Canoes come in a striking range of shapes, sizes, and materials – each reflecting the diverse Indigenous cultures that shaped them and their relationship with the land, from navigating rushing rivers and still lakes to open ocean waters. These waterways still remain a vital mode of transportation across the country.
‘Whether the stories are of ancient connections to waterways, the latest high-tech innovations at the Olympics, or are expressions of cultural reclamation, pride and endurance of Indigenous Peoples today, canoes let us form new understandings of connections to our environment, other people and ourselves,’ says Jeremy Ward, curator at the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Recommended canoe paddling experiences across the country include the Canadian Canoe Museum near Peterborough, Ontario which was declared a cultural asset of national significance by the Senate of Canada in 2013. Visitors can see the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft, and then try their hand at it.
Canoe North Adventures in Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories offers guided river expeditions along with lodging options.
Ahous Adventures, near Tofino, BC has canoe-guided experiences that immerse guests in the history and traditions of the Ahousaht People along the west coast.
Paddle into the Past - Métis Crossing, near Edmonton, Alberta is a four-hour Indigenous experience that links two historic sites with an authentic voyageur canoe trip along an old fur trade route.
