Pathways: Mêskanâs - Celebrating Indigenous Culture
Mêskanâs: Celebrating Indigenous Culture is a showcase of Indigenous culture: fashion, music, dance, Indigenous food, crafting activities, wild plant walks, vendor market and a special welcome ceremony in the Indigenous Peoples Garden. Designed for families of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.
June 14, 2026 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Schedule At-a-Glance
10:00-10:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony
10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Vendor Market
10:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. | Indigenous Food Box pick up (order in advance). Bannock and beverages available for sale.
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Crafts and Storytelling - Beaded Lanyard Craft (book in advance)
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Walking with the Plants (book in advance)
12:30- 2:00 p.m. - Fashion Show - “She Blooms”, with Drumming and Dancing
2:30-3:30 p.m. - Crafts and Storytelling - Dreamcatcher Craft (book in advance)
2:30-4 p.m. - Walking with the Plants (book in advance)
- Regular admission applies. Garden Members do not pay admission.
- Add-ons: Indigenous Lunch Box, Craft Activities and Wild Plant Walks must be reserved in advance and are in addition to admission.
- Event runs rain or shine.
The Pathways Series of events creates routes to understanding between cultures through art, music, food, performance, workshops and talking together, in the beautiful setting of the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
The Pathways Series is supported by the Government of Alberta.
EVENT ITINERARY - plan your day!
10:00-10:30 a.m. | Opening Ceremony
All are welcome to join this special Elder-led opening ceremony in the Indigenous Peoples Garden.
10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Vendor Market
Eleven Indigenous vendors will showcase and sell their handmade crafts, designs, apparel and more in the Aga Khan Garden.
10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. | Food Boxes, Bannock and Beverages
Indigenous Lunch Box Menu by Culina (advance order only)
Roast Bison sausage with mustard sauce (GF)
OR
Lentil fritters with tomato salsa (GF & Vegan)
The Indigenous boxes are served with "Three Sisters" vegetables, fresh dill, olive oil, Gull Valley tomatoes, and seasonal berries on a bed of mixed greens, accompanied by Culina House Salad dressing. Served in eco-friendly brown boxes, napkin and fork included.
$20 + tax per person
SOLD OUT - Book your food box
Baked Métis bannock with saskatoon butter, saskatoon lemonade, and wild mint iced tea will be available for purchase during the event in the Aga Khan Garden.
Crafts and Storytelling
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Beaded Lanyard
2:30-3:30 p.m. | Dreamcatcher
Join Elder Monica Rain in the Indigenous Peoples Garden - she will share stories and guide participants in making a beaded lanyard craft or dreamcatcher to take home. Limited capacity - book in advance.
$25 + tax per person
Craft activity add-on is in addition to admission.
Walking with the Plants
Natural Areas
Two sessions:
10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 2:30-4 p.m.
A guided 90-minute experience that invites participants to see the landscape in a new way. Led by Russ and Alissa McRae of AAROE Survival and Wilderness Travel, this walk introduces a selection of edible and medicinal plants and how they’ve been traditionally used for food, healing, and everyday life.
Offered through a Métis perspective, this experience reflects a way of learning that is rooted in relationship to the land, to the plants, and to the knowledge passed through generations. Participants are invited to engage with the landscape through observation, respect, and awareness, recognizing that plants are not just resources, but part of a living system we are connected to.
This is more than identification, it’s practical, grounded knowledge. Participants will learn how to recognize key plants, understand their uses, and approach them with care and responsibility. Along the way, the walk explores the connections between plants, people and place in a way that is accessible, thoughtful, and real.
$45 + tax per person
SOLD OUT - Reserve plant walk add-on
Note: Walking with the Plants add-on is in addition to admission.
Russ McRae is a Métis outdoorsman, certified four-season Interpretive Guide, certified Survival and Woods Travel Instructor, and the first Indigenous person in Alberta certified in Animal Track and Sign. As the founder of AAROE Survival and Wilderness Travel Adventures, he offers immersive land-based experiences that blend practical wilderness skills, cultural knowledge, and meaningful connection to nature.
Alissa McRae is passionate about sharing knowledge about the plants that grow around us. You can usually find her working on various crafts using natural materials or making salves and teas from local plants. Alissa is also a youth leader with a local Junior Forest Wardens club.
12:30-2:00 p.m. Fashion Show - “She Blooms”
Consultant and Fashion Show Coordinator: Monica Rain
This special fashion show of Indigenous designers is named “She Blooms” because the models, from babies to elders, are “becoming who they are”, according to show coordinator Monica Rain. Among the models is Miss Canada United World 2026, Mya McDowell, of Dene Tha’ First Nation. A highlight of the show will be a Medicine Wheel Dress, co-designed by four of the designers.
Throughout the fashion show, Indigenous dancers will perform jingle dress dances, fancy shawl, grass dance, men’s fancy, traditional and expedition dances, accompanied by traditional drummers.
During the show, emcee Tammy Rea Lamouche, (actor, recording artists, author and cultural educator) will narrate the significance of the colours used, the traditional regalia, talk about ceremony, protocol and preparing the spirit for ceremony. During their final runway walk, models will wear traditional face paint.
Apparel, beading and jewellery designers range from young up-and-coming Indigenous designers to those with more exposure.
Featuring
Emcee - Tammy Rea Lamouch | Actor, recording artist, author and cultural educator
Mya McDowell | Miss Canada United World 2026. Dene Tha’ First Nation. Registered nurse. Youth Advocate. Model.
Courtney Auger | Sacred Seven Designs. Treaty 6. Revitalizing and uplifting Indigenous voices through art. Apparel and clothing, beadwork.
Shelly and Kaydence Hunter | House of Hunter. Honouring our roots through every stitch. We are proud Nehiyaw Iskwêwak, a mother and daughter duo creating garments infused with love, respect and culture.
Kat McIntyre | Lil Star Beading and Designs
Marie Rain | Raindrop Creations. Designer, beadwork, jingle dresses, jewelry, clothing, children’s items
Monica Rain and Shyanne Rain Little Tipi Family / Beading by Shy | Nakota Sioulx, Paul First Nation. Monica is the founder of the Little Tipi family. Shyanne is a bead artist.
Trish Whiteknife | A Kookum (grandmother) who does exceptional beadwork. She has very little social media presence, however, her children are working to help change that!
Ceanna Willis and Luscious Dennehy | Bear Essence Jewelry Designers. Indigenous-owned jewelry business founded by partners Ceanna Willis (Enoch Cree Nation) and Lucious Dennehy (Samson Cree Nation). Handcrafted jewelry featuring authentic dentalium shells, mother of pearl, natural stones, and contemporary Indigenous design elements.