Edmonton’s Indigenous-owned businesses cover a variety of places, as well as reasons to visit.
Bear Claw Art Gallery
Explore Indigenous cuisine or find some of the best Bannock in the city with Edmonton’s Indigenous-owned restaurants and cafes. Or take some time to immerse yourself in First Nations, Metis, and Inuit culture through Alberta’s artists-in-residence and the local art galleries. But if you’d like a truly immersive experience, you can book guided or non-guided adventures and learn about music and dance, the great outdoors, and Indigenous histories in Alberta.
September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. You can show your support for Canada’s Indigenous with visits to these businesses (and more) any time of the year.
Dining
Homefire Grill
Find Edmonton’s Homefire Grill in the west end where they focus on “fire to table comfort food.” Homefire’s dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients with flavours inspired by the prairies. The prairie-sourced dishes still fuse international cuisine like poutine, pasta, or pizza. Details
Where: 18210 100 Ave. NW
Tee Pee Treats Indigenous Cuisine
Tee Pee Treats offer a huge variety of ways to try an Indigenous staple food, Bannock. This includes burgers on Bannock buns, Bannock donairs, and Bannock hotdogs; or, you can try it infused with fruit flavours, and as a dessert! Bannock is the focus, but Tee Pee offer a variety of other plates like salads and pizza. Details
Where: 11725 93 St. NW
Pei Pei Chei Ow
Find your new local catering company in Pei Pei Chei Ow, who offer seasonal menus of Indigenous cuisine cooked via different traditional methods. They do also offer take-out for smaller items like sandwiches, breakfast items, coffee, and baked goods. Details
Where: #102 11051 97 St NW
Native Delights
Native Delights are full-service when it comes to feeding you and your family as they provide catering Alberta-wide! If you don’t have an event to cater, watch for their food truck around Edmonton’s events.You can select from a number of First Nations and Canadian dishes with a mix of unique chef creations, and more classic North American street food. Details
Where: 12011 111 Ave. NW
Culina Family of Restaurants
Culina began as a small restaurant in Edmonton’s Mill Creek area, and is now a catering company, the main café at the Muttart Conservatory, and which will soon open into a wine bar at the Strathcona Hotel. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Culina at the Lake in Hawrelak Park with the 2023 park closures. However, you can visit this Muttart to get their delicious farm-to-table treats or keep Culina in mind for your next event.
- Culina to Go: 12019 A 102 Ave Oliver Exchange Building
- Culina Muttart: 9626 96a St. NW
Galleries & Shops
Whiskey Jack Art House
Take an afternoon to explore art, food, and much more through the Whiskey Jack Art House in central Edmonton. The gallery normally features one or two exhibits at a time for public viewing. After browsing the art, shop the multiple local goods for edible items, or bath and body items. Details
Where: #102 11051 97 St NW
Bear Claw Art Gallery
Enjoy the variety of art at the Bear Claw Gallery, where pieces come from Inuit, First Nations, and Metis artists. The current exhibition, Some People Feel What Some People Don’t by Jim Logan, is on until October 14th with the artist making an appearance on October 8th. Details
Where: 10403 124 Street
Mother Earth Essentials
Find all your bath and beauty essentials from Mother Earth and find them to be all natural! The Indigenous-owned and created lineup of products includes everything from candles and essential oils to herbal tea and books, to special lines derived from different plants. The Sweetgrass line, for example, includes a variety of products made from sweetgrass like soap, candles, facewash, and/or oil. Details
Where: 12316 111 Avenue NW
Kookum’s House
Kookum’s house has you covered for Indigenous-made clothing like ribbon skirts, house items like handmade candles, and a variety of traditional and holistic goods. The south Edmonton store also have a beautiful variety of colourful pottery. Details
Where: 9909 72 Avenue NW
Adventure & Experiences
Wase Saba Experiences
Wase Saba is run by Sissy Thiessen Kootenayoo who can offer a variety of immersive and cultural experiences. She shares her knowledge and skills through live performances and workshops: Powwow Dance (Multiple Styles), Storytelling, Spoken Word, Singing, Basic Hand Drum, Rattle & Wood Flute, Acting, and the Two Spirit Drag Performance. Details
Rural Rivers
Rural Rivers give people of all skill levels and abilities a chance to get out and paddle! Take their boat rentals to the nearby Sturgeon River and paddle yourself into Big Lake beside St. Albert. When you rent with Rural Rivers, you’ll be provided with the canoe or kayak, and mapped routes to help make the most of your time in the boat. Details
Where: 26105 Meadowview Drive, Sturgeon County
Talking Rock Tours
There are a huge variety and number of guided walks and hikes offered by Talking Rock Tours who are based out of Edmonton. Talking Rock does offer Edmonton guided hikes around the River Valley but can take you much further to explore. Beyond Edmonton, you can book adventures at Elk Island National Park, Nordegg, or Drumheller. Details