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Exploring First Nations Art in Vancouver
In recent years the acknowledgment of Vancouver sitting on the unceded land of three local Nations (the Musqueam, the Squamish, and the Tseil-Waututh) has opened the city up to really embracing the arts, the story, and the cultures of Canadaâs aboriginals â through art in public spaces, museums, galleries, and businesses.
Itinerary created by Ashley Pilfold
Discover a Master at The Bill Reid Gallery
Get lost in the stunning Museum of Anthropology
Savour Local Ingredients with Indigenous Cuisine
Unearth a Culture and a Land Paddling a Canoe
Wander through the Indigenous Street Art to get a new perspective
Let the Legendary Inukshuk Give You a Proper Welcome
Stay at the Indigenous Artist-in-Residence Hotel
The storytelling and sensory delights add a richness to Vancouverâs well known mountain/sea dynamic. Giving voice to a once silent history is a great way to honour a part of my heritage and push understanding and reconciliation. If you know this story, you know the story of Vancouver and Canada.
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Explore First Nations Art on the unceded territory of Coast Salish people
Discover a Master at The Bill Reid Gallery
Bill Reid was âjustâ a CBC radio announcer before he took a night-time goldsmith class at 24. Raised in a non-Indigenous family, he went back to his heritage as an adult to learn and study the stories and the art of his ancestors. While some consider it very controversial that he has brought these Haida stories to the masses, he also single-handedly revived the Haida style â designing pieces for royalty and even being commissioned to work on the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC shortly after. Of his more than 1500 works, from intricate jewelry to monumental, wall-sized pieces youâll find 161 of them right in dow
Read moreDiscover a Master at The Bill Reid Gallery
Visit the Bill Reid GalleryHosted by Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
Get lost in the stunning Museum of Anthropology
The special emphasis on First Nations artifacts of the Pacific Northwest are the anchor of this eclectic and compelling museum at the University of British Columbia. Thereâs two things that really get me here. First itâs the towering totem poles (a type of monumental carving with layered symbols) forged out of western red cedar, a nearly rot-proof wood which keeps the history noble in the now. Then itâs Bill Reidâs epic Raven and First Men sculpture, a Haida creation myth of humans in a clamshell brought to life in carved yellow cedar. Thereâs also two replica H
Read moreGet lost in the stunning Museum of Anthropology
Reserve your ticket.Hosted by Museum of Anthropology
Savour Local Ingredients with Indigenous Cuisine
When Iâm traveling my list of must-dos is usually topped by experiencing unique local cuisine and it doesnât get much more unique than Salmon nâ Bannock. Itâs not every day that you can feed your soul at a First Nations restaurant - but this is no schtick. Itâs a place where the flavours pop and local ingredients shine like nowhere else. The fire-red sockeye salmon ceviche and dried bison with bannock (a traditional bread) get the senses started with an almost tapas-like tinge to the meal, before mains like 24-hour roast bison or local game sausage clean up with an experience usually reserved for restaurants at a much higher price point. Over on the North Shor
Read moreSavour Local Ingredients with Indigenous Cuisine
Salmon and BannockHosted by Mr. Bannock
Unearth a Culture and a Land Paddling a Canoe
One of my favourite ways to discover Vancouver is on the water and what better way than on a 25 foot ocean-going cedar canoe? On these ecotours the experienced Coast Salish Nation guides at Takaya will show you local waterways singing traditional songs and telling stories of their peoples and territory in a modern context. What I love about this is that youâre involved in this âcultural handshakeâ right away - they give you a paddle and youâre instantly part of the motor propelling the tour forward. Itâs a bit like time travel with a history lesson and some fresh air and exercise - and you might even spot some orcas along the way. Takaya also does a very compe
Read moreUnearth a Culture and a Land Paddling a Canoe
Book a tours at Takaya ToursHosted by Takaya Tours
Wander through the Indigenous Street Art to get a new perspective
The beautifying of Vancouverâs urban space takes a traditional twist with some stunning indigenous street art that blurs the line between contemporary and classic forms - often in the form of massive murals - popping out when you least expect it. This first happened to me coming across Carrielynn Victorâs almost surreal Scolder Dives for Berries on a weekend wander a couple years back. I would later find out this was part of the Vancouver Mural Festivalâs Indigenous Program that has talented youth blanketing our city in amazing aboriginal art. Theyâve got a long list of spots bu
Read moreWander through the Indigenous Street Art to get a new perspective
Stroll around.Hosted by Vancouver Mural Festival
Let the Legendary Inukshuk Give You a Proper Welcome
This grey granite monolith by artist Alvin Kanak rises over the iconic downtown beach, English Bay, and was commissioned by the government of the Northwest Territories for Vancouverâs Expo 86. Today itâs arguably Vancouverâs most photographed piece of public art. The ancient Inuit symbol has a dual function as both a navigational aid and a welcoming landmark and was controversially an inspiration for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games logo. On the beach below you can try your hand at creating your own inukshuk - youâll see dozens of attempts (some good and some bad) balancing on boulders
Read moreLet the Legendary Inukshuk Give You a Proper Welcome
Take a short stopHosted by
Stay at the Indigenous Artist-in-Residence Hotel
I recently noticed this unique boutique hotel on a walk in Chinatown as itâs hard to miss a towering totem pole in the urban concrete. I went inside and found an art gallery and remember being particularly struck by an owl carving by Harvey John of the Nuu-Cha-Nulth Nation. This kind of stuff is churned out here daily as the hotel doubles as a social enterprise that directly funds its in-house artist residents. For the 24 indigenous artists here SkwachĂ ys Lodge isnât just a place for them to lay their head either - the income from your stay offers them a three year curated program and furnishes a full artist studio on site. Each room was conceptualized by a
Read moreStay at the Indigenous Artist-in-Residence Hotel
Book your stay at:Hosted by Skwachays Lodge Hotel
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