In Canada, there are three groups recognized by the Indigenous Peoples of Canada: First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, the latter describing individuals who have mixed Indigenous and European history, plus a distinct identity and set of customs.
You can experience those traditions of the Métis Nation at Métis Crossing, about an 80-minute drive northeast of Edmonton. The 688-acre cultural destination, opened in 2005, blends experiences with a variety of accommodations to connect visitors to Métis traditions and to the riverside landscape that was home to the earlier Métis settlers in this part of Alberta. Now, recent upgrades and additions—including incredible new sky-watching domes for star-filled overnights, plus upcoming spa facilities in 2026—are making the cultural hub more enticing than ever.
Métis Crossing holds particular significance for me. I was about 12 years old when I first met my birth mother and discovered that I was Indigenous. My birth father’s side of the family has European ancestry, but my mother believed it was important that I know that her family was Huron-Wendat from Quebec, the Canadian province where she was born. I saw her several times after that first meeting, and though we never discussed why I grew up in foster care, she often reminded me that we were Indigenous. I’ve spent years trying to figure out exactly what that meant and why it was so important.
Since the 18th century, the French word métis has described individuals in Canada with mixed Indigenous and European ancestry. In Canada’s early years, French and Scottish fur traders married First Nations women of Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cree, and other cultural backgrounds, and their children were called métis, which literally means “mixed.” They were known for hunting, trapping, and fur trading, and over time this group developed its own language and culture that is a beautiful blend of First Nations, European, and Euro-Canadian traditions and ways of life. This was the origin of what is known today as the Métis Nation.
But being mixed race is complicated. Today, there are people like me who have both Indigenous and European ancestry who identify as métis or mixed, and there are people of the Métis Nation, who can trace their ancestry back to the Red River Settlement, in present-day Manitoba. These people are the focus of the intriguing cultural center of Métis Crossing.
From left: Lilyrose Meyers, the knowledge holder at Métis Crossing, teaches classes in traditional skills; a rare white buffalo roams on the expansive property.
Courtesy of Destination Canada | Roam Creative
Things to do at Métis Crossing
There’s a lot to do in every season, and I have visited this site several times as I have tried to understand how to navigate having both European and First Nations ancestry. Though I was raised apart from my mother’s family and their culture, learning about the culture of the Métis Nation has helped me feel more connected to the Indigenous side of who I am.
But spending time with an elder and knowledge holder can change your life whether you are Indigenous or not.
Inside the Cultural Gathering Centre at Métis Crossing, Elder Lilyrose Meyers taught me the ancient art of moose-hair tufting on one visit and finger weaving on another. I wasn’t particularly talented at either traditional skill, but for me, learning the skill was not the real highlight of the experience. As we worked, Elder Lilyrose talked about her life growing up as a Métis person and explained distinctive facets of the culture. Though I rarely discuss my experiences growing up in a foster home disconnected from my Indigenous roots, for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable doing that. Lilyrose is about the same age as my birth mother would be if she were still alive, and I found myself thinking about her.
There are plenty of activities: During an autumn visit, I paddled a voyageur canoe on the North Saskatchewan River, spent time stargazing under an inky black sky, and joined a wildlife tour that included the chance to see a white bison, considered sacred by Indigenous Peoples. On a winter visit, I tested my strength at cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, and tobogganing, and I watched bison amble across the snow. Afterward, I dug into traditional Indigenous cuisine at the on-site restaurant, where the menu includes bison stew and Saskatoon berry preserves.
Though you can come just for the day, plan on staying overnight in one of the three types of accommodations to make it a truly memorable experience.
On one visit, I snuggled under a handmade patchwork quilt made by local Métis women, one of many that adorn the beds at the boutique Lodge at Métis Crossing. The lodge merges elements of traditional Métis craftsmanship—for instance, post-and-beam construction with modern design elements like a floor-to-ceiling central lobby fireplace. Rooms are comfortable, and some have views of the river.
Another time, I tried glamping in a comfy trapper’s tent in the campground. Trapper’s tents have a wood frame and a canvas cover, and they were used historically by Métis trappers on hunting expeditions and to provide shelter until a more permanent structure could be built. The one I stayed in was furnished with a potbelly stove, a bed, and a small table. At night, I could watch the star-filled sky from the wooden deck outside.
On my next visit, though, I plan to lie in bed and watch the night sky from one of the sky-watching domes (opened in 2023). These have transparent ceilings and heated concrete floors to keep your tootsies toasty. Similarly, the complex’s sky-watching cabins have floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around the front of the structure, affording the same broad views of the night sky.
The Lodge at Métis Crossing draws on elements of traditional Métis craftsmanship and looks out over the North Saskatchewan River.
Courtesy of Travel Alberta
What’s next at Métis Crossing
Métis Crossing is expanding in 2026 with the opening of new spa facilities, which will bring health and wellness activities and experiences to the already jam-packed cultural offerings here. The Sage and Spruce Indigenous Spa will be developed in phases, the first of which is a welcome building, a sauna, and a cold plunge opening in January 2026. An infinity pathway is scheduled to open in June, with one loop reflecting European heritage and knowledge and one loop representing Indigenous traditions.
There are events throughout the year at Métis Crossing, including seasonal traditional craft classes and Sunday brunch year-round. You can also come for holiday markets and events around Christmas and New Year’s, as well as for special events for other holidays like National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 and Canada Day on July 1.
Spending time at Métis Crossing can let you connect with a distinct, important culture. It’s already helped me discover a piece of myself that has long been missing—and to reconcile what it means to have both European and First Nations ancestry. Thanks, Mom. I’m finally starting to get it.
