Every culture has a tradition of hospitality – sharing food and shelter. The ancient Chinook called it “muk-a-muk”: feasting, trading and socializing.
Since the Juniper site was a traditional camping spot for the Chinook, as well as Shuswap, Stoney, Blackfoot and Kutenai, muk-a-muk was a common summer pursuit.
While the topics differ, the conversations were probably not much different than what we might overhear at a party today.
“I’ll trade you that fresh fish for this melt-in-your-mouth piece of smoked meat.”
“See this nicely tanned hide? I spent hours getting it so soft and smooth. It will make beautiful dress, together with these porcupine quills.”
“There he was, alone at the bottom of the cliff, the hungry wolverine coming towards at top speed…I’ve never seen anyone learn to climb so fast.”
“Here, try this sugar from the fir trees. It is so good.”
Clearly, extraordinary hospitality has always had a place here.
In the 1950s
Hospitality has two meanings: welcoming guests, and the business of welcoming guests.
The Hotel opened with a manager adapt at both. K. J. Roozen oversaw Holland’s Amsterdam Hotel before moving to Calgary to run the Petroleum Club. Knowing the importance of good food, he brought with him to Banff the Club’s “justly famous” executive chef.
Mr. Roozen managed the Hotel at a time of real change in the industry. Travellers were treated to exciting new amenities like ensuite bathrooms (soap provided!) and telephones.
The chocolate on the pillow was a 1950s innovation, apparently inspired by the actor Cary Grant. One amorous evening, he asked the concierge for this service. Hotel staff liked the idea so much they adopted it for their guests.
Kemmons Wilson, the 1950s founder of the Holiday Inn chain, had a more prosaic view of hospitality. He required a Bible, a fly swatter and a flashlight as standard items in every room.
Now
“Back Then” and “Now” came together in a remarkable way when the Juniper’s developer, Arctos & Bird, invited thirteen First Nation elders to a Campfire Gathering.
Stoney, Shuswap, Sikisaka, Ktanaxa and Peigan elders, whose ancestors once camped on the Hotel site, gathered to enjoy The Juniper’s hospitality. The day started on the outdoor dining patio with a sunrise blessing. Next was a trip to the Buffalo Nations Luxton Society Museum . Following that, the group gathered back at the Hotel to watch a silent black-and-white film about the 1916 Banff Indian Days.
The rest of the day was devoted to free-flowing discussions, feasting and story circles. One elder summed up the event as the remarkable bringing together of “a thousand years of combined experience