Indigenous Experiences in the Thompson Okanagan
The Indigenous Peoples have long called this beautiful country, province, and region home. With many Indigenous tourism businesses within the BC, there is a unique opportunity to learn from the knowledge and stories of these communities and celebrate their cultures, traditions, and beliefs. Discover the Indigenous tourism businesses within the Thompson Okanagan.
British Columbia is home to 203 Indigenous communities and more than 30 Indigenous languages. It is important to acknowledge that the Thompson Okanagan region is situated on the traditional territory of three Interior Salish nations: the Sylix, Nlaka’pamux, and Secwépemc peoples where we are grateful to have the opportunity to create, collaborate, play, explore, and work.
The Indigenous Peoples have long called this beautiful country, province, and region home. With many Indigenous tourism businesses within BC, there is a unique opportunity to learn from the knowledge and stories of these communities and celebrate their cultures, traditions, and beliefs.
Below are Indigenous tourism businesses in the Thompson Okanagan that are excited to welcome visitors. While exploring this region, whether it be with one of the listed businesses or on your own, tread lightly and help preserve this land like Indigenous communities have done so for centuries.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre - Osoyoos
Learn about the lands, the legends, and the people of the Sylix Nation at this state-of-the-art interpretive center. Here, you can explore trails through the sagebrush, interact with indoor and outdoor exhibits, and experience a reconstructed village showcasing the rich living culture of the Osoyoos Indian Band.
Along with the interactive exhibits of the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, the sustainable building itself is something to be amazed by due to its unique architectural features. The building was delicately built into a hillside and is partially underground, a unique way to insulate the building and preserve energy, along with being an homage to the traditional winter dwelling of the Okanagan First Nations. The sides of the building are composed of rammed earth, layers of concrete mixed with local soils, an ancient building technique.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre - Destination BC/Andrew Strain
Walking tour at Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre - Destination BC/Hubert Kang
Nk’Mip Cellars - Osoyoos & Oliver
Nk’Mip Cellars, which is owned by the Osoyoos Indian Band, was the first Indigenous owned and operated winery in BC. This winery holds great pride in preserving the legacy and celebrating the culture of the Sylix Nation. The word Nk’Mip means ‘bottomland’ in English, representing the southernmost end of the Osoyoos reservation where the winery is located. With long hot days and cold nights in the summer, Nk’Mip Cellars offers a diverse selection of red and white wines along with a rose that all reflect the area in which their grapes are grown.
You can find Nk’Mip Cellars in the heart of Osoyoos and in the District Wine Village in Oliver.
Nk’Mip Cellars - Destination BC/Joann Pai
Walking Path at Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre - Destination BC/Hubert Kang
The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry - Osoyoos
The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry serves modern vineyard cuisine inspired by Indigenous roots. This restaurant is located inside Spirit Ridge on the traditional land of the Syilx People of the Okanagan Nation. The name of this restaurant was inspired by the creation stories of the Okanagan Nation.
The Bear, The Fish, The Root & The Berry - David McIlvride
Kekuli Bay Café - Merritt, West Kelowna, Kamloops
Kekuli Bay Café, famous for the saying “Don’t panic… We have bannock®” was opened by Sharon Bond in realizing her dreams of opening a restaurant. Here, you will find a unique and traditional Indigenous ambience with aboriginal art, jewellery, light pow wow music, and cuisine. Every meal is served with Bannock.
The name Kekuli means dwelling, built into the ground with logs, tule, dirt, and grass. These dwellings were used for winter homes. Like the Kekuli dwellings, the Kekulis Cafe offers a warm and safe place to enjoy delicious food and drinks.
Food at Kekuli Cafe - Indigenous Tourism BC/Brendin Kelly/ Kekuli Cafe
Eating at Kekuli Cafe - Indigenous Tourism BC/Brendin Kelly/ Kekuli Cafe
*Please note the Talking Rock Golf Course is open however the Quaaout Lodge, Jack Sam’s Restaurant, and Le7Ke Spa will remain closed until further notice due to a devastating fire. For more information please visit their website QuaaoutLodge.com.
Quaaout Lodge is an Indigenous resort where you can enjoy the amenities, cultural features, and attractions of the property. Here, you will find cultural tours where you can experience a smudging ceremony, a walk of the lands, and a story telling experience inside a traditional kekuli. These experiences will allow you to travel back in time and get a glimpse of what life was like for the Secwepemc people before European settlers arrived.
Along with enjoying the cultural aspects of Quaaout Lodge, you can relax at their spa and play a round of golf on their golf course. All of these amenities are located on the shores of Shuswap lake where you can relax or explore via canoe rentals. If you are looking for more on land adventures, the lodge is surrounded by endless hiking trails. Tsutswecw Provincial Park offers endless trails along the Adams River where the sockeye salmon run is found in late September to early October. 2022 is a a dominant year for the salmon run, meaning it will be bigger then it has been in four years.
Quaaout Lodge Lobby - Destination BC/@ebspaj7 Eben Pajanconi
Tour at Quaaout Lodge - Destination BC/@miraecampbell
Learn More About Indigenous Tourism
To find more Indigenous Tourism businesses near you, download the Indigenous Tourism BC Trip Planner app.
Written by Jenna Labossiere
Born and raised in Kelowna, Jenna loves being able to be a tourist in her own backyard. She hopes to be able to showcase the Thompson Okanagan’s local businesses and natural attractions in order to encourage others to take the opportunity to enjoy them as much as she does.
Find Yourself at Quaaout Lodge
The Quaaout Lodge, located on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake just northeast of Chase BC, is a state-of-the-art resort owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Indian Band of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation.
*Due to the fire last year, the Lodge is to re-open in 2025. The Spa is currently open and limited meeting space is available. The Golf Course and Restaurant will be open sometime between the end of March, beginning of April, 2023.
For more information please visit their website QuaaoutLodge.com.
The Quaaout Lodge, located on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake just northeast of Chase BC, is a state-of-the-art resort owned and operated by the Little Shuswap Indian Band of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation. Boasting the Le7ke Spa, a beautiful Conference Centre and Lodge, an indoor pool, and the 18-hole Talking Rock Golf Course, Quaaout is the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
The Lodge overlooks 1800 feet of beachfront, perfect for summer swimming, canoeing, or toes-in-the-sand relaxing. The Lodge itself, which was completely redesigned and renovated in 2010, features 70 rooms offering patios or balconies set up to view the pristine lake.
Situated in the middle of the woods and surrounded by mountains, this experience offers a beautiful blend of pampered relaxation and reconnection with the outdoors. This getaway also features Jack Sam’s, a unique and delicious experience with a menu honouring the Indigenous traditions of the region and sticking to the 100 Mile Menu, meaning everything on the menu is grown or caught within 100 miles from the restaurant.
The Talking Rock Golf Course has gained a reputation as a unique and challenging course as it meanders through the landscape. The course blends well with the features of the land as little land alteration was required to build the course. From the first tee box just steps from the Lodge to the final green on the shores of Little Shuswap, the course offers beautiful views and immersion in nature unlike any other course in the region.
Quaaout Lodge
Photographer: Meghan Reading
In addition to the Golf Course, Quaaout offers numerous workshops and Arts and Culture sessions, and their Cultural Coordinator would be thrilled to take you on a tour of the grounds, which includes an authentic kekuli and answer your questions about the area. Whether you want to plan a conference, a family vacation, a couple’s getaway or a round of golf, Quaaout has everything you need and more located in the heart of the Shuswap.
Book your stay today at Quaaout Lodge today.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre
Located in Osoyoos, this award-winning interpretive centre owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band has two important purposes: education about the unique desert ecosystem and education about the Okanagan people’s history.
Experience the Land, the Legends and the Peoples of the Okanagan
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, located in Osoyoos, is an award-winning interpretive centre owned and operated by the Osoyoos Indian Band. The purpose of the centre is twofold: education about the unique desert ecosystem and education about the Okanagan people’s history.
This unique, state-of-the-art centre features both indoor and outdoor exhibits, contributing to a year-round experience. Nk’Mip provides on-site cultural tours, programs, self-guided nature trails, interpretive sites, visitor programs, a gift shop. Located on the edge of the northernmost edge of the Great American Desert, this centre offers an experience unlike any other in Canada both in the education and experience of the only desert in Canada. The centre features a network of over 50 kilometres of trails across the 1,600-acre conservation area. As visitors explore these trails, they’ll come across recreated examples of the Indigenous Okanagan art and lifestyle.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos
Photographer: Meghan Reading
Inside the facility, visitors will discover an interactive learning environment that includes hands-on displays and two different multi-media theatres. The exhibits include re-creations of the Okanagan architecture like a tipi, a kekuli and a sweat lodge. Nk’Mip also features the regions Rattlesnake Research Program, which is funded by Environment Canada to study the Western Rattlesnakes and Great Basin Gopher Snakes found in the region. Learn how to treat these beautiful creatures and what makes them so special to the area.
Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre, Osoyoos
Photographer: Meghan Reading
The Desert Centre is part of a bigger resort which includes a winery, a campground, a golf course, and a hotel. The Centre’s mission is to promote respect and understanding of the living culture of the Okanagan People and conserve and interpret Canada’s only desert. Whether here for a week or an hour, it’s worthwhile to smell the wild sage and discover this unique, rich history unlike anything else in Canada.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Discover Spotted Lake
Located on the unceded Syilx Nation’s territory and maintained by the Osoyoos Indian Band, Spotted Lake, called Ktlil’x” in the Okanagan language, is a sacred site to the indigenous nation.
A Lake unlike any other
Located on the unceded Syilx Nation’s territory and maintained by the Osoyoos Indian Band, Spotted Lake, called Ktlil’x” in the Okanagan language, is a sacred site to the indigenous nation. Northwest of Osoyoos and observable from Highway 3, the aptly-named Spotted Lake is breathtaking both up close and from afar.
The lake has naturally occurring spots created from the unique chemical and mineral deposits from the neighbouring hills, and at times each spot can become its own distinct colour, from blue to green to yellow and purple. This cultural and ecologically sensitive area is a sight to behold, worthy of thousands of photos. The sign next to Highway 3 explains the history, the unique science behind this biological phenomenon, and what cultural significance this lake plays for the Okanagan Nation, as it has served as a revered place of healing for centuries.
Spotted Lake, Osoyoos
Photographer: Nic Collar
This naturally forming mineral lake is captivating, and we encourage everyone to pull over on the side of the highway to take some great pictures, though there is no trespassing beyond the gate onto this private property outside of a guided tour led by one of the local Syilx guides from, Sẁiẁs Spirit Tours. These tours will offer a unique perspective on the cultural significance of the lake, and what role this traditional site played (and continues to play) in the Okanagan Nations ongoing history.
Spotted Lake, Osoyoos
Photographer: Allen Jones
Whether you’re stopping for a quick picture or hope to join a guided tour, the lake is a sight to behold and could be different a mere week later. The ongoing changes in the dense deposits of magnesium sulfate, calcium, sodium sulphates, and eight other minerals make Ktlil’x” an experience unlike any other.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alastair Heinrichs is a Creative Writing student from UBC-Okanagan. Alastair loves encouraging people to discover more about our region, whether that’s a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the local food and craft beer scene or secret campgrounds.
Indigenous Experiences to Remember
Quaaout Lodge, on the shores of Little Shuswap Lake, is the crowning jewel of the Little Shuswap Indian Band. It is located on Skwlax territory and honours the thriving culture of Secwepemc Nation.
Quaaout Lodge - the crowning jewel of the Little Shuswap Indian Band
*Please note the Talking Rock Golf Course is open however the Quaaout Lodge, Jack Sam’s Restaurant, and Le7Ke Spa will remain closed until further notice due to a devastating fire. For more information please visit their website QuaaoutLodge.com.
British Columbia is the most western province of Canada and boasts "the greatest diversity of Indigenous culture" in the country. Metis and over 200 First Nations have lived here for time immemorial, each with their own rich culture, history and story.
In the Thompson Okanagan region, Route 97 is an Indigenous ancestral trail that has been used by the Interior Salish for thousands of years, and is home to the Okanagan (Syilx), Nlaka’pamux and Secwepemc nations. Though each nation is distinct with its own dialect and traditions, they all share a deep connection with the elements. The mountains, the forests, the water and the wildlife each with their own spirit, meaning and story.
On the shores of Little Shuswap Lake, you’ll find Quaaout Lodge, the crowning jewel of the Little Shuswap Indian Band. It is located on Skwlax territory and honours the thriving culture of Secwepemc Nation.
“Fill your heart full of good things...”
Smudging is the ceremonial tradition of Indigenous people across North America, cleansing the mind, body and soul. Tanner Francois, of Secwepemc Nation, demonstrates how smudging connects the physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural well-being of our existence. As the smoke rises, prayers rise to the Spirit World where the Grandfathers and Creator reside. Negative energy and emotions are lifted away.
Learn more about Indigenous Culture in the Thompson Okanagan.
Videographer: Nic Collar Film for the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association in partnership with Indigenous Tourism BC and Indigenous Tourism Canada.