6 minute read
First Nations Tourism
from Discover
Rhythms of nature
Indigenous tourism, the heartbeat of Vancouver Island
There are three main First Nations groups on Vancouver Island — the Kwakwaka’wakw, Nuu-chah-nulth and Coast Salish — and all base their ways of life on the rhythms of nature and the measured bounties of land and sea.
Within the groups are various First Nations with unique cultures, governments and businesses, many of which cater to tourism in their traditional territories.
They share their deep, respectful relationship with the bountiful ocean and temperate rainforests.
There are hotels, whale and wildlife watching tours, cultural exhibits, totems and carving displays. Enjoy salmon cooked on an open cedar fire or dine in one of the many First Nations restaurants.
Set out by boat to meet resident grizzly bears, see whales and experience the fastest navigable tidal rapids on earth. Raise your eyes to big houses and lift your spirit to the tallest of totem poles. Indigenous culture, sacred regalia and modern art are shared here.
Old-growth rainforests and destination luxury on the lifesustaining waters of the Pacific Ocean and the lands of the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw people await on the North Island.
Camp beachside or recline in ocean-front luxury with Huu-ay-aht hosts on the west coast.
Explore windswept Ucluelet or sightsee through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve to Tofino and Long Beach’s legendary surfing and whale watching. The Nuu-chahnulth people share the sandy white beaches and deep waters of the 100plus pristine islands off of the west coast of Vancouver Island.
On southern Vancouver Island, share the beauty of the ocean, camas meadows and forests with the Lekwungen and WSANEC peoples and several Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nations, who operate a variety of tourism businesses.
EVERYTHING INDIGENOUS at your fingertips
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INDIGENOUS B.C TRIP PLANNER APP
Planning a visit to British Columbia and Vancouver Island?
The Indigenous BC Trip Planner App is a must-have tool for planning an unforgettable trip. Find authentic Indigenous experiences and businesses, learn common Indigenous words and phrases and hear traditional songs, stories and legends.
Use the Indigenous BC Trip Planner App to search for experiences, accommodations and businesses. Save your favourites to create your own custom itinerary, then use the interactive map to find attractions and experiences close to you once you’ve arrived. View the most up-to-date business reopening information, including hours of operation.
For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have passed on their stories, songs, languages, and histories through oral traditions. The app connects users to a growing library of songs, legends, and languages showcasing diverse and unique Indigenous cultures across B.C.
Download the app for free at the Apple Store or Google Play
The First Nations of Vancouver Island
If you are exploring, it is tradition to honour and respect your hosts on their traditional territories.
AHOUSAHT
Location: West coast of Vancouver Island on Flores Island in Clayoquot Sound Population: 2,158
SC’IANEW (BEEC ER BAY) FIRST NATION
Location: East Sooke Population: 260
WEI WAI KUM NATION (CAMPBELL RIVER INDIAN BAND)
Location: Campbell River Population: 846
WE WAI KAI NATION (CAPE MUDGE BAND)
Location: Quadra Island Population: 1,159
STZ’UMINUS FIRST NATION (CHEMAINUS)
Location: 30 km south of Nanaimo Population: 1,378
COWICHAN TRIBES
Location: Adjacent to Duncan, 50 km northwest of Victoria Population: 5,185
DA’NAXDA’XW/AWAETLALA FIRST NATION
Location: North end of Vancouver Island and the Knight Inlet area Population: 228
DITIDAHT FIRST NATION
Location: Cowichan Lake, through Nitinat Lake, to the west coast of Vancouver Island Population: 772
EHATTESAHT FIRST NATION
Location: West coast of Vancouver Island, 70 km west of Gold River Population: 496
ESQUIMALT FIRST NATION
Location: West of Victoria in View Royal Population: 324
GWA’SALA-‘NAKWAX-DA’XW NATIONS
Location: Adjacent to Port Hardy on the northeastern tip of Vancouver Island Population: 1,054
HALALT FIRST NATION
Location: Near Crofton, 55 km northwest of Victoria Population: 217
HESQUIAHT FIRST NATION
Location: Hotsprings Cove, 35 km northwest of Tofino Population: 734
HOMALCO FIRST NATION
Location: Calm Channel, 35 km northeast of Campbell River Population: 475
HUL’QUMI’NUM TREATY GROUP
Location: Near Duncan, Chemainus and Ladysmith, 60 km northwest of Victoria Population: approx. 5,000
HUPACASATH FIRST NATION
Location: Port Alberni, 150 km northwest of Victoria Population: 344
HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS
Location: Barkley Sound near Bamfield Population: 731
KA:’YU:’K’T’H’/CHE:K:TLES-7ET’H’ FIRST NATIONS (KYUQUOT)
Location: Kyuquot Sound Population: 579
KLAHOOSE FIRST NATION
Location: East shore of Cortes Island Population: 419
K’ÓMOKS FIRST NATION (COMOX INDIAN BAND)
Location: Comox Valley, 200 km north of Victoria Population: 344
KWAKIUTL INDIAN BAND
Location: Near Port Hardy Population: 846
KWIAKAH FIRST NATION
Location: 40 km north of Campbell River on the South Coast Population: 22
KWIKWASUT’-INUXW HAXWA’MIS FIRST NATION
Location: Gilford Island, 40 km east of Port Hardy Population: 312
KA:’YU:’K’T’H’/CHE:K:TLES-7ET’H’ FIRST NATIONS (KYUQUOT)
Location: Kyuquot Sound Population: 579
LAKE COWICHAN FIRST NATION (TS’UUBAA-ASATX)
Location: North shore of Cowichan Lake, 80 km northwest of Victoria Population: 25
LYACKSON FIRST NATION
Location: Valdes Island, off the east Coast of Vancouver Island Population: 221
MALAHAT NATION
Location: Western shore of Saanich Inlet, south of Mill Bay Population: 334
MAMALILIKULLA FIRST NATION
Location: Compton Island near Port Hardy, Population: 441
MOWACHAHT/MUCHALAHT FIRST NATION
Location: Mouth of Nootka Sound near Gold River Population: 611
‘NAMGIS FIRST NATION
Location: Centred around Alert Bay, east of Pt. McNeill on Cormorant Island Population: 1,922
SNAW-NAW-AS (NANOOSE) FIRST NATION
Location: 10 km north of Nanaimo Population: 260
NANWAKOLAS COUNCIL
Location: Vancouver Island and adjacent South Central Coast Population: 2,722
NUCHATLAHT FIRST NATION
Location: At the head of Espinosa Inlet 70 km west of Gold River Population: 163
NUU-CHAH-NULTH TRIBAL COUNCIL
Location: West Coast of Vancouver Island Population: 4,606
PACHEEDAHT FIRST NATION
Location: 80 km northwest of Victoria, near Port Renfrew Population: 290
PAUQUACHIN FIRST NATION
Location: Near Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula north of Victoria Population: 403
PENELAKUT TRIBE
Location Kuper Island, near Ladysmith off the east coast of Vancouver Island Population: 1,011
QUALICUM FIRST NATION
Location: Near Qualicum Beach Population: 128
QUATSINO FIRST NATION
Location: North end of Vancouver Island and the Knight Inlet area. Population: 559
SNUNEYMUXW FIRST NATION
Location: Nanaimo River watershed on the the east coast of Vancouver Island and including Gabriola Island and other adjacent islands Population: 1,819
SONGHEES NATION
Location: Esquimalt Harbour west of Victoria in View Royal Population: 571
T’SOU-KE NATION
Location: Near Sooke, 30 km southwest of Victoria Population: 267
STZ’UMINUS FIRST NATION (CHEMAINUS)
Location: 30 km south of Nanaimo Population: 1,378
TLA-O-QUI-AHT FIRST NATIONS
Location: West coast of central Vancouver Island between Pacific Rim National Park and Tofino and on Meares Island Population: 1,146
TLATLASIKWALA FIRST NATION
Location: North end of Vancouver Island and the Knight Inlet area Population: 66
TLOWITSIS NATION
Location: Northeast Vancouver Island and nearby portions of the mainland Population: 440
TOQUAHT NATION
Location: Toquaht Bay on the north side of Barkley Sound Population: 156
TSARTLIP FIRST NATION
Location: Brentwood Bay, Saanich Peninsula Population: 1,009
TSAWOUT FIRST NATION
Location: Saanich Peninsula near Victoria Population: 873
TSESHAHT FIRST NATION
Location: On the Somass River, 5 km northwest of Port Alberni Population: 1,186
TSEYCUM FIRST NATION
Location: Saanich Peninsula near Victoria, Population: 193
UCHUCKLESAHT TRIBE
Location: On Uchucklesaht Inlet and Henderson Lake Population: 228
UCLUELET FIRST NATION
Location: Effingham Inlet and Nahmint River valley Population: 678
Source: Province of B.C.
