Indigenous Travel and Food Destinations

July 07, 2023 Mélanie Bernard

Whether you want to add a quick stop to an already planned vacation or looking for places to fully immerse yourself with overnight stays, this list will show you some of the wonderful places you can enjoy and support that are indigenous-owned.

Indigenous Coffee Shops

There’s no better way than to start your day with a cup of coffee and some breakfast. Add these quick stops to your itinerary before heading out on your daily adventures.

-Café La Maison Ronde - 2330 Sainte-Catherine O., Montréal, Q

-Beandigen Cafe - 106-900 Exhibition Way, Lansdowne, Ottawa, ON

-Kekuli Cafe - Kelowna, West Kelowna, Kamloops, and Merrit, BC

Quick Eats & Treats

Everyone needs lunch! Take a little pit stop between planned activities and enjoy some delicious food. Whether you take it to go, or enjoy it on the spot, these eateries and confectionery shops make it easy to add to your day.

-Tea N Bannock - 1294 Gerrard St E., Toronto, ON

-Raven Rising (Global Indigenous Chocolates ) - 66 Cedar St, Greater Sudbury, ON

-Culina To Go - Oliver Exchange Building, 12019 A 102 Ave., Edmonton, AB

-Bear and Bone Burger Co. - 1202 Trans-Canada Hwy E., Golden, BC

-Mr. Bannock (Food Truck) - 433 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC

-Saga Nomade (Food Truck) - Quebec, QC - Check their instagram @saganomade for daily location

-Feast Cafe Bistro - 587 Ellice Ave., Winnipeg, MB

Indigenous Breweries

A cold refreshing pint on a hot summer day can’t be beat. Join these Indigenous-owned breweries and enjoy the flair Indigenous brews bring.

-Red Tape Brewery - 159 Main Street, Toronto, ON

-Kahnawake Brewing Co. - 22Rte 138, Kahnawake, QC

-Locality Brewing - 7111 252 St, Langley Twp, BC

Indigenous Dining Experience

Culinary experiences like no other, take the evening and get to know Indigenous cuisines.

-Naagan (at the Markets) - Owen Sound Farmers Markets,88 8th St E., Owen Sound , ON

Chef Zach Keeshig brings you a 9 course tasting menu in a quaint atmosphere with only 13 seats. With his signature sourdough, smoked fish, and medicinal wild drinks, this is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Prior reservations required and currently only operates on weekends.

-Sagamité - 68 ½ rue Saint-Louis, Quebec, QC or 10 boulevard Bastien, Wendake, QC

With its original location reopening after renovations, you have a few locations to choose from to experience what Sagamité has to offer. From bison topped pizzas to venison tartars there is sure to be something that will strike your fancy.

-The Patch by Prairie Berry - 2385 Andrechuk Rd, Glenlea, MB

Just south of Winnipeg you can find a hidden gem in the countryside, The Patch. Offering the only farm to table experience in the area, you can expect strawberries being incorporated into the 4-7 course meals served throughout your evening. With different visiting local chefs, you could go again and again and enjoy something completely different every time! Reservations required.

-Salmon and Bannock - 7-1128 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC

With a staff that includes and represents many Indigenous nations, the owner Inez Cook says she always knew she would own a restaurant one day. With a focus on fish and game meats you can find unforgettable recipes such as Candied Salmon, Bison Pot Roast, Specially-made Game Sausage, and Smoked Salmon Burger. You can also catch their small shop in the Vancouver airport, Salmon and Bannock on the Fly!

Daily Indigenous Experience

-Wanuskewin Heritage Park - PR #4 Penner Road, Saskatoon, SK

From an Interpretive Centre that hosts exhibits and art shows, to kids day camps, self guided trail tours, and an archaeological dig site, Wanuskewin Heritage Park offers many different ways to learn and connect with the history and peoples from the North Plaines. After a full day of activities, enjoy a meal at their on-site restaurant that offers indigenous cuisine with a modern twist.

-Eskasoni Cultural Tours - 1 Goat Island Trail, Eskasoni, NS

Although there are private guided tour options, a spontaneous trip to Eskasoni is possible! With the options to digitally download a map, you can give yourself a self guided tour and learn about Mi’kmaw culture and traditions. Even though this 2.4 km trail is self guided, you can expect to encounter interpreters along the way and can even observe a smudging ceremony, participate in baking four cents cake, and speak with a Trading Post Merchant.

-Point Grondine Park - 675 Point Grondine Park, ON-637, Killarney, ON

With guided tours like “Paddle the Park” or “Amik-Zii-Bi Guided Hike” and self guided adventures, Point Grondine Park allows you to fully immerse yourself in the land.

-North Star Adventures - Yellowknife, NWT

Starting mid-August until mid-October, hunt for the Aurora Borealis with a guided tour. Once found, you’ll park and enjoy the dancing lights, take pictures, and eat complimentary snacks. Along the way you’ll learn about stars, galaxies, and see some wildlife on your journey.

Indigenous Stay for the Night

-Hotel-Musee Première Nation - 5 place de la Rencontre, Quebec, QC

This beautiful hotel has an onsite museum and a fantastic Indigenous Dining experience. Activities such as visiting the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhous or taking a multimedia night walk to experience ancestral rhythms and songs, this space is dedicated to learning and engaging with the Huron-Wendat Nations.

-ESSIPIT - 46 rue de la Reserve, Essipit, QC

With options to camp, cottage, or condo, Essipit’s accommodations give you the opportunity to look out at the St Lawrence River, which means you might see whales and seals from your room. With the main attraction being their Whale Watching Excursion, take in everything the Innu peoples have to offer in Essipit.

-Frontier Fishing Lodge - East Arm Of Great Slave Lake, Thaidene Nëné, NWT

For people who love to spend their days fishing, this is the perfect destination for you. A secluded retreat on Canada’s newest National Park Reserve, join the the Dënesųłıné peoples in fishing the waters, observing the wildlife, and even viewing the aurora.

-Dakota Dunes Resort - 203 Dakota Dunes Way, Whitecap, SK

A classic resort experience with a Dakota Nation twist. With a golf course and casino on site, as well as cultural activities such as making your own bannock on a stick or learning about and setting up your own tipi, Dakota Dunes resort mixes the traditional with modernism. Each room has floor to ceiling windows which give you an amazing view of the Whitecap Dakota lands.

-Kejimkujik National Park - 3005 Kejimkujik Main Parkway, Caledonia, NS

Kejimkujik National Parks offers what you can expect from National Parks; camping, hiking, and fishing, but what makes Kejimkujik stand out is its cultural experiences that shine a light on Mi’kmaw culture. View the petroglyph on the shores of Kejimkujik lake, build a birch bark canoe with Todd Labrador, or take the Healing Hemlocks Mindfulness Hike, there are so many ways to engage with the Mi’kmaw culture at Kejimkujik National Park.

-Haida Tourism - Haida Gwaii - Ferry from Prince Rupert, BC

Haida Gwaii, an island in northern British Columbia, has so much to offer in terms of beauty, experience, and learning. With several options for accommodation or activities, you can easily find something to suit your travel style. From bed and breakfasts, to cottages, and even an ocean house, Haida Gwaii will steal your heart as you explore “the edge of the earth.”