Our Story

We invite you to the foothills of the beautiful Rocky Mountains to reconnect with the outdoors in a new way — one that is rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, learning, and experiencing the wilderness.

At Painted Warriors, our Ojibway, Cree, and Mohawk heritage is woven into everything we do and shapes the authentic outdoor experiences we create for our guests. Since 2012, we have been reconnecting our customers to the land through wilderness education, hands-on training, Indigenous traditions, and stories.

As highly-qualified instructors, we bring decades of expertise to making your time with us exceptional. Whether it’s a day spent wildlife viewing, teaching Indigenous hunting traditions or picking up a bow for the first time, our guests receive patient hands-on instruction and expert guidance every step of the way.

Our passion at Painted Warriors is building bridges between cultures and helping you connect to the land so you can gain a new way of seeing—the outdoors, our culture, and yourself. This is the gift we promise you when you spend time with Painted Warriors.

Tracey Klettl

Owner/ Operator of Painted Warriors

Tracey is a descendant of the Cree and Mohawk people from the area which is now Jasper National Park. She is an english riding Instructor, level one guide/instructor/evaluator for the new Equine Canada Trail Riding program and an Archery Coach.

She is certified in Wilderness First Aid, Outdoor Council of Canada and is a member of Team Canada for Archery and has won many national Championships.

Tracey is also a certified instructor for the Hunter Education program, instructor for Outdoor Council of Canada Equine Field Leader, Hiking and Winter level 1, and Equi Health Equine First Aid instructor for Standard and Advanced Equine First Aid.

Tim Mearns

Owner/ Operator of Painted Warriors

Tim is Saulteaux and a member of the Cote First Nations band. He is a certified archery coach, Outdoor Council of Canada, and a level one Guide/Instructor/Evaluator for the new equine Canada Trail Riding program. He is also a member of Team Canada for Archery and has won many national championships. Tim is an avid hunter and instructs our Hunting programs as well as the Archery and Horsemanship programs. He is a certified instructor with AHEIA for the Hunter Education program and has his English rider level 6.

A Bridge Between Cultures

Before Tracey Klettl and Tim Mearn started Painted Warriors in 2010, they had both been helping Tracey’s sister Brenda with culture camps at Mahican Trails and putting their advanced skills in archery and equine training along with their Indigenous knowledge to good use in a variety of programs. But one day, they realized they could combine their skills in archery, equine instruction, and years of leading programs and doing kids camps into something truly unique to them.

Read The Full Story

Elder Shirley

Learn about Elder Shirley's impactful and inspiring story. Shirley is a residential school survivor who has over come great trauma and helped others to heal. We are blessed to have Elder Shirley share her story and knowledge with us. Speaking our truth can be very healing, Shirley would like to share hers in hopes to inspire and pave a brighter future.

Elder Shirley's Story

Since 2012, we have been reconnecting our customers to the land through wilderness education, hands-on training, Indigenous traditions, and stories.

Our Partner companies

The combination of Painted Warriors and Mahikan trails provides a wide variety of traditional and outdoor programs. We work together to promote Indigenous tourism and to train students to become top-notch guides.

Brenda Holder
Owner/ Operator of Mahikan Trails

Get to know Brenda

Brenda Holder is of Cree/Mowhawk and Irish decent. She holds the following outdoor pursuit qualifications/skills:

Nordic Ski instructor with the Canadian association of Nordic Ski Instructors
Level one Coach NCCP (National Canadian Coaching program)
Professional interpreter with Interpretive Guides Association (IGA)
Instructor with the IGA
Instructor for the Outdoor Council of Canada (OCC)
Wilderness and Standard First Aid instructor Red Cross
Qualified Hunter with Alberta Hunting Education Association
Qualified Instructor with Alberta Hunting Education Association
Qualified Trapper with Alberta Trapper Association
Standard Recreational
Avalanche Awareness level one

Dave Holder
Owner/ Operator of Mahikan Trails

Get to know Dave

Dave's background is varied with 21 years in the British Military, 8 years teaching Adventurous Training to the British and Canadian Army in the Canadian Rockies. For the last 15 years here in the Canadian Rockies, Dave has been working within the outdoor world.

Nordic Ski Instructor (CANSI)
Nordic Ski Coach (NCCP)
Instructor Canadian Red Cross teaching Wilderness and Standard First Aid courses
Outdoor Council of Canada
- Instructor for Field Leader Hiking and Paddling courses
Boreal Forest Level 3 Guide
- Wilderness Guide Association (WGA)
Wilderness Living skills instructor
Survival/Bushcraft (certificate from Mors Kochanski)
Professional Interpretive Guide / Instructor
- Interpretive Guides Association (IGA)
Level 2 certificate
- Interpretation Canada
Hiking and Snowshoe Guide
Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG)
Instructor for AHEIA

Our Staff

The combination of Painted Warriors and Mahikan trails provides a wide variety of traditional and outdoor programs. We work together to promote aboriginal tourism and to train students to become top notch guides.

Rylie is always up first thing in the morning helping to get the horses ready and helping throughout the day with her faithful horse foxy sox!

Whether its taking down or setting up the camps or helping out the younger campers with activities, Cheyenne is always there to help especially if it involves using the quad!

George is the master of fun activities!!