  Credit: Christophe Benard Photography