The territories of 13 indigenous and Métis groups that inhabit the Canadian Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains have been an important landscape for humans since time immemorial. The Alberta portions of the Rocky Mountains encompass the traditional homelands of numerous indigenous groups, including the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina Nation, the Stoney Nakoda Nation, the various Cree nations, the Ktunaxa, and the Métis. The foothills region just east of the Rockies provided important wintering grounds for bison and other large mammals, and the mountains themselves were part of the spiritual and cultural fabric of the cultures that inhabited the area. These same peoples contributed immensely to early efforts by European explorers and surveyors, as their expertise on the local geography and ecology aided the efforts of European explorers as they muddled their way across the continent.
Swiss mountain guides employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway
The Rocky Mountains were perceived by Europeans as wild and uninhabited landscapes, where the passions of the natural world were unabated, and bold souls could prove themselves. Swiss immigrants, hired by the Canada Pacific Railway, founded guiding services supporting a nascent culture of alpinism catering to the tourists and adventurers of the time.
The same location photographed 98 years apart. In 1903 this was Mine No. 1 in Canmore. Now it is part of a subdivision on the south side of Canmore.
As Canada’s economy grew, and the demand for coal increased, the rich coal deposits of the Rocky Mountains became drivers of further expansion of the human footprint in the area. Throughout the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains, coal mines opened up, and towns sprung up to house and support the mining industry. In this way, towns like Crowsnest Pass, Canmore, Hinton, and Grande Cache were established. As the world transitions away from coal, these towns and the people who live in them have faced tough economic conditions. For some towns, tourism has been able to replace mining as the main economic driver, while for others the mine closures have resulted in long periods of economic hardship.
Colonization and governmental policy were instrumental in removing people from these lands, so that others could move in and occupy the “empty” land. As immigration and settlement progressed through the arrival of immigrants from Europe and Asia, these newcomers projected their own cultural beliefs upon the mountain landscapes. European immigrants brought with them beliefs about nature and wild spaces that developed from the enlightenment and the romantic movement in art. The founding of Canada’s first national park, Banff National Park, in 1885, displaced indigenous peoples from the area, as they were no longer allowed to hunt in the newly created park. Further settlement and expansion of colonial infrastructure brought continued changes to the area, disrupting the traditional ways of life of the indigenous inhabitants.
Presently, the Rocky Mountains are a microcosm of discussions and concerns occurring around the world. How do we mitigate the negative impacts of human presence in sensitive landscapes? How do we restore landscapes and rejuvenate towns that have experienced negative outcomes from resource extraction? What is the fate of these areas under a warming climate? How do we address all these issues while continuing the process of reconciliation and elevating the knowledge of indigenous groups?
None of the questions have easy answers, but we can all move closer to solutions by staying engaged with the issues and continuing to learn about the landscapes we care about.