My roadtrip by way of Southern Alberta was all about reconnecting with my Canadian heritage. The websites I visited associated to a number of the indeginous historical past within the space inspiring me to grasp the power and resilience of the First Nations ancestors. I keep in mind studying in grade faculty about Indegenious historical past, it was again within the l early 70’s due to this fact a refresher was positively due.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce Heritage Web site
The museum and heritage website Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Bounce is positioned south of Calgary on the location the place buffalo had been run off a cliff to kill them. The informative reveals defined how the Indegenious folks killed and used the buffalo for his or her survival. Studying concerning the laborious work, information and planning wanted to execute these huge hunts was awe inspiring.
Peolpe used the whole buffalo from its carcass to its bones. Reveals present instruments constructed from bones, skins used for teepee covers and garments. They dried and pounded the meat to make pemmican for winter consuming. The bladder was even used to hold water. The tribe used each little bit of the animal for his or her survival.
For almost 6000 years folks hunted buffalo within the space. Issues began to vary within the mid 1800’s when the primary white settlers arrived. The settlers noticed the huge animals and beginning killing the buffalo for greed and sport. Previous to this there have been a number of million buffalo roaming these prairies. If it wasn’t for the federal government creating parks and defending the buffalo, this majestic animal could be extinct immediately. Roughly 100,000 wild buffalo dwell in southern Alberta immediately.
Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park
Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park is a shocking nationwide prak positioned within the southwestern nook of Alberta. It borders Glacier Nationwide Park in Montana, USA. Collectively they fashioned the Waterton-Glacier Worldwide Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and the world’s first worldwide peace park.
Waterton has dramatic surroundings, with the rugged Rocky Mountains abrutly rising from the rolling prairies. This park has pristine lakes, rivers, waterfalls and plush valleys. The parks namesake characteristic, Higher, Center and Decrease Waterton Lakes. Higher Waterton is the deepest lake in hte Canadian Rockies.
The park is dwelling to a variety of wildlife together with grizzly bears, black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, cougars, and wolves. It additionally has over 250 species of birds. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have two totally different sightings of bears. Waterton is also referred to as the “Wildflower Capital of Canada” due to the abundance of number of wildflowers all through the park.
The world has significance to the Indgenous peoples, significantly the Blackfoot Nation, who lived and travelled by way of the area for 1000’s of years.
Waterton Lakes Nationwide Park affords a peaceable and less-crowded different to different common Canadian parks like Banff and Jasper. I actually loved my keep on this park. It supplied breathtaking surroundings making it a hidden gem in my view and a should see spot.
Okotoks Erratic (Large Rock), Southern Alberta
Okotoks Erratic is positioned close to the city of Okotoks, south of Calgary. This huge glacial erratic, left behind over the last Ice Age, holds significance for the Blackfoot folks. The rock options in Blackfoot oral custom as a part of the creation tales and teachings. The “Large Rock” is a geological marvel and price a go to. It’s a quick stroll to the rock and the historical past of the way it got here to be right here is really thoughts bloggling.
Saamis Teepee in Drugs Hat
Saamis Teeppe it the tallest teepee on this planet, orginially constructed for the 1988 Winter in Calgary. An entreprener purchased it and moved it to Drugs Hat, Alberta earlier than it was destroyed creating a wonderful construction to go to.
The teepee construction is impressed by the Plains Indegenous peoples’ and serves as a basic image for his or her tradition and historical past. The positioning contains 10 intrepretive panels that hightlight tales and historical past of the native indigenous teams, together with Blackfoot, Cree and different First Nations. The stunning art work and the scenic space the place the teepee is positioned is value a go to.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
As I drove by way of the rolling hills of the southern Alberta prairies within the distance I might see a mountains of inexperienced. Cypress Hills Interprovinal Park is a singular and scenic areal positioned in south western Alberta and the south japanese nook of Saskatchewan. The governments of each provinces collectively handle the primary interprovincial park in Canada.
That is the one space within the southwest the place pine Cypress timber develop. The world was by handed over within the final Ice Age which left a unquie inexperienced belt. This park has a wealthy indgenious historical past, having been used for 1000’s of years as a gathering place and looking grounds.
On the Alberta facet there are two beautiful view factors. First is Horseshoe Canyons trying in the direction of Drugs Hat. The second is Mountain Prime Viewpoint which is the best level in Canada between the Rockies within the west and Labrador to the east. The Cypress Hills rise over 1400 meters (4593 ft ) above sea stage, giving beautiful expansive should see views in the direction of Montana, USA.
Connecting the Alberta and Saskatchewan sides of the park is a gravel street solely satisfactory if dry. I used to be fortunate sufficient to have lovely dry climate and blue skies making this hour lengthy journey over a bumpy street properly value is for the beautiful surroundings.
As soon as I bought to the Saskatchewan facet of the park I finished off at Fort Walsh and realized concerning the Cypress Hills Masscure. A really grotesque and unhappy a part of Canadian historical past. This occasion introduced our Canadian Mounted Police to the west within the late 1800’s.
Conclusion of my Southern Alberta Roadtrip
My southern Alberta roadtrip was awe inspiring for the pure magnificence and my recconnection to a few of Alberta’s Indgenous historical past. In case you are in search of a roadtrip that provides a mixture of historical past, tradition and jaw-dropping surroundings Southern Alberta must be on the high of your listing. Blissful travels!
The put up Spotlight on Southern Alberta – Out in the Wild appeared first on Sharing My Van Life.
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