Head-Smashed-In caps off season with Buffalo Harvest Days

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Historic Site celebrated Blackfoot and First Nations Culture recently with its Buffalo Harvest Days.

As part of Alberta’s Culture Days which works to spread celebration across the province, Head-Smashed-In once again hosted a weekend of events for visitors to enjoy.

Site marketing and special events co-ordinator, Quinton CrowShoe, says the facility celebrated along with culture days each year in their own way by hosting Buffalo Harvest Day.

“These days are a celebration of culture across province of Alberta, and here at Head-Smashed-In we do our share.”

“Because of our ties to the Blackfoot and First Nations culture we’ve named our event Buffalo Harvest Days,” added CrowShoe “because it was around this time of the year when our ancestors rounded up buffalo and prepared for winter.”

Each year during the Alberta Culture Days celebrations the site features artists who demonstrate traditions within the culture, as well as new activities, offering guided tours of the facility, living off the land demonstrations and a buffalo-themed meal in the cafeteria as well as a sale within the gift shop all weekend long.

This year, Head-Smashed-In featured a member of the Blood Tribe who demonstrated the art of drum making.

With the event being the last of the year at the HeadSmashed-In Buffalo Jump, CrowShoe says it’s a great way to end the season, and each year they see people stopping by to participate in the demonstrations.

“This is the last special event of the year here for us. Visitation definitely does increase over the course of the three days for sure.”

Of course, the temporary free admission into the facility was also an attraction. In fact, as part of the Alberta Culture Days celebrations the weekend actually offered free admission into all historic sites throughout the province.

This is the 10th year that the province has been holding these events within communities across Alberta to celebrate the rich culture and history and is something that Head-Smashed-In Buffalo and many other facilities in the province are proud to be a contributor.

“The Government of Alberta is proud to support Alberta Culture Days and the communities that put on amazing events every year. For 10 years, we have celebrated Alberta’s diverse and vibrant art and culture community, highlighting all the amazing aspects that make this province unique,” says Minister of Culture and Tourism, Ricardo Miranda.