As Dion Red Gun looks out over a valley on the Siksika reservation southeast of Calgary, he paints a picture of his First Nation’s longstanding association with the country.

“Imagine this valley, there weren’t any trees … there was a whole sun dance ceremony where people would gather,” he said

“Imagine your horses come in.” He pauses before delving into an explanation of how buffalo jumping worked in this area thousands of years ago.

Running River Ranche Tourism, Red Gun offers visitors a deep traditional experience from day trips to ancestral landmarks, canoeing trips to traditional meals.

As in many other industries, the past year has been a matter of survival for Alberta’s indigenous tourism companies.

“International visits have simply dried up. It was also a dramatic or very traumatic moment,” he said.

Red Gun said before the third wave of COVID-19 cases reached the province, things had recovered somewhat – students were taken by bus to hand-making drums or harvesting sweetgrass – but when cases increased, they were forced to close their doors again.

‘High hopes’

It’s not the first obstacle Red Gun faces in its business. After the devastating flood of 2013, he rebuilt his lodge – at the same time learning to walk again after undergoing an operation to treat arthritis that made him use a wheelchair.

So it may come as no surprise that he’s hopeful now.

The province is investing more than $ 3 million in Indigenous Tourism Alberta, locals booking family reunions with River Ranche, and some priceless artifacts – including the insignia of the Blackfoot leader, Chief Crowfoot – will soon be brought from a British museum to Siksika, where they have been for more more than 150 years old.

And 85 new indigenous tourism companies got into business during the pandemic.

“Touch my heart,” said Red Gun. “It gives me high hopes and very optimism that it will give us the chance to continue.”

River Ranche Tourism is planning cultural immersion programs like teaching beadwork, sewing, foraging, and indigenous cuisine as COVID-19 restrictions allow. The lodge also offers fly fishing and river swimmers on the Bow River. (Terri Trembath / CBC)

Shae Bird, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Alberta, said the province’s investment will serve to aid its 138 members with development and marketing, in addition to other pandemic recovery initiatives.

An added difficulty, Bird said, is that many communities have been closed to protect high-risk elders from the transmission of coronavirus.

“But luckily our industry was incredibly resilient … people had to be really creative,” he said.

“We have seen incredible growth in our tourism membership. And we also know that the indigenous entrepreneurs and communities looking to get into the tourism sector have an incredible appetite.”

Red Gun says he’s excited to show visitors a different perspective and the beauty of what Siksika has to offer.

“Thank you for setting foot on the land our ancestors set foot on.”

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