This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Quebec has 11 nations and no less than 55 Aboriginal communities. Many have developed, over the years, activities related to their cultural traditions and their territory. For your weekends or your fall vacation, you don’t need to go far to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of First Nations rites and customs.
Participate in an authentic pow-wow
For an out-of-the-ordinary experience, attend one of the many pow-wows that take place across Quebec until mid-September. The pow-wow is an ancestral custom practiced by many Aboriginal people: an annual meeting, a moment of sharing where a community receives other communities in its home. It is a big party with dances, songs, exchanges, which testifies to the vitality and cultural affirmation of a community in full effervescence. For the dates and locations of the celebrations, follow the Pow-Wow Route, on the Aboriginal Tourism website.
Unusual lodging and native cuisine in Wendake
The Huron-Wendat Nation, located not far from Quebec, offers several activities ranging from lodging to vacation packages, including gastronomy and entertainment.
In Wendake, the Hotel des Premieres Nations is a destination in itself. This pretty and comfortable 4-star boutique hotel and museum has just been awarded the prize Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best 2022, “Top Canada” series, the highest honor granted by this American website for hotels worldwide. More than sixty employees work there, from seven of the eleven nations of Quebec.
The hotel offers activities, such as visiting the Huron-Wendat museum, allowing you to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the Aboriginals of this nation. Also taking part in a discovery rally, not far from the hotel, will allow you to discover important places, both historical and modern.
Would you prefer less select accommodation? Spend the night in a reconstructed longhouse of the Iroquoian peoples. This authentic immersive experience will take you back to pre-colonial times. The accommodation also includes the “Myths and legends” activity, which will immerse you in the dreamlike and spiritual universe of the indigenous peoples. A fire guardian will watch over your sleep and guide your dreams!
To taste the typical cuisine of the Huron-Wendat Nation, a visit to the La Traite restaurant is a must. Michelin-starred chef Marc de Passorio drew inspiration from the native land to offer his delicious dishes. Passionate about native cuisine, he specializes in the various methods of gathering, hunting and fishing, as well as traditional cooking. This chef has been an inexhaustible source of information on the eating habits of indigenous peoples for millennia.
The magic of illuminated routes
These sparkling trails of a thousand lights attract thousands of visitors every year. After Foresta Lumina, here is now Onhwa’Lumina and the Anispi theme park.
The first nocturnal course is located in Wendake and proposes to discover, through sound and light games, the history and values of the Huron-Wendat people. On 1.2 km, multimedia projections, creations of the Quebec company Moment Factory, take you into an enchanted immersive universe. Under the starry sky, lulled by ancestral songs, enter a fascinating world where animals, humans and plants come alive to illustrate their interrelation according to Aboriginal beliefs.
Anispi is the new theme park of the city of Amos centered on water, co-created with the Abitibiwinni First Nation, and the Government of Quebec. This immersive circuit, the most spectacular parts of which are created by Moment Factory, makes visitors aware of the fragility of water resources. Four immersive and luminous sites, including one located in the community of Pikogan, tell its story through industrialization.
Must-see museums
Several interesting museums are open almost year-round, telling the story of the different communities and their respective territories.
the Mash Native American Museumteuiatsh, in Lac-Saint-Jean, offers several temporary and permanent exhibitions for the fall, including one on boreal wildlife and another on the craftsmanship of the women of the Nation.
The Musée des Abénakis, 35 minutes from Drummondville, is holding a visual art exhibition by artist Jacques Newashish, a retrospective of his 40-year career and his commitment to the Aboriginal cause. You will discover the outstanding works that have punctuated his journey, some of which are very recent. This exhibition is a journey into Atikamekw culture and into the world of Jacques Newashish.