Modern Access to Ancient Lands

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:- Aboriginal Tourism BC has a one stop shopping website for driving and sight seeing tours throughout the province. Traditional feasts of authentic regional dishes; canoe, kayak, rafting or jet boat tours; rugged outdoor adventure or beautiful cities surrounded by nature and rich culture each tour is enhanced with Aboriginal influences.

An adventure trip takes on moments of magic when paddling with First Nation guides singing traditional songs, telling stories and pointing out ancient village sites. Guided wildlife viewing of killer whales, dolphins, porpoises, eagles, seals, sea lions and in fall the viewing of Grizzly bears feeding on spawning salmon is interwoven with stories of transformation, each creature a character in early creation stories. A hike in pristine rainforest or along a cool mountain stream becomes a lesson in the interrelationship of "all that fly and swim and crawl."

Whether the trip includes horseback riding, mountain biking and swimming in the summer, or snowshoe tours in the winter months, the experience will be infused with a perspective that will resonate within, a reminder that we are part of the natural world.

For those who prefer luxury over adventure, there are First Nations run casinos, cultural centers, hotels, golf courses and a winery all in beautiful settings.

For those traveling to specific areas within British Columbia, a selection of seven separate itineraries include Exploring Vancouver and outlying areas; Mountains, Lakes & Wine Country covering Mission, Harrison Hot Springs, Osoyoos, and Cranbrook; Vancouver Island & Sunshine Coast Explorer; Southern Vancouver Island; North Vancouver Island & North Coast Discovery; Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Explorer featuring Port Hardy, Klemtu, Bella Coola, and Williams Lake; and Mountain & Lake Splendour with Banff, Lake Louise, Radium Hot Springs Region, Golden and Chase.

The planner makes it easy to sample ancestral cuisine such as cornbread bannock and authentic regional dishes cooked over a green-alderwood grill, including barbecued salmon, oysters, prawns, venison, elk, wild rice, steamed ferns and sweet potato. A wide range of entertainment and educational options feature dancers in traditional regalia, drumming presentations, storytellers and artists.

Visits to longhouses, totem poles, museum and community walks as well as cultural workshops help visitors gain a unique perspective. View impressive art work and watch native carvers craft traditional totem poles in an open-air carving shed. Numerous gift shops provide an outlet for native crafts such as carving, bead work, knitting and stitchery.

When the day ends, accommodations range from a cozy log cabin with a queen size log bed, to a teepee, aboriginal owned hotel, resort, wilderness lodge, small inn or bed & breakfast.

For more information on the array of Aboriginal cultural and nature experiences available in British Columbia, visit www.aboriginalbc.com.

To view itineraries, click Travelling in BC, then choose from suggested itineraries. Each of the experiences can be reviewed in more detail, and each tourism operator can be reached directly to provide more information by clicking on Aboriginal Experiences and navigating through the array of possibilities.