Calgary 
For Indigenous peoples, winter has been a highly anticipated and valued season.
Aurora Village
Following the gathering of food and the creation of long-lasting clothing and tools in the preceding seasons of spring, summer, and fall, Indigenous peoples utilized the reduced daylight hours and increased time spent indoors to bond with their families and communities, exchange stories, and impart traditional knowledge.
By drawing on the Indigenous approach, you too can revel in the joys of winter by taking part in tours and activities provided by Indigenous owned and operated businesses throughout the country.
Plan to experience some of these activities before spring arrives.
Aurora Village — Northwest Territories
Visit the picturesque teepee community of Aurora Village – one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. Here, guests stay in traditional teepees, where blazing woodfires facilitate long hours of sky gazing. The village is sheltered from the wind by a beautiful forest whose trails lead to hills showcasing panoramic views of the celestial display. Aurora Village’s winter season runs between November 20 and April 8.
Where: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Talking Rock Tours — Alberta
Talking Rock Tours invites visitors to explore the magnificent geological marvels of Alberta through its small group tours. The Elk Island Snowshoe Discovery Tour takes you to Elk Island National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve that boasts of ancient hills sculpted by the last ice age. The snowshoe trek spans five kilometers and provides a chance to spot local wildlife, including elk, deer, and plains bison, as well as undisturbed beaver habitats. The journey culminates in an Indigenous sharing circle, where visitors can warm up around a cozy fire. This tour is available until March 31, 2023.
Where: 30 minutes from Edmonton
Buffalo Stone Woman — Alberta
Heather Black, owner of Buffalo Stone Woman and a Blood Tribe Nation member, provides “Indige-scapes” tours that bring visitors into the Rocky Mountains to explore frozen waterfalls, majestic peaks, and pristine lakes. Through snowshoeing, you will have a chance to learn about the spirituality and cultural significance of the area to Indigenous peoples, guided by Heather’s expertise.
Where: 1 hour from Calgary. Participants meet either at the trailhead or in Calgary
Painted Warriors — Alberta
Painted Warriors, located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, offers a unique way for visitors to connect with nature, drawing on the Ojibway, Cree and Mohawk ways of knowing, learning and experiencing the wilderness. The Bimaagimose Snowshoe Experience (bimaagimose means “he/she snowshoes along”) is a three-hour tour that allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the winter wonderland while learning about how Indigenous people connected with the land to survive the harsh winter months. Along with snowshoeing, the tour also includes lessons on natural navigation, winter medicine, and identifying animal tracks. This tour is available from December through March.
Where: 1.5 hours from Calgary, near the town of Sundre
Aski Holistic Adventures — Saskatchewan
Experience the beauty of nature while traversing on snowshoes, fat bikes or cross-country skis with Aski Holistic Adventures’ winter packages. Additionally, you can enjoy sauna time, plant picking, trapping lessons, and northern lights viewing during their stay.
If you want a more extended adventure, the company offers three cozy cabins facing the Saskatchewan River for overnight excursions. Winter packages are available from December through March.
Where: Cumberland House, 5 hours northeast of Saskatoon
Cree North Adventures — Saskatchewan
Discover genuine Cree culture and traditions with Cree North Adventures, located along the Meadow River in Flying Dust First Nation. Visitors can learn how to build a tipi and cook over an open fire, as well as join a guided five-kilometer snowshoeing excursion into the wilderness. During the winter season, stargazing is included in the itinerary with an excellent opportunity to witness the northern lights.
Location/Access: Three hours north of Saskatoon, near the town of Meadow Lake
Adventures in Churchill — Manitoba
- Beyond Boreal Expeditions: Join Beyond Boreal Expeditions on an exclusive nighttime excursion in Churchill to capture the mesmerizing northern lights through photography. Led by owner Tiffany Spence, guests will travel in a warm vehicle to handpicked viewing locations while a guide shares expert tips on capturing the perfect shot. This unforgettable experience is available from February 1 to March 31, 2023.
- Wapusk Adventures: Explore the scenic boreal forest of Churchill with a thrilling dogsledding experience led by a knowledgeable Métis guide from Wapusk Adventures. Gain insight into the techniques of dogsledding while learning about Métis culture and life in Churchill before hitting the trails. Wapusk Adventures boasts a team of 38 well-cared-for sled dogs, and its owner, Dave Daley, established the prestigious Hudson Bay Quest sled dog race in 2004.
- Wat’chee Expeditions: Experience the rugged wilderness of Wapusk National Park by staying at the refurbished navy communications base adjacent to the park. Wat’chee Expeditions‘ wilderness lodge offers a unique opportunity for visitors to see polar bear cubs and their mothers in their natural habitat during a short period each year (February 16-March 21, 2023). The park protects world’s largest polar bear denning area. and is also home to other wildlife such as ptarmigan, Arctic foxes, caribou herds, and wolves. Guests can also enjoy the active aurora borealis while staying at the lodge.
Wat’chee Expeditions
Thrive Tours — Ontario
Discover the secrets of thriving in winter with a guided snowshoeing excursion in Northern Ontario offered by Thrive Tours. Explore the serene winter landscapes on half- or full-day eco-tours while learning about Indigenous practices, philosophies, and the natural environment.
Where: Sault Ste. Marie
Uapishka Station — Quebec
Experience the rugged beauty of the Uapishka Mountains in Manicouagan, the ancestral territory of the Innu people, with Uapishka Station’s ecotourism and scientific research programs. The snow-covered peaks, with nearly 30 over 1,000 meters high, provide an ideal setting for adrenaline-pumping winter activities, including guided off-piste snowmobiling, off-piste skiing, downhill ski touring, and more.
Where: 7+ hours from Quebec City
Northern Lights Dog Sledding — Newfoundland and Labrador
Experience the exhilaration of racing through snow-covered trails with a team of Labrador huskies. Northern Lights Dog Sledding offers guided excursions that honor the tradition of dogsledding, as well as Inuit and Métis culture, amid a stunning winter landscape. The two-night “Ole Smoker” excursion includes hands-on training, an introduction to dogsledding culture, and an exploration of Métis traditions. The tour is inspired by the legend of Ol’ Smoker, a phantom dogsled musher who warns people of bad weather.
Where: Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Access requires a ferry to Blanc-Sablon, Quebec, if you are arriving from St. John’s
Whispering Trees Adventures — Yukon
Long before the discovery of gold in the Yukon, 14 Indigenous stories unfolded.
Whispering Trees Adventures offers a unique nine-day Indigenous Winter Adventure that provides guests with a connection to these stories and 14 First Nations of the Yukon.
The excursion includes dogsledding and snowshoeing activities and teaches guests about the traditional way of life with activities such as winter camping, ice fishing, workshops, and storytelling. Throughout the experience, visitors will have the opportunity to try traditional meals and immerse themselves in Indigenous culture.
The tour is available from January through March.
Where: Whitehorse, Yukon
Josie’s Old Crow Adventures — Northwest Territories
Paul Josie, a member of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, was raised in Old Crow and spent his childhood running sled dogs and assisting his family’s dog team.
Today, his business pays homage to his family’s love for dogs with dogsled adventures, cultural tours, and land and water excursions, which include a winter ice fishing trip. During the three-hour tour, visitors can join local Elders on the Porcupine River and participate in storytelling and traditional ice fishing, while also discovering how the Gwitchin people sing to attract fish.
Where: Access Old Crow by flying Air North from Whitehorse or Dawson City, or Inuvik, Northwest Territories
North Star Adventures — Northwest Territories
Joe the Aurora Hunter, the proprietor of North Star Adventures, invites you to experience an unforgettable northern lights adventure in Yellowknife. Choose from a range of packages, spanning two to four nights, including cozy hotel lodgings and activities centered on chasing the aurora borealis each evening.
The winter tours are available from December 1, 2022 to April 20, 2023.
Where: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
B.DENE Adventures — Northwest Territories
B.DENE Adventures introduces visitors to the Dene First Nation and their cultural heritage in the Northwest Territories. Their Aurora Viewing Under the Dene Skies tour offers an unforgettable evening under the stars with the Dene people. You can gaze at the northern lights, listen to traditional storytelling, and learn about Dene history and legends. The experience also includes a taste of local cuisine, such as Great Slave Lake fish and freshly baked bannock, as well as traditional drumming and handgames. The B.DENE camp provides a heated cabin and teepees, with snowmobile transport to the area.
The tours are available from December 15, 2022, to April 7, 2023.
Where: Akaitcho Bay, on the shores of Great Slave Lake just outside of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Arctic Bay Adventures — Nunavut
Arctic Bay Adventures invites visitors to experience the traditional Inuit community at the gateway to Sirmilik National Park, where the timeless art of igloo-making is still kept alive. Join the five-day Igloo City in Arctic Bay excursion to learn about the ancient techniques of constructing a cozy dwelling out of frigid building materials. The tour includes interactions with Elders, dogsledding, and feasting on traditional meals.
Where: Baffin Island, Nunavut. Air transport to Nunavut is offered from select Canadian cities.
We are coming up to the Sled Lake, Saskatchewan Canda area in June 8-15.
I have never been there! Any suggestions of activities would be great!