Self Guided First Nation Tours in British Columbia Canada

Insider's Guide to First Nations in BC

A self-drive guidebook to where First Nations People live and gather to celebrate and carry on their traditions.

This guide has a list of First National cultural events, sites, and ceremonies that take place in:

• Fraser Valley
• Vancouver-Whistler
• Vancouver Island
• Alert Bay
• Kootenays

Within British Columbia, there are 198 First Nations, more than in any other province or territory in Canada. Each has their own traditions, history, heritage, language and art. The following provides an overview of some of the First Nations communities in BC.

 'Insider's Guide to First Nations Sites' is a comprehensive collection of celebrations and activities of the Aboriginal people in British Columbia.  The first of its kind this guide introduces visitors to those special events, where the people gather to carry on their ancient traditions.

This unique Guide is designed to be a cultural 'self-guided tour' and will allow you to experience the closest possible encounters with the people and culture of the First Nations of British Columbia.  Sight-seeing bus tour companies are not yet set up to visit most of these communities so the 'Insiders Guide' and your own vehicle are your ticket to an experience of a lifetime.  You will visit communities that are rarely seen by tourists and where few facilities are available.

The "hidden gems", the carvers, the artists, the sacred sites and community celebrations that would be difficult for you to find are what this guide is all about.  The celebrations, ceremonies and gathering places that visitors are introduced to are genuine representations of the cultures they reflect. You will personally experience the First Nations people, their values and their traditions as governed by their age-old beliefs and practices. The many cultural experiences offered to 'Insiders' will reflect the ancient values of truth and service to the community and the importance of leaving no impact on the earth and its elements.

There are approximately one hundred Aboriginal Tour suppliers in B.C. and another one hundred that are currently starting up.  From these, we have compiled a carefully selected list of cultural tourism businesses, supply accommodations, and guided tours that are locally owned and operated by Aboriginal families.  These families are highly regarded in the community and usually a whole family will get involved; children, parents, grandparents all sharing their time honored traditions.  You will experience first hand the practice of environmental stewardship, cultural integrity, social sustainability and genuine creative communities.

We have also included some hand selected non-native eco-Tourism Businesses to increase the community's capacity to accommodate visitors while attending celebrations and visiting communities.

There are both driving directions and contact information for each of the regions’ celebrations and cultural activities.  It is always a good idea to confirm dates ahead of time.

Oukcha from the Sliammon First Nation generously shares his teachings to the people who will be visiting.

MEDICINE WHEEL OF LIFE

In the circle of life there is no beginning and there is no end.

THE TEACHINGS OF THE FOUR DIRECTIONS

EAST - In the East direction sits the Eagle; the color yellow;  the spirit and the Oriental people.  The element is air.  The Oriental people are the keepers of air.  For thousands of years they have been observed doing breathing exercises.

The Eagle is the totem that sits in the East direction.  He carries the prayers of the people to the Creator and gives you an overview of your life like a map of the world. 

The East direction is the first 25 years of your life and is called springtime.  It is of the newness of the world; the newness of life and in this direction you will find your strength.  The medicine of this direction is tobacco and is one of the first medicines to open the door to the Creator.

 SOUTH - In the South direction sits the Mouse; the color red; emotions, and Native People.  The element is land.  The Native People are the keepers of the land.  For thousands of years they have lived upon the land.

The Mouse is the totem that sits in the South direction.  He helps you to see the things upon your plate; helps to keep you focused.

In the South direction is 25 to 50 years of your life.  It is called the summer time; the time of youth.  In this direction you will find courage.  The medicine of the South direction is Sage.  It is to help cleanse you of your sorrow.

WEST- In the West direction is the Bear; the color black; physical abilities, and the Black people.  The Black people are the keepers of Water and have the most monsoons and the biggest rivers.

The Bear is the totem that sits in the West direction.  He helps you heal the things within.

In the West is 50 to 75 years of your life.  It is called the Fall time, the time of adults.  In this direction you will find wisdom.  The medicine of the West is Cedar.  It is to help protect you.

 NORTH - In the North direction is the buffalo; the color is white;  mental ability, and the White people. The element is fire.  The White people are the keepers of fire and have gone so far as the use of nuclear fission.

The Buffalo is the totem that sits in the North direction.  He helps you with mental abilities and your awareness of life.

In the North direction is 75 to 100 years of your life.  It is called the winter time, the time of the Elders.  The medicine of the North direction is sweetgrass.  Sweetgrass helps you think from the heart and not from the head.

In the CIRCLE OF LIFE, to the East you will find strength; to the South courage; to the West wisdom, and to the north you will find generosity.  In the four directions you find spirituality, emotional well being, physical well being, and mental well being.

You need to work on all directions to stay whole as a human being.  If one is out of balance, all is out of balance.

                       ALL MY RELATIONS----OUKCHA

About the Author

Born and raised near the large Sto:lo Nation population around Mission, British Columbia, author Audry Lochrie has an intimate knowledge of the Aboriginal culture.  "As far back as I can remember we were all just kids," Audry says.  When her native friends introduced her to their particular cultural traditions, Audry's interest and affection for this complex history grew.  This life long interest, some would call it an obsession, has resulted in this valuable roadmap of facts, figures and locations to allow fellow travelers easy access to sharing the fascinating traditions that Audry Lochrie found so long ago.

The author has spent her life in the tourism industry, operating her own restaurants, lodges and more recently has worked in community economic development initiatives of different endeavors throughout the province.  She knows whereof she speaks.

With the publication of this book, the heavy lifting has been done.  Find your interest and location, follow the carefully detailed plans which are included, and "head off" down your chosen trail.  This journey of discovery offers a sense of  appreciation, understanding and  inner content,  as  lasting rewards.  BILL C

Introduction

First Nations traditional territories cover just over 0.4 % of the British Columbia land base.  Of the nearly 600 First Nations communities throughout Canada, 197 are located in BC regions.

Under the present Indian Act, First Nations are wards of the federal government, living on reserve land to which they have no ownership. In some cases, reserve land is not even within a nation's traditional territory.

Before Canada was a country Britain recognized that Aboriginal people living here had title to land: the Royal Proclamation of 1763 declared that only the British Crown could acquire land from First Nations, and that was typically done through treaties. In most parts of Canada, the British Crown established treaties with First Nations before Confederation, but in British Columbia treaties are unfinished business.

Land has spiritual, economic and political significance for First Nations peoples. First Nations traditional territory (land occupied and used historically) is integral to their identity and survival as a distinct nation.

We are privileged to have this kind of access to their communities and have included cultural protocol to be sure visitors are very respectful of our hosts.  Although the details in this guide are correct at the time of printing it would be wise to contact and verify dates and times before your arrival.

The guide has a list of events that take place in each community at the beginning of each chapter. For some ceremonies there are often no fixed dates and if you are interested in attending a specific event it is always a good idea before planning your trip to call ahead.  The hosts invite visitors to join them in the festivals that honour their past, celebrate their present and look toward to their futures.

Audry Lochrie provides independent advice and does not accept advertising on her website, www.talkingtotemtours.com  or guidebook, www.aboriginaltoursbc.com

 nor does she accept payment in exchange for listing any place or business. 

Her tour operator business develops Aboriginal Tour Packages throughout British Columbia, Canada featuring; Cultural Tour Vacations and Itineraries for private journeys.  Packages covering: First Nation Festivals, guided boat, rail and bus tours to sacred sites, accommodations, eagle viewing, grizzly bear viewing, whale watching, fishing and traditional ceremonies.  

Audry would like to give a Special Thanks to all of her supportive family and friends, especially Sandra Mostrey, Paula Cranmer-Underhill and Bill and Ruth Cooper for all of their encouragement, research and editing services.

British Columbia

British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, is located on the Pacific coast, and has a land and freshwater area of 95 million hectares. It is Canada's third largest province and comprises 9.5 percent of the country's total land area. The province is nearly four times the size of Great Britain, 2.5 times larger than Japan, and larger than any American state except Alaska (BC is 1.35 times bigger than Texas!). There are only thirty nations in the world larger than British Columbia.

The province is bounded by the U.S. states of Washington, Idaho and Montana in the south, Alberta on the east, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon on the north and Alaska on the northwest. From south to north, B.C. stretches 1,200 kilometres, and from east to west, as much as 1,050 kilometres. Its deeply indented, island-dotted coastline extends 7,000 kilometres.

The abundance and variety of wildlife in British Columbia reflect the great diversity of the province's environment. There are more species in total and more unique species of birds and mammals than in any other Canadian province.

British Columbia is characterized by mountainous topography, but also has substantial areas of lowland and plateau country. The province has four basic regions: a northwesterly trending mountain system on the coast, a similar mountain system on the east, an extensive area of plateau and mountain country between the two, and a lowland segment of the continent's Great Plains in the northeastern part of the province.

The province is blessed with an abundance of waterways in the form of rivers, lakes, streams and swamps. Freshwater surfaces total 1.8 million hectares. Major river systems include the Fraser, Columbia, Skeena and Peace Rivers.

British Columbia's national, provincial, regional and local parks provide a spectrum of natural beauty, breathtaking scenery and opportunities for outdoor enjoyment and recreation.

The 807 protected areas (provincial parks, ecological reserves, recreation areas and other protected areas), covering 11.4 million hectares, are diverse in their features and facilities. There are 13,302 campsites, 487 day-use areas, 136 boat launch areas and 3,000 km of hiking trails within provincial parks, that serve approximately 24 million park visitors each year.

The cultural activities are located in First Nation communities and offer remoteness and raw beauty to places that have remained relatively untouched for thousands of years, except by the people who call these areas their home.

The activities combine world heritage destination sites and ancient native sites, in the territories of the Kwakwaka'wakw, Nisga'a, Gitksan, Haida and Coast Salish peoples.

Visitors can attend festivals and cultural tours where they are able to experience their closest encounters with First Nations people. 

Visitors can explore communities which rarely see a tourist at all, where tourism is harder to access and where community members attend traditional festivals and ceremonies that are open to the public.

Vancouver Coast & Mountains

This is the most populated region of the province, with stunning geography ranging from oceans to mountains, and includes temperate rainforests, alpine peaks, lakes, fjords and fertile valley delta lands. This region is home to Vancouver, British Columbia's largest city and Whistler, a world-renowned year-round resort. In 2010, both destinations will play hosts to the world during the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Coast Salish, one of the largest First Nations in the province, inhabits the entire region. The following are related groups within the Coast Salish family. 

• The Squamish Nation is comprised of Salish peoples who are descendants of the aboriginal peoples who lived in the present day greater Vancouver area, Gibson's landing and Squamish River watershed. Squamish means "Mother of Wind" or "Birthplace of the Winds" in the Coast Salish language.

• Sto:Lo means "People of the River." Their traditional territory includes the Fraser Valley, much of the Lower Mainland and the Harrison Lake watershed. As their name implies, it is a culture rich in fishing traditions. The Sto:Lo are still skilled fishers, and they still prepare the salmon in the ways of their forefathers, either wind drying, smoking, or salting. The rivers were rich in sturgeon and eulachon, and the surrounding lands were plentiful in larger game so, as with the coastal regions, basic essentials were easily attainable, leaving time to foster a culture rich in art and storytelling.

• The Tsleil-Waututh are Coast Salish people who speak the down-river dialect of the Halkomelem language. Today, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation members live in a community located on the north shore of Burrard Inlet, in North Vancouver.  Prior to contact with Europeans, oral history tells us the Tsleil-Waututh numbered over 10,000 people, in an area that reached from the Fraser River in the south to near Whistler in the north.  The heart of Tsleil-Waututh culture involved a complex cycle of food gathering, hunting, and spiritual and cultural activities.

 • The St'át'imc First Nations, which is composed of 11 different communities, has a traditional territorial range from from Port Douglas in the south to Pavilion in the north. They were traditionally hunter gatherers who followed the game they sought, living in pit houses in the winter and bark shingled lean-tos in the summer. Much of their travel was by canoe, and they built different styles for different conditions, one for traveling up river, another wider one for carrying game, and a third heavier one for the lakes. Clothing was made from animal skins for winter, and woven cedar for summer.

• The Lil'Wat are the largest of the St'át'imc First Nation communities, with a traditional territory situated between Squamish and Lillooet.  They were hunter gatherers who followed the game they sought, living in pit houses in the winter and bark shingled lean-tos in the summer. Much of their travel was by canoe, and they built different styles for different conditions, one for traveling up river, another wider one for carrying game, and a third heavier one for the lakes. Clothing was made from animal skins for winter, and woven cedar for summer.

The housing styles for First Nations communities in this region were varied, from longhouses (large square wooden structures, usually built along the ocean or river) to pit houses (housing built into the hillside) which could easily be hidden to protect from enemy tribes and was naturally insulated during extremely hot or cold weather. Temperatures were relatively mild, fish was plentiful, and there were many larger animals to hunt for meat. Travel and trade followed river routes. 

The Lil'wat have partnered with the Squamish to build a world-class Cultural Centre in the heart of Whistler, British Columbia's world-class resort, situated 2 hours north of Vancouver. Opened June 21st in 2008, the Centre celebrates the joint history of the Squamish and the Lil'wat Nations by showcasing their history, creative works, and cultures. It is a two-story complex that includes an interpretive centre, theatre, eco-walk, gift shop, arts and crafts, a high-end traditional foods restaurant and cafeteria. The Centre enables both nations to share their culture with the world and invite visitors to 2010 Olympics to enjoy First Nations hospitality.

British Columbia, the most western province in Canada, is a land bigger than many countries, a land rich in resources. From the ocean shores on the west coast, to the vast forests, abundant lakes and rivers, fertile valleys, rolling grasslands and majestic mountain ranges throughout, this land has given us all that we have needed from the time that we were breathed into being. Our ancestors have told us it will always be so if we treat it with respect.

The Aboriginal way of life has been shaped by the land, climate and creatures of our home territory. The lands, oceans, and rivers gave abundantly, feeding and clothing our people. We stepped lightly on the land and took only what was needed. Along the coast, cedar and salmon gave us canoes, homes, clothing and plentiful food. Further inland, we made our homes in the earth or from the skins of larger animals. We gathered herbs and vegetables from our land and hunted and fished to feed our families.

Today, we continue to share a common respect for the land and its creatures and we are teaching our children to be respectful of the earth and its inhabitants and to honour our First Nations traditions and culture.

Courtesy of Aboriginal Tourism of British Columbia,  www.aboriginalbc.com

British Columbia's First Nations by Region

We are privileged to have this kind of access to their communities and have included cultural protocol to be sure visitors are very respectful of our hosts.

Although the dates in this guide are correct at the time of printing it would be wise to contact and verify dates and times before your arrival.