British Columbia has an abundance of spectacular wildlife viewing, set in pristine wilderness that soothes the mind and leaves virtually every visitor with a sense of wonder. Travelers' spirits recharge while paddling in the Pacific Coast realm of the Orca or Killer Whale, viewing black, kermode and grizzly bears, dolphins, porpoises, eagles, seals, sea lions and several species of giant whale. Days are immersed in First Nations culture, communing with nature and the spirits of Native ancestors, followed by nights in comfortable lodging, the sky blanketed with starlight undiminished by city lights. These are just some of the experiences offered by British Columbia's Aboriginal tourism operators, heritage centres, and accommodations.

Wildlife viewing with First Nations operators offers a unique opportunity to connect with natural beauty, old growth forests, and pictographs, as seen through the eyes of people whose ancestors have lived there for thousands of years. Guests may sea kayak with whales and other marine mammals while learning traditional ways, or walk the shore looking for starfish and sea-urchins in the crystal clear waters while learning about historical methods of selection and harvesting. While enjoying all the comforts of contemporary life, modern explorers will begin to see the nature around them through different eyeglasses, understanding the balance and inter-relationship of all things as the Aboriginal people always have.

Visitors who enter BC's rugged and remote Great Bear Rainforest with First Nations guides will travel in small groups by motorboat to explore the cultural and ecological wonders of the area and sleep in cozy wilderness cabins. You may catch a glimpse of bears with rich coats shaded chocolate, cinnamon and blonde as well as the more traditional black color. When the salmon are spawning, these glorious creatures mingle, hang out and feed in considerable numbers along one of countless streams and rivers. You will learn about the significance of the elusive Kermode or Spirit Bear in Native culture of the area, and hear stories, both ancient and contemporary, about eagles, whales and other wildlife, told from a traditional perspective.

Gwaii Hanaas National Park Tops National Geographic Traveler Poll
The National Geographic Sustainable Destinations Resource Center recently conducted a survey of 55 national parks in the U.S. and Canada, spearheaded by National Geographic Traveler Geotourism Editor, Jonathan Tourtellot. Three hundred expert panelists in such fields as park management, archaeology, and historic preservation conducted a thorough review --- with some unexpected results.

British Columbia's Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site was the top scorer, even though Tourtellot had not previously known of its existence. Located in the Queen Charlotte Islands, also known as Haida Gwaii, off BC's central Pacific coast, the park welcomes only 3,000 visitors each year. It is remote and still pristine, unlike many of the better known national parks in North America. There are no roads in the park, making access possible only by boat, kayak, or floatplane.

With over 50% of the employees from the Haida Nation, there is an obvious inter-relatedness between the land and its people. In the Queen Charlotte Islands and in Gwaii Hanaas National Park visitors can experience the living culture of the Haida people, and gain an increased respect for the sacred and spiritual values illustrated everywhere in the area.

Native-run Haida Expeditions offers guided tours to Gwaii Hanaas National Park, as well as to the towns of Masset and Sandspit, with interpretation of history, culture and arts. Aayoo also customizes tours and takes sports fishermen and women on an unforgettable trip to catch salmon or halibut. Appropriately, aay oo means "fish jumping" in the Haida language.

In many parts of the province, aboriginal guides escort guests to sacred petroglyphs, pictographs and ancient village sites. Along the coast they guide kayak tours along shoreline routes used as ocean highways long used by humpback, gray, and minke whales in their migrations north or south. Don't be surprised if the distinctive Orca becomes an occasional escort to your exploration!

In the Cariboo Chilcotin region of central British Columbia, a guided hike will take guests through the spectacular scenery of a semi-arid desert canyon carved by the Chilcotin River, surrounded by hoodoo formations and sweet smelling sagebrush. If you are lucky, you will spot Big Horn Sheep overlooking your arrival in their territory. Among the sites shared are ancient pictographs, startling sand dunes, and historic ranch locations.

From time immemorial, the land has fed the First Nations people. They knew which plants to harvest for medicine, which ones would nourish them through the winter, where to find the best root plants, which pine trees bore nuts, and where to pick the best berries. Even today, elders teach their youth how to prepare foods the way they were taught. In sophisticated culinary circles, "fresh, regional and seasonal" are the key words. Indigenous peoples have always lived their lives around the food cycles of the seasons, and the best of current First Nations cuisine is a reflection of this.

For a truly traditional setting, one can enjoy a Longhouse dinner feast and traditional dance performance in the village of Chehalis, a short distance from the resort town of Harrison Hot Springs and a 1.5 hour drive east of Vancouver. This is the Longhouse of the Charlie family, used for the community's traditional ceremonies throughout the year. These feasts are evocative of the coastal potlatch tradition, with guests treated to a dance, singing and drumming presentation, as well as a chance to sample a traditional meal of either salmon or stew with bannock bread and other indigenous foods.

The Riverwalk Café at the Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre on south Vancouver Island has created a delicious menu using traditional ingredients such as rabbit, salmon, venison, buffalo, and halibut. Most dishes have also been given traditional names, offering diners a fun chance to learn a few words in the local language.

In the south central part of the province, near the town of Osoyoos on the US border, is the award-winning winery, Nk'Mip Cellars, North America's first Aboriginal-owned and -operated winery. Situated on a benchland overlooking the shores of Osoyoos Lake, the winery is adjacent to a tract of natural desert land with the vineyards and orchards provide a stunning contrast. The architecture is designed and constructed to display Native art and artifacts, and enhance the beauty and unique nature of the wild sage desert surroundings. The Osoyoos Band shares its history and traditions with all who visit the winery.