Culture and history
The park has thousands of archaeological find sites, artifacts, and is one of the largest concentrations of undisturbed precontact cultural resources in Canada. All of these finds help us to understand the type of people that once lived here, where they were located, and how they made use of the land and its resources.
Indigenous habitation dates back to 10,000 years ago. By the 1600's, the Gros Ventre followed the bison herds in this area. More recently, the Assiniboine, Cree, Sioux, and Blackfoot also inhabited this grassland area on a seasonal basis. Campsites, tipi rings, vision quest sites, medicine wheels, and bison drive lanes are some of the cultural heritage.
A story of survival and persistence! Ancient teepee rings and bison drive lanes are just a few remnants of the Indigenous people who once called the prairie wilderness home. Old corrals using river willow fenceposts and remnants of early ranching homesteads dot the landscape to remind us of the end of the ‘wild west’ and the transition to settlement.
Throughout history, the Grasslands National Park area was considered the last frontier of the Canadian prairie west. Prairie people sought the land for different treasures.
Come and explore our Ecotour Driving Adventure, diverse trails, and guided experiences. Discover some of Canada’s rarest wildlife, darkest skies, astonishing dinosaur fossils, over 12,000 teepee rings, and varied landscapes, from buttes and valleys to breathtaking badlands. Your surprise awaits!