Long before European fur traders arrived in the 18th century, indigenous people populated the area known as British Columbia, Canada for tens of thousands of years.
Today, the richness of the First Nations culture lives on. There are 198 distinct First Nations in British Columbia alone, each with their own traditions and history. Visitors can experience this living history through cultural adventures.
Editor’s note: please check the latest local travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.
A Wildlife Adventure
The sprawling spans 6.4 million hectares in northern British Columbia, from the mainland into an archipelago of islands that dot the Queen Charlotte and Johnstone Straits. This tangle of inlets and isles is also part of the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations.
Here, hereditary chief and Port McNeill local Mike Willie runs his wildlife viewing and cultural tourism business, Sea Wolf Adventures. Whether you choose a full-day grizzly bear watching tour or a half-day cultural expedition, you’ll gain insights into the First Nations’ spiritual connection with these waterways. The dramatic scenery features rolling mist, evergreen mountains, and hidden waterfalls adorning the blue-green water of quiet fjords. Sightings of humpback whales, orcas, dolphins, and grizzly bears are not just possible; they’re likely.
A tell-tale waterspout gives the first clue. Soon, it’s hard to know where to look as a humpback whale breaches in the distance, while another pops up closer to the boat. Ahead, a colony of sea lions barks loudly as they bask together on a rock. This encounter precedes the appearance of a mother grizzly and her two fuzzy cubs quietly feasting on mussels along the rocky shores at low tide.
Amid these sights and sounds, Mike highlights various cultural points of interest. He shares rock paintings dating back hundreds of years, illustrating the deep-rooted Indigenous history. The traditional longhouse serves as a context for understanding potlatches, ceremonial feasts that united tribes despite governmental bans until 1951.
Policies aimed at assimilation made it challenging to maintain traditions, with families often losing their language and cultural narratives. Consequently, this burgeoning tourism sector is essential for reconnecting locals to their heritage and sustaining oral traditions for future generations.
Explore Nature: Sea Wolf Adventures operates June through mid-October from Alder Bay and Port McNeill. Visit their website for more information.
Walking Through History
The petroglyphs hidden in the enchanted forests of Bella Coola, in northern British Columbia, have sparked numerous theories. These ancient rock carvings, sacred to the local Nuxalk nation, are situated in the region and are believed to be over 5000 years old. Copper Sun Journeys provides visitors with a profound understanding of this remarkable site through low-impact walking tours.
Founded in 2015 to mitigate damage from tourist foot traffic, Copper Sun Journeys offers guided tours led by Nuxalk guides, ensuring an authentic experience while safeguarding this sacred location. Over a two-hour interpretive walk, guides Chris Nelson and Clyde Young discuss culture, legends, and folk songs connected to the petroglyphs.
Their welcome song echoes through the forest, creating a spiritually resonating experience. Nelson and Young weave Nuxalk stories alongside those from other Indigenous cultures, highlighting the shared essence of humanity.
Hear the Stories: Copper Sun Journeys walking tours operate in Bella Coola, resuming in 2021. Check their website for further information.
A Cultural Immersion
Further north, the remote islands of offer visitors a profound immersion in authentic wilderness experiences. Owned by the Haida nation, Haida House at Tllaal is a 50-acre property providing comprehensive cultural adventures. Due to limited accommodations and dining options in the small township, this all-inclusive format is essential. Please note, it is currently closed due to COVID-19 but is accepting future inquiries.
Haida House features guided hikes, kayaking trips, culinary and cultural experiences, along with heli-sightseeing and marine excursions to ancient sites. Packages can be tailored to diverse travel preferences, including community visits to over 50 different artisans and excursion partners. Furthermore, longer stays allow for day trips to , a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The business passionately upholds a ‘leave no footprint’ ethos, being fully owned by the Haida nation’s economic development organization, HaiCo. Formerly a trophy bear-hunting lodge, HaiCo acquired the last remaining bear-hunting licenses in 1995 and reclaimed guardianship of the land, with the lodge opening in 2012. Their mission is to share Haida culture globally, emphasizing, “We don’t want tourists; we want visitors and ambassadors,” as stated by general manager Joelle Rabu.
Additionally, Haida House has introduced a sister property, Ocean House, (reopening May 1, 2021) located on a floating lodge in a remote inlet accessible only by air. Joelle describes it as ‘luxury meets wilderness’, while both properties reflect the eco-mandate rooted in Haida culture. As Joelle expresses, “The Haida consider wealth as not what one owns, but what one contributes to the community.”
Go North: Haida House and Ocean House operate May to September, reopening in 2021. Visit Haida House or Ocean House.
Seafaring with Ancient Stories
Just thirty minutes from the vibrant downtown lies Cates Park, an ocean-side park in the serene village of Deep Cove. This tranquil setting, known as Whey-ah-Wichen (Faces the Wind park), is home to Takaya Tours, a venture owned and operated by the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. Although tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19, kayak rentals are available for independent exploration.
Under normal circumstances, guide and business development manager Dennis Thomas begins each tour with a traditional greeting, sharing his ancestral name, Whonoak, which translates to ‘caretaker of the river’. Following this, participants board the company’s 25-foot replica ocean-going canoe for a two-hour exploration of the protected waters of Burrard Inlet.
Thomas articulately parallels the outing with traditional voyages undertaken by family groups on these ‘ancestral highways’ in times past. While today’s fiberglass replica canoes are lighter than traditional cedar dugouts, participants must still collaborate, paddling in rhythmic harmony with their guide.
‘Every participant, from the youngest child to the oldest elder, needs to work collectively for progress,’ asserts Thomas.
This gentle three-mile voyage immerses adventurers in the traditional waterways of the Tsleil-Waututh. Cultural guides serenade, recount legends, and reveal ancient villages amidst modern waterfront developments. At one stop, Thomas illustrates the significance of shell middens that trace back 3500 years. Gliding past a small isle, he details its history as a burial site for notable elders.
‘When Europeans arrived, they didn’t understand our burial customs,’ he points out.
As the tour returns to the dock, participants gain a refreshed perspective on , offering insight into the integration of an ancient culture within a contemporary context.
Set Sail: Keep an eye on their website for updates on group canoe tours.
This article was first published Dec 4, 2018 and updated Sep 8, 2020.
