EDMONTON, Alberta — Plans are being developed for First Nations theme parks in Alberta that would re-create traditional lifestyles in elaborate Indian villages to be marketed to tourists across Canada and overseas.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Pearl Calahasen envisions the parks in the four corners of the province. Band leaders are excited about developing projects that could both create jobs and help preserve their culture.
“It has been under discussion for a long time,” Calahasen said. “We have got a diverse group of aboriginal communities in this province, and I would like to see them to be able to showcase what they have and how proud they are of their ancestry and history.”
The grand plan includes a network of native theme parks springing from a central location in Edmonton or Calgary.
The main park would feature native groups from across Alberta. Every First Nation that wanted to be involved would have a pavilion — Calahasen calls them encampments — with displays of traditional way of life, spiritual beliefs, history, food and recreation.
Tourists wanting a fuller taste of a specific band’s culture could travel to fully functional theme parks, where the traditional way of life would be in full swing, re-enacted 24 hours a day.
Calahasen said the Alberta government won’t directly finance such a private venture but can use its expertise to pull investors together.
