Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)/Vancouver, B.C. – The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) introduces 12 new Indigenous tourism experiences, resorts and culinary offerings. These experiences present a coast to coast array of options for travellers looking to learn more about Indigenous culture.
Liberty Wilderness Lodge Opens Summer 2024
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 Introduces New 11,000-Year-Old Bison Antiquus Display
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.
Wanuskewin Heritage Park Introduce Bison Products to Co-op Food Stores in Western Canada
Wanuskewin Heritage Park has 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.
Tin Wis Resort Lobbies for Traditional Name
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. To embrace authenticity and preserve Indigenous language, Tin Wis Resort, along with Tla-o-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.
New Eco and Cultural Adventure Tour Company Kicked Off May 1, 2023
Ahous Adventures opened on May 1, 2023, inviting visitors to explore Ahousaht territories through the Indigenous lens that have lived on and stewarded the lands and waters for generations. Learn about Ahosaht’s Indigenous culture, language, history and storytelling through a variety of excursions within Ahousaht haḥuułii (territorial lands, waters and culture) including hot springs tours, whale watching and bear watching.
By sharing Ahousaht knowledge, both locals and visitors can forge a deep connection with the true spirits of this remarkable ecosystem. Ahous Adventures encourages guests to honour the sacredness of the territories and seek to experience a guest-host relationship grounded in traditional Ahousaht values of respect and reciprocity.
Tsawaak RV Resort Opened Summer 2023
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 two-minute 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 Set to Launch New Experience June 2024
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 First Nations 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 narratives 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.
Mamattuk Restaurant in Happy Valley-Goose Bay Opened in January 2024
The Nunacor Development Corporation opened a new restaurant, named Mamattuk, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay in January 2024. The restaurant is 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.
Borealis Beading Adds New Beading/Storytelling Experience
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 kick sledding. Melanie even volunteered as a dog handler for a musher for several seasons and ran in several kick sledding 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 Premières Nations Invests $10M into Expansion
This summer book a getaway to Hotel-Musée Premières Nations, a 4-star boutique hotel with architecture inspired by longhouses surrounded by thematic gardens and hiking trails.
The Indigenous-inspired hotel has invested $10M into its expansion and renovations. This includes a lobby bar, 24 new rooms, remodelled restaurants with additional seating, and an Indigenous wine cellar. The hotel’s restaurant, La Traite, has welcomed to its team a Michelin Star chef who extensively travelled across the different Nations in Quebec to incorporate their perspective into its culinary offering.
Coastal Rainforest Safaris Adds New Experiences
Embark on an unforgettable adventure with Coastal Rainforest Safaris to view an awe-inspiring spectacle of whales or thrilling grizzly bears spotting. Delve deeper into the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture as you learn from the Kwakwaka’wakw People.
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.
Dakota Dunes Stargazing Launched in June 2023
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.
Dakota Dunes is running a special offer for their adventures over Family Day weekend that includes unlimited access to Indigenous games, mini tipi set up, stargazing and bannock on the stick, kick sled or snowshoeing, along with a late check out of 2 pm.
Dates: February 17 & 18 only
Cost: $100 per night for up to 4 guests; 2 adults and 2 children. Additional adults $30 and additional children $20.
To learn more about Indigenous tourism experiences visit destinationindigenous.ca.