Welcome to the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region—a diverse landscape of saltwater, ancient cedar forests, and soaring alpine peaks that have been nurtured by Indigenous hands since time immemorial.

First Welcome Trail

Communities

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About The Trail

Frequently Asked Questions

About

A self-guided journey through cultural connection

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Land Acknowledgment

We are səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), “People of the Inlet.” According to archaeological evidence and our oral history, Tsleil-Waututh peoples have lived in our traditional territory for thousands of years. The heart of our community is now centred on səlilwət (Burrard Inlet), between Maplewood Flats and Deep Cove in North Vancouver, but traditional use studies and archaeological evidence show our Ancestors occupied a vast area, about 1,865 square kilometres (190,000 hectares). Our traditional territory encompasses wilderness watersheds northwards to Mount Garibaldi, Coquitlam Lake in the east, and Howe Sound to the west.Visitors are welcome to experience our living culture, and listen to our stories.

səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh)

səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) — known as “People of the Inlet” — whose unceded traditional territory centres around Burrard Inlet and its surrounding watersheds, forests, and mountains.

People of the Inlet

ʔəm̓i ce:p kʷətxʷiləm (We welcome you)xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) ancestors have lived throughout and stewarded the Fraser River estuary for thousands of years. The name xʷməθkʷəy̓əm relates back to the flowering plant,&nbsp;məθkʷəy̓, which once abundantly grew throughout xʷməθkʷəy̓əm territory.&nbsp;Our oral history, passed on from generation to generation, explains how we became known as xʷməθkʷəy̓əm&nbsp;– place where the&nbsp;məθkʷəy̓&nbsp;grows.Today, portions of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm territory are called Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Delta, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Surrey, UBC Endowment Lands, YVR Airport and Coquitlam.Visitors are welcome to experience our living culture, listen to our stories and visit xʷməθkʷəy̓əm cultural landmarks.To learn more about the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people &amp; the territory <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.musqueam.bc.ca/">CLICK HERE</a> to visit their website

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) are the Coast Salish people whose ancestral, unceded territory spans the Fraser River Delta and today’s Vancouver.

A Living Culture

Since time beyond memory, waterways and lands have been tended, stewarded and managed by Indigenous peoples. Each Nation has their own origin story and ancestor legends. The Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ are made up of several groups who share a common history, ancestor anď language.The Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ people have long called a vast territory their home, far beyond the current boundaries of Campbell River. This traditional territory encompasses both land and waters surrounding Vancouver Island, spanning an impressive area of over 22,000square kilometers. Elders speak of times when their Elders recalled a population in this region in the tens of thousands. The Liǧʷiłdaxʷ are a united people made up of several distinct sub̌-groups, including both federally recognized and non-registered communities. These groups include the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, Kwiakah, Ɫaaluis, Xaxamatsis/Walitsama, Komenox, and Hatsumenoh. Today, We WaiKai, Wei Wai Kum, are each recognized as Liǧʷiłdaxʷ and as distinct First Nation governments by Canada. The Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ were known for charging tolls for safe passage through the waters, enforcing strict penalties on those who trespassed without permission. The colonial period brought profound changes for the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ people. In the 1870s and 1880s,̌Indigenous lands were of interest to the Crown and settlers and the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ were forced onto small reserves. Despite this, they adapted quickly to new circumstances, becoming key players in the fishing industry by the early 1900s, working as fishing guides and for local canneries. Even though colonial laws outlawed traditional fish traps, the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ remained central to the fishing industry, and by the mid-20th century, their participation out numbered that of any other Nation. Many Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ people also worked in the forestry sector or divided their time between fishing and forestry.Today, the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ continue to assert their right to self-governance through modern treaty processes. They actively work with the government to restore their traditional Likʷala names across their lands and waters and are seeking to regain management and decision-making authority throughout their territory. The strength of their culture and traditions endures, as the Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ people continue to thrive and shape the future of Campbell River

Liǧʷiɫdaxʷ Peoples

Campbell River

The swiya of the Shíshálh people lies between Queens Reach in lekw’emin (Jervis Inlet) and Howe Sound on the south coast of British Columbia. Historically, there were four main settlements at kalpilin (Pender Harbour), ts’unay (Deserted Bay), xenichen (head of lekw’emin) and tewankw near alhtulich (Porpoise Bay).Through their living traditions, language (she shashishalhem), fishing, harvesting, storytelling and governance, they’ve revitalized culture while protecting sacred places. You’re invited to explore their trails, visit the tems swiya Museum in Sechelt, and immerse yourself in their stories.

Shíshálh Nation

Shíshálh Nation (Sunshine Coast, BC) — whose swiya spans over 500,000 hectares from Jervis Inlet to Roberts Creek — are Coast Salish people with deep ties to land, sea and heritage.