In every province and territory throughout Canada, one can most often find an aboriginal cultural center. These facilities are most often funded by the Government of Canada for their creation and also to keep them operating to a certain extent, so that people can have access to learning about the indigenous people of a particular region. Yes they are great attractions for tourists, so that one can gain a better understanding about a unique aboriginal group. Please keep in mind that visitors such as yourself are what keeps these facilities open for everyone. 
During the research of creating www.aboriginaladventurescanada.com it was found that there is no one website that lists these great facilities. This is why we have chosen to create the Aboriginal Cultural Centers page and try to recruit every aboriginal cultural center to join our website, so that more people will know about their location, and type of aboriginal group they showcase. This shall make it easier for you as a traveler, booking agent, tour wholesaler, or someone who just wants to go to a facility to learn more about the indigenous people of a particular region of Canada. This is going to be very valuable, seeing as the cultural centers are as diverse as our people throughout every corner of our great nation.
The aboriginal cultural centers have great displays showing the way of life as it once was for the First Nations of a certain area. One is able to see the traditional styled homes that the people once used, or may still use to this day. Many are intrigued to come to understand that the tee pee was not used by all aboriginal cultures of what is now referred to as Canada. There are tulle huts, pit homes, ice houses, numerous types of hide tent structures, long house’s and big house’s. Visiting one of our cultural centers, one will not only learn about traditional homes of a certain region of Canada, but actually get to go inside of one. This is due to the fact that most centers are either constructed to look like a traditional home, or they have replicas built exactly as they once were. This allows one to really understand what it was like for our people before the continent was occupied by your ancestors. If a cultural center does not have a home of the people of the region, I am sure they can direct you to where you can see one.
Many aboriginal cultural centers go the extra distance by having aboriginals dressed traditionally demonstrating many aspects of their culture. People are also able to participate in the making of traditional crafts, or seeing them made. One will see the foods that were harvested from a certain area, and at most demonstrations one can even sample the traditional foods. Seeing as all aboriginal groups passed their stories down orally, one can hear drumming with ancient family songs, or sit and be intrigued by an ancient family legend. In the plains region of Canada, one may even the witness the amazing horsemanship of some aboriginal groups. This interaction makes for a very enjoyable experience that’s sure to open a new understanding for one on aboriginal life throughout Canada. If you are traveling across country, one is sure to want to stop at the numerous aboriginal cultural centers. 
I remember in 1980 as a young man of 15 standing in traditional regalia of button blanket, button apron, cedar bark headpiece listening to dignitary’s, Chiefs, and other people of rank or status give speeches about the building that was being opened that would be called the U’mista Cultural Center. I was ignorant of the magnitude of what this new building really meant for me as an aboriginal at that time. I did not fully comprehend that this was a place that symbolized the tenacious spirit my ancestors had to retain the unique culture and heritage that makes us still know our ways. Hopefully you reading this shall one day allow yourself to enter this building and come to understand more about the coastal First Nations people who call themselves Kwakwaka’wakw
In 2001 I went to the plains region of western Canada to be a tourist, but more so to show my infant son a part of his aboriginal roots, for I am also half Cree. One of the places I went to was Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump. This UNESCO World heritage Site was awe inspiring to say the least. This aboriginal cultural center seemed to be built into the great cliff edge jutting out of the prairie. Inside the amazing displays allowed me to come to understand more about my ancestors and their way of life. One of my grandest memories of this site was standing at the top of the Jump with my boy in my arms and seeing a summers wind make the prairie grasses come to life in shimmering waves. I sat outside and looked across a world that was new to me, but at the same time a part of me. It seemed even more so, for the center I had traversed through allowed me to learn what the plains had looked like when the great herds of buffalo roamed with my ancestors chasing them, so that they could feed their families. In 2007 I would move to the Queen Charlotte Islands off the north coast of British Columbia, that is now correctly renamed Haida Gwaii. I had been there many times in my years as a commercial fisherman, but one of the first sites that amazed me was the size of the Haida Heritage Center at Kaay Llnagaay as I drove off the ferry from Prince Rupert. It was mystical to see a cultural center built upon an ancient village site to look as what the village that once sat there may have looked like.
When I did find the time to enter this cultural center, I would be inspired by the pride, dedication and effort of an indigenous people to take on such strides to showcase to the world who they are. Inside I would come to understand more about a people that would unselfishly share their homeland with me and my children for over a year. I found their cultural center to be one of the most informative buildings I have ever been fortunate enough to experience a few hours of learning within. I remember looking up at their great totems with a coastal morning mist tickling my face and being so amazed at the skill that had gone into the creation of the towering carvings proclaiming crests and stories of the different clans that make up their nation. One of my most memorable moments shall always be the days I witnessed eagle, raven, and crow perched upon the tops of the great totems with a winters snow dusting this small piece of the world known as Haida Gwaii. So yes, even though the tourism season may seem to be at a close, you can be assured that the doors of the Haida Cultural Center are open year round, and who knows, maybe you too shall witness a natural wonder in snow as I was fortunate enough to experience?
I think back to a time in 1997 where I only allowed myself a fleeting moment at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park on the outskirts of Saskatoon Saskatchewan during a days end, instead of allowing myself hours to enjoy this grand cultural center about the plains Cree. I have heard and read so much about this great place, that now I yearn to one day go back and truly enjoy all that it has to offer. I know that by you reading what I have placed upon these pages, hopefully you can take the time during your exploration of Canada to take the time to enjoy the magnificent aboriginal cultural centers that are found throughout our great country. I do know that you shall be enlightened more about who we are. 
Even if you are only to explore a cultural center that is found within your region, I know that you shall find things that are sure to entertain, educate, mesmerize and amaze you. If you are coming from another country, and your desire is to know more about the many different aboriginal cultures of Canada, then you are sure to want to visit as many of the cultural centers as you possibly can. By exploring each of the aboriginal cultural center banners on the right, you shall be able to know exactly where they are and what First Nation they showcase. 
My late grandfather Chief James Aul Sewid O.C. along with other leaders of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation worked hard to ensure that our Nation would have the U’mista Cultural Center and the Nuyumbalees Cultural Center to showcase much of our culture and heritage forever. You shall find that many others of unselfish vision strived to do the same, so that as a country we can one day proudly proclaim that all distinct aboriginal cultural groups throughout the many regions of our lands, shall one day have a cultural center to share our ways with the world. To them we all can thank them for the legacy they have created, but most of all for keeping our cultural fires burning forever.