A member of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation says he hopes to have some interpretive aboriginal cultural learning projects in Jasper National Park (JNP) by next summer.

JNP is seeking sites for possible locations for aboriginal groups that have historical ties with the park to carry out private ceremonies and cultural camps that would be open to the public. Howard Mustus Jr. of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation says discussions with the park officials have been going well and that Alexis Nakota have a lot to offer JNP.

He says Alexis Nakota has a long history within the park and he would like aboriginal groups to have more representation.

“A lot of (tourists) come there expecting to see Indians. They want to see three things; they want to see the RCMP in red shirts, they want to see the mountains and they want to see Indians. But they don’t see Indians, but they expect to see some because of our history in the area,” Mustus says.

Along with finding locations in the park to have private sweat lodges and community ceremonies and learning, Mustus also wants to have cultural camps that can show the public who they are, what they are all about, and enhance the visitor experience.

JNP officials have been looking at possible locations for aboriginal groups to carry out activities, and last week JNP superintendent Greg Fenton told the Fitzhugh that the Whirlpool campground was a possibility, to which Mustus also agreed.

“The whole point is finding a place that’s for us. And one of the reason’s the park was talking to us was that maybe we can designate one of the campsites that is off the beaten track. Just off the top of my head, maybe Whirlpool or something. Those are the ideas that have been put forth by the park. But what we would like to see is for us to pick our own spot that has never had a campsite there – but that would have to involve discussions internally, because there is always a need for bathrooms and water pumps and stuff like that,” says Mustus.

Choosing a location for both private ceremonies and public story telling and learning would involve both JNP approval and the approval of aboriginal elders, explains Mustus. They would pick the location based on their oral tradition.

Alexis Nakota are among about 27 aboriginal groups in both BC and Alberta, Mustus says, including seven First Nations. The Alexis Nakota have a rich history of being in JNP for thousands of years, although many people think they didn’t arrive until 1876, which is partly why JNP is encouraging them to help spearhead the project to bring natives back into the park.

Many places in the park and town are named in the Stoney language of the Alexis Nakota, such as the Chaba Glacier. Mustus says the Alexis Nakota have always been in the mountains and he would like to see their culture back in the park.

“We have a lot to offer the park. If we can get something concrete down… if we could encourage more tourism, Jasper would benefit, and we’d like to put back a piece of the mountain culture that’s been missing.”