Apart from museums and cultural centres, another great way to delve in and learn about Aboriginal culture is through authentic cultural tourism experiences. Cultural tourism businesses are either majority owned and/or operated by Aboriginal peoples, or are sustainable tourism businesses that work closely with Aboriginal communities to create authentic cultural experiences. The Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (ATAC) highlights the need for collaboration, honesty and respect in all areas of cultural tourism; respect not only for Aboriginal peoples but also their traditional territories.
For your next trip seek out websites such as AtBC or Sustainable Tourism which highlight sustainable tourism businesses focused on providing authentic Aboriginal cultural experiences. Some of which include:
Xwisten Experience Tours
They are 100% owned and operated by the Xwisten (Bridge River Indian Band), and as a community business they strive to employ people within their community. They offer fishing tours which teach people about their history and the importance of fish in their culture. Their archaeological village tours show the importance and history of the sites to their people.