Buffalo Nations Museum

Nice small museum..gift shop..staff we're helpful and polite..disabled friendly ramp inside to get to display area...have to pay to get in..lots of items on display..screens with information playing you can sit and watch and listen....can take photos..just don't touch glass displays or exhibits...can get a guide to show you and explain everything you see...do groups as well...

Beautiful artefacts and certainly worth your support. However, the museum struggles to find a red threat and/or guiding red thread throughout all that it has to offer. Also, the lack of a washroom for guests is a minus.

Visiting the Buffalo Nations Museum was one of the most meaningful parts of our trip to Banff. Tucked away near the Bow River, this beautiful museum offers a powerful and immersive glimpse into the lives, culture, and history of the Indigenous peoples of the Northern Plains and Rockies. From the moment we walked in, we were struck by the depth of knowledge and respect shown for Indigenous traditions and ways of life. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, with incredible displays of traditional regalia, beadwork, hunting tools, tipis, and artifacts that speak to the strength, resilience, and beauty of the cultures represented. What stood out most was how personal and grounded everything felt. There was a real sense of storytelling — not just facts and dates, but the voices and histories of people who have called this land home for thousands of years. It’s a museum that invites reflection, respect, and appreciation for cultures that too often go overlooked. The gift shop is also lovely — small but full of meaningful items, many of them made by Indigenous artisans. Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful souvenir or a gift with cultural significance, it’s definitely worth browsing. The location itself couldn’t be more beautiful — nestled in the picturesque town of Banff with the mountains as a backdrop. It’s a peaceful and inspiring place to spend a few hours, and a must-visit for anyone wanting to better understand the land they’re standing on. If you’re in Banff and looking to connect with the deeper roots of the area, don’t miss this museum. It’s not just history — it’s living culture, and it’s told with care, heart, and authenticity.

Visited this museum on a rainy day in Banff. It took about 40 minutes to walk through. Reading the history and seeing the items on display were so interesting. It was also cool to be able to hit the drum. There are 2 videos playing but it's hard to hear with people talking and the drum being played. The gift shop has a large selection and alot of "Made locally in Canada" items which I appreciated. The staff were super friendly. Definitely recommend checking it out!

Good resource for information on first nation. Would have been nice to have had some first nation people there to share experiences first hand. Although the videos do tell of the atrocity and slow genocide suffered by the people and children.

The Buffalo Nations Museum is a charming, medium-sized museum that offers a fascinating glimpse into indigenous history. You can expect to spend up to an hour exploring the exhibits. While the displays are engaging, the museum could benefit from more comprehensive information on indigenous cultures and histories. Despite a slightly higher admission fee compared to previous years, the overall experience was good. One notable disappointment was the removal of the Sun Dance exhibit, which I was eager to share with my children. However, the drum room was a big hit, providing an interactive and enjoyable experience for them. The museum shop also deserves a mention for its delightful selection of animal stuffed toys native to Canada, making it a perfect stop for kids.

Buffalo Nations Museum – A Powerful Cultural Experience The Buffalo Nations Museum is a must-visit for those seeking a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture and history in the Canadian Rockies. Set in a striking log-cabin-style building, the museum beautifully showcases the traditions, art, and stories of the First Nations people of this region. The exhibits are immersive and thoughtfully presented, featuring intricate beadwork, traditional clothing, ceremonial items, and engaging displays about the relationship between the Indigenous people and the land. The storytelling aspect is particularly moving, offering an authentic and respectful glimpse into their heritage. The museum’s location by the Bow River adds to its serene and reflective atmosphere. It’s an inspiring experience that both educates and honors the legacy of the First Nations. Highly recommend this gem to anyone visiting Banff!

Great experience with the kids. Even a drum room to try out. Amazing artifacts and history pieces. Highly recommend!

I love to learn about Native American history (US), or First Nations People in Canada. I had high hopes for this museum - it had some excellent artifacts and information posted. It's a traditional-type museum that is self-paced with still, quiet displays & dioramas. I'm not a fan of the mannequin-style dioramas because it feels a little creepy to me, but that's just my aside thing. I hope one day they will update their museum to have interactive elements and to modernize. I'm glad to support this museum with my entrance fee. We spent about an hour here browsing the displays and enjoying the space.

Museum about the native Canadian Indians, inside a building resembling a 19th century log fort, complete with towers, near the center of downtown Banff. Lots of mannequins with painted faces and hands, covered with traditional native Canadian Indian clothing. These mannequins are not in display cabinets nor in dioramas with background settings, but just out in the open behind security ropes. Low budget from the 1970s. Display showing warriors hanging from their chest muscles from the ceiling, in a ceremony. Women weaving behind a small hut. Women washing clothes. An Indian warrior on horseback using a bow and arrow to shoot a bison. Indians herding horses, with a dog running aside. Warriors in teepee. Indian chief presiding over a gathering. Canadian Mountie and Indian warrior side by side with their horses. Displays of headdresses, papoose, stuffed animals such as mountain lions and bison. Crafts, artifacts, native artifacts of the first nations. Gift shop with free coffee, except that I'm not addicted to coffee, unlike most of my fellow Yelp friends. Would have like to have seen big display dioramas of battles in the French and Indian Wars, and other wars involving native Indians in Canada. No showing of massacres. Would I come back? Only reason to come here is that all outdoor events smoked out by the smog created by the forest fires, causing me to cough.

Banff, Alberta. Highly commercialized museum near DT Banff. The portraits have the typical stereotypical features of the Natives with a Rain Dance exhibition included. Buffalo museum is broken up into three main rooms. Fourth room for a small conference with a tv and all that is included but did not seem to be used. The middle stage is an auditorium with soothing music, sometimes live but mostly synthetic. The museum was preparing to stage an event during my September visit. One wing is dedicated to artifacts, placards and information. Good portion is dedicated foregone leaders/chieftans, lifestyle and relationship with settlers. The other flank is dedicated to plastic statues and taxidermy animals. This section is a bit gimmicky with what I believe to be exaggerated depictions including the rain dance that may appear violently offensive to some. Access/Roads: Paved. Parking: Free and Plenty. Costs: $10 USD per. Distance: East of Banff is Calgary at appx 130 KM (100 miles). West is Vancouver at appx 900 KM (600 miles). South is USA and Los Angeles is appx 1,700 miles out. North is mountains, snow, ice, bears and the such. Nearby Attractions: The Canadian Rocky Mountain Range including Jasper and Alaska. The Rocky Mountain Range, whether Canada, Colorado or Montana has enough stuff to do, experience, and live for multiple lifetimes. Safe traveling my friends. www.cleeshyun.com @cigarcpa

Every time I visit a museum about Native Americans, something seems to ruffle my feathers. It might be because the museum is a relic of the politically-incorrect 70s, is underfunded, capitalizes on Native culture as a commercial venture, or simply marginalizes minority groups into stereotypes visitors want to see. The Buffalo Nations Museum falls under all these categories, which is unfortunate, because its mission is "to provide knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture by providing meaningful, thoughtful exhibits and continue building upon existing partnerships while forging new collaborations." The building is impressive from the outside, resembling a gigantic fort made of logs. It is divided into four rooms on the inside, which consist of poorly organized and curated exhibits. The first is a display of a large teepee next to a taxidermied sled dog team. Pretty cool... but cultural and historical significance? Not found. This pattern repeats itself throughout the other rooms, which are chock full of very interesting artifacts, art, and lifelike displays, but the meaning and importance of the First Nations people of the Plains is lost. At best, the museum is a jumble of objects that have been painstakingly researched, but awkwardly presented. Of course, the gift shop is disproportionately large, selling wares that only have slight connections to the museum's exhibits. Next door, the Indian Trading Post is half the size of Buffalo Nations, and, while it has some pretty nifty stuff for sale, should maybe use some of its marketing research to help out the museum.

The pictures, posted here with permission of the museum, speak for themselves. Highly recommend. Enjoy!