Around 50 nations and 200 communities of First Nations live in British Columbia making it the region with the highest diversity of First Nations. Visitors can savor a wide array of traditional and cultural experiences in British Columbia.
The Northern BC which is covered with mountains and forest is home to a number of First Nations like, NisgaÂ’a, Dene Thah, Haida, Tlingit, Dunne-za, Tsimshian, Gitxsan, Carrier Sekania, Kaska, etc. Northern BC has become world famous due to the huge totem poles.
There are many galleries, museums, cultural centers, wide tours, Aboriginal villages for the tourists to enjoy. On the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast, wilderness tours are arranged from which you can visit a native village site, have a lunch of Aboriginal food and enjoy other adventure sports like mountain biking, ocean kayaking, fishing, hiking, etc.
The beautiful Kootenay Rockies is the territory of Kootenay First Nations. Tourists can enjoy the wilderness and pristine surroundings by staying in top class wild resorts or isolated lodges. There are many Aboriginal centers, where you can learn about the Aboriginals, view or buy their art. You can also learn to make Aboriginal arts like totem, dream catcher, masks, etc.
Vancouver and Whistler were the hosts to the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, giving a boom to the Aboriginal tourism here. The region is completely inhabited by Coast Salish First Nations. Tourists can experience many guided tours, workshops and festivals of the Aboriginals here. Thompson Okanagan region has a diversified landscape ranging from semi-arid deserts, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests to cultivated land and wilderness parks. Secwepemc, Okanagan and NLaka’pamux are the First Nations that live here. The tourists can visit the sweat lodges, pit houses (kekuli), storytelling and craft making workshops, etc.
There are many cultural centers across British Columbia where you can experience and learn about the Aboriginal heritage. Haida Heritage Centre on the Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) features the 12,000 year old distinct history of the Haida First Nation. A traditional Haida village, with longhouses, totem poles is created for the visitors to actually experience the history. Traditional dances and performances are also arranged for the visitors. The centre also houses a museum, artist teaching centre, carving shed, gift shops where you can buy Haida masks, totems and other arts. Other centers like Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, Museum of Anthropology, Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre also feature Aboriginal traditions and arts.
