Tipis line the grounds of the newly opened Tipi Village at Waters Edge Eco Lodge in Meadow Lake Provincial Park on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Developed by Waterhen Lake First Nation Development Corporation, the site features 10 electrically equipped tipis for cultural and eco-tourism experiences. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

By Kenneth Cheung

INDIGENOUS TOURISM

New tipi village in Meadow Lake Provincial Park offers glamping rooted in Indigenous tradition

Jun 27, 2025 | 9:56 AM

A new tipi village in Meadow Lake Provincial Park is aiming to draw tourists, create jobs and reconnect a community with its traditional territory.

Waterhen Lake First Nation officially opened the Tipi Village at Waters Edge Eco Lodge on Thursday, following years of planning, delays and determination.

“It does come full circle for us, because the land itself is a huge part of Waterhen’s history,” said Devon George, interim CEO of the Waterhen Lake First Nation Development Corporation.

The lodge sits on the shores of Greig Lake, where Waterhen families — particularly the Ernest and Morningchild families — once lived, hunted and trapped.

“Some of our elders are still alive today who have grown up in this area,” George said.

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The project has been in the works for several years and faced rising costs, red tape and staffing turnover. However, with support from Indigenous Services Canada, Tourism Saskatchewan, the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, and Waterhen itself, the Tipi Village was completed this spring.

“When we originally put the plan together and the proposal together, the cost was significantly lower,” George said. “Things happened, and we had to kind of build it slowly and take our time.”

The lodge opened in 2012 and was purchased by the Nation in 2022.

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

The Tipi Village features 10 large, electrically equipped tipis built on wooden platforms. Designed for comfort and cultural experience, the site offers what organizers call a “glamping” opportunity rooted in Indigenous identity.

“We really wanted our guests to feel welcomed and comfortable,” said Destiny Millar, the tourism manager who oversees Waters Edge Eco Lodge. “It’s more of a huge glamping opportunity for them.”

Millar joined the team just over a year ago and played a major role in finishing the build — which ended up taking far longer than expected.

“At first it was supposed to be a 10-day project that ended up taking us 40 days,” she said. “We had some 50 kilometre hour winds, and it ended up taking out six of our tipis… now that we’ve figured out the little tricks, we haven’t had any issues whatsoever.”

Inside the tipis. (Kenneth Cheung/ meadowlakeNOW)

Millar said the Tipi Village has already welcomed more than 50 guests, with another 100 booked through the fall.

“Last week, I actually had a call from someone from New Brunswick who saw our post being shared,” she said. “It’s such a great feeling to finally have them up… We feel very accomplished with this.”

To support future growth, the lodge is also planning to expand its water treatment system.

“Because it’s all based on water capacity as well, we can’t have too many people stay here at once,” George said. “Otherwise, the plumbing and water capacity issues will start to happen.”

The current capacity maxes out at around 150 guests across the tipis, lodge and cottages. But the new system will allow for more flexibility.

Beyond infrastructure, George said the long-term goal is to build an Indigenous-owned business that feeds opportunity back into the community.

“We want to get to a point where we’re putting profits or dividends back into the community,” he said. “We have the opportunity to be a starting point for many youth in the hospitality industry.”

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

Chief Blaine Fiddler of Waterhen Lake First Nation said the Tipi Village is both a tribute to the land’s past and an investment in its future.

“When we first purchased this lodge, we knew there was historic significance from the families that lived here before us,” Fiddler said. “We want to pay homage to them, protect the land and make sure that it’s protected for our future generations.”

He hopes the site becomes a source of pride and employment for local youth.

“It’s going to create more opportunities for young people, a place to come work in the summertime,” he said. “Coming from university, I know a lot of our students struggle to make ends meet.”

The Tipi Village can host up to 20 guests at a time. Waters Edge Eco Lodge — including its main building and cabins — is open year-round, while the tipi accommodations run seasonally from spring through fall.

“We invite you out here,” Fiddler added. “Come enjoy our culture. Come enjoy who we are as a people. Come learn from us, and we’ll do the same with you.”

To learn more or make a reservation, visit watersedgeecolodge.ca.

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com