Want to go to North America to learn about Native Americans, any tips?

[bintofbohemia]

Have recently got really interested in Native American history and culture and would love to go and learn more over there. Basically it's a big day dream - will have to save up for a long time to afford to take us over there but researching it gives me something to look forward to...I've found a few companies that do Native American tours but they look a bit contrived and cheesey which is not really what I'm after. Can anyone give me any reccommendatios please?

I have visited Wanuskewin Heritage Park and it was very informative.

Thank you! I'm an archaeologist and am really interested in visiting sites (so that should narrow my choices further!) and due to money and time restraints (I doubt we'd get more than 3 weeks over there) it's going to be a bit of a Native American Lite tour anyway, but more reason to choose an area carefully... I also want to avoid the "gawking at the natives" kind of thing, I think I have some sort of idealistic notion of befriending someone like Bear Heart and being taken in, but I'm well aware that I'm totally deluding myself! I'd just like to strike a balance between an informative trip away and a tacky patronising trip - there must be some middle ground?

Clayhead, thanks for that link, that place looks awesome (love the fact you can stay in the tipis!) and there's a few places in Canada I'd like to see as well, so maybe we're looking at two trips, one Canadian and one more Arizona way...Sigh. So much to do, so little time. And money.

Clayoquot Sound is beautiful and first nations there are part of the northwest coast native bands famous for their amazing art

Thank you! Food for thought...