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THROUGH INDIGENOUS
EYES
THROUGH INDIGENOUS
EYES
A journey of connection, culture,
and reconciliation in Canada.
A journey of connection, culture,
and reconciliation in Canada.
Canada, the second largest country in the world, is home to over 700 unique Indigenous communities. Establishing a connection with this land’s original stewards and their vibrant cultures is key to understanding its deep roots while looking to the future with an optimistic and bright view. Despite the nearly insurmountable odds brought on by decades of colonialism, The Indigenous Peoples of Canada have maintained and passed on their rich heritage, traditions, and knowledge through generations. These same traditions now serve as a bridge towards reconciliation—a movement to bring healing and hope. To truly honor the voices that have long shaped the beauty of Canada, you are invited to experience the land through Indigenous eyes.
The First Nations, Inuit, & Métis peoples
deeply enrich Canada’s cultural mosaic.
The First Nations, Inuit, & Métis peoples deeply enrich Canada’s cultural mosaic.
THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF CANADA
Canada’s cultural mosaic is deeply enriched by its three main Indigenous peoples: the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis, each with distinct identities, traditions, and histories. The First Nations encompass diverse tribes such as the Haida, Cree, and Anishinaabe and are known for their profound connection to the land, intricate artistry, and rich oral traditions that span coast to coast.
The Inuit, who call the Arctic regions home, are a people of remarkable adaptability, thriving amidst some of the harshest environments on Earth. Defined by an unwavering respect for nature’s rhythms, their heritage is keenly expressed in their skillful carvings, throat singing, and survival knowledge passed down through generations.
The Métis were born of the union between First Peoples and European settlers. Their vibrant identity is often celebrated through traditional dances like the Red River Jig, fiddle music, and their distinct language, Michif, a combination of Cree and Métis French (a variation on Canadian French).
Every story, every ritual, every tradition binds travelers closer to the richness of Indigenous wisdom and heritage.
BUILDING BRIDGES TOWARDS RECONCILIATION
Indigenous-led tourism provides an avenue for truth, healing, and education after the decades of deep suffering inflicted on Indigenous populations in Canada. By embracing these experiences, travelers engage with stories that honor resilience and strength, fostering an understanding that transcends surface-level encounters. Conscious travelers seeking genuine respect for and understanding of Indigenous cultures will appreciate hearing these stories that, though they are often harrowing and painful, also reveal the unyielding spirit of Indigenous communities.
- Listening and learning becomes the best way for travelers to honor the land’s true narratives and help build bridges of empathy.
- Reconciliation is best viewed as a process that begins with Indigenous-led tourism and listening to the voices that have been silenced for so long.
- Only then can a commitment to change and positive forward movement be established.
Empower communities and join hands to further the healing process.
Empower communities and join hands to further the healing process.
THE ORIGINAL ORIGINAL SERIES
Travelers seeking the best way to immerse themselves in Indigenous cultures and learn from their philosophies, ways of life, and paths towards healing can choose from a variety of authentic experiences when visiting Canada. The Original Original Series led by Angela Code of the Sayisi Dene First Nation is a project that follows Angela as she travels all over Canada, meeting with storytellers, artists, Elders, and business owners to hear their personal stories. This series plays a vital role in increasing travelers’ ability to fully understand and become involved in reconciliation while also developing a greater respect for Indigenous history.
AUTHENTIC, AFFIRMING EXPERIENCES
From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, visits to various Indigenous villages, national parks, and heritage parks led by cultural interpreters offer you access to the language, art, and stories of people from different Indigenous communities.
In British Columbia…
Embark on a private guided journey to the Haida Heritage Centre at Kay ‘Llnagaay, resting on the ancient grounds of Skidegate. Here, amid the whispers of cedar and sea, a meticulously recreated Haida village emerges, honoring the ancestral home that once graced these shores. Guided by a cultural interpreter, you will wander through traditional longhouses, each rich with echoes of Haida life. Through language, art, and story, the enduring spirit of the Haida people comes alive, celebrating a culture that pulses still, as vibrant as ever.
In the Yukon…
A land of storied landmarks, rich heritage, and breathtaking landscapes that stir the soul. This is where you can learn the land’s secrets alongside the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and gain insight into their past and future before ending the day with a soak in the mineral-rich waters of Eclipse Nordic Hot Springs. In Kluane National Park, meet with the past chief of the Champagne and Aishihik Nations to hear stories of his Nation’s history, culture, and ways of life.
In Saskatchewan…
Where your path first leads to Wanuskewin National Park in Saskatoon—a sacred gathering place for Northern Plains Indigenous peoples for millennia. Here, on land echoing with ancestral footsteps, you are welcomed with tea and a smudging ceremony, marking your arrival at this proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you watch the ceremonial raising of a tipi, glimpse the profound cultural significance woven into every ritual. Later, in the northern wilds of Saskatchewan, days unfold under the guidance of a Cree elder, whose knowledge of the land takes you to serene waters. There, you cast your line for some peaceful fishing, before ending your exploits with a belly-warming shore lunch.
In Nova Scotia…
A gentle drive unfolds toward Baddeck, homeland of the Eskasoni First Nation. Here, an immersive experience awaits—an artful weaving of Mi’kmaq and Gaelic cultures. Engage in soulful lessons on drumming, smudging, and tutorials on the ancient medicines crafted and cherished across countless generations. Further along your journey, Chéticamp beckons, a quaint fishing village rich in French Acadian heritage. Here, under the hands of a local artisan, the timeless craft of rug hooking springs to life, each loop and stitch an ode to tradition.
Reconciliation begins with a commitment to listen & learn.
Reconciliation begins with a commitment to listen & learn.
KEEP ROAMING
KEEP ROAMING
