BC’s Guide to Arts + Culture is the definitive guide to local, authentic experiences in the province of British Columbia.
Indigenous Arts & Culture
'he Pacific Northwest is home to 204 distinct First immemorial. Across the region now known as British Columbia, Indigenous arts and cultures are deeply rooted in the land.
Indigenous artistry lies at the intersection of meaning, memory, and relationship, shaped by deep connections to land, water, and community, and expressed through both ancestral knowledge and contemporary experience. It spans a wide range of forms from traditions in wood and stone carving, glass and metalwork, to painting, beadwork, and fibre arts, these practices continue alongside contemporary work in photography, film, digital media, installation, and interdisciplinary forms reflecting diverse and evolving expressions of identity. Cultural expression through song, storytelling, theatre, and dance reflects this diversity and continues to be revitalized and shared across communities.
Across the province, there are many ways to engage with Indigenous arts and cultures. Indigenous-led galleries, cultural centres, and museums offer opportunities to learn directly from communities, while artists continue to create and collaborate in ways that honour both tradition and innovation. Visitors may also take part in immersive, land-based experiences, including festivals, performances, carving demonstrations, and culinary gatherings. Indigenous tourism experiences, guided by local hosts, offer opportunities to learn about specific territories, histories, and relationships to land and water in ways that are grounded in respect and reciprocity.
Wherever you are in British Columbia, you are on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. Engaging with Indigenous arts and cultures is an opportunity to deepen your understanding of place and to listen to the stories that continue to shape it.