INDIGENOUS
EXPERIENCES
Supporting Indigenous-owned and operated
businesses is reconciliation in action (which
is most fitting, as the city is also home to the
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation).
The following experiences, attractions, hotels
and eateries are owned and run by Indigenous
Peoples or created in consultation.
Where to eat
Feast Café Bistro
feastcafebistro.com
Chef/owner Christa Bruneau-Guenther's Feast has
been operating since 2016, turning the born-and-raised
Winnipegger and member of the Peguis First Nation into
a national star for her approach to First Nations cuisine.
Manoomin
wyndhamgardenwinnipeg.com/dining
Located within the Indigenous-owned Wyndham Garden
Winnipeg Airport, Manoomin (meaning 'wild rice' in
Ojibway) features bannock, bison and local fish on a
menu by executive chef Jennifer Ballantyne, who is from
the Opaskwayak Cree Nation.
Bistro on Notre Dame
bistroonnotredame.com
This West End gem focuses on locavore dining, including
plenty of game and interesting takes on comfort food
from Métis chef/owner Dean Herkert.
Promenade Brasserie
promenadebrasserie.ca
Features a locally sourced menu inspired by chef/owner
Jay Lekopoy's Métis heritage that isn't shy about bringing
flavour and spice. Plus, you can't beat the dining room
views of downtown's skyline.
T-Town Pizza
ttownstylepizza.com
Satisfy your hunger with huge, piled-high pies by Métis
brothers Jacky Colombe and Kenny Braun, who brought
this pizza style to Winnipeg from their hometown of
Thompson, Manitoba.
Shelly's Indigenous Bistro
facebook.com/shellybistro
This new pizza joint that opened in spring 2023
specializes in large bannock-crust pizzas on an eclectic
menu that also includes fried rice dishes, poutines and
fried chicken, all by Ojibway owner Vince Bignell, a
member of Mathias Colomb First Nation.
Attractions and festivals
Agowiidiwinan Centre
trcm.ca
Agowiidiwinan, meaning "bringing things together," is a
new facility at The Forks created by the Manitoba Treaty
Commission. The centre uses oral histories, archival
documents and displays to foster a contemporary
understanding of treaties.
Indigenous Peoples Garden
at the Gardens at The Leaf
assiniboinepark.ca/leaf/about-the-leaf/explore-
gardens
Elders and community members came together to work
with two local Indigenous designers to create this space
at Winnipeg's newest high-profile attraction. Indigenous
youth helped in the garden's construction—from planting
trees to building the boardwalk—while the plant species
throughout the expansive grounds include local prairie
grasses and perennials.
Lower Fort Garry
National Historic Site
parkscanada.gc.ca/fortgarry
Learn the history of local Indigenous communities, touch
the leather goods and furs that would have been traded
at the Hudson's Bay Company post and stand on the land
where Treaty No. 1 was signed.
Manito Ahbee Festival
manitoahbee.com
"Ignite your Spirit" at one of the largest gatherings of
Indigenous People on Turtle Island. For 19 years, Manito
Ahbee has brought together Indigenous cultures to
celebrate heritage, unify, educate and inspire with
marquee events like a pow wow featuring more than 800
dancers and a huge marketplace offering artisanal works.
Niizhoziibean
theforks.com/attractions/niizhoziibean
This unique spot pays homage to our city's Indigenous
heritage, featuring The Wiigiwaam at The Gathering
Space, public art and natural pathways. Serving as both
a reflective retreat and a link to nearby neighbourhoods
via its Main Street entrance, Niizhoziibean hosts one of
Canada's most significant collections of Indigenous-led
public art at a historic site.
Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival
waff.ca
Settle in for feature-length films, collections of shorts and
thought-provoking documentaries by leading Indigenous
filmmakers at this three-day festival. It is the longest-
standing Indigenous film festival in Western Canada
(23 years and counting) and the third largest in North
America.
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tourismwinnipeg.com
INDIGENOUS
EXPERIENCES
