BikeBeautifulBC.ca

    First Nations

    First Nations Camping (that link)

    Indiginous Tourism BC: https://www.indigenousbc.com/explore/map/

    Itineraries: https://www.indigenousbc.com/itineraries/

    Outdoor adventures: https://www.indigenousbc.com/experiences/outdoor-adventure/

    Accomodations: https://www.indigenousbc.com/experiences/accommodations/

    Food: https://www.indigenousbc.com/experiences/dine/

    Indigenous-owned experience providers: https://www.indigenousbc.com/indigenous-owned/

    Great Blue Heron Way

    Tours and Experiences

    • Talaysay Tours (Vancouver, Whistler, Sunshine Coast): Offers authentic land-based experiences, including “Talking Trees” nature walks, sharing First Nations history and ethnobotany.
    • Kwantlen First Nation Cultural Tours (Fort Langley): Guided walking tours providing insights into local history and place names.
    • Stó:lō Interpretive Centre and Tours (Chilliwack): Located in the Fraser Valley, offering cultural tours and an interpretive centre, near the Trans Canada Highway
    • Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours (Campbell River): Offers grizzly bear watching and whale watching tours led by Indigenous guides through Homalco territory.
    • Clayoquot Wild (Tofino): Indigenous-owned tour company offering whale watching and trips to sacred pools.
    • Xwísten Experience Tours (Lillooet): Guided tours of the traditional St’át’imc fishing grounds and archaeological sites, including salmon drying and BBQ feasts.
    • Historic Hat Creek (Cache Creek): A historic site on the Gold Rush Trail that offers insights into Nlaka’pamux and settler history, with traditional pit houses and cultural information. 

    British Columbia is rich with museums and cultural centers dedicated to the art, history, and living cultures of First Nations peoples. Many of these are below, so you can plan your tours to include them [list generated with the help of AI]:

    • Haida Heritage Centre at Ḵay Llnagaay (Haida Gwaii): An award-winning cultural center on an ancient village site that celebrates the living culture of the Haida people through art, history, monumental poles, and carving sheds.
    • Haida Gwaii Museum (Skidegate): Part of the Haida Heritage Centre, it focuses on Haida art, language revitalization, and the deep connection between the Haida people and their islands.
    • Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (Whistler): The first center in Canada jointly owned and operated by two distinct First Nations (the Squamish and Lil’wat), offering guided tours, traditional performances, and workshops on their shared territory.
    • Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC (Vancouver): Renowned globally for its extensive Northwest Coast First Nations art collection, including monumental carvings in the Great Hall and Bill Reid’s famous The Raven and the First Men sculpture.
    • Royal BC Museum (Victoria): The permanent “First Peoples Gallery” features a stunning Totem Hall with monumental carvings, a reconstructed Kwakwaka’wakw ceremonial house, and extensive exhibits on the history and continuing artistic traditions of BC’s First Nations.
    • Museum of Northern BC (Prince Rupert): Designed in the style of a Northwest Coast longhouse, this museum houses an extensive collection of Tsimshian, Haida, Nisga’a, and Gitxsan art and artifacts, exploring thousands of years of coastal history.
    • U’mista Cultural Centre (Alert Bay): Holds the historically significant “Potlatch Collection” of ceremonial masks and regalia that were repatriated after being confiscated by the Canadian government during the potlatch ban.
    • Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre (Osoyoos): Highlights the unique culture and history of the Osoyoos Indian Band and the Syilx people in the context of the sensitive desert ecosystem of the South Okanagan.
    • Nisga’a Museum / Hli Goothl Wilp Adokshl Nisga’a (New Aiyansh): A stunning museum in the Nass Valley housing repatriated ceremonial objects and multimedia displays on Nisga’a worldview and self-determination following the Nisga’a Treaty.
    • Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park (Kamloops): Located on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve, it features indoor exhibits and a 4-hectare heritage park with reconstructed traditional winter pit houses (kekulis) and ethnobotanical gardens.
    • ‘Ksan Historical Village and Museum (near New Hazelton): A replicated Gitxsan village near the Skeena River where visitors can see traditional longhouses, totem poles, and historic artifacts. It hosts cultural performances in the summer.
    • Sncewips Heritage Museum (West Kelowna): A protected place for the culture and heritage of the Syilx people of the Westbank First Nation, featuring collections and oral stories.
    • Xatśūll Heritage Village (near Quesnel): An authentic First Nations village experience offering cultural tours, overnight stays in traditional lodgings, and insight into the culture of the Xatśūll (Soda Creek Indian Band) First Nation.
    • Tuckkwiowhum Village (near Boston Bar): A non-profit organization offering cultural experiences and insight into the Nlaka’pamux First Nation culture in a historical village setting.
    • Tla’amin Nation’s Salish Centre (Powell River): Highlights the history, artwork, and traditional practices of the Tla’amin Nation on the Sunshine Coast.
    • Museum at Campbell River (Campbell River): Features significant exhibits on the history and culture of the Kwakwaka’wakw people and the impact of the fishing industry on local Indigenous communities.
    • Fort Langley National Historic Site (Langley): The site includes exhibits that explore the historical relationship between the Hudson’s Bay Company and Indigenous peoples, including the significant role of trade (furs, salmon, and cranberries) and inter-cultural marriages.
    • tó:lō Interpretive Centre (Chilliwack): Located in the heart of Stó:lō territory, the newly renovated centre offers immersive exhibits on Stó:lō history, culture, traditions, and language, with various guided tours available.
    • Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre at St. Eugene Golf Resort (Cranbrook): Located in Ktunaxa territory, the centre features exhibits on Ktunaxa culture, history, and the journey of reconciliation associated with the former residential school building it occupies.
    • City of Totems (Duncan): A short distance from the Cowichan Valley Trail section, the city features over 40 totem poles with free tours available that share insights into local Aboriginal life.
    • Audain Art Museum (Whistler): While a broader BC art museum, its permanent collection includes one of the world’s finest collections of historic Northwest Coast First Nations masks.
    • Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art (Vancouver): The only public gallery in Canada dedicated to the works of Bill Reid and other contemporary Indigenous artists of the Northwest Coast.
    • Spirit Gallery (West Vancouver): An Indigenous-owned art gallery located in Horseshoe Bay, right near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and the start of the Sea-to-Sky Highway.

    Restaurants & Cafes

    • Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro (Vancouver): Vancouver’s only First Nations restaurant, specializing in wild fish, game meat, and bannock, easily accessible from city roads.
    • Tradish’s The Ancestor Cafe (Fort Langley): Located inside the Fort Langley National Historic Site, offering Indigenous cuisine like bison bannock tacos, near the Trans Canada Trail.
    • lelem’ Arts and Cultural Café (Fort Langley): A popular stop near the waterfront and local trails in Fort Langley.
    • Thunderbird Café (Whistler): An Indigenous-inspired cafe located within the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, serving items like venison chili and salmon chowder.
    • Sweetgrass Restaurant at Nk’Mip Cellars (Osoyoos): Located at North America’s first Indigenous-owned and operated winery, offering a fusion of Indigenous and contemporary cuisine.
    • Kekuli Cafe (West Kelowna/Merritt/Kamloops): A popular Indigenous-owned cafe known for its bannock, bannock tacos, and bison burgers, with locations close to major highways and the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.
    • Jack Sam’s Restaurant & Lounge (Shuswap): Located at the Quaaout Lodge on the territory of the Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw, the menu is designed to honour regional Indigenous traditions, often featuring a “100 Mile Menu” focused on local ingredients foraged or caught within the area.
    • Bob’s on the Rocks (Prince Rupert): An iconic eatery supporting cultural revitalization through profits, part of the Gitmaxmak’ay Group of Companies.
    • Ha’me’ Restaurant (Port Hardy): Located in the Kwa’lilas Hotel and owned by the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw First Nations, blending fine dining with Indigenous flavours.