Funding: 

Indigenous Voices of Vancouver Island is a five-episode limited podcast series that showcases Indigenous Entrepreneurs working in the travel industry on Vancouver Island. In their own voices, they share their inspiration, culture, traditions and hopes for visitors to Vancouver Island.

Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Episode one

In this episode, ‘Journey with our Ancestors’, three Indigenous guided cultural tours and excursions are profiled. Host Tchadas Leo gets up close and personal with some grizzly bears, goes on the kayaking trip of a lifetime, ventures across the Salish Sea, and comes away with a deep appreciation of these magnificent lands and waters. Tchadas is of the Homalco First Nation, and Trevor Jang, the writer, is of Witset First Nation. In this episode we meet Wisqii from Huu-ay-aht Nation. Gary Wilson is from Kimsquit First Nation (Bella Coola) and Chris Tait is a spokesperson for the Klahoose First Nation. The Cover Art is the work of Ivy Cargill Martin from Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

Kiixin Tours | West Coast Expeditions | Klahoose Wilderness Resort

Traditional salmon bake with the local First Nations community on Spring Island south of Brooks Peninsula

Episode two

In this second episode of Indigenous Voices of Vancouver, ‘Food of Life’, we continue our journey with host Tchadas Leo traveling in the steps of the ancestors. Indigenous cultures influence almost every facet of life on the island today, and that definitely includes the local cuisine. In this episode, we speak to people who are making their mark through Indigenous inspired food. In Port Alberni we meet Lance Dodding of the Qualicum First Nation; Chef at Barebones Fish and Chips, and in Tofino we speak with Stevie Dennis, of the Ashouhat First Nation who harvests the seas for both Domestic and International markets.

Bare Bones Fish House & Smokery | Naas Foods

Close up of a cedar branch with water droplets.

Episode three

The third episode of Indigenous Voices of Vancouver Island , titled ‘Destinations’, takes listeners north, to the traditional territory of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. Host, Tchadas Leo, visits some magnificent wilderness destinations to help us understand just how special the north end of Vancouver Island is, as well as taking in BC’s world renowned Great Bear Rainforest.

In Port Hardy, the gateway to authentic, unspoiled natural adventure, we join lead guide Mike Willie of the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw First Nations for wildlife viewing with Coastal Rainforest Safaris. In the town of Campbell River, traditional territory of the Wei Wai Kum First Nation, part of the Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, we board a float plane to the Great Bear Rainforest with Brian Collen, General Manager of Knight Inlet Lodge.

Coastal Rainforest Safaris | Knight Inlet Lodge

Mike Willie showing guests a spot on the tree with grizzly bear fur,  Sea Wolf Adventures Tour -ITBC

Episode four

In the fourth episode of Indigenous Voices of Vancouver Island, Tchadas Leo goes home of sorts. As a member of the Homalco First Nation, Tchadas’ pride in his coastal routes shines through as he shares his return to his traditional territory. In this episode he visits Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours for an in-depth experience in his history, culture and conservation efforts around local grizzly bear populations.

Following that, he makes a quick visit to an Indigenous art gallery in Comox that is empowering the arts and culture scene for Indigenous artists from many Nations up and down the west coast. In this episode we hear from Cheyanne Trenholm of the Homalco First Nation about Homalco Wildlife and Cultural Tours and from Ramona Johnson, of the K’omoks First Nation and Manager of I-Hos Gallery.

Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours | I-Hos Gallery

View of the design you see from the road of I-Hos Gallery - ITBC

Episode five

The final episode of Indigenous Voices of Vancouver Island takes listeners on two adventures into the magnificence that is Vancouver Island, and highlights the resilience of its First Nations. In this series we have heard the pride of Indigenous people and how, through their businesses, they have found ways to move people forward while preserving the environment. The warmth that visitors to Vancouver Island experience and the pride in what has been restored and built has come through in every word of the journey Tchadas Leo has shared.

In this final episode, Tchadas visits an adventure tourism company based on Quadra Island, and then takes a breathtaking electric bike ride between Ucluelet and Tofino along a new forest trail to white sand beaches on the western edge of North America. He meets Jenefer Smalley, a member of the The Métis Nation of BC, and Gordon Taylor of Ucluelet First Nation.

Wild Waterways Adventures | T-Bird E-Bike Rentals

 

View of the design you see from the road of I-Hos Gallery - ITBC

Thank you for sharing this journey in the ancestors footsteps, a production of Everything Podcasts, sponsored by 4VI. A social enterprise in business to ensure travel is a force for good for Vancouver Island – forever.

As part of StrongerBC: British Columbia’s Economic Recovery Plan, the Targeted Regional Tourism Initiative (TRTDI) is one of three infrastructure investment programs that funded this project. 4VI is appreciative of the opportunity to develop this project, produced by Everything Podcasts.

 

Eco-Tourism | Indigenous Tourism

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