Within a Coast Salish Sea

February-March 2004

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Souie Gorup

Western Canoeing & Kayaking’s Northern Dancer composite hull is a popular alternative for bands wanting a low maintenance canoe in traditional form.

One of the key reasons people visit the Pacific Northwest is to experience the First Nations cultures of the coast. But strange as it may sound, there are no First Nations tourism businesses in the southern Gulf Islands area. It has been left to non-native kayak guides and other tourism operators to provide casual, secondhand interpretation.

With rising public awareness of the rich cultural heritage of First Nations, demand for this experience is rising. Modern visitors have a high interest in historical sightseeing and desire educational experiences as part of their vacation.

Recently, tourism support groups and Parks Canada have started to build a support framework that will ultimately lead to the development of First Nations tourism businesses in the area.

The federal-provincial agreement that established Gulf Islands National Park Reserve in May 2003, mandates embracing First Nations cultures and partnership opportunities. Because of the marine aspect of this park, an interpretive boat tour business for First Nations has recently been the subject of a cooperative business planning exercise. The result is a generic business plan and feasibility study now available to First Nations.

Emerging from these discussions, a gathering was held in September 2003 to explore what cultural interpretation means to the Coast Salish people. Heritage resource management guidelines—such as what cultural features and spiritual practices are felt non-invasive for First Nations to share with the public and package for presentation and educational tourism purposes— were identified and expanded upon.

There is excellent market potential for tourism opportunities in the southern Gulf Islands area. Regional market trends in the peak season indicate a high number of international visitors from Europe, the US and Asia/Pacific, in addition to the sizable regional market of six million people (Vancouver, Victoria, Seattle).

Integral to the success of an interpretive tour will be the ability to create an experience that connects visitors with professionally trained First Nations guides and interpreters. First Nations hosts should be able to welcome the visitor into their world through the use of traditional protocols such as language, story telling, facts and perceptions of past and present, and opportunities for viewing historical and natural features. In this way will First Nations interpretive tourism products remain legitimate, authentic and valid.

The newly established Gulf Island National Park Reserve and the reputation of the Parks Canada system are expected to increase visitation to the region. Whether it be within a national park reserve or outside, there are interpretive opportunities for First Nations tour operators in the areas of human and natural history, ecology, and recreational and cultural activities. First Nations, in partnership with agencies like Parks Canada, will work together to expand cultural interpretive opportunities in the future. Stay tuned as our Coast Salish Tourism Strategy continues to develop.

© Souie Gorup, a Mi’kmaq from Nova Scotia, graduated from McGill University in Montreal and worked for many years with the James Bay Cree and Inuit. Since coming west she has worked with the Coast Salish communities of Southern Vancouver Island. She recently joined Parks Canada as First Nations Liaison where she works with the communities to explore cooperative working opportunities in the natural and cultural resources areas, planning and tourism development. To reach her: 250-654-7555 or souie.gorup@pc.gc.ca.