Aboriginal Experiences
St. Eugene Resort near Cranbrook (Dannielle Hayes photo)
The Kootenay Rockies region is home to the Ktunaxa First Nation.
The Ktunaxa (pronounced tan-ah-ha, and also known as the Kootenay or Kootenai) occupied this region for thousands of years prior to European settlement.
In the 19th century, contact with European fur traders and settlers exposed the Ktunaxa to unfamiliar diseases, greatly impacting their population. Visitors can explore the language, life and culture of the Ktunaxa Nation through interpretive centres and tours in the Kootenay Rockies.
Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre
The Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre at St. Eugene Resort near Cranbrook, is housed in a 1910 Spanish colonial building that operated for 60 years as a residential school for Aboriginal children. Today, the Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre features historic photographs and artifacts, scale models of traditional teepees, a sturgeon-nosed canoe; the centre also promotes contemporary Aboriginal arts, culture, and heritage. The interpretive centre is open by appointment.
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Yaqan Nuki Heritage Centre
The Yaqan Nuki Heritage Centre (pronounced yaka nookie) in Creston explores the rich heritage of the Yaqan Nuki peoples, who lived in the area more than 10,000 years ago, as well as the culture and traditions of contemporary local First Nations. The heritage centre features Aboriginal artisans working on-site and the Legend Logos gift shop. Tours of the heritage centre are free.
The visitor centre in Kootenay National Park (near Radium Hot Springs) also explores the Ktunaxa culture and history through themed displays.
First Nations Cultural Wilderness Retreats
A secluded mountain retreat located in the Canadian Rockies (near Kootenay National Park) offers experiences ranging from wilderness adventures to cultural activities. Visitors can discover spiritual traditions, ceremonies and ancient teachings from an Aboriginal elder in a beautiful and remote natural environment.
Pictographs and Hoodoos
Ancient pictographs (designs painted on rocks) can be seen near Kootenay Lake, Christina Lake, and the east side of Columbia Lake. Viewing the pictographs is accessible by hiking or boating. Near Fairmont Hot Springs, hoodoos (sandstone pillar formations) and other geological features reveal a great deal about Ktunaxa oral history, including the creation story of the hoodoos as formed by a giant sea monster’s ribs.
Red Pictographs
In Creston, red pictographs are painted on the area surrounding a rounded granite outcrop, typical of the Creston Flats. Before the advent of the dykes, this whole area at the south end of Kootenay Lake was inundated during high water. Smoke soot deposits suggest that this spot was used as a campsite by the Ktunaxa people during low water. A small panel is situated under a rock overhang about 3.7m/12ft above ground level and is surrounded by a 15m/50ft high amphitheatre of smooth granite rock. The fine lined pictograph is painted in light rusty red; more can also be found along the west shore of Kootenay Lake.
Practical Points
- Some locations are open seasonally or by appointment only, so always check operating hours in advance.
- Artifacts and regalia have historical and cultural significance. Do not touch items unless you have been given permission to do so by a knowledgeable guide or local.
- If possible, also ask permission to take photos – some artifacts such as totem poles have interesting stories, and in asking for permission visitors learn more about the local history.
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