Destination Indigenous Blog

On a snowy trail in the Alberta Rockies near Canmore, Brenda Holder, owner of Mahikan Trails, pointed out some animal tracks and asked my brothers and me to identify which animal they came from. We each enthusiastically shouted our guesses while Holder patiently waited. In response, she taught us how to identify the tracks. As… 

Many of the winter activities that we know today hold immense significance in past and present Indigenous cultures across the country. Take, for example, snowshoeing. A fun, active winter pastime for most but in reality, snowshoes perfected by Indigenous communities throughout history were absolutely essential to the survival and the growth of Canada.  Similarly, the… 

The Original Original mark: If you look up the word ‘Indigenous’, you’ll find it has many synonyms, including ‘original.’ Many lay claim to being the ‘original.’ When someone makes that claim – to have been the first at something – we feel like we have something in common. We say to ourselves: this is a… 

If you could choose a once-in-a lifetime adventure, where would you want to go? North to watch the aurora borealis sparkle in the velvet-black skies? To Churchill, Manitoba to hone your dogsledding skills? What about a wilderness experience with breathtaking views journeying to the depths of B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest in search of the elusive… 

During harsh winter months Indigenous People in Canada don’t just survive, they thrive!  by Bianca Bujan   Josie’s Old Crow Adventures  Snuggle up by a fire on sparkling snow and gaze at the dancing lights above Old Crow in the Yukon. Immerse in Gwitchin Culture on the Yahkaii (Northern Lights) tour, “Guests taste my wife’s homemade… 

Ice bears and the aurora. Tundra willows just inches tall, set in a mosaic of moss and bright flowers. The North captivates with its sheer staggering beauty and its diversity—a true reflection of Canada. Experience the glory of the wilderness with these seven expert outfitters. As might be suspected from the name, Aurora Village also… 

For Indigenous people in the north, dog sleds provide not just transportation and companionship, but a way of life. While snowmobiles now offer an alternate mode of transportation across the snow and ice, dogsledding remains an important tradition. Dogsled teams are still used today as an effective and efficient way to get places, go on… 

Elsewhere in the world, winter is a time to wrap up and hide from the weather, but in Canada, it’s a season to embrace. And no one know how to have fun in the snow more than Indigenous peoples who have lived on their land for centuries.  Let them share these great ideas about how…