Travelling through rugged terrain and facing uncertain conditions, indigenous populations arrived in the Kootenay Rockies over 3,000 years ago. They were later joined by waves of pioneers who further contributed to the region's rich cultural mosaic.
Explore the language, life, culture and history of the Ktunaxa Nation at the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Interpretive Centre. Visit Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park to see where the Lakes Band of Interior Salish peoples first fished and built their winter pit houses thousands of years ago. You can also view the Russian Orthodox Chapel House that Alexander Zuckerberg built about 60 years ago.
The Doukhobors migrated to Canada from Russia in 1898, bringing their unique culture and lifestyle to the Kootenay region of BC from 1908 to 1938. Learn about the pioneering practices, arts and crafts, distinctive customs and religion of the Doukhobors at their namesake museum.
Ktunaxa Kinbasket Interpretive Centre
Discover more about the language, life, culture and history of the Ktunaxa Nation at the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Interpretive Centre in Cranbrook.
The St. Eugene Mission Resort is set on the banks of the St. Mary River. This Spanish colonial building was constructed in 1910 and operated for 60 years as a residential school for Aboriginal children. The centre now showcases Aboriginal contemporary arts, culture and heritage.
> Ktunaxa Kinbasket Centre website
Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park
At Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park near downtown
Castlegar, you'll travel at least 3,500 years back to when the Lakes Band of Interior Salish peoples first fished and built their winter pit houses. You can visit a reconstructed pit house on the island.
In more recent times, the explorer David Thompson canoed down the Columbia River past this island nearly 200 years ago. About 140 years later, Alexander Zuckerberg arrived from Russia to build his unique Russian Orthodox Chapel House. You can walk through the wonderfully restored chapel house today.
Cross the suspension bridge that connects the island to the mainland to visit the Hiroshima Memorial, a peace garden built in 1985.
> Zuckerberg Island website
Doukhobor Discovery Centre
The Doukhobors immigrated to Canada from Russia in 1898, bringing their unique culture and religion to the Kootenays from 1908 to 1938.
Nestled on the banks of the Columbia River in Castlegar, the museum sits on traditional Doukhobor orchard land. Here, close to the original settlement, you can learn about this fascinating group.