Vancouver - Whistler

Vancouver - Whistler » The Sites & Cultural Tours

UBC Museum of Anthropology
Admission: $6
tel: 604.822.5087 604.822-3825
Address: 6393 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver

The Museum of Anthropology has one of the world's finest collections of North West Coast Totem Poles and Aboriginal artifacts. The museum has extensive collections including totem poles, feast dishes, canoes, masks, and jewelry in the Great Hall. Visitors can stroll through the grounds of the

The University of British Columbia is located in Point Grey, on a finger of land that juts out into the Straits of Georgia, twenty minutes from downtown Vancouver. As well as being home to the Museum of Anthropology it is famous for its Botanical Gardens and the Nitobe Memorial Gardens. Over 34,000 students attend classes here every year. The Anthropology Gift Shop features books, Northwest Pacific Coast artist-designed silver jewelry, masks, baskets and carvings.

Museum hours are 11:00 a.m.--9:00 p.m. Tuesday, 11:00 a.m.--5:00 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday.

Vancouver Art Gallery
Admission $15
Telephone: 604.662.4700
www.vanartgallery.bc.ca
Address: 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver

Emily Carr's bold bold-stroked paintings of First Nations scenes are the main attraction of Vancouver Art Gallery and her work takes up the entire 4th floor. Carr is B.C.'s best known artist and the museum owns the largest collection of her work in the world. The handsome late 19th century building used to be the Vancouver Court House. The National Aboriginal Days are held in the court yard every June 21.

Stanley Park
Admission: $ wide variety of activities available in Stanley Park at different times throughout the year
tel: 604.257.8400
www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/parks/parks/stanley
Address: 2000 W Georgia Street (@ Chilco Street) Westend Vancouver

Stanley Park is Vancouver's prized green space with a 1,000 acre evergreen forest northwest of downtown. This is one of the continent's largest and most scenic parks. The park remains today, as it did 100 years ago, boasting sandy beaches, a 5 ½ mile sea wall, giant fir and cedar trees and stunning vistas from every side. The natural beauty of the area has been preserved and the Park remains as the single biggest draw for visitors and locals alike.

In the heart of the park on a grassy knoll between Coal Harbour and Brocton Point, sit the famous Stanley Park Totems. The collection of Kwakiutl and Haida totem poles represents styles from a few of the Northwest Pacific Coast native traditions.

At Prospect Point, the viewpoint at English Bay, is the location of a sacred transformer site know as the Siwish Rock. The Coast Salish people knew his rock as Slahkayulsh, or "He who is standing up" The name refers to a man famed both as a warrior and as a father. According to legend, the man was swimming in the narrows while his wife gave birth to their child in the forests of Prospect Point. It was the law that he must be spotlessly clean, so that when his child looked out upon the world it would have a chance to live it's own life clean.

While he swam, a canoe pulled up, bearing four giant men who were the agents of the Creator. They told him to move out of their way, but the father said he was unable to stop swimming or go ashore or do anything that would interfere with the purity of his coming child's life. No man had ever defied them before and as they were discussing what to do, the faint cry of a child came from the forest. The swimmer ceased his stroke and the tallest of the three men said "because you have placed the child's future above all things, you shall never die, but shall stand through all the thousands of years to come where all eyes can see you as an indestructible monument to Clean Fatherhood." As the feet of the young chief touched the shore, he was transformed into stone. That is the story of how Siwish Rock came to be.

The National Geographic Tree is worth a short hike in the park. Believed to be the largest red cedar tree in the world at almost 30 meters around, this tree was featured in The National Geographic magazine and thus became known as the "National Geographic Tree It can be located just off the main park drive, just past the Hollow Tree and down a trail towards the water (about 100 yards).

For many years, Lost lagoon was simply a shallow outlet from the ocean and the water would disappear at low tide. Later, a man-made blockage was created and it now is a tranquil habitat for many animals and birds.

Visitors can take in the Aquarium, view the abundant birdlife here or stroll along one of the many paths which meander through this beautiful park.

The park is located at the foot of West Georgia Street between English Bay and Burrard Inlet, the park is less than 5 minutes drive from downtown. Georgia Street (west) will take you directly into the park. Stay in the right hand lane (the left lanes take you to the Lions Gate Bridge and West Vancouver). If you prefer to walk to the park, it is approximately 1.5 km/1 mile from downtown.

Pay-parking is in effect in the park during the day. During the summer, the Parks Board provides a free shuttle service for visitors. Look for the brightly-painted Stanley Park trolley as it makes its circle tour along the sea wall. You can board the trolley at any number of stops throughout the park.

There is a free Stanley Park Shuttle that operates mid-June to mid-September, providing frequent (15-minute intervals) transportation between 14 major park sights. Pick it up on Pipeline Road, near the Georgia Street park entrance, or at any of the stops in the park.

The Poles of Stanley Park

The Stanley Park collection of Kwakiutl and Haida totem poles are mostly duplicate replicas from the Kwakwaka’wakw’ tradition.  The distinct unpainted pole is a Nisga’a original. 

The poles are:

1.  The Oscar Maltipi Pole, carved by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Oscar Maltipi in 1968

2.  The Beaver Crest Pole, carved by Nisga’a artist Norman Tait, his son Isaac, his brother        Robert and his nephew Ron in 1987

3.  The Chief Wakas Pole, carved by artist Doug Cranmer in 1987, who inherited the Wakas family crests

4.  The Sky Chief Pole was carved by Hesqua’at artist Tim Paul and Ditidaht artist Art Thompson in 1988

5.  The Kaka'solas Pole, carved by Kwakwaka’wakw’ Ellen Reed and her Uncle Mungo Martin in 1955 for Woodwards department store & was loaned to Stanley Park from the Museum of Anthropology

6.  The Thunderbird House Post, carved by Tony Hunt in 1987 to replace the Kwakwaka’wakw’ replica house post

7.  The Kwakwaka’wakw’ Ga'akstalas pole, carved by Wayne Alfred and Beau Dyck in 1991

8.  The Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole was carved by Haida Artist Bill Reid and assistant Werner True in 1964

How did the poles come to be in Stanley Park?

In the early 1920’s the Historical and Scientific Association and the Vancouver Park Commissioners came up with the idea to put together a Native Village at the Village of Whoi Whoi which originally stood at this site in Stanley Park. 

The first four original poles had been carved in the late 1880s and were all purchased from the Alert Bay region on Vancouver Island.   In 1936 pole numbers increased to celebrate Vancouver’s Golden Jubilee and three more poles were purchased from the Queen Charlotte Islands and Rivers Inlet on the central coast of British Columbia from the historical association and the Department of Indian Affairs. In 1951 the potlatch-ban law was reversed and the First Nations began carving again.  The totem pole exhibit, which never achieved its full village vision, remained at the original village site until the early 1960s.  The poles were moved to their present location, in the heart of the park on a grassy knoll between Coal Harbour and Brocton Point, which was considered to offer a more appropriate backdrop with better public access. The late 1960’s saw the next bunch of replica poles arrive from mostly the Kwakwaka'wakw' and Haida carvers representing styles from a few of the Northwest Pacific Coast traditions.  The totem pole collection has changed considerable over the years and deteriorated ones have been replicated or replaced.

Totem Poles documented people’s lineages and origins, rights and privileges, super natural experiences, achievements, territories and marriages and memorials.

There are metal plaques with explanations of the various figures in front of each Totem. In 2001 more signage was put in place in front of a little stream that separates the totems and made a larger viewing area where more visitors are able to identify the eight totem poles and read the stories related to each of them.

The Wakas Pole was the subject of a 1903 painting from the well-known British Columbia artist Emily Carr when she first visited Alert Bay.  Carved in 1890 as a memorial to the Wa’kas family, the original pole once fronted the Cranmer family's bighouse in Alert Bay. On the original pole, the nine-foot Raven’s beak was made from an overturned canoe and opened to reveal a small ceremonial entrance to the house.  Raven’s beak and Raven depicts a trickster figure.  In 1928, the Art, Historical and Scientific Centre of Vancouver bought the pole for $700 and shipped it to Stanley Park.  Doug Cranmer, Kwakwaka’wakw ’master carver, (recently passed in November 2006) carved this replica pole, with the original being housed in the National museum in Ottawa. 

The whole of BC and Alaska is made up of First Nations groups of the Northwest Pacific coast (British Columbia, southern Alaska, Washington) who are all different, they speak different languages and they carve differently. Totem Poles illustrated a way to identify and tell the different Nations apart. The variation of art styles found in the carved monuments from north to south is due to the different cultural backgrounds of the artists.

In 1884 the Canadian government banned any carving of totem poles and traditional arts became illegal.  Between the 1870’s and the 1920’s collectors and museums had been to the Northwest coast and reaped the totem poles and artifacts and removed them from the villages.  Totem poles were shipped around the world as well as a large share to museums in eastern Canada.  Unfortunately the poles were then mixed and clustered in groups from Alaska to BC for tourists to view and photograph, making it difficult without a trained eye to tell where the different poles were originally from. 

In Alaska a United States government project in 1938 to 1940 removed many poles from the old abandoned villages and repaired and repainted them and are now in Ketchikan’s Totem Heritage Centre. In BC the final harvest of standing and fallen totem poles took place in the 1950s, when several poles were purchased and remained in museums in Vancouver and Victoria.   

BC has some of the largest wood sculptures ever created and has a number of poles along its Northwest Coast in their original settings. The UNESCO Heritage Site in the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve in the Queen Charlottes Islands is an example of  the oldest and finest examples of totem poles in the world. BC also boasts the worlds tallest totem pole in Alert Bay; a 173 foot totem pole  carved by six Kwakwaka’wakw’ 

In 1966 British Columbia celebrated the centennial of the joining of the two colonies of Vancouver Island and the mainland to form the colony of British Columbia. One of the centennial committee’s projects was to involve the provinces First Nations in a large-scale carving project named “Route of the Totems.” Eleven carvers were commissioned to create nineteen totem poles to be placed along tourist routes from Victoria to Prince Rupert. 

Today throughout the BC and Alaskan communities, totem poles new and old stand as proud reminders of this heritage, with the figure representations from a mythological age

Stanley Park Horse -Drawn carriages
Admission: $22 one-hour tour
Tel: 604.681.5115
www.stanleyparktours.com

The carriages depart near the information booth, just off Georgia St entrance to Stanley Park. These narrated, one-hour tours are a leisurely and informative way to see the park. Clydesdale and Grey Shire horses pull the 20 passenger carriages by all the park highlights.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park
Admission: Adult: $24.95 Child: $6.25
tel: 604.985.7474
www.capbridge.com
Address: 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver

The Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park is conveniently located 10 minutes from downtown Vancouver and offers a thrilling adventure 230 feet above the Capilano River. The bridge is 450 feet across and is, without a doubt, the world's greatest suspension footbridge. The park features colorful totem poles beautifully maintained in their original condition. The colorful Totem Park displays over 25 authentic totem poles collected since the 1930's and life-size red cedar statues carved during the Depression.

Recent poles in the Park include a memorial pole to Mary Capilano, the Human Peace Pole, the Salmon Creek Pole, Wolf Guardian Pole and a pole depicting the legend, How the Raven Stole the Sun, all placed along the cliff edge of Capilano River at the south end of the Park. The central house post for the Big House is an honour pole, recognizing carvers past, present and future at Capilano Suspension Bridge and commemorating the Next Generations.

Capilano Suspension Bridge, open every day except Christmas, is Vancouver's oldest and most famous attraction, drawing over 800,000 visitors annually. Friendly Tour Greeters and Guides provide complimentary history and nature tours May to October. The Big House native carving centre features First Nations artists at work, demonstrating their techniques and sharing their heritage. The Canyon Café and Loggers' Grill serve West Coast favorites May to September. The full service heritage Bridge House Restaurant combines elegance, warmth and excellent cuisine year round.

Granville Island Public Market
Tel: 1.604.666.5784
www.granvilleisland.com
Address: 1689 Johnston Street, Granville Island, Vancouver.

The Granville Island Market is Vancouver's celebrated specialty Public Market and serves a feast for both the eye and the palate with over fifty food vendors. Visitors will find an irresistible emporium of green grocers, butchers, bakers, fishmongers, importers, ethnic food sellers, craft vendors, sweet stands, florists and casual eateries. No matter what you're looking for, the Granville Island Public Market can offer it fresh year-round. While wandering the maze-like building, you can not only peruse items for your stomach, but also watch the talents of artisans and craftspeople displayed throughout the isles of the market place.

Once you're loaded up with your lunch, snack and espresso, take a walk outside to the wharf's outdoor seating and watch the boats sail by. Walk the boardwalk and view unique designs of waterfront house boats and finish off with a stop at Emily Carr Institute for the Arts.

A lunch with dessert can be purchased for $10 Canadian or $8.50 US currency.Mini Ferries Depart from Granville Island near the public market. Cost for adults is $6 and runs every fifteen minutes. Both the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries tour around False Creek for an amusing narrated 25 minutes.

The Stawanis Chief
Admission: Adult: free
Address: Shannon Falls Provincial Park, Highway 99, Squamish

The Chief is a single, stunning example of a monolith granite out-cropping. It's sheer-face profile rises 2,139 feet above the town of Squamish in a mass of granite about one and a half times the height of the world's tallest building. It is literally one rock, just like the famous Ayer's Rock in Australia's outback. It is believed that the rock which makes up the Chief was first formed about 93,000,000 years ago under the earth's surface. Various geological processes took place before the Chief raised the profile it shows today, of a chief's head. There are more than 200 climbing routes up this monstrous monolith. The Chief, just north of Shannon Falls, has been in several action adventure films, with stars including Sylvester Stallone shooting on location. Stawamus Chief lies in the North Shore Mountains off the Sea to Sky Highway at Shannon Falls.

To get to the trailhead, follow highway 99 to the parking lot at Shannon Falls Provincial Park. Then simply follow the signs leading to the trails and to the peaks of the Stawamus Chief.

Liliget Feast House
Admission: $20 dinner per person
tel: (604) 681-7044
www.liliquet.com
Address: 1724 Davie Street, Vancouver

Liliget Feast House is centrally located in Vancouver's West End and only 3 blocks from world-famous Stanley Park and English Bay. The restaurant has cedar tables and benches and creates an atmosphere reminiscent of a Northwest Coast Longhouse. Enjoy authentic regional dishes cooked over the green-alderwood grill, including the Potlach Platter; Barbecued Salmon, Oysters, Prawns, Venison, Elk, Wild Rice, Steamed Ferns and Sweet Potato. Open daily for dinner 5-10 p.m. Liliget also offers full service catering and private group luncheons. Reservations are highly recommended.

Hiwis Feast House
Admission: Adult: free
Grouse Mountain Gondola $20
tel: (604) 984-0661
Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North
Vancouver, BC Grouse Mountain

Since ancient times the First Peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast have gathered to celebrate in song, dance, food and unity. These gatherings were held in a common meeting area, referred to as the Long House or "Feast House". Now you can experience this tradition on Grouse Mountain surrounded by spectacular vistas of sea and mountains all overlooking the city of Vancouver.

On entering the Hiwus Feasthouse, you will be awestruck by its natural beauty. With its hand-split red cedar planks stretching from floor to ceiling, full round hand-hewn cedar logs and carved totem poles supporting the main building and its huge fire pit in the center of the feasthouse.Guests can enjoy a one and a half hour sunset program, combining traditional song and dance with a light dinner of traditional native foods. Or, a full evening presentation that promises a two hour expanded program of song, dance, and food including fresh vegetables together with dressing held in a clam shell, bannock, salmon prepared in various fashions and presented on wooden plates, steamed clams served in an authentic bent comer box, and a specially prepared dessert all served in a traditional manner. In honor of witnessing these celebrations, guests will be individually presented with an authentic native gift of friendship. Afterwards, shop the native artwork and carvings exclusive to the Hiwus Feasthouse by Coast Salish Native artist Richard Krentz. A highly collectible artist working in the Coast Salish tradition, he crafts totem poles and large-scale artwork for institutional and corporate clients, as well as gold jewellery and his signature line of traditional bentwood boxes. He also constructs full-scale long houses and 13-metre long stalashen (killer whale) cedar canoes.

Grouse Mountain Resorts Ltd.
Admission: $20
Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver BC
phone 604.984.0661
www.grousemountain.com

The skyride to the top of Grouse Mountain offers an excellent view of the city's skyline, harbour and Georgia Strait. Grouse is the earliest ski hill in this region and offers a dozen different ski runs and night skiing. It is popular for hand-gliding during the summer months.

Just fifteen minutes from downtown Vancouver, Grouse Mountain offers the visitor night skiing, a day lodge, a ski shop and rentals, a ski school, restaurants and pubs, helicopter tours, sleigh rides, The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, and a 91.5m (300ft.) snowboard pipe and terrain park. . Richard Krentz launched the successful Feasthouse four years ago, in partnership with Grouse Mountain Resort.

Khot-La-Cha Art Gallery and Gift Shop
Admission: Adult: free
tel: Toll Free: 1-866-987-3339
www.khot-la-cha.com
Address: 270 Whonock Street_North Vancouver

Khot-La-Cha Art Gallery and Gift Shop was established in 1969 on the Capilano Indian Reserve in North Vancouver, British Columbia, by Emily Baker who sought to provide an outlet for the carving, bead work, knitting, and stitchery talents of her friends. The store was given her husband Chief Simon Baker's traditional name Khot-La-Cha, which means "kind heart" in the Squamish language. The store is now second-generation owned and operated by Nancy Nightingale, the Bakers' daughter. Khot-La-Cha features items created by some of British Columbia's finest Aboriginal artists and craftspeople; most of the artwork and crafts are made by members of the Squamish Indian Band. Included are hand-carved yellow and red cedar totem poles and plaques, ceremonial masks, hand knit Indian sweaters, moccasins, and limited-edition prints. Specialties include hand-tanned moose hide crafts, as well as porcupine quill and bone jewellery. The store also showcases beautiful silver and gold carved jewellery designed by artisans from the Queen Charlotte, Haida, Tlinket, and Tahitan tribes.

Cedar Root Gallery
Admission: Adult: free
tel: (604) 251-6244. or 604.251.4844
Address: 1607 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC

The Cedar Root Gallery is located in the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre in downtown Vancouver. It is an Aboriginal goods specialty store located within the Centre which sells a colourful selection of original artifacts and gift items. There is a variety of both inexpensive and collector pieces showcased from the finest local artists. Open 11 am - 5 pm weekdays and Saturday 12 noon - 4 pm.

Spirit Gallery
tel: 604.921.8972
www.spirit-gallery.com
Address: 6408 Bay Street, West Vancouver, Horseshoe Bay, BC

Spirit Gallery is a warm and welcoming art gallery and gift shop featuring First Nations artists and designers. Although the focus is on Northwest Coast Native Art from the coast of British Columbia, they carry work from aboriginal artists across Canada. Within the gallery is a diverse and impressive collection of decorative and ceremonial art created by the aboriginal peoples of Canada. The gallery features masks, totems, sculpture, original paintings, prints and traditional works such as rattles, drums, button blankets and cedar hats. Showcased is a large collection of argillite, silver and gold jewellery. Within the Trading Post you will find an extensive selection of items featuring Native designs.

The gallery overlooks spectacular Howe Sound in the quaint and vibrant community of Horseshoe Bay at the northern edge of West Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

Qulus Aboriginal Tours Inc.
tel: 604-590-5472
www.qulus.com
Address: 408-100 Park Royal_West Vancouver, B.C

Qulus Aboriginal Tours is the two time recipient of the "Excellence in Customer Service Award". Qulus Aboriginal Tours is the first Native-owned and operated charter and sightseeing bus company in the lower mainland of BC., recognizable by a distinctive Native design on the motorcoach. Qulus provides groups with First Nations Interpretive tours of Vancouver and the surrounding areas, with each tour led by well-trained Native guides who share their unique cultural perspective of the land. On the tour, groups will savour a traditional lunch at the renowned Liliget Feast House and hear stories about totem poles, Aboriginal traditions and culture. Qulus also provides charter bus services year-round anywhere within British Columbia as well as airport, hotel, cruise ship and Whistler transfers or groups.

Takaya Tours
Admission: $25 - $140 tour
tel: 604-904-7410
www.takayatours.com
Address: 3093 Ghum-Lye Drive, North Vancouver , BC

Takaya Tours is an eco-tourism venture owned by the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation of North Vancouver, British Columbia. They offer guests a fascinating introduction to the Coast Salish culture through cultural experiences by kayak or canoe to special sites up scenic Indian Arm. Guests will enjoy a unique and relaxing paddling adventure while First Nation guides sing traditional songs, tell stories and point out ancient village sites. Tours leave from beautiful Cates Park, North Vancouver or Belcarra Regional Park, Port Moody. Other tours include an exploration of Indian Arm by motorized boat and a guided nature walk that focuses on indigenous flora and fauna. Takaya Tours caters to international visitors, educational youth groups & schools and corporate groups.

Takaya Driving Range/Takaya Golf Centre
Admission: Ball Rates: 75 balls for $5.25
Telephone: 604.929.6672
www.takayagolfcentre.com
Address: 700 Apex Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia

Takaya Golf Centre with its several acres of natural surroundings provides an environment that is in complete harmony with nature. The driving range is owned by the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation of North Vancouver and located in one of the thriving residential communities of the North Shore of Vancouver just minutes away from the inlet of Deep Cove and a half hour from downtown Vancouver. The Centre is a full golf practice centre with a two storey 78 stall facility. 59 stalls are completely covered. The range at 150 yards wide and nearly 300 yards long is well targeted. Two short game practice greens are available for bunker, chipping and putting practice. The Clubhouse with a small lounge is typically west coast design with large viewing areas of the entire practice facility. Restaurant services are available.

Takaya Golf Centre is located in a cul-de-sac at the end of Apex Avenue in North Vancouver. The secluded totally treed property is next to a well developed residential development and accessible off of Seymour Parkway. Seymour Parkway connects North Vancouver with the small residential and small bay area of Deep Cove.

Route of the Totems Pole
Admission: $free
Address: Centennial Park in Horseshoe Bay, near the ferry terminal

Situated between sheer mountains on one side and the community of Horseshoe Bay on the other side with its' major ferry terminal is a "Route of the Totems" pole on the waterfront, nearby. Tony Hunt designed the pole in Haida style after working with master carver Mungo Martin in the replication of a pole in Victoria. He drew from the Haida northern style art and his Tlinglit heritage to incorporate the Grizzly Bear, a bear cub crouched between its ears, with the cubs legs protruding through Grizzly's ears. At the base he carved a high-ranking person wearing a ringed hat.

Also in Horseshoe Bay, on the Marina side of the bay is the Boathouse Restaurant, with two beautiful panels beside the main door, carved by Norman Tait in 1981.

Talaysay Tours
Admission: $65 - $130 tour
tel: (604) 628-8555
www.talaysaytours.com
Address: Tours operate out of Sechelt, B.C on the Sunshine Coast, ½ hour plus a ferry trip from Horseshoe Bay

Talaysay Tours provides a wide range of outdoor experiences that are enriched by Aboriginal and cultural interpretation. Talaysay Tours operates out of Sechelt, British Columbia on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Sechelt lies within the traditional territory of the Shishalh First Nations and is named after the original First Nations people of the region. Talaysay Tours offers kayaking, seagoing canoe, hiking and in the winter months, snowshoeing tours. First Nations guides share the history, legends and stories of the Shishalh (Sechelt) people with their guests. In addition to offering outdoor experiences, Talaysay Tours offers longhouse tours, museum and community walks as well as cultural workshops to groups, conferences, retreats and educational institutions. Guests can also rent kayaks from Talaysay Tours and explore the waters of the Sunshine Coast on their own.All experiences operate out of the community of Sechelt, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

Bear Track Eco-Tours
Sweatlodge Ceremony
Two- day package Cost Per person $198
Telephone: 604.414.0285
Location: Sliammon First Nation, Powell River, B.C. Canada
Tour is available every Friday and Saturday

In all of British Columbia, there is no more beautiful spot than the Sunshine Coast. Surrounded on three sides by the sea and on the fourth by the spectacular snow-capped Coastal Range Mountains, the Sunshine Coast is accessible only by water, even though it is part of mainland British Columbia. Powell River is one of the most spectacular untouched destinations on the Sunshine Coast.

Aboriginal Archeological sites with lythic scatters representing hunting locations and short-term camp-sites date back between 8,000 - 11,000 BC. The territory is rich with sites of shell middens, culturally modified trees, canoe skids, pictographs and fish traps. This coastal rain-forest is considered one of the best places to view sea lions, seals, eagles and seabirds in their natural surroundings and is well known for its abundance of fish, crab, clams and oysters.

The Sweatlodge Ceremonies are presented in a traditional working environment to ensure a total First Nations cultural immersion. Visitors will work along side the Elders and assist with the ceremony preparations to participate in ways that honor First Peoples' traditions and cultural teachings.

Cultural teachings will be shared in the traditional ways, with a spiritual purpose for every thing that is done to prepare for the ceremony on the following day. The tour package includes a Traditional Medicines hike in Okeover and the Malaspina Inlets. Aboriginal Guides share their cultural teachings and instructions on plant and animal relations stopping for a shore barbecue lunch. Accommodations are available in Traditional Teepees or Bear Track's Oceanfront Guest House at the ceremony site. This tour package is available every Friday and Saturday, call ahead.

Two- day package Cost Per person:
$198 Traditional Teepee or Bear Track's Oceanfront
Guest House accommodations

Bear Track Eco-Tours is in the Sliammon Territory located at the end of the Pacific Coast Highway. It's a 20 minute drive north of Powell River and a ten minute drive from Lund BC.