Page 42 - DreamScapes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2022

TRAVEL SLEUTH
INDIGENOUS CANADA
SUMMER
TRAVEL GUIDE
PLAN YOUR NEXT
ORIGINAL TRIP
BY DIANE SELKIRK, NATALIE PREDDIE AND CAROLYN HELLER
More than ever, we’re seeking something different from our travels. Checking “top 10s” off a bucket list has given way to the desire to travel more sustainably while building deeper connec- tions with people, places and cultures.
In many ways you could say Indigenous tourism is ahead of this trend. While many of us think of Indigenous tourism as something that’s focused on the past, like visiting a museum or re-enactment village, contemporary Indigenous-led tourism is actually quite modern. It’s a form of connection that gives us the opportunity to get to know the Indigenous stewards of the land we share. It’s also been called an act of reconciliation—because when we share laughter and learning, it breaks down barriers and increases understanding.
CONNECTING WITH THE LAND
As one of the fastest growing forms of tourism in Canada, Indigenous tourism offers visitors insight into how Indigenous nations lived sus- tainably from time immemorial.
In Saskatchewan, as Wanuskewin Heritage Park Elder Cy Standing explains, just because the history books were written after contact it doesn’t mean there weren’t records left. A park visit will introduce you to four newly discovered petroglyphs, which have joined the park’s other cultural artifacts, to tell a story that’s interpreted by the plains people themselves.
Over in Cumberland House, Saskatchewan, disconnect and explore the boreal forest with a Cree/Métis guide from Aski Holistic Adventures. You’ll paddle a canoe or perhaps gather traditional medicines while learning how to feel more comfortable in the wild. wanuskewin.com; ask- iholisticadventures.com
PROTECTING OUR FUTURE
In British Columbia, the 26 First Nations that share the territory of Great Bear Rainforest (GBR), who were instrumental in conserving the region 20 years ago, are now leaders in local tourism. Guides at Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours will share their connection to the planet— making it more than a sightseeing trip.
42 DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2022