The following story is written by myself, Jonny Bierman of Eco Escape Travel from Vancouver, BC, and I would like to recognize that it is written on the traditional territory of the Musqueam, Skxwú7mesh, and Tsleil-Waututh Indigenous people.

As a sustainable travel journalist, content creator, and photographer, I’ve had the opportunity of discovering culture in some of the furthest corners of our beautiful world. In these journeys, Indigenous culture–no matter where I find it, has always been among my favourite paths of discovery. Whether it be at 17,000 ft in the Peruvian Andes, in Indonesia’s Sumatran jungle, or in the depths of the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, the history, knowledge, perseverance, and welcoming nature of Indigenous people in their communities has always fascinated and inspired me. 

Little did I know, I could also venture no further than a 20-minute bike ride out my front door and also find transformational Indigenous journeys in my backyard of Vancouver, BC. 

Many Canadians think they need to leave Canada in order to find culture, which is understandable because, in comparison to other countries, Canada can seem quite young. On paper and in the textbooks I was taught from as a child, yes, we are young. But some of the oldest known discoveries of human settlements have been found on these lands long before ‘Canada’ was a thing, and these date Indigenous peoples back over 13,000+ years. Not so young now are we! 

In a time where Canadians are discovering their own backyards more than ever, Vancouverites and British Columbians need to look no further than the lands in which they live to discover culture, and lucky for us, Destination Indigenous provides us with the tools to find Indigenous Experiences in Canada. 

Welcome to my 48-hour urban getaway in Vancouver!

I think of Indigenous tourism in four parts: there’s the adventure, there’s the history, there’s the art, and there’s the Indigenous food to fuel it all. As someone who loves to learn, eat and explore, I’m certainly in my element!

Our guide Deanna from Talaysay Tours took us on the Talking Trees Tour guided hike in Stanley Park, also traditionally known as Xwayxway (pronounced qwhy qwhy). Vancouverites: you think you know Stanley Park? I can guarantee that you don’t and won’t until you learn its healing powers, spiritual connections, and history as the gathering, meeting, and trading grounds it was for the thousands of years before colonial arrival. All of the flora and fauna you walk and ride past have a property of purpose in some capacity. This is the Indigenous people’s pantry, medicine cabinet, place of worship, and home. Deanna did an excellent job explaining to us information about this beautiful place that will leave me never looking at Stanley Park the same. Plus, I now know how to filter water through skunk cabbage, paint with rotting Red Cedar, and cure acne and boils as well as dry fruit using slahal berries. 

One way to have a truly immersive experience in nature and culinary is to try food that is made using plants that surround you. This is one of my favourite things to do when I travel and on this day, we topped off our Talaysay Tour with a visit to Vancouver’s only Indigenous owned and operated restaurant (and also rated #3 out of 2,522 restaurants in Vancouver on TripAdvisor), Salmon n’ Bannock. We enjoyed candied salmon (one of my favourite treats!), bannock with cedar jelly, bannock flatbread, and salmon dinner. (I highly recommend buying a jar of cedar jelly to take home!). Whether you’re out for an Indigenous experience or not, Salmon n’ Bannock should be on your must-dine-at list in Vancouver. They do takeout, UberEats, and their newly renovated dine-in restaurant has opened on July 31, 2020.

Indigenous communities throughout the Lower Mainland and coastal BC are made up of many different nations, but all identity as Coast Salish People largely due to their strong connection with the sea for transportation, hunting, and trading. And in a city surrounded by the sea, an Indigenous experience in Vancouver would not be complete without taking to the ocean in a kayak or canoe. Takaya Tours offers kayak rentals at two locations and the owner, Dennis, is a pioneer with Indigenous tourism and a leader among his Nation. Nature seems to be drawn to Dennis, so it was no surprise that two bald eagles connected the sky to us as Dennis drummed on the beach.

Once again we worked up an appetite and once again, we connected Indigenous history and adventure with Indigenous culinary at Mr. Bannock’s food truck. We indulged in delicious bannock game meat burgers, Indigenous chicken and waffles, and desserts in another Indigenous culinary stop that should not be missed. Order Mr. Bannock is on DoorDash or see him in-person in North Vancouver. 

Finally, we finished our second day learning about perhaps one of the most important visual representations in storytelling and history, Indigenous art at the Bill Reid Gallery. This gallery is Canada’s only public art gallery dedicated to contemporary Indigenous art of the Northwest Coast. It honours Bill Reid who was a Haida artist and activist who pieced together and saved Heida art that was taken from them in years past. 

Further to these experiences, a 48-hour urban getaway in Vancouver can be complemented with a visit to Vancouver’s only Indigenous hotel + art gallery, Skwatchay’s Lodge Hotel & Gallery, and a visit to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (at the time of writing, Skwatchay’s Lodge was temporarily closed for accommodation but the gallery is very much open and welcoming visitors). Both further detail art and artifacts in a connection that needs to be made with any Indigenous urban getaway or Indigenous experience. 

Plan your Destination Indigenous escape from home at www.destinationindigenous.ca and with Indigenous BC.

These experiences were compliments of Destination Indigenous and all opinions and reflections are my own. Many thanks to Destination Indigenous for connecting me with these experiences, people, culture, and lands.