Museums

The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is a three-story, 30,400-square foot award-winning cultural centre designed to blend the traditional Squamish Longhouse with the Lil'wat Istken. Cultural Ambassadors share their knowledge and stories with guests, augmenting the information shared throughout the centre's curated collection of artifacts and contemporary pieces. Traditional drum songs are shared at the top of each hour. The facility is designed to evoke a traditional Squamish longhouse and a Lil'wat Istken (pit house) and is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. This thriving cultural centre shares meaningful experiences, educating all, and lifts their two distinct cultures.

U'mista Cultural Centre is one of the longest-operating and most successful First Nations cultural facilities in BC, founded in 1980 as a ground breaking project to house potlatch artifacts which had been seized by government during an earlier period of cultural repression. The return of the potlatch artifacts not only provided U'mista's name ('the return of something important'), and sparked a general trend toward repatriation of First Nations and cultural artifacts, it caused the creation of a physical facility and human resources infrastructure which have been successfully operated for over two decades.U'mista now operates a modern museum and cultural education facility in Alert Bay. Their operations include the museum, an extensive art gallery and gift shop, group tours, and presentations by dance troupes.

The Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park is located along the banks of the beautiful South Thompson River. The Secwepemc Museum & Heritage Park consists of both an inside and outside viewing experience for visitors. The tour of the museum offers a rich history of the life of the Secwepemc people. Once inside the museum visitors can view "The Land of the Secwepemc" DVD, and can then immerse themselves in the beautiful artefacts and displays within the four galleries that are offered.Afterwards, the Heritage park offers a trail of over a kilometre of archaeological remains of a 2,000 year old Secwepemc winter village. The winter village consists of 1 reconstructed winter pit-houses, and summer tule mat lodges which feature various unique food preparation structures. In addition; for viewing pleasure, is one of Kamloops Marshes that is filled with beautiful wildlife and visitors may even be able to get a glimpse of the Coyote (Skelep) and her pups that are currently living in the area.