Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours

Name: Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours
Address: 1003B Island Highway, Campbell River, BC, CA
Telephone: +12509230602
Rating: 4.8

Home
Canada
Campbell River, BC
Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours

Campbell River's award-winning First Nation eco-tour operator
(47)

Address

1003B Island Highway
Campbell River, BC

Telephone

+12509230602

Website

http://homalcotours.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours:

Videos

A bird’s eye view 🦅 of a day at Homalco Wildlife & Cultural Tours 🎥 Tyler Cave

They say dream on 💫 so we dreamt! Celebrated the 3rd year of our unique boats!

Here’s a glimpse of what you might see on a bear tour with us this season! This little warrior is having the best day, and we’re sure that you will too. 🎥 Tyler Cave

Shortcuts

XWE’MALHKWU (Homalco)

We’re an award-winning Indigenous-led ecotourism company. We began operation in 2003, and have grown tremendously over the past 1o years. Our tours display the importance of the salmon in our ecosystem, providing food not only for the 30+ Grizzly bears that visit Orford Bay each year, but also for the Homalco people. In 2019, we were the proud recipient of the 2019 Exceptional Outdoor Cultural Experiences award at 2019 International Indigenous Tourism Conference (#2019IITC), and we also earned TripAdvisor’s “Certificate of Excellence.”

ABOUT XWE’MALHKWU (Homalco)

Homalco are known as the “people of the fast running waters,” and have traditionally lived along side of the Klahoose, Island Comox, Lakwiltok and Sliammon Nations. Homalco’s traditional territories run from Dent Island to Raza Passage, including all of Bute Inlet. The main village sites were on the Homathko River, Southgate river, Orford Bay and the areas at the mouth of Bute Inlet including Muushkin (Old Church-house) located on the South eastern shore of Sonora Island and Aupe lays new Church House.

The first missionaries to visit Xwe’malhkwu territory were the Oblate fathers in the late 1860’s. A sad history would begin for the Xwe’malhkwu people as it was at this time that they were forced to destroy all regalia, masks and carvings in their possession. Even more damaging to the Xwe’malhkwu people was that they were banned from holding ceremonies that included practicing traditional songs and dances. Our ancestors spoke their language in secret to avoid consequences from the oblate fathers. It was at this point that Xwe’malhkwu peoples learned and were to adopt Christian rituals.

By the early 1900’s Indian residential schools were formed and implemented by the federal government. This proves to be another sad piece of Xwe’malhkwu history as for generations children were taken and forced to attend these residential schools. At these schools Xwe’malhkwu people were physically, mentally and sexually abused. The loss of family units, culture and language are still an on-going issue that our community struggles with today.

Like other Coastal First Nation peoples, the Homalco were well provided with fish, seafood , housing, hunting and other necessities for everyday survival. Travelling with the seasons for gathering, hunting and fishing, the Homalco people utilized all the resources throughout the territory and, above all, were taught to respect the ever so sacred cedar tree. The cedar tree was an important part of every day life: it provided life to Homalco through clothing, shelter, baskets, canoes and hand tools as well as burial boxes.

Today the Homalco people are still stewards of the land. We rely on the resources throughout our territory and take great measures to ensure these resources are there for future generations to come.

We hope to welcome guests into our traditional territories, with the goal of creating advocates for our land and their own, as well as culture and language. We work diligently to revive and rekindle parts of our culture, namely through language, gatherings, and teachings, that were almost lost to us. By opening the doors to Homalco, we hope to spread interest and create memories for those who come to visit, while carrying forward our traditional ways of life for our youth.