Visitors

Tipi Lodging - "Pê-nipatân" (Come and Sleep Over)

For more than 6,000 years, the nomadic tribes who roamed the Northern Plains gathered on this site of natural beauty where today visitors can relive stories of a people who came here to hunt bison, gather food and herbs, and escape the winter winds.

Wanuskewin is pleased to offer our visitors overnight accommodation in a Traditional Tipi in the Opimihaw Valley in the summer or winter. Sit around the fire while listening to traditional stories, and learn about First Nations traditional living while snacking on Bannock and Muskeg Tea.

visitors_lodging_tipi-village.jpgWalking in their footsteps, you will understand why this site was a place of worship and celebration, of renewal with the natural world, and of a deep spirituality. You will begin to learn about the history of a prairie place where the original North Americans met newcomers to the continent in a spirit of sharing and hospitality.

The Tipi Accommodation package includes 3 programs with interpreters, as well as, supper, a late night snack of bannock & hot chocolate, and breakfast. We can also provide additional menus if you wish to include more food services than the Tipi Package offers.

Program guide (48 KB PDF)

Winter programming available

Sample Programs Available:

Medicine Walk

Imagine having all the medicine you need just outside your tipi door. This trail walk introduces participants to the medicine of First Nations people. From medication that gave relief to the common cold to bug repellent, Wanuskewin’s Opimihaw valley has it all.

Home Sweet Home: A Tipi Raising Adventure

Enjoy one of Wanuskewin’s most popular programs! Learn how the First Nations people used to set up their homes. Learn about the values that were associated with each part of the tipi, values that were passed down to the children as they helped set the tipi up. Come and try it yourself!

Sample Afternoon/Evening Schedule
4:00 pm arrival at Wanuskewin, greetings, DVD presentation
4:30 pm move in to the tipis and get ready for camp
5:00 pm supper in the restaurant (traditional food in a modern meal – includes: bison stew, fried or baked bannock, muskeg tea, and Saskatoon berry tart)
6:30 pm choose any 2 programs
9:30 pm return to camp to start evening by the fire activities
  • traditional Muskeg Tea
  • cook bannock over an open fire
  • discussion of Plains life
11:00 pm turn in for the evening

Sample Morning Schedule
8:00 am rise and shine
  • clean up Tipi Village
8:30 am breakfast in the restaurant (pancakes, bannock, muskeg tea & coffee)
9:00 am choose any program
10:00 am
departure

What to Bring

  • sleeping bag appropriate for the weather, pillow or other bedding
  • personal effects (toothbrush, deodorant, etc.)
  • appropriate clothing for weather conditions
  • bug spray
  • flashlight (optional)

Booking requirement

Please book no later than six working days in advance. Additional programs, sleeping bags, customized menus available at an added cost.

Tour booking form (104 KB PDF)