Cultural Travel in First Nations Canada
Take a Jet Boat Tour and Then Visit Hats’ull Heritage Village
Aug 17, 2009
In British Columbia alone there are nearly 200 First Nations, and each band has its own unique traditions, history and language. Here is a glimpse of the Shuswap people and how they lived in the Cariboo Chilcotin region.
First Nations Canada
Xats’ull people have inhabited the area north of Williams Lake for more than 5,000 years. To learn more about the culture of the Soda Creek Band, as non-Natives call them, the below itinerary will take travellers on a journey along the Fraser River and into the heart of the culture at the Xats’ull Heritage Village.
Jet Boat Tour on the Fraser River
Starting 15-minutes west of Williams Lake, BC, Doug Green takes guests out in his 27-foot jet boat. The Fraser River is a mighty beast, but Doug’s expertise makes the trip an enjoyable foray into the wilderness. There is not much of anything but backcountry on this part of the river, so always keep an eye open for wildlife.
Along the way, Doug digs into his Cree and Tsilhqot’in (Chilcotin) heritage to tell stories about the area. He even found a undiscovered petroglyph of stick figures along the shore one day while he was hunting. Interestingly, one of them was painted white, which some believe represents Simon Fraser (the namesake of the river) and his partnership with the First Nations people.
Travel Details:
- Doug’s company is called Cariboo Chilcotin Jetboat Adventures and has a variety of jet boats that run the Fraser, Chilcotin and Chilko rivers. A 15-passenger van tour that can cover Farwell Canyon, Alkali Lake and back roads around Soda Creek is also available.
- Transportation to and from Williams Lake is available upon request.
- Most of the river tours run from June to September.
Traditional Shuswap Indian Village
After making it up the Fraser River, make sure to stop in at the Xats’ull Heritage Village for lunch and a tour. The traditional village is a recreation where visitors can see how the Xats’ull people used to live. Note that the tipis are the only non-authentic additions, as they were imported for German tourists who followed the writing of Karl May (he never set foot in the west so made up his stories using a vivid imagination and some research).
Unique things to do at Xats’ull Heritage Village:
- Site tour with viewing of the ancient petroglyphs left by aboriginal people up to 4,000 years ago.
- Speak with elders, hear their stories and learn how to make First Nations crafts and skills like tanning deer hide.
- Take part in a sweat lodge for a spiritual cleanse.
- Participate in workshops like Secwepemc language study, traditional ceremonies and traditional dancing.
- Guests can camp out in the tipis, indulge in First Nations food and take part in daily activities.
Cariboo Chilcotin Travel
For assistance planning a trip to this region, contact Cariboo Chilcotin Tourism (250-392-2226 or 1-800-663-5885) and Vancouver Coast & Mountain Tourism (604-739-9011 or 1-800-667-3306).
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