Tsuu T'ina Cultural Museum — Attraction in Alberta

Please be prepared no photos are allowed and you will be get out at any time

It was supposed to be a wonderful experience, a very small but delicate museum, beautifully furnished and to some extent reflecting the life of the indigenous people, including costumes, headdresses, tools, animal fur and so on. It is obvious that the people who originally planned the museum made a very positive contribution to the preservation and dissemination of indigenous culture. But unfortunately, the management of this museum is very problematic, in a word, if you are going to visit and admire the real history and culture of this land, then please be prepared to be told they are to close at any time.

The museum was only open on weekdays, from 8am to 4pm, but after less than one hour of visiting, I was told by the staff that they were closing. It was about 1pm at that time. I asked the reason, the staff said that because everyone has left and you are the only one here so we have to close. I respected all the notice and the open time of the museum, and paid my ticket to get in, I really didn't understand why should only one visitor could be seen as a reason to close? The museum does have the right to close at any time and turn customers away, but it is very disrespectful. And this is disappointing to a visitor who is genuinely interested in indigenous culture and even wants to introduce more people to learn about it. "Truth and reconciliation" has become an undeniable consensus, but only if history is understood. The responsibility of the museum is to respect everyone who wants to know more about this, so that a deeper reconciliation can be achieved. I'm not a quick visitor, and I like to enjoy everything in silence, especially they don't allow photos at all. But to be honest, today's experience makes me feel that the museum is just a decoration, the staff only want to rush out of work, they forget the responsibility and meaning of...

❤️ Our deep appreciation for the Tsuu T’ina people grew even more after visiting this wonderfully maintained, informative, and detailed museum with intricate art exhibits. We got the great opportunity to chat with Hollis and learned a lot about his peoples’ experiences, way of life (i.e. take only what you need), and teachings (i.e. land-based learning, living in balance with nature, all living things are interconnected, and more). A must-see when visiting around or near Calgary and/or Banff! You can also book a tour if you’d like that option versus going at your own pace.

📚 We believe it’s a requirement for everyone to learn about indigenous culture and histories because we are all on indigenous land. A heartfelt thank you to the Tsuu T’ina people for creating this museum to share your culture and heritage with all.

🅿️ Parking was easy peasy at the museum and we enjoyed the gift shop to support local indigenous artists! We got a long silk robe jacket and it’s very soft plus comforting! They also have gorgeous beaded jewelry and much more.

📖 After visiting the museum, I sought out to learn even more about the history of the Tsuut’ina Nation and the many hardships they endured. Colonialism and the attempted genocide of Indigenous people needs to be common knowledge and truly understood so that meaningful reconciliation can happen such as returning the land back to the First Nations in Canada. Check out the Land Back movement (even Ben & Jerry’s has an article about it) – we all deserve clean and safe air, water, and food – and Indigenous peoples have proven this is possible through their land management practices that mitigate the loss of biodiversity and climate crisis.

⭐️All in all, a truly special experience and highly encourage everyone to stop by and learn more about the original peoples...

A treasure and must-see destination for anyone seeking firsthand knowledge of local Indigenous history. Jonathan provided a first rate tour of the gallery, giving meaningful context to the well-curated, comprehensive collection of TsuuT'ina cultural items, including games, tools, and ceremonial items on display. The collection of dress regalia and beadwork is incredible, and learning about the history of the people associated with each display made the exhibit even better. The gift shop has good selection/prices, and as an added bonus, even has a large selection of beading supplies for...