Posted
Wed. May. 15/19
Reconciliation and Understanding Through Travel
For many Canadians, 2021 has been an eye-opener in many ways.
Many of us knew of injustice towards our Indigenous brothers and sisters, however, many looked the other way. For those looking forward to a future that is an all-inclusive Canada, hit the road and travel. There’s no better way to understand and appreciate this land's Indigenous connections than by experiencing an Indigenous travel experience.
Set your compass to a path for reconciliation, gain perspective and understanding; just go travel. Here is a round-up to some of ZenSeekers’ most popular Indigenous travel coverage.
Alberta
Indigenous Tourism Alberta will support your reconciliation interests, offering a roundup of local experiences available to any traveler.
A cooling prairie wind blows through the aspen forest at Métis Crossing as you step out from your heated trapper’s tent onto a private deck overlooking the North Saskatchewan River.
Video produced by ZenSeekers & Viva Voce for #NEAB #TakeItToTheLake
#CampMetisCrossing – support Canada’s newest Indigenous attraction, Métis Crossing – 1.5 hours north of Edmonton. Camp in a trapper’s tent, learn from indigenous interpreters and take it to the water via their Paddle into the Past adventure.
This is what your summer adventure could look like. This is what your winter adventure could look like.
After camping overnight in a trapper’s tent at Hideaway Adventure Grounds, in Kikino Métis Settlement, emerge to a forest alive with wonder.
Video produced by ZenSeekers & Viva Voce for #NEAB #TakeItToTheLake
Lac La Biche offers a host of original experiences, including some time at Hideaway Adventures, as referenced in this coverage to the region’s cultural connections.
FIND MORE TRANSFORMATIVE TRAVEL IDEAS. SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWS.
British Columbia
Similar to their Alberta counterpart, Indigenous Tourism BC makes supporting BC’s Indigenous visitor economy easy.
There are times in your life that you immediately feel the energy of a place and sense the importance - like the hike to the capital settlement of Kiixin. This site is the last of its kind still standing across southern BC.
Video produced by ZenSeekers with Nick Collar
Kiixin is one of the world’s leading Indigenous heritage sites. Kiixin is an ancient village dating back over 5,500 years where Huu-ay-aht knowledge keepers take you into the site via a guided experience. Take a sunset tour and come back transformed.
The Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks is a leading example of Indigenous rights and title expression. Program lead, Terry Dorward shares the story on how the parks were formed and how the world can support the protection and restoration to one of the world's most ancient gardens.
Video produced by Ben Giesbrecht, ZenSeekers
Tla-o-qui-aht’s Tribal Parks is a world leading example in laying title and claim to land that this first nation references as their “ancient gardens.” Learn from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, who encompasses Vancouver Island’s Tofino, via a hike into history via their Big Tree Trail
Kayak from the Toquaht First Nation shore at Secret Beach Campground as a pillar of radiant light illuminates the side of a nearby mountain - the earth has chosen to reward us for venturing out to a little known Vancouver Island gem.
Video produced by ZenSeekers & Old Growth Media for #IndigenousCoastBC
Support Toquaht First Nation’s rise in realizing the power of the visitor economy by staying at Camp Secret Beach. Experience a sunrise or sunset paddle. Check-in for an authentic island experience.
Future Forward
Canada’s residential school system, working to assimilate and decimate our countries’ original inhabitants, has left deep psychological scars across our home; for many of us Canada Day 2021 was cancelled and gave us time to reflect on past misjudgments.
We, at ZenSeekers, get excited when we learn of the over 400,000 people who have signed up for University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada course since early June 2021. If you haven’t had the chance to take it yet, please do. It’s offered free as an audit course. Learn more here.
Travel opens opportunities on both sides of the equation. While you gain from the experience, the money you spend on Indigenous small businesses and communities helps rebuild their language and culture. Through the rest of 2021, ZenSeekers challenges you to hit the road and reconcile through travel.
Book something today from the list of experiences above or find your own Indigenous experience, your new self and a more connected Canada thanks you.
