and order a free Aboriginal BC Visitor Guide Visitor BC Aboriginal free a order and Visit www.AboriginalBC.com Visit

Use This Map to discover First Nations culture and explore the many cultural 29 attractions and special sites in BC. Each brown box highlights a First Nation’s attraction and the nearby red box is a site of significance to them. There are ten attractions to explore in southern BC and six more attractions in the north. Listed on the map are website addresses where you can get directions to the location and Kitselas Canyon National Historic Site 52 more information on the cultural attraction. The site offers guests an opportunity to view three contemporary longhouses featuring the Learn about our connection to the land through our interpretive culture and history of the people who have South B.C. centres. Discover special places dear to our people. We have many stories to tell occupied this territory for at least 10,000 years. and many experiences to share. Be a witness to the living cultural legacy that has A cultural tourism project of the Gitselasu Fort Nelson been passed down through the millennia from the ancestors: tour a traditional First First Nations, the area includes archaeological 16 and petroglyph sites, accessible only when Nations village; view repatriated potlatch treasures; visit museums to learn about conditions permit. Fort the art and history of the people; discover artifacts that pre-date the pyramids; and 97 St. John www.kitselas.bc.ca learn about our sacred transformer stones.

Prince Rupert Prince George Amidst spectacular scenery and pristine nature, experience our vibrant First Nations cultures, traditions and warm hospitality. Williams Lake

Kamloops Traditional Territory of the Gitselasu Pacific Kelowna The Kitselas Canyon is strategically significant Ocean Vancouver Cranbrook because the water ways served as the original 16 travel routes, allowing the Gitselasu to control Victoria traffic both up and down river. Visitors who travelled through the territory were required

to stop and offer some of their wealth to the

NUU-CHAH-NULTH chiefs, which contributed to the power and

OKANAGAN wealth of the Gitselasu.

COAST SALISH COAST NLAKA’PAMUX

KTUNAXA

STL’ALT’IMC

’WAKW A K A KWAKW

OWEEKENO

TSILHQOT’IN SECWEPEMC

NUXALK 16 HEILTSUK “Our vision for Aboriginal tourism is that when

our visitors see the messaging about as a

HAISLA

DAKELH

HAIDA country, they see a seamless integration or fusion

TSIMSHIAN

WET’SUWET’EN of Canada and its indigenous population. We tell

Columbia

NISGA’A the same story from two different perspectives,

British SAN X GIT

SEKANI

in but together we create the whole story about this

DUNNE-ZA

First Nations First 93 country.” TLINGIT

TAHLTAN 5 —Aboriginal Tourism Association of

DENE-THAH Gwa’ni INLAND TLINGIT INLAND

KASKA Nimpkish River

TAGISH “Do you want to become a river?” TUTCHONE Gwa’nalalis thought for a long time and liked this idea, “Yes, let me become a river that I may flow for as long as 20 the days shall dawn in the world and Secwepemc Ethnobotanical Gardens provide every kind of salmon for my Established in 1999 to promote an next generations to come”. K’aniki’lakw understanding of Secwepemc language, heard his thoughts and put his hand on culture and use of native plants, the Gwa’nalalis’ forehead and pushed him Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park people relied heavily on plants for food, british columbia, canada down, saying, “There, you will be a river U’mista Cultural Centre medicines, tools and implements. Plant Experience the culture of the Secwepemc and flow for as long as the days shall The longest-operating First Nation museum knowledge continues to be an essential part people through oral history, legends, dawn in the world, be full of salmon and cultural centre in Canada, the U’mista of Secwepemc cultural knowledge and is photographs, illustrations and artifacts. The so that your descendants may never Cultural Centre houses the world-renowned communicated through traditional stories, 12-acre park and gardens feature trails that be hungry”. So the small river began to Potlatch Collection—cultural masks place names, beliefs and values. lead visitors through the remains of a 2,000 flow over Gwa’nalalis’ forehead and over and regalia confiscated by the federal Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre year old winter village site, four reconstructed his body and became a large powerful government in 1922 and returned in 1980. Guests experience Whistler’s First Nations winter pit houses and a summer village. raging river. Its name is Gwa’ni and still Now on permanent display, the collection is heritage through a welcome song, guided tour 95 is today, it is the river of the ‘Namgis, the complemented by a series of rotating exhibits of the museum and exhibits, 16-minute film in an www.secwepemc.org/museum descendants of Gwa’nalalis. year-round, with tours and stories by First Nch’kaý 80-seat theatre, cultural forest walk, craft-making Aboriginal Nation guides. in the centre’s cedar longhouse and exploration Mount Garibaldi 97 www.umista.ca of the Café and Gift Gallery with its original CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS MAP Looking north from Squamish, an enormous Squamish, Lil’wat and B.C. First Nations art. sharp-peaked mountain dominates the 93 www.slcc.ca Ka–intak –aku“nuk landscape. The original name for this peak Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park is Nch’kaý. Thousands of years ago, after the Snaza’ist (Striped Rock Place) Great Ice Age, the waters rose drastically Whiteswan Lake, which is located within the causing the Great Flood. During this time 99 Snaza’ist (pronounced sna-za-ee-st) is the Kootenay Ranges of the Rocky Mountains, the people tied their canoes to this peak Similkameen word for this area; it means was an important site of the Ktunaxa with a rope made from woven cedar bark in Ts’zil “striped rock place.” Stretching back to people. An important seasonal hunting order to prevent being swept away. As the Mount Currie pre-contact times the Similkameen people camp of the Ktunaxa people and their use 93 used rock, minerals and the sacred Ochre to of the area dates back at least 10,000 years. 19 waters receded the people adapted to the Immediately south of Pemberton is an share culture and as trade goods with the first Test the water’s therapeutic benefits, long ever changing landscape. The Great Flood is enormous mountain called Mount Currie. peoples of North America. The importance known to the Ktunaxa people and said to a metaphor for catalysts of change which is a The original name for this place is Ts’zil and it of rocks and minerals continued into the increase with dips in the adjacent, frigid recurring theme in Squamish mythology. is highly regarded by the L’íl’wat Nation. The European settlement era with the discovery river. Whiteswan Lake was used intensively face of the mountain has been etched by the of gold. by the Ktunaxa people because of its travels of a giant two-headed serpent and important geographical location. Not only along the northwest ridgeline you can still see did the lake serve as a marshalling point for Nuyumbalees means “the Beginning” rocks standing where L’íl’wat hunters were journey to the Elk Valley and the prairies, transformed to stone. The Nuyumbalees Society was founded in 97C but also as a staging area for ceremonial 1975 by Hereditary and Elected Chiefs of the 101 and social events. Kwa’kwa’ka’wa’kw people, to negotiate the Xat’seq return of their potlatch treasures and regalia Xat’seq is word that means sacred bulrush and (Kikasuw). The priceless and historic collection is a lake just east of Xá:ytem and is in the area of original Kwa’kwa’ka’wa’kw Kikasuw was 97 33 of Mission known as Hatzic where Xá:ytem is returned in February, 1979. located. 4 3

Ktunaxa Interpretative Centre At the St. Eugene Resort near Cranbrook, in a building that for 60 years housed a residential Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre w Klil’x (Spotted Lake) school for aboriginal children, the Ktunaxa Featuring the sacred potlatch collection of Klil’xw, Spotted Lake is a sacred lake to the Syilx Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Interpretive Centre showcases contemporary treasured masks and regalia, the centre offers (Okanagan) because of its healing properties. aboriginal art, culture and heritage. a unique experience into the rich culture, Special minerals, similar to Epsom salts, give A family oriented cultural experience focusing Permanent displays include many historic traditions and history of the Kwa’kwa’ka’wa’kw on the living culture of the Okanagan First photographs, a scale model of a traditional Quw’utsun’ Sta’lo the lake its unique colours which change from people. Guests may treat themselves to a green to white through the seasons. Under Nations and the unique plants and animals tipi and the sturgeon-nosed canoe. guided tour of the three galleries, visit the (Heritage Cowichan River) of their traditional territory’s desert habitat. Xá:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre Snaza’ist Discovery Centre & the summer sun, the lake waters evaporate www.ktunaxa.org artist workspace and relax in the pavilion by The First people of Cowichan came to earth and crystallized minerals form white-rimmed The 22-hectare site features cultural exhibits, Quw’utsun’ Cultural & Conference Centre A 9,000-year-old Aboriginal village site, Mascot Gold Mine Tours the waterfront. from the sky. They found a rich land warmed circles. It is said that there are circles for every walking trails, outdoor sculptures and hands- Xá:ytem encompasses two underground Backdropped by the scenic Similkameen Valley, The Cowichan Band-owned Quw’utsun’ by the sun and nourished with a river teeming day of the year. Aboriginal people continue on interactive displays. Highlights include a www.nuyumbalees.com circular pithouses, a traditional cedar visitors view the Discovery Centre exhibits, centre is scenically situated on six acres of with salmon, which they called Quw’utsun to come to this lake for yearly ceremonies. For reconstructed Aboriginal village, two theatre longhouse, a sacred transformer stone and then venture 3000 ft above the valley floor landscaped pasture land along the Cowichan Sta’lo. For thousands of years, this 47 kilometre many years, the lake was privately owned but experiences and “Critter’s Corner” animal “B.C’s oldest house,” where visitors are invited to to the Mascot Gold Mine to experience the River. Guests are invited to learn about the river has provided their descendants with was returned to the Okanagan Nation in 2001. exhibits. Daily guided walks and rattlesnake experience Stó:lō history, culture, archaeology netherworld of turn-of-the-century miners culture and heritage of the Cowichan people abundant food, transportation and water. Visitors can view the lake from a small parking talks offered from July through September. through interpretive tours and multimedia and spirituality. Guided interactive cultural during the province’s gold rush. When settlers arrived in the mid-1800’s, area off the road, but are asked not to walk www.nkmipdesert.com tours, programs, workshops and overnight presentation, Great Deeds—an oral depiction they also relied on the gifts of the river and www.mascotmine.com down to the lake. of this First Nation. prospered through fishing, farming and experiences are offered. www.quwutsun.ca logging. www.xaytem.ca www.AboriginalBC.com

www.AboriginalBC.com

AtBC_tourism map_01.indd 1 18/12/2009 8:46:28 AM Aboriginal Experiences at a Glance www.AboriginalBC.com

Spas, Sweat Lodges or Hot Springs

Cultural Centres & Museums

Wilderness & Adventures Cultural Tours & Cruises

Wildlife, Flora & Fauna

Accommodation

Art Galleries Food & Wine

AtBC Members Golf Location

Aboriginal Journeys Wildlife Viewing & Adventure Tours Campbell River • • • Bednesti Lake Resort Vanderhoof • • • • • to discover First Nations culture and explore the many cultural Use This Map Best Western Tin Wis Resort Tofino • • attractions and special sites in BC. Each brown box highlights a First Nation’s 77 Bill Helin Art Gallery Parksville • attraction and the nearby red box is a site of significance to them. There are ten Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art Vancouver • attractions to explore in southern BC and six more attractions in the north. Listed Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures Williams Lake • • • on the map are website addresses where you can get directions to the location and Cross River Wilderness Centre & Kootenay Wilderness Tours • • • Did You Know… more information on the cultural attraction. Culture Shock Interactive Gallery Alert Bay • • • Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay Skidegate • to the land through our interpretive Haisla Tourism Kitamaat Village • • • • • • Aboriginal tourism in BC is projected to grow to over $50 Learn about our connection centres. Discover special places dear to our people. We have many stories to tell I-HOS Gallery Courtenay • million by 2012, up from approximately $35 million today. and many experiences to share. Be a witness to the living cultural legacy that has Khot-La-Cha Art Gallery & Gift Shop North Vancouver • been passed down through the millennia from the ancestors: tour a traditional First ‘Ksan Historic Village & Museum • There are upwards of 200 Aboriginal tourism businesses Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre Cranbrook • Nations village; view repatriated potlatch treasures; visit museums to learn about 97 in BC,and more than half of these offer cultural tourism the art and history of the people; discover artifacts that pre-date the pyramids; and Kwikwetlem’s Colony Farm Bike Tours & Rentals Coquitlam • • • Museum of Northern British Columbia Prince Rupert • experiences. learn about our sacred transformer stones. Nisg_a’a Tourism New Aiyansh • • • • • • Adventure Tourism (31%), Tourism Services (22%) and Amidst spectacular scenery and pristine nature, experience Nk’Mip RV Park Osoyoos • Nk’Mip Cellars Osoyoos • our vibrant First Nations cultures, traditions and warm hospitality. Accommodation (21%) collectively comprise almost three Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre Osoyoos • quarters (74%) of existing Aboriginal tourism businesses in Nuchatlaht Park Lodge Tahsis, Nootka Island • • • • • BC. Okanagan Princess Houseboat Dining Tours Kelowna • • Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre Duncan • • Tour operators are seeing growing consumer demand for Retasket Lodge & RV park Lillooet • Ruby Creek Art Gallery Agassiz • authentic cultural experiences. Salmon Feast Black Creek • • • Sea Quest Adventures & Aboriginal Tours Sidney • • • Source: www.AboriginalBC.com Seashore Charters Prince Rupert • • • Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park Kamloops • • 37 97 Snaza’ist Discovery Centre & Mascot Gold Mine Tours Hedley • “ We invite you on a journey to discover ancient Sonora Dunes Golf Course Osoyoos • Spirit Bear Adventures Klemtu • • • • • cultures and traditions that are still as vibrant Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort Spa Osoyoos • • • Gitwangax (People of the rabbit) Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Whistler • • • and alive today as they were long before the first St.Eugene Golf Resort Casino Cranbrook • • • Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed Gitwangak Battle Hill (formerly known Stó:lo¯ Artisan Centre Chilliwack • Provincial Park as Kitwanga Fort ) was a fortified village ‘Ksan Historical Village & Museum visitors to North America.” occupied during the late 1700s and early Takaya Golf Centre North Vancouver • The Nisga’a alkali basalt flow is one of the 1800s by the Gitwangak First Nation. A reconstructed village of “the People of the Takaya Tours North Vancouver • • • youngest and most accessible volcanic Strategically located on a small hill above the River of Mist”—the Gitxsan, featuring more — Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia features in British Columbia. Guided volcanic Talking Rock Resort & Quaaout Lodge Little Shuswap Lake • • • riverbank, the site afforded excellent vantages than 600 Gitxsan artifacts, guided cultural tours offer visitors a chance to hike three Tete Jaune Lodge Valemount • up and down the Kitwanga River valley and tours, traditional songs and dancing, a carving kilometre through an old growth forest past Thornton Motel Ucluelet • the adjacent Kitwankul Grease Trail. A famous area, Gitxsan totem poles and a series of a variety of volcanic features to a viewpoint occupant of the site was warrior ‘Nekt who traditional First Nation houses overlooking the TLA-OOK Cultural Adventures Tofino • • • overlooking the crater. The hike is moderate fought to establish control of the network of confluence of the historic Bulkley and Skeena Tsa-Kwa-Luten, The Oceanfront Resort at Cape Mudge Quadra Island • • with some hills and steep stairs. lucrative trading trails in the Skeena, Kitimat rivers. Tseycum Canoe Tours Sidney • • • www.ncgtourism.ca and Nass region of northern British Columbia. www.ksan.org U’mista Cultural Centre Alert Bay • • • • • West Coast Expeditions Spring Island • • • Wickaninnish Gallery Vancouver • Xá:ytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre Mission • • • Xats’ūll Heritage Village Williams Lake • • • • • North B.C.

Fort Nelson Nisga’a Lisims Government Building Guided by Nisga’a culture and best Fort St. John practices from around the world, Nisga’a 29 Lisims Government works to improve the lives of Nisga’a people. In partnership with Prince Rupert Prince four village governments and three urban George locals, NLG delivers culturally-appropriate 52 programs and services in health, education, Williams Lake social development, local services, and access to justice. Pacific Kamloops www.nisgaalisims.ca Kelowna Ocean Vancouver Cranbrook Victoria 97

Haida Heritage Centre at Kaay Llnagaay Located on scenic Haida Gwaii, the Centre 16 celebrates the living culture of the Haida Xat’sūll Heritage Village people showcasing our world renowned arts, culture and history displayed throughout a Xat’sūll emanates the mystic experience series of interconnected Haida longhouses. of centuries of Aboriginal culture. Join us and experience 12 monumental totem Reconstructed traditional pit houses poles, Bill Reid’s Haida war canoe Lootaas, and 16 and teepees provide accommodation for enjoy locally inspired cuisine. Kitlope Heritage Conservancy visitors; petroglyphs and artifacts provide proof of some 4,000 years of history www.haidaheritagecentre.com The Kitlope Heritage Conservancy lies 16 within the traditional territory of the Haisla and habitation; and story telling and Nation. Known as the “Hushuwashsdu” discussions offer sharing of traditional ways, crafts and skills. G’psgolox Totem or “Source of the milky blue water”, this unique park protects the world’s largest www.xatsull.com One hundred years after the G’psgolox Totem intact coastal temperate rainforest with its 16 was carved, and 80 years since it was taken old-growth trees and rich diversity of fish from the homelands of the Mis’kusa, the pole is and wildlife habitats. finally home in Haisla territory. The repatriation of this cultural treasure serves as a symbol of www.haisla.ca the perseverance of the Haisla Nation. www.haislatourism.com 93

5

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Spirit Bear Adventures Heritage Site has it all: the Pacific Ocean teeming with life, snow-capped mountains surging Guided four-and-seven day eco-cultural from lush rainforest, long stretches of beach journeys in BC’s pristine Great Bear Rainforest— for exploring, and over 10,000 years of Haida in search of the rare, white spirit bear as well as connection with the land and sea. Discover Haida grizzly, black bears and other wildlife. Guests Kwee (Kitasoo Spirit Bear Conservancy) Xat’sūll traditions while visiting SGang Gwaay, a UNESCO travel by boat deep into coastal fjords carved The world’s only protected area for the Xats’ūll is a 10,000 year old village site that World Heritage Site and one of five Haida Gwaii by the last ice age, explore ancient cultural White Spirit Bear of BC’s Coastal Rainforest. 20 once supported a community of over one Watchmen village sites. Follow the migration of sites and hike tidal flats and old-growth trails. Protecting the natural habitat of the Spirit Bear thousand people. The area provided a lifestyle the humpback whales. Relax in the oceanside Home base is the Spirit Bear Lodge in Klemtu, a is a major achievement for the Kitasoo/Xai’xais rich in hunting, gathering and fishing and is an natural hot pools. Rated as the top protected area new waterfront retreat steps away from our Big people and the conservation groups that important site for the people of this traditional 95 in North America by National Geographic Traveler House Cultural Centre. worked tirelessly to give this bear a sanctuary territory. magazine and described as a “trip of a lifetime”, www.spiritbear.com from logging and hunting. come and make your connection. www.AboriginalBC.com

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