By President Victoria Pruden
As Canadians shy away from travelling south of the border, many are looking for vacation ideas on Canadian soil. From farm-to-table dinners, to glamping in a trapper’s tent under the northern lights, Métis tourism runs a host of unique experiences across the Homeland.
There is no better time to explore and celebrate the Canadian outdoors than during Indigenous History Month.
Since the fur trade, Métis have been heavily involved in building the Canadian economy. Modern day Métis gatherings and businesses now offer fun opportunities for vacationers to experience and learn about Métis culture. Here are six Métis activities and vacation ideas for this summer.
1. Métis Crossing in Smoky Lake, Alberta
Imagine taking in the views of the North Saskatchewan River from your trapper’s tent, sky-watching dome, or boutique hotel room. This isn’t your typical cultural centre; it is a cultural destination steeped in history and connection. You can start your day with a hearty traditional breakfast of bannock, Saskatoon berry lemonade, and buffalo sausage before heading outside for activities like buffalo tours, traditional plant walks, voyageur canoeing, and archery. Métis Crossing provides authentic opportunities to delve into the unique way of life of the Métis through educational programs, interactive exhibits, and immersive experiences. The destination combines historical buildings—including a restored Métis farmstead—with contemporary buildings showcasing Métis craftsmanship.
2. Batoche National Historic Site in Batoche, Saskatchewan
For many Métis individuals and communities, visiting Batoche National Historic Site is a pilgrimage: a journey to honour our ancestors and the sacrifices made during the 1885 Resistance. It offers an opportunity to walk into history, but also to learn about Métis culture of the past and present. Experience the Visitor Centre and museum, the Batoche cemetery, or take part in daily guided tours and special days with cultural activities such as beading and embroidery. Batoche provides immersive, and accessible opportunities to engage with Métis history and culture.
Just down the road from the historic site, visitors can enjoy Back to Batoche Days (July 16–19, 2026) with live music, chariot, pony, and relay races, voyageur games, and many more activities.
3. The Patch by Prairie Berry in Glenlea, Manitoba
Prairie Berry is a strawberry farm located 10 minutes south of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Owners Matt and Jen Turenne offer a unique Farm-to-Table Dinner experience in the middle of their strawberry patch for 10 days. The five-course meal features fresh strawberries from the patch in every dish and other locally sourced ingredients. Savour each bite as you listen to live music or take a break between courses to pick your own strawberries in the patch.
4. Métis Cultural Walking & Big Canoe Tours in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Exploring Ontario’s scenic waterfronts, historical landmarks, and hidden waterways is a fun way to learn about and better understand Métis history and contemporary way of life.
The Lake Superior Watershed Conservancy and the Huron-Superior Regional Métis Community have developed interpretive canoe and walking tours to connect visitors to Métis culture and provide a glimpse into a vibrant community life centered around fishing and waterways. These tours operate out of the Métis Heritage Centre, the first of its kind in Ontario, and emphasize the importance of environmental stewardship and the interconnectedness of culture, ecology, and community while providing a fun summer activity outside.
5. Locality Brewing in the Township of Langley, British Columbia
You can visit a scenic Métis-owned working farm and brewery called Locality Brewing. They offer a true “Field to Glass” experience—where the barley and hops are grown, malted, and brewed on site. The brewery sources local, sustainable ingredients and follows Métis land-based traditions. From Wednesday through Sunday, visitors can enjoy bison burgers, bison poutine, and vegetarian options from Stampede Burgers, a Métis-owned food truck. With farm tours, a pond walk featuring edible plants and their Michif names and pronunciations, yoga, live music, and cold beers, it’s a place where every experience connects guests to the land, the harvest, and the farmers behind it.
6. Aurora Village on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Rooted in the Métis and Dene traditions of Fort Resolution, Aurora Village is more than just a Yellowknife viewing spot for the northern lights: it’s a place where stories, food, and landscapes come together. Guests can gather in warm teepees, learn about northern ways of life, enjoy northern fare from a late-night menu, and witness the Aurora Borealis from custom-built heated seats designed by Aboriginal elders. Enjoy hiking, snowshoeing, dog sledding, and ice fishing and experience the history and hospitality of Indigenous communities in the north.
Here are just a few ways Canadians can spend time outdoors this summer while learning about Métis culture, history, and traditions during Indigenous History Month.
Batoche National Historic Site:
Métis Cultural Walking & Big Canoe Tours:
