Responsible tourism in Canada

A unique way of life

The correct term for indigenous people in Canada is Aboriginal peoples in Canada, or Aboriginal Canadians. The term ‘First Nations’ only includes eight tribes, and doesn’t encompass the Métis or Inuit. All of these indigenous peoples have battled for centuries to maintain their unique ways of life. Long threatened by colonisation and European diseases, then “development” and relocation, today, Aboriginal peoples are largely recognised and protected, and communities are permitted to hunt and occupy their ancestral lands. But it is still a delicate area for many, and highly political. In addition, the ancestral lands are now facing a much bigger threat than ever before: climate change.

Over 150,000 Inuit are dependent on the ocean for fishing, whaling and hunting seals* – but without the ice cover to hold the land in place, the coast is eroding and villages are, literally, disappearing. The waters are rising around them and sea ice is flimsy – hunters can no longer drag their boats across it to the sea, leaving them stranded on the land and unable to sustain themselves and their families.

Arctic drilling also poses a threat to subsistence lifestyles, as does the disappearance of the wildlife upon which these people depend. And clear cutting, a process of logging that involves wiping out large swathes of forest, instead of small, carefully selected areas, is also having a major impact on Aboriginal communities maintaining their subsistence lifestyles of hunting and foraging. In December 2014, Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) agreed to clear cut for the Whiskey Jack Forest, ancestral lands that the indigenous Grassy Narrows tribe depend on for survival**.

At Responsible Travel, we often suggest tourism as the panacea for all economic plights. But it is never that straightforward. And who are we to tell people living in a place what they can achieve through tourism? Our hosts must want to welcome guests, before we barge in and demand they open their arms. Several communities are seeing tourism as a way of preserving their culture and economic independence, but it is very early days.

*Source: BBC
** Source: Al Jazeera

Respecting wildlife is a big deal in Canada. You can't visit Canada without being wildlife aware – something that sets it apart from the USA. Yes, you can see bears and moose in the USA, but the wilderness goes on for what feels like forever in Canada. Just presume that the next town is never going to appear. But an elk probably will. Similarly, wild animals are never far from the cities. It is not unusual for a moose to be spotted trotting around downtown Calgary. Or for there to be a cougar sighting in North Vancouver. Just because the cities are so close to the country's wild places.

Seeing wildlife in its own habitats in Canada is a must when you are here. It really puts Canada into perspective when you see an orca hunting off the north coast of Vancouver Island, or a polar bear strolling across the tundra en route to the freezing waters of Hudson Bay. But do so with expert guides; not only will you get much better sightings, background information and well equipped transport, but you will be safe. There are strict rules to be followed when watching wildlife, and qualified experts will make sure that you adhere to them.

One of the greatest ironies of Canada is that they still have whales and dolphins in captivity. And yet, off its coastlines, the real things bask and bliss out in their rightful homes. There are only two aquariums in Canada that keep dolphins and whales in captivity, but this is two too many. Thankfully the Vancouver Aquarium no longer holds orcas or belugas, but they do have dolphins. There are still belugas and an orca in captivity at Marineland Canada in Ontario.

Canada is the place to go for husky love. And they do love their huskies. Visitors to Canada can struggle with the idea of dogs being used for work, especially cuddly dog obsessed tourists like the British. But very quickly you realise that, although these are working dogs, they are also very happy dogs. Husky sledding, or mushing as it is often called, has long been part of the culture here. When you take a husky ride, you can feel that the dogs are doing what they love. Running. And also, you will rarely see a husky guide shout at his or her dogs. It is as if the human is being led by the dog, not the other way around. There are very strict rules about the welfare of the animals, although generally these rules are second nature to mushers anyway. All husky ride providers are visited by animal welfare vets regularly. Marijuana is pretty prolific in Canada, where recreational use was legalised in 2018. Rules change province by province, but mostly fall in line with the (fairly strict) local alcohol regulations. It's a completely different story in most of the USA, where a quick joint will get you thrown out of the joint. As in, deported. So if imbibing, remember to check your pockets before crossing any borders. Rodeos are not really high up on the responsible tourism list. Indeed, Calgary Stampede, the most famous of all, is the target of much animal welfare campaigning every year. A ten day rodeo event in July, where animals are subjected to fear and extreme stress for mere entertainment is not only outdated but also unethical. The Stampede does defend itself as taking due care of all animals, which include not only livestock but also horses pushed to extremes, and often death, while chuckwagon racing. Animal welfare organisations are seeking to ban, in particular, the barbaric practices of calf roping and steer wrestling. See the Vancouver Humane Society for more details on the rodeos just getting it wrong, or read more on our stance on rodeos and stampedes.