Heritage

 

In this section, you'll find links to Aboriginal communities across the province. Visit these sites to find out more about the people, history and traditions of Alberta's First Nations and Métis settlements.

 

If you would like your nation, settlement or community represented on this page, please contact us at: info@AlbertaAboriginalTourism.com.

 

About Alberta's First Nations Treaty Areas 

 

The 47 First Nations of Alberta are split into three treaties: Treaty 6, 7, and 8. Treaty 6 contains 16 nations located from Edmonton to Red Deer. Treaty 7, with seven nations, lies from Red Deer south. There are 23 nations in Treaty 8, which comprises the area north of Edmonton. 

 

These treaty areas are considered to be some of the traditional territories of the different tribes of Alberta. The northern tribes consist of the Dene, the Cree, the Dogrib, and others. The Treaty 6 consists primarily of the Plains Cree, and the south consists primarily of the Blackfoot with Tsuu T’ina and the Stoneys as part of Treaty 7. The treaties themselves extend beyond the borders of Alberta, and were geographical areas prior to Canada becoming a country.

 

If you would like to learn more about Alberta's First Nations communities, click on the links below to visit the Nations' websites.

 

Treaty 6 Nations

 

 

Treaty 7 Nations

 

 

Treaty 8 Nations

 

 

About Alberta's Métis Settlements

 

The Métis are Canada’s first children. From the 1600s to late 1800s, European fur traders joined with Aboriginal women. Their mixed blood children were able to function in both Aboriginal and European societies. They adapted European technologies to the wilderness, through innovations such as Red River Carts and York Boats, making it possible to transport large volumes of goods. As this group increased in number and married amongst themselves, they developed a new culture, neither European nor Indian, but a fusion of the two - the Métis.

 

Alberta has the single largest provincial population of Métis people in Canada with 67,000 - over 32,000 of whom are represented by the Métis Nation of Alberta. The creation of eight Métis Settlements in Alberta gives its citizens a land base that no other Métis group in Canada enjoys. Today, the Métis Nation of Alberta and the Métis people are crucial elements of the vision to build a stronger Aboriginal product.

 

To find out more about the history and culture of Alberta's Métis people, visit the Alberta Online Encyclopedia.