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Two Sister Nations tourism partnership helps preserve community connections

Homalco and Klahoose partnering on eco- and cultural tourism
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A group of people watch a grizzly bear from a viewing platform in Toba Inlet. Photo by Indigenous Tourism BC

Two Sister First Nations have formed a partnership to offer new wildife and cultural tours near Campbell River.

Homalco Wildife and Cultural Tours and Klahoose Coastal Adventures have formed a new partnership to offer cultural and eco-tourism tours.

“This collaboration not only marks the strengthening of our historical ties as “Sister Nations” but also represents a significant step forward in preserving the enduring connections between our communities,” says a joint press release. “As stewards of the grizzly bear and guardians of the traditional territories of Bute and Toba Inlet for millennia, we are committed to promoting sustainable tourism and preserving our cultural heritage for generations to come.”

Through the partnership, the two Nations are offering a new tour of Toba Inlet. The “Toba Bears and Wilderness Tour” departs from Campbell River and is offered through Homalco Wildlife and Culture Tours. The daily tour will operate from late August until late October, when salmon return to the inlet. Once the tour arrives in Toba Inlet, Klahoose Coastal Adventures will guide guests through an “immersive wildife viewing experience,” giving them the chance to see grizzly beras in their natural habitat.

“As Homalco and Klahoose rekindle their historical bonds, they stand as beacons of collaboration, unity, and Indigenous resilience,” the release says. “Together, their efforts not only contribute to the economic development of their communities but also champion cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and reconciliation through travel.”

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