Dance, song, food, wine, wilderness, and wellness: Indigenous Tourism BC announces virtual workshops for National Indigenous History Month
From cedar-weaving to smudging, free educational seminars explore local First Nations culture
Takaya Tours is an Indigenous owned eco-tourism venture that’s participating in Indigenous Tourism BC’s educational virtual workshops in June. Photo courtesy ITBC
JUNE IS NATIONAL INDIGENOUS History Month, with National Indigenous Peoples Day falling on June 21. In celebration of both, Indigenous Tourism BC is hosting a series of three educational virtual workshops.
A chance to learn about Indigenous culture, history, and tourism in the province, each one is free and open to the public.
The first, on June 15 at 2 pm Pacific time, is A Tasting of Indigenous Cultures. Featured guests are Squamish Nation second-generation chef Paul Natrall, founder of Mr. Bannock Indigenous Cuisine food truck, and Ryan Widdup, manager and sommelier of the Okanagan’s Indigenous World Winery. Natrall will share tips on making fry bread at home, while Widdup will delve into the craft at the 100-percent Indigenous-owned Syilx winery. (Registration is here.)
Celebrating Living Indigenous Arts & Culture happens June 17 at 2 pm Pacific time. Sara Fulla of Alert Bay’s U’mista Cultural Centre delves into the history and cultural significance of potlatches as well as the artistry inherent in cedar-weaving, song, and dance. Sierra Hall will tune in from Spirit Bear Lodge in the remote Great Bear Rainforest of Klemtu. During her appearance, Hall will share insight into how the lodge fosters a connection to land and place, whether it’s through harvesting traditional foods, viewing petroglyphs, or witnessing wildlife. (Registration is here.)
On June 22 at 2 pm Pacific time, it’s Honouring Wellness. Frank Antoine, co-founder of the Okanagan’s Moccasin Trails, will host a smudging ceremony, and attendees will learn about the colonization of Indigenous wellness practices. Dennis Thomas of Takaya Tours, an Indigenous owned eco-tourism venture, will look at how nature and sustainability, from an Indigenous perspective, contribute to social well-being. (Register here.)
“We’re thrilled to host our first-ever virtual workshops in celebration of National Indigenous History Month,” Brenda Baptiste, chair of the non-profit ITBC, said in a release. “We’ve secured a group of exceptional individuals who will share their stories, and we invite participants across BC and abroad to dive deeper into prominent themes of Indigenous cultures. While travel restrictions are in place, we hope these online events will inspire the community to learn now and visit later to support Indigenous businesses and experience our history and traditions firsthand.”
Included on each event page are links to purchase related products, including sage sticks for smudging and Mr. Bannock’s Bannock at Home mixes, or to reserve future travel experiences.
For more information, visit ITBC.
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