By Amy Hancock

What if during your family camping trip you found yourself fully immersed in the rich history and culture of the first peoples to call this land home? Everyone has slept in a tent...but have you embraced your spirit of adventure and slept in an authentic aboriginal Tipi?

Elk Island Retreat, located just east of Edmonton, provides a unique cultural camping setting for summer campers who are looking for something different.

"We have people coming here from all over the world to experience tipi camping," said Rick Hanneman, who owns Elk Island Retreat with his wife Pat.

Visitors can choose from five tipi's. Each is designed after the Cree natives who are indigenous to the area. They also offer two trapper cabins for accommodation, which are designed from the Metis settler's trapper cabins that would have stood in this wilderness during the fur trade in the 1800's.

"We offer aboriginal culture programs upon request," shared Pat. "If a group wants to book a program we have a Métis guide named Candy who will come out and run the programs."

Programs must be booked in advance and include: talking circle, song and dance with traditional drumming, aboriginal arts and crafts, learning about the different types of aboriginal groups, the importance of animals, and the history of aboriginal contributions to Canadian Society.

Elk Island Retreat also has a Red River Cart. A wagon set on two high wheels with long arms to hook up horses or oxen. The Hannemans explained that the Metis settlers would travel from Manitoba, using these carts to carry their cargo as they can easily cross rivers and streams without getting everything wet.

If you are looking for a culturally rich camping experience, consider visiting our friends Rick and Pat at Elk Island Retreat. This quiet and relaxing campground offers a taste of history, nestled in nature with their tipi's, trappers cabin, tenting and RV sites. Visit www.elkislandretreat.com

Photo right:  Tipi Campsite, courtesy of Elk Island Retreat