Fort Whoop-Up Summer 2025 Season Draws to a Close
Martin Roundstone talks about why keeping up with traditional ways of life is important to him.
Fort Whoop-Up had an absolutely amazing summer. Our staff worked hard again to bring amazing daily experiences and activities to visitors. This year, our staff also managed to keep up with a few interesting passion-projects rooted in cultural preservation and reconciliation at the Fort.
In May 2025, Fort Whoop-Up unveiled a mural by Sikapinakii Low Horn, commemorating the Galt Museum’s 2024 signing of the Buffalo Treaty. The artwork symbolizes renewal and reconnection with the buffalo. “The energy and power we receive from the buffalo is depicted through the mother buffalo stepping on a puffball mushroom… showing growth and our continual journey with bringing buffalo back to the plains.” —Sikapinakii Low Horn
Once again, the wagon rides were a huge hit for the Fort. The Fort’s “Teamsters“, Larry and Katherine Canfield of Once Upon a Time Rides tell stories of the origins of Lethbridge, and interesting anecdotes about the river bottom’s dramatic history.
While some members of Fort Staff dedicated their time to exploring traditional skills such as hide scraping, tanning, and preparing materials for crafting, visitors to The Fort were invited to engage with these practices through live demonstrations. This hands-on approach not only showcased Indigenous knowledge but also created meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange and learning.
Martin Roundstone, Fort summer staff, demonstrated the process of preparing deer hide for stretching and skinning. This particular hide was used to create an arrow quiver.
Preparing the soak material: buffalo tallow, and brain matter boils over low heat until it mixes thoroughly.
More water is added to the mixture.
The hide is then plunged into the mixture and physically worked until it’s soaked through and can stay under the surface, where it remains for about a day.