Kenny Hanuse, a cultural interpreter of the Klahoose Nation and bear guide at the Indigenous-owned and -operated Klahoose Wilderness Resort, offering guests a traditional welcome.Supplied
When guests arrive at Klahoose Wilderness Resort, an off-grid luxury resort in Desolation Sound, B.C., it’s by water taxi, and they’re invited to participate in a traditional arrival protocol, which includes respectfully asking permission to come ashore. In response, staff extend their hospitality and affirm their responsibility: to protect their community and land, while also treating guests with kindness and respect.
This attention to sustainability is part of a broader travel trend. According to Booking.com’s 2024 Sustainable Travel Report, 83 per cent of travellers say this style of travel is important to them, and 75 per cent say they want to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months. In response, the industry has steadily grown its offerings in this sector, particularly in North America. In fact, an April 2025 report from market research firm Global Industry Analysts found the global ecotourism sector is currently valued at approximately US$275.7 billion, and is expected to grow to US$600.5 billion by 2030.
In fact, decades ahead of the current industry emphasis on a greener travel footprint, Indigenous tourism outfitters have long been pushing the envelope on sustainability, specifically because of their cultural focus on ancestral wisdom and traditional practices.
Klahoose First Nation takes this commitment seriously, infusing sustainability into every part of guests’ experience. The resort, which has been awarded a silver certification from Canadian environmental consultancy GreenStep, has a clean energy system that powers the entire resort through renewable energy. Visitors are gifted metal water bottles upon their arrival, which helps prevent the use of single plastics and encourages them to think about what it means to be a respectful guest on the land. Meanwhile, excursions are led by Indigenous guides and emphasize responsibility to the land.
At the forefront of these Indigenous tourism experiences is a desire to educate visitors about Indigenous cultural practices, says Keith Henry, president and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).
At Klahoose Wilderness Resort, which is only accessible by sea or air, visitors are asked to consider their impact on the community and land.Supplied
While national symbols like the beaver and maple leaf are often used to represent the country, “that’s actually not our true history and culture,” he says. “Our true history and culture is the Indigenous peoples.”
Sustainability is an integral part of Indigenous cultures, so it’s not surprising that the ability to survive – and thrive – in co-existence with nature is embedded in Indigenous-backed tourism ventures. Henry points to popular west coast excursions like whale watching and sport fishing as examples. While non-Indigenous whale watching companies do a great job, Henry says, for Indigenous outfitters, it goes beyond just trying to spot as many pods as possible in a few hours out on the water.
“Our whale watching guided tours tell the history, the story of why [communities] tried to protect these animals, how they live in balance with the whales. That’s ingrained in everything we do,” he explains. And while the success of a day on the lake might hinge on catching as many rainbow or steelhead trout as possible, Indigenous outfitters “try to explain to people that they only allow sport fishing as long as it doesn’t take away [food] from the community.”
The Canadian tourism industry has already taken steps to recognize Indigenous influence. Last year, Hébergement aux Cinq Sens, an Indigenous-owned ecolodge, was honoured with the Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award at the 2024 Prix Excellence Tourisme for its contributions to sustainable practices within Quebec’s tourism sector. For those who work in the Canadian tourism industry, this makes perfect sense.
“It’s not surprising at all,” says Jason Sarracini, founder and CEO of travel company Landsby, of the businesses’ win. “Because the way of Indigenous people, and subsequently Indigenous tourism, is regenerative and sustainable in nature. They’re stewards [of the land] from one generation to the next.”
For Klahoose, commitment to sustainability goes beyond what happens at the lodge itself. Here, regenerative tourism also includes prioritizing and putting money toward the community – and supporting local, notes the resort’s tourism manager, Chris Tait. In addition to hiring local employees, the lodge works to support Indigenous-owned businesses by stocking the lodge with their amenities. For example, there‘s a bar of traditionally- and locally-made RavenSong Soap in every room.
“It’s not just about the land and the water,” Tait says. “It’s people too.”
One in a regular series of stories. To read more, visit our Indigenous Enterprises section. If you have suggestions for future stories, reach out to IE@globeandmail.com.