Metis Crossing is one of the first destinations in the world to showcase Metis cultural pride.
Through the open windows, we watched bison graze.
The soft-spoken rancher switched on country music and turned up the volume.
Sky Watching Domes at Métis Crossing, an Indigenous-owned cultural center in Alberta, Canada.Credit:Amber Bracken
Keeps em calm, he said.
The bison watched us with mild interest as they ambled past.
I dont speak bison, but they did seem to be enjoying the radios cowboy drawl.
From left: A sample of traditional Métis tufting and embroidery, which travelers can try in a variety of workshops offered on the property; Breena Johnson, who organizes cultural experiences for the park, wears a handwoven Métis sash.Amber Bracken
Sustainability-focused projects such as a solar farm and a permaculture garden are also in the works.
The Metis people are one of the threeIndigenous groups in Canada, along with First Nations and Inuit.
Metis Crossing is one of the first destinations in the world to showcase Metis cultural pride.
White bison at Visions, Hopes and Dreams at Métis Crossing Wildlife Park.Amber Bracken
They were central to the Metis economy and politics, in addition to being sustenance.
As my clumsy fingers struggled to keep up, she inevitably asked, Where are you from?
While I dutifully listed family names aloud, she pulled out her cell phone to show me historical photos.
At Métis Crossing, travelers might meet artisan and knowledge-holder Lilyrose Meyers (left) and cultural experiences supervisor Breena Johnson.Amber Bracken
Metis also love to laugh; Meyers and I joked a lot.
The lobby has vaulted ceilings and sweeping views of the grounds and that big Alberta sky.
Presiding over it all is a massive stone fireplace.
From left: The airy lobby of Métis Crossing Lodge; Juanita Marois, the CEO of Métis Crossing, in Smoky Lake, Alberta.Amber Bracken
My room had a handmade quilt on the bed and a private patio facing the river.
The Cultural Gathering Center has spaces for craft demonstrations and talks; the dining hall can easily seat hundreds.
Our nights are long and our days are short, Marois said of winters in Alberta.
From left: Bison stew and bannock bread on the porch, with the North Saskatchewan River in the background; the stew and bread showcase traditional flavors at Métis Crossing.Amber Bracken
We wanted to build these domes so that people have a chance to connect with the land and sky.
Or it might just lull you gently to sleep.
Knowledge-holder Lilyrose Meyers demonstrates Métis embroidery.Amber Bracken
