"Start your learning journey in Banff with an interactive hike beginning from the Banff Centre. This awe inspiring location is nestled on the slopes of Eyarhey Tatanga Woweyahgey Wakân in the Nakoda language or Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain.
Your guides — Îyârhe Nakoda Knowledge Holder Travis Rider and ACMG hiking guide Adam Mertens — will share stories and perspectives on the complex cultural and natural history of the Bow Valley, using a two-eyed seeing lens. They will invite you to reflect on your own teaching practice and the ways educators can approach the land as a teacher to explore complex topics including Truth and Reconciliation, Climate Action, Community Building and Personal Resilience.
This intentional approach to land acknowledgement, in which participants are invited to reflect on their personal relationship to this place, closely mirrors the type of land-based learning experiences that Howl has offered young people over the past three years.
Depending on weather conditions, we will either hike up Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain or down to the Bow River. Both options are beginner friendly and will start and end at the Kinnear Centre.
Please note there will a $10 participant fee, payment can be made to field trip leaders.
