Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/809166
Tourism Award from the Travel Industry Association of Canada (TIAC). Izzie Asper's lifelong dream beckons visitors to architect Antoine Predock's astounding exterior design, modelled after ice, clouds and stone, and set in a field of sweet grass at the legendary Forks of the Red River. Venture indoors where designer Ralph Applebaum's amazing interactive installations highlight First Nations culture in a mesmerizing journey through time and geography, language and tradition. Don't miss the "Our Canada, My Story" video presentation celebrating Canada's 150 th Anniversary, the Witness Blanket exhibition or the muse- um's on-site boutique where exciting fair trade and handmade mementos celebrating Indigenous culture worldwide can be purchased ( www.humanrights.ca). If your spirit needs renewal, go west to visit Saskatchewan's Northern Plains People. Body/mind/spirit experiences unfold at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park; witness a buffalo hunt and explore medicine wheel circles to learn about the relationship locals maintain with healing plants, culinary wisdom, and the cycles of the animals ( www.wanuskewin.com ). February is Aboriginal Storytelling Month, and there is no better place to experience this rich tradition than at the Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre in Saskatoon ( www.sicc.sk.ca ). EAST Follow the ceremonial smoke of hospitality east to Ontario, home to Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater lake island in the world. Indigenous experiences range from soft adventure to wilderness eco-adventures and educational interpretive tours. High on anyone's list should be the Great Spirit Circle Trail's cornucopia of packages, such as Medicine Walks, Legends of the Land Riding Trail, Demwe Cycling Tour, or the luxurious Horse and Teepee overnight adventure, which leaves the Honora Bay Riding Stable at noon and returns the day after at 2:00 in the afternoon. Savour the campfire dinner, medicine walk, storytell- ing and drumming around the fire, as well as swimming with horses and breakfast the next morning ( www.circletrail.com). Also on Manitoulin is the annual Wiikwemikoong Cultural Festival. Eastern North America's oldest competition powwow is running this year from August 5 through 7 on Canada's only officially recognized Unceded Territory. Traditional dancing, hand drumming, authentic Native cuisine and crafts with interactive workshops abound. Plus you can even purchase the new Anishinaabemowin Language App from the Google Play Store, featuring 32 categories in Three Fires Confederacy languages of Odawa, Ojibwe and Pottawatami. Wikwemikong Tourism hosts several cultural tour packages that showcase the lifestyles and traditions of the Three Fires People. Satisfy your need for culture and outdoor adventure in one of Canada's largest Indigenous territories. Just outside the UNESCO site of Old Québec City, you may discover what the Huron-Wendake community calls "the history we never told you." Stay in an authentic Aboriginal 4-star boutique hotel called Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, gracefully built along the banks of the Akiawenrahk (St.Charles River). Inspired from traditional longhouses, units are constructed with natural materials such as A gathering place to celebrate our traditions and share our stories WELCOME TO THE KWANLIN DÜN CULTURAL CENTRE where we celebrate the culture and traditions of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. Come explore our exhibits, experience amazing festivals, meet Artists in Residence, and take a tour of our inspirational Centre with a local guide. Take a break from your world… and experience ours! 1171 Front Street • Whitehorse Yukon • www.kdcc.ca • 867-456-5322 47