Marking a day of national mourning over the shameful legacy of Canada’s residential schools, on National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on 30SEP, Open Jaw looks at the many incredible indigenous tourism experiences across Canada.
Provided courtesy of Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), here are a few travel advisors should consider for their clients.
Liberty Wilderness Lodge B.C.
Welcoming guests in the summer of 2024, Liberty Wilderness Lodge invites guests to experience a rustic off-grid adventure set within a conservancy on Babine Lake in Northern BC. Accessible by boat or floatplane, this remote wilderness lodge offers an immersive nature experience where guests can partake in land or water-based activities including bird watching, swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, or kayaking. The Lodge, Trappers Cabin, and the Boathouse accommodate up to 12 guests, providing a unique, rustic, and remote wilderness experience, along with customized or team retreats.
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park , Alberta
South of Cluny on Siksika Nation, Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park introduces a new addition to its museum – an 11,000-year-old Bison Antiquus display. Previously housed at the Badlands Historical Museum, this historic specimen was welcomed to BCHP with a public ceremony on November 30, 2023. Discovered near Taber, Alberta, in 1957, this mature male skeleton tells a unique tale of early human integration with the extinct giant bison in North America. The addition of Bison Antiquus is a significant milestone for this National and International historical site where Treaty No.7 was signed.
Tin Wis Resort, B.C.
Tin Wis, an 85-room resort situated beachside on preserved First Nations land in Tofino, BC, offers individuals the opportunity to help correct a historic wrong. In an effort to embrace authenticity and preserve Indigenous language, Tin Wis Resort, along with Tlao-qui-aht Tribal Parks and ZenSeekers seek support for the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation's initiative to restore “tinwis" as the rightful name for Tofino's Mackenzie Beach. Guests can sign the petition urging the British Columbia Government to officially recognize the beach’s traditional name, a name that depicts a place of serene waters where “tin” signifies calm and “wis” translates to beach. More recently, the highly anticipated Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation's naaʔuu experience returns to Tin Wis Resort May 2024. Naaʔuu is a ticketed event named after a Nuuchah-nulth word meaning “come together” and “feast”. Join Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, Tin Wis Resort, Tourism Tofino, ZenSeekers, and Indigenous Tourism BC in promoting this extraordinary Tla-oqui-aht cultural experience.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatchewan
Wanuskewin Heritage Park secured its position as the top Indigenous Tourism Destination in Canada for the third time. The Tourism Industry Association of Canada recognized Wanuskewin based on criteria including Cultural Sustainability, Economic Impact, and Quality of Tourism Experiences. CEO Darlene Brander expressed deep gratitude, emphasizing the award as a victory for all. Wanuskewin, a National Heritage Site which invites people to share in the celebration of Northern Plains Indigenous cultures, had previously won the award in 2016, and in 2019. Wanuskewin Heritage Park has also joined forces with Co-op to introduce a new line of bison products in Co-op food stores across Western Canada. This partnership features Bison sourced in Alberta and includes burgers, jerky, meat sticks, and smokies produced in Saskatchewan. All packages display artwork by Ojibway-Dakota artist Linus Woods. A portion of the proceeds support Wanuskewin's cultural programming. The products hit store shelves in late October 2023, and provide an opportunity for individuals across Western Canada to engage in reconciliation through their everyday choices. Note from Open Jaw Senior Writer Jim Byers: This is a tremendous museum and cultural centre that's just a short drive from Saskatoon. Definitely worth a visit.
Tsawaak RV Resort. B.C.
Tsawaak RV Resort, Tofino's newest Indigenous-owned and operated RV Resort and Campground, invites collaboration with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Nuu-Chah-Nulth artists. The resort plans to feature and consign artwork within its Visitor Centre, creating a rotating exhibition showcasing diverse Indigenous creations throughout the year. Tsawaak offers a versatile camping setting with 13 cabins and 34 RV sites and is a twominute walk from Mackenzie Beach. The pet-friendly resort opened summer 2023 and features shower and laundry facilities, a surf shop, store, and gallery.
First Nations Storytellers, New Brunswick
First Nations Storytellers in Saint John, NB announce an exciting new experience set to launch in June 2024. In partnership with the City of Saint John, First Nations Storytellers will be sharing the history of the Saint John, Reversing Falls. This unique offering is the fourth storytelling experience presented by Storytellers and offers insight into local Wolastoqi and Mi’kmaq history from an Indigenous point of view. Set around a firepit built adjacent to the falls in Fallsview Park, the experience includes stories about the history of Saint John, the Reversing Falls, and the local indigenous people. The experience will also give guests the opportunity to roast bannock and sip locally harvested tea.
Tofino Wilderness Resort, B.C.
Tofino Wilderness Resort is located deep within the heart of the Ahousaht territory, situated in beautiful Quait Bay. This stunning 126 acre property includes a 16-room floating lodge, a world-class spa, trails, lakes, staff accommodation and a breathtaking longhouse. This luxury floating lodge was purchased back by the Ahousaht Nation and will be welcoming guests in 2024. The primary emphasis and focus of the experience will be firmly rooted in the cultural practices and traditional knowledge of the Ahousaht People. The lodge also offers an exclusive location for discovering the intimate wonders of the West Coast: old-growth forests, lakes, waterfalls, ocean life and sublime mountains. In addition to the economic benefits the lodge will bring to the community, the resort will also play a key role in the health and well-being of the Ahousaht Nation. During the offseason, the property will function as a wellness retreat to provide a space for healing with a focus on mental health.
Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours, B.C.
For the last two decades, Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours in British Columbia has guided groups through the Bute Inlet and along the Orford River. They offer wildlife experiences like bear-watching tours, whale watching, and cultural tours. More recently, Homalco has added new boats just in time for their new tour called “The People, Water and Land Cultural Tour (PWLT)”. This experience includes a more intimate immersion into the Xwémalhkwu way of life.
Mamattuk Restaurant, Newfoundland and Labrador
The Nunacor Development Corporation announced that it is set to open a new restaurant, named Mamattuk, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in January 2024. The restaurant will be dynamic in its offerings, serving guests as a restaurant, coffee bar and lounge throughout the day, celebrating Labrador with elevated comfort food featuring local ingredients. Mamattuk is the Inuttitut word for delicious. Mamattuk will seat 104 guests in the main restaurant space with additional capacity for over 50 guests on a seasonal outdoor patio. Nunacor is a diversified and growing Inuit operation in Labrador with four subsidiary companies and a group of Strategic Alliances in its portfolio. It is the business development arm of the NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC). NCC is the representative governing body for approximately 6,000 Inuit who reside primarily in south and central Labrador. NunatuKavut means “Our Ancient Land” in Inuttitut and is the traditional territory of the Inuit who belong to this territory.
Wikwemikong Tourism, Ontario
At Wikwemikong Tourism on Manitoulin Island you will enjoy a hands-on culinary experience led by Anishinaabe Cultural Guides See their newly constructed outdoor culinary space and kitchen at the Bebamikawe Memorial Trail where you can participate in preparing traditional foods made specifically with your taste buds in mind. Choose from three different authentic pre-colonial cooking experiences: • Stone Cooked Venison & Tea - Forage wild natural ingredients that you will use to create your venison dish cooked on flat rock over an open fire. Enjoy hot or cold herbal teas made from local plants. • Clay Baked Trout & Tea - Harvest your very own ingredients to prepare fresh caught Georgian Bay trout stuffed with sage, mint, sumac and honey. Wrap in plantain then bake in coals. • Cedar Plank Georgian Bay Trout & Tea - Use the natural plants you collect on a nearby hike to season fresh caught trout cooked over a cedar plank, drizzled with fresh locally-made maple syrup. Complete your dish with wild rice, and hot or cold teas. This experience is coupled with a guided hike of the forested Bebamikawe Memorial Trail with stunning views across Georgian Bay. As you hike together, your guide recounts Anishinaabek stories and history, as well as personal lived experiences. You will pick plants and natural ingredients and take them back to the outdoor kitchen where you prepare your meal.
Klahoose Wilderness Resort, B.C.
Owned by the Klahoose First Nation, Klahoose Wilderness Resort in British Columbia launched a new project in which water cascading from the mountain generates power for the lodge. Previously, they were using diesel generators making the lodge completely self-sufficient. Klahoose Wilderness Resort tours opened in 2021 and are primarily led by Klahoose guides who are trained to share legends, stories, language, and songs. More recently, Klahoose Wilderness Resort received an award from the World Travel Awards for the 2024 Caribbean & Americas, winning “Canada’s Leading Wilderness Resort”.
Salmon n’ Bannock at YVR
Salmon n'Bannock has opened a new location at Vancouver International Airport. Vancouver’s only Indigenous-owned and operated restaurant, Salmon n’ Bannock is known for using traditional ingredients that were used for generations to create delicious modern dishes. Now travellers flying in and out of Vancouver International Airport will get a chance to get a taste before their next flight. The restaurant opened its second location at YVR and will be the first Indigenous restaurant at the airport.
Borealis Beading, Manitoba
Métis artisan at Borealis Beading, Melanie Gamache, shares Métis culture and history through the art of beading. Prior to beading, Melanie’s other interests included dogsledding and kicksledding and even volunteered as a dog handler for a musher for several seasons and ran in several kicksledding races. Two years later, her friend introduced her to beading, which she used as meditative therapy. Recently, Melanie has expanded her experiences that now include how to bead all while storytelling in her own yurt.
Hôtel-Musée, Quebec
This summer book a getaway to Hotel-Musée Premières Nations in Quebec, a 4-star boutique with architecture inspired by longhouses surrounded by thematic gardens and hiking trails. Enjoy a spa day with treatments in the outdoor Nordic baths and end your day with an evening with traditional stories inside the longhouse. The Indigenous-inspired hotel has invested $10M into its expansion and renovations. This will include a lobby bar, 24 new rooms, remodelled restaurants with additional seating, and an Indigenous wine cellar. The hotel’s restaurant, La Traite, has already added a Michelin Star chef who has spent time travelling to all the different Nations in Quebec to incorporate their perspective into their culinary offering. Currently, renovations are in their final stages and the lobby bar is on its path to being complete.
Coastal Rainforest Safaris, B.C.
Visit Coastal Rainforest Safaris for some whale watching or spot grizzly bears all while learning more about the Indigenous culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw People. The new year will bring an expansion of new experiences like taking part in a salmon spawning program to reintroduce them to the water waves. Wildlife and Indigenous culture are some of the main driving forces for travellers when choosing to visit Canada. A stay on northern Vancouver Island allows visitors to experience a wide array of wildlife with Indigenous-owned companies and guides. Two Indigenous-owned tour companies, Coastal Rainforest Safaris and Sea Wolf Adventures have teamed up with Indigenous-owned Kwa'lils Hotel to offer a true northern Vancouver Island getaway experience. The Whales, Otters, and Grizzly Bears package combines a six hour Sea Otter Viewing and Whale Watching tour from Port Hardy with Coastal Rainforest Safaris, a day of grizzly bear viewing from Port McNeill with Sea Wolf Adventures, and two nights accommodation at the Kwa’lilas Hotel in Port Hardy.
Onhwa’ Lumina, Quebec
Five-minutes from the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake, meet the HuronWendat People through a new immersive multimedia experience, which opened in June 2022. Onhwa' Lumina is a 1.2-km immersive multimedia nature trail inspired by Wendat myths and cultural symbols. This experience will transport you to a magical world that reveals the rich history of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Through immersive installations including lighting design, video projection, scenography and an original soundtrack, visitors are led on a sensorial journey that connects the creation myth to a bright collective future. The experience was developed alongside artists, musicians, historians, writers and community members from the Nation in partnership with Moment Factory. It is grounded in the rich creative traditions of the Huron-Wendat culture and explores themes such as the cycle of life, the passing down of knowledge, and the shared relationship between all living things.
Nemiah Valley Lodge, B.C.
Disconnect to reconnect at Nemiah Valley Lodge, an Indigenous wilderness escape. The lodge sits in the heart of the traditional territory of the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation in the beautiful Nemiah Valley. It is Indigenous-owned and operated by the Xeni Gwet’in First Nation. Explore through immersive experiences like: learning how to drum, dance and sing Tsilhqot’in, a traditional cleansing ceremony, kayak on Chilko Lake, taking a hike to visit unique columnar basalt formations, or meet with a Xeni Gwet’in Knowledge Keeper who will share one of their traditional skills.
Ahous Adventures, B.C.
Ahous Adventures opened on May, 1 2023. Ahous Adventures is an eco and cultural adventure tour company owned and operated by the Ahousaht Nation that will offer an exciting variety of excursions within Ahousaht haḥuułii (territorial lands, waters and culture) including hot springs tours, whale watching, and bear watching. Dakota Dunes Stargazing In collaboration with Tourism Saskatchewan, Dakota Dunes has embarked on a celestial journey like no other. Guided by Dakota astronomer Jim rock, travellers can immerse themselves in a stargazing experience. As members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, they’re equipped with advanced telescopes and mastered the “Stellarium” software. Visitors are invited to a 45 to 60-minute presentation that brings together technology, culture and storytelling.
