Learning traditions through the trails

Page 20

A guided walk into the Oldman River Valley is a way to learn the history and traditional way of life of the Peigan people, members of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

Jordie Provost, a member of the Peigan Nation, was an interpretive guide at the Piikani Lodge Interpretive Centre in Brocket last year. The centre, an impressive log building on Highway 3, is located just shy of an hour's drive east of Lethbridge in southwestern Alberta.

Provost takes people on guided tours of the Oldman River Valley area for a nominal fee. A half-kilometre trail runs along the top of the hillside and is wheelchair accessible. A lower walking trail, which is one-and-a-half kilometres long, runs from the top of the river valley. While the trail is all gravel, sloped and with stairs, Provost suggested that hiking boots or good running shoes would make the trail more comfortable and more accessible than sandals.

"I point out the Porcupine Hills, the mountains and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump," said Provost.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre lies about half-an-hour northwest of Brocket and is a World Heritage Site. It marks one of the largest ancient buffalo kill sites.

Plants, animals, and the significance of the river valley is all information Provost imparts to his listeners. Intepretation of the river valley includes stories of Blackfoot legends and the history of the Peigans.

The tours go on a drop-in basis, with the half-kilometre walk costing a family $6 and the longer walk priced at $10 for a family. People can also make appointments by phoning (403) 965-4000.

Those looking for a little more leisurely stop will be impressed with the crafts and history books stocked at the centre.

The interpretive lodge has a wide variety of Native crafts in stock, made by people of the Peigan Nation. There are beaded crafts like key chains, earrings, and other jewelry. There are dream catchers and ornaments, and the Peigan Nation is home to the famous Peigancraft Ltd., makers of traditional moccasins.

While Peigan beadwork is popular, it's the porcupine quillwork that is really traditional, said Robyn Weasel Bear, a sales clerk last season. Beadwork didn't start until the Europeans arrived in North America. Up until then, Peigans used quills, dying them different colors.

The lodge also stocks literature on Blackfoot culture and history. Books written by Adolf Hungry Wolf, from the Blood tribe, also a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy, discuss craft work, traditional dress, and legends. Many of his books are full of photographs he has taken.

Just west of the lodge is a tipi, which visitors can look at. There are no overnight stays here(those can be arranged at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Interpretive Centre), but visitors can get an idea of how a tipi is set up and how large it is by going inside this one. The lodge also offers interpretive programs on tipi designs and tipi etiquette.

"We've given quite a bit of common knowledge to people who stop in," said Weasel Bear. "Most people are familiar with Aboriginal people, who we are, how we live. They just want to know more about the cultural aspect."