Many people wish to expand their knowledge and awareness of Indigenous history and culture, but are unsure where and how to do so respectfully. A good place to start is to spend time immersed in the places and stories that hold significant value and meaning for First Nations communities. 

Snuneymuxw history can be seen, heard, and felt throughout the city, offering the opportunity for a transformative experience to learn about and experience First Nations traditions. 

Around Nanaimo, you can find carved petroglyphs, welcome poles, and portals. You can walk the island of Saysutshun with an Indigenous tour guide and learn about its cultural significance. You can also learn about Snuneymuxw history and support Indigenous-run businesses.

Ready to discover more? Here’s our suggestion for a weekend exploring First Nations culture in Nanaimo.

Day 1 

Morning

After breakfast, head for the Nanaimo Museum, where there is a permanent exhibit showcasing Coast Salish and Snuneymuxw culture. The exhibit includes examples of indigenous art and culturally significant objects such as spindle whorls, stone carvings, and clothing.

The museum’s gift store contains work from local indigenous artists for sale, a great way to show your support for these craftspeople.

Next:

Walk around the harbour walking path until you reach Maffeo Sutton Park, where you can catch the seasonal ferry over to Saysutshun. On the way, be sure to stop and view the 49-foot-high Maffeo Sutton Park Welcome Pole. The pole, created by Snuneymuxw master carver Noel Brown and installed in 2021, acknowledges Swy’a’ Lana as a historic First Nations village site.

Saysutshun, which is now a protected Provincial Park, has been a place of significant importance to the Snuneymuxw for generations. Not only did families live there during the winter months, but it is a place associated with both physical and spiritual healing.

Pre-book onto a cultural walking tour where you’ll hear from a Snuneymuxw guide about why the island is so significant to their people. Learn about the importance of the herring run, how plants that still grow on the island today are used for traditional medicines, and hear stories about the island that were passed down by elders.

Lunch

Stop for a bite to eat at Troller’s on Land, Saysutshun’s on-site restaurant. Crispy fish and chips can be taken to go and enjoyed on one of the island’s many beaches.

Afternoon

Spend a little longer exploring some of the 22km of trails that map the island. From the dappled shade of wooded paths to rocky coastlines and sandy beaches, there are many spots to enjoy and explore.

Head back over to downtown Nanaimo on the ferry and pick up your vehicle for the short drive south to the Petroglyph Provincial Park. Just a few steps off the highway in a forested park, you’ll find some stunning examples of Indigenous rock carvings – Petroglyphs – that are thought to be over 1,000 years old. Interpretive panels explain the carvings, which feature wolf-like creatures, fish, and human figures.

Evening 

Enjoy a relaxed dinner in one of downtown Nanaimo’s many restaurants or bars. Options range from fresh seafood at The View Oceanside Grill to wood-fired pizza at La Stella Trattoria in the Old City Quarter and plenty of other delicious options.

After dinner, over 19 year olds can visit Casino Nanaimo*, which is now owned by Snuneymuxw First Nation. The casino, which is located on the former Xwesol’ewol Village site, provides job opportunities and financial stability to the community.

*Know your limit, play within it.

Stay overnight at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in downtown Nanaimo. Snuneymuxw First Nation is the majority owner of this hotel, and the property is filled with original artwork that tells stories of the land it is built on and allows visitors to engage with First Nations history in an immersive way. Artwork by Ay Lelum Good House of Design tells the story of ‘Woolly Dogs’ and their importance to indigenous people. 

Day 2

Morning

After breakfast in your hotel, drive or take the number 20 bus to Departure Bay. This popular beach recreation spot was previously the site of a winter village and burial ground for the Snuneymuxw people. 

Grab a take-out drink from Drip Coffee and stroll the raised beachside walkway where you can view two significant pieces of Coast Salish art. At the south end of the beach are dual totems joined by a steel frog-shaped gateway, and at the north end, a heritage portal of three carved posts. These pieces face the ocean, as they would have traditionally, to welcome visitors arriving via the water.

On your way back to downtown Nanaimo, stop into Bowen Park to see the ‘Totem’s going back to the earth’. These five totem poles had stood in the park for several decades; however, as they aged, the decision was made to lay them down so they may slowly return to the earth, reflecting the life cycle and connection to the land.

Back in downtown Nanaimo, hop aboard the 20-minute ferry ride to Gabriola Island, Nanaimo’s neighbouring island with a rich Indigenous history, artistic community, and abundance of natural wonders.

Afternoon

Start with lunch. Stop for a sandwich or wrap at Mad Rona’s Coffee Bar in the Village Centre to fuel up for an afternoon of exploration and learning.

First stop is Gabriola Museum and its Petroglyph Park. Here you can view replicas of 70+ Snuneymuxw rock carvings that have been found across the island. Most of the original carvings, which are hundreds of years old, had lain undiscovered until the 1970s when Gabriola’s population began to rise.

Then, follow North Road to S’ul-Hween X’pey (Elder Cedar) Community Park, a 160-acre nature reserve featuring a 1.8km loop of boardwalk that takes you through forest and wetlands via several of the last remaining mature Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar trees on the island. 

The park lands were gifted to the Island’s Trust Conservatory by the Snuneymuxw First Nation, allowing for its protection and enjoyment by all.

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring Gabriola’s natural wonders, such as the Malaspina Galleries, sandstone rocks shaped into a giant wave from centuries of ocean wear.

Evening

Take the ferry back into Nanaimo and enjoy a final meal at one of our waterfront restaurants, such as Penny’s Palapa (a seasonal floating cantina in the boat basin) or the Lighthouse Bistro, before you head home. 

As you leave, take a moment to reflect on all you’ve seen and experienced at these culturally significant landmarks and locations.