Métis Crossing
Cultural center · Smoky Lake ·
Indigenous-run destination with cultural experiences, lodge, domes
Information
17339 Victoria Trail, Smoky Lake, AB T0A 3C0, Canada Get directions
Indigenous-run destination with cultural experiences, lodge, domes
17339 Victoria Trail, Smoky Lake, AB T0A 3C0, Canada Get directions
"An Indigenous-run attraction in Northern Alberta offering cultural experiences and insights from the Métis community."
"Built on the original North Saskatchewan River lots of 1880s-era Métis settlers, Métis Crossing in Alberta has over the years grown from a small, summertime attraction into a year-round destination. Today, guests can stay in a 40-room lodge or one of eight luxury Sky Watching Domes, which are perfect for viewing the northern lights. Another recent upgrade is the cultural center’s solar power generation station, which aims to meet not only the energy demands of Métis Crossing but the entire Métis Nation of Alberta." - Diane Selkirk
"I traveled from Vancouver to spend a couple of days at Métis Crossing, a 688-acre Indigenous-owned cultural centre in Smoky Lake, Alberta, on the North Saskatchewan River. The property includes a 40-room lodge designed by Métis architect Tiffany Shaw-Collinge, a 320-acre wildlife park (Visions, Hopes and Dreams) a five-minute drive from the lodge, and new glamping-style Sky Watching Domes that debuted this summer — six domes with king beds and two family suites, all with high ceiling viewing windows for stargazing and a chance to see the aurora borealis. I watched li bufloo (bison) graze while Len Hrehorets put on country music to calm them, and learned from CEO Juanita Marois how the bison act as a keystone species that spreads seeds and supports other wildlife. Cultural programming is strong: Métis knowledge-holder Lilyrose Meyers taught me tufting and shared historical photos and laughter, there are craft workshops and large communal spaces (a Cultural Gathering Centre and a dining hall that seats hundreds), and the site hosts Métis Fest each summer for roughly 2,000 people. Meals and hospitality felt homespun and local — breakfasts in a small café where staffer Beth Braucht brought cappuccinos and dishes included saskatoon-berry coulis, bison sausage, and bannock — and sustainability projects like a solar farm and a permaculture garden are in progress. Whether canoeing in summer, skiing or snowshoeing in winter, or simply lying under the big Alberta sky in an igloo-like dome, the place is designed to connect visitors to Métis heritage, the land, and the night sky." - Carleigh Baker
"The two-month-old Métis Crossing interpretive center in Smoky Lane, 90 minutes northeast of Edmonton, offers traditional workshops, historical exhibitions, and Indigenous-led canoe tours along the North Saskatchewan River. A 40-room boutique lodge is currently under construction on the 512-acre property; it’s slated to open in late fall."
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