D AY T R I P S
& OVERNIGHTERS
Kwa’lilas Hotel
Exploring Indigenous Tourism on Vancouver Island First Nations’ history and culture runs deep and rich here in the Pacific Northwest, and
Yadan with Imas, masks from U’mista Cultural Centre
on Vancouver Island we are fortunate to have many thriving indigenous tourism experiences to partake in. From hotels and nature-based tours to museums and galleries, these cultural assets can both delight your senses and deepen your understanding of life on the west coast. Close to home you can find exhibits from the Qualicum First Nations including the story of The Pentlatch People, a “sleeping language” project at the Qualicum Beach Museum. A quick trip up-Island, the I-Hos Gallery—on the site of the original K’ómoks Village and winners of the 2013 retail award from Aboriginal Tourism BC—has a significant collection of traditional and contemporary Northwest Coast artwork for sale including masks, prints and jewelry. If you venture a little farther along the Island highway and take the ferry from Campbell River to Quadra Island you can visit the Nuyumbalees Cultural Centre, where a priceless and historic collection of original Kwakwaka’wakw artifacts is preserved and displayed. Nearly one hundred carved boulders at thirteen different sites have been located on Quadra Island, and the centre is pleased to have seven of them on site. These stone carvings, known as petroglyphs, are estimated to have been carved over 2500 years ago. Please note that the main lodge and dining room of popular Tsa Kwa Luten (Cape Mudge Resort) are now closed for the season but will re-open—along with a newly expanded RV park—in May 2022. For an overnight stay we highly recommend a road trip to the North Island including a visit to the U’mista Cultural 7 PASSIONS | FALL 2021
