History can provide us with wonderful opportunities to consider alternate perspectives on events, different viewpoints on subjects and opportunities for new analysis. People and historic events are not frozen in time; they can be researched and explored through new ways of thinking—Fort Whoop-Up and its legacy are no exception.

Fort Hamilton, successively called Fort Whoop-Up, was one of the most lucrative whisky and fur trading posts north of the 49th parallel during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Its success represented the end of an era for Indigenous Peoples of this land—the Niitsitapi (the Real People). It signified colonial expansion and resource exploitation in Kítao’ahsinnooni (Blackfoot Territory). The original fort has been lost to the annals of time and nature, but this icon of history was recreated in the Lethbridge river valley as a centennial project in 1967.

The re-creation of the fort provided citizens and visitors with an opportunity to step back in time and experience the whisky trade from the perspective of the colonial entrepreneur/settler. It provided entertainment and learning opportunities for young and old alike to reflect on impacts the fort had on the social, political and cultural landscape of southwestern Alberta. However, the stories of Fort Whoop-Up have traditionally been told through the lens of traders, those who dominated the narrative at the time, and those who recorded their experiences.

Today, as the steward of the fort, the Galt Museum acknowledges that there are stories that have always existed in conjunction with the stories that we know; that some histories were never shared, sometimes ignored, or were erased entirely from the record. We have been challenged to explore new ways in which to share these stories.

In striving to decolonize the site and begin the overdue process of sharing Indigenous perspectives, it is important to recognize that at its core, Fort Whoop-Up remains a marker of the lasting impacts of settler colonialism on this land. In the pursuit of truth and reconciliation, we are working to fragment these exclusionary narratives of history.

The 2022 team at the fort developed five lenses to view the people, life and times at the site: through settlers/traders, the Blackfoot people, relationships, commerce, and transportation. Each perspective was unique, yet interrelated and offered a fresh look on the evolving story of Fort Whoop-Up. Each tour of the facility was tailored to the individuals visiting, allowing for multiple ways to learn and think about the fort and its historical legacy as the trading post.

This new approach led to deeper engagement with visitors, creating a fun and educational experience that fostered cross-cultural connection. As interpreters shared stories of Fort Whoop-Up from a place of decolonization, it opened the door for visitors to offer and examine their own histories and experiences.

Interpretation, like history, never stands still—it evolves over time with those intimately participating in it. The fort has been a powerful opportunity for reflection on how we understand Canadian heritage today and the various peoples who live together on this land. We have embraced the opportunity that is before us and are excited to welcome a new era of interpretation at Fort Whoop-Up. Reconciliation may not be easy, but the difficulty should not stop us from trying.