Help Your Clients Discover the Indigenous Side of Quebec

The beat of drums and the sound of music echoes around me as I walk along a lighted pathway in a patch of forest just outside Quebec City. Onhwa’ Lumina is an immersive multisensory storytelling experience with stunning lights and music that celebrates the culture of the Huron-Wendat Nation. It is one of several Indigenous tourism experiences offered in Wendake, a Huron-Wendat settlement less than a half hour's drive from the heart of Old Quebec City.

There are many Indigenous tourism experiences in the province of Quebec, close to the province’s top tourism destinations and attractions. These authentic tourism experiences support Indigenous communities, foster cultural understanding and preservation and help to promote reconciliation. They also provide memorable experiences for travellers. Here are just a few of the top Indigenous Tourism Experiences for clients who are visiting Quebec. You can find more listings and details of authentic Indigenous tourism experiences by visiting the Indigenous Tourism Quebec website or the Destination Indigenous website produced by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).

Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec and there are many excellent Indigenous tourism experiences in and around the city. The Montreal Museum of Fine Art (MMFA) is the largest art museum in Canada, and it has a wonderful Indigenous art collection. ᐆᒻᒪᖁᑎᒃ uummaqutik is the newest Indigenous exhibit. Clients can also visit the First Nations Garden at the Montréal Botanical Garden, one of the largest and most impressive botanical gardens in the world. The First Nations Garden focuses on First Nations activities related to the plant world and Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants. Clients can enjoy Indigenous cuisine at The Roundhouse Café or while attending the annual International First Peoples’ Festival in August. The Kanien’kehá:ka reserve of Kahnawá:ke Nation is a 30-minute drive from downtown Montréal and there are restaurants, shops and attractions there as well as an annual Echoes of a Proud Nation Pow Wow in mid-July.

Quebec City

There are many Indigenous tourism experiences to choose from in and around the capital of Quebec. Book your clients an overnight stay at Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations, an Indigenous owned and operated hotel in nearby Wendake, which is less than a 30-minute drive from the heart of Old Quebec City. While in Wendake, clients can visit the Huron-Wendat Museum and the Ekionkiestha’ Traditional Longhouse, explore Onhoüa Chetek8e Traditional Huron Site and enjoy Onhwa’ Lumina, an immersive storytelling night walk. There are also many places where they can purchase authentic Indigenous arts and crafts – both in Wendake and in Quebec City. Clients can enjoy traditional Indigenous cuisine at Sagamité restaurant, with two locations – one in Old Quebec and another in Wendake.

(Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)

Gatineau

Located on the north bank of the Ottawa River, directly across from Canada’s capital city, Gatineau is home to the Canadian Museum of History, which is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabeg. Canada’s national history museum houses the largest collection of Indigenous artefacts in the country – including the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles. The First Peoples Hall shares the stories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis in Canada, from time immemorial to the present day. If you have clients visiting Ottawa or Gatineau, this museum is worth recommending. The museum also hosts summer programs that feature Indigenous cultural experiences.

Essipit

The Essipit Innu First Nation community is situated along the shores of the St. Lawrence River, a 30-minute drive from Tadoussac and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Quebec City. Several Indigenous tourism experiences are offered in and around the community, but the most popular experience is whale watching in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, one of the top whale watching destinations in the world. You can book your client’s accommodations, whale watching tours, sea kayaking and stand-up paddle board tours with Entreprises Essipit.

Handmade moccasins for sale at a pow wow (Photo Credit: Debbie Olsen)

Gaspésie

If you’re booking clients to visit the Gaspésie region of Quebec, be sure to recommend a visit to Musée de la Gaspésie, a museum that showcases the history and heritage of Gaspésie, including the history of the Mi'kmaq People. To learn more about the Mi’kmaq traditional way of life prior to European contact, clients can visit Site d'Interprétation Micmac de Gespeg, an interpretation site that allows visitors to explore a recreated traditional Mi’kmaq village.

Nunavik

If your clients want to experience Inuit culture, the Nunavik region of northern Quebec is the place to go. This is the traditional territory of the Inuit – a place so remote and harsh it was never colonized by European settlers. Adventures include dogsledding, fishing, snowmobiling, wildlife watching, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, canoeing and cultural experiences. Nunawild, Golden Peninsula Tours, Leaf River Lodge and Ungava Polar Eco-Tours offer guided tours to explore this remote and beautiful region.

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