Press Release
Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung is providing a winter outdoor experience at its site with the addition of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails for the public.
“We were hoping for snow and Mother Nature did not let us down,” said Nico Veldhuisen, who is in charge of operations and trail maintenance at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung.
Three trails are now ready, including a three-mile and 1.5-mile trail for cross-country skiing and a two-mile trail for snowshoeing.
Equipment rentals, including skis, boots, and poles and snowshoes, are available for $10 and $5, respectively.
Full-day ski package rentals are $15. If you have your own equipment, the only charge is the $8 trail permit.
Hours of operation are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. throughout the winter months, starting with a grand-opening “moonlight ski” this Saturday (Dec. 29) from 7-10 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
Although the restaurant will not be open for regular hours, soup and bannock will be available for those who would like a light lunch while there.
Group bookings for classroom outings and staff retreats are available, as well, with full catering packages available through a partnership with Naicatchewenin Development Corp. chef Ryan Parisien.
These will be accommodated throughout the week and on weekends.
Terrilynne Pickard, program administrator at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung, is excited about the potential of this new outdoor experience.
“We view it as a holistic experience–mind, body, and spirit,” she remarked.
“We will work with our guests to incorporate a cultural learning segment, physical recreation, good food, and a sacred place which provides each individual with their own spiritual experience.”
Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung is located off Highway 11. Turn south at Shaw Road in Stratton and follow the signs.
The trails take guests on a beautiful journey through this sacred land while preserving the sacred areas of the place known as Manitou Mounds.
Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung received a grant of $30,000 from the Rainy River First Nations Trust to develop the winter outdoor experience at the mounds.
Everyone is welcome to come out and enjoy the trails.
