Discover Indigenous Culture in Southern Alberta at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump

Southern Alberta is home to an incredible and rich history, and that includes the history of the Blackfoot and Indigenous People of the Northwestern Plains. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and award-winning interpretive centre, preserving a small portion of the incredibly diverse and rich history and culture; telling the story of the Blackfoot and Indigenous People of the Northwestern Plains. This summer, in addition to their stellar interpretive centre, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump will be hosting drumming and dancing performances in their outdoor place every Wednesday in July and August. Each Wednesday, there will be performances by some of Canada’s best First Nations dancers. At 11 a.m. and 1:30 PM eachWednesday you will have the opportunity to enjoy a performance of multiple styles of dance, including chicken dances, warrior dances, and many more beautiful styles of First Nations dance. If the weather doesn’t permit an outdoor performance, the interpretive centre is more than capable of hosting the dancing and drumming indoors, also allowing for incredible views of the performance from the upper levels of the interpretive centre. While the addition of drumming and dancing performances each Wednesday is incredible, the programming at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is still more than enough to fill your time any other day of the week! The interpretive centre at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is an award-winning centre that offers a unique and thoughtfully crafted experience that takes you through many different facets of the life and culture of the Blackfoot and Indigenous People of the Northwestern Plains. This three-level interpretive centre allows you to get up close and personal with the culture, people, and practice of buffalo jumps, and Blackfoot and Indigenous People of the Northwestern Plains. At ground level, there is a theatre showing a film depicting the buffalo hunt, showing every 15 minutes. There are also multiple interactive and static displays throughout the floor to help illustrate the history of the site, and how it was uncovered. As you ascend through the interpretive centre, you’ll learn about the incredible coordination required for the buffalo hunt, the people who participated, and the land which they inhabited. By the time you reach the outdoor observation viewpoint that overlooks an original buffalo jump that was used for hundreds of years, you’ll have a much greater appreciation for the beauty of the culture that used to inhabit these lands.

Don’t forget to take a moment out on their outdoor observation viewpoint and gaze over not only the historic site of the buffalo jump which the site is named after, but at the vast prairie landscape that sits in front of it. There are large sets of stationary binoculars that visitors can use to get a better view of the vast landscape that the centre sits in front of. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site unlike any other, with a landscape to match its unique qualities. From the outdoor observation viewpoint, you can choose to head back inside or continue your time outdoors by walking one of the interpretive trails located on site. The trails offer a chance to enjoy the fresh air and scenery, and a chance to learn more about the site while walking through it! This summer, the interpretive centre also sees the return of Napi’s Gift Shop, which has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic saw most indoor spaces shutting down. Now, you can get a gift or small souvenir to remember your visit to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Whether you visit on a Wednesday and can see the incredible drumming and dancing that has been added to the interpretive centre’s programming, or you’re there during a regular day, there is more than enough to experience and see at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump this summer! Don't forget to share all your adventures out at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump with us on social media using #ExploreLethbridge. We check the hashtag often, and even like to share some of our favourite shots on social media. Don't worry, we always ask for permission before reposting!