3 trips to learn about first nations

Many people today are celebrating the legacy of indigenous people, in America, so we thought we’d take this opportunity to highlight some itineraries where you can learn more about Native American Art, History, and Culture. So, without further ado, here are three ways to celebrate indigenous Americans!

1. The Great Lakes

This 11-day small-ship excursion through the Great Lakes includes a lot. You can immerse yourself in the Victorian-era ambiance of Mackinac Island as you explore by horse-drawn carriage and visit historic Fort Mackinac. Explore three centuries of American history and innovation at The Henry Ford Museum. Delve into fascinating chapters of music history at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, designed by I.M. Pei, and visit the world-class Cleveland Museum of Art. Cruise through the Great Niagara Gorge to feel the spray and mighty roar of Horseshoe Falls.

But also, this trip sails into beautiful Georgian Bay and step ashore on Manitoulin Island to learn the ways of the Ojibwe Tribe. With its art galleries and state-of-the-art exhibits, this heritage museum is a great place to learn about the region's First Nations people. You can even participate in a smudging ceremony - an ancient ritual that uses smoke from cedar, sage, sweetgrass and other plants regarded for their healing powers. A drum and dance performance offers further insight into Ojibwe culture.

You’ll also make a stop at the Immaculate Conception Church. With its unique in-the-round architectural style that evokes a teepee and the circle of life, this church is the spiritual focal point of the local community and brings together the beliefs and customs of the native Ojibwe culture and the Catholic Church.

With a pre-cruise night at our deluxe hotel and 9 nights in your choice of outside stateroom, this is an all-inclusive, luxurious way to experience the Great Lakes, with an open bar, 27 included meals, and a complete program of shore excursions, not to mention included airport transfers and all shipboard gratuities.

2. Glacier Bay and Island Adventure

For this trip, we partner with a supplier that is operated by an Alaskan family-owned company, with a focus on Alaska’s nature, history and First Nations culture. The 8-day small ship cruise aboard the 40-guest ship begins in Sitka and ends in Juneau, or reverse. Along the way around Alaska’s Admiralty, Chichagof, and Baranof Islands, you’ll encounter all the highlights of Southeast Alaska, including many lesser-known ports and wilderness areas. Cruise to Sitka, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm, Petersburg, and Frederick Sound. Explore remote gems such as Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness, Orca Point Lodge, Kake, Wrangell and Pelican, and a transit of the Lisianski Inlet.

Enjoy opportunities to explore hidden coves and shoreline by kayak or inflatable watercraft. View the world’s tallest totem pole and a carving demonstration. Take in Petersburg, Alaska’s “Little Norway” via a narrated bus tour, followed by a folk dance that displays Scandinavian culture. Scout for humpback whales in the whale-rich waters of Frederick Sound. Be awed by the cliffs that rise 4,000 feet above the water in Tracy Arm-Ford’s Terror Wilderness. Enjoy a dinner of Alaskan salmon, Alaskan king crab, or prime rib at the exclusive Orca Point Lodge. In Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, enjoy additional programming by a Native Huna Tlingit interpretive naturalist, alongside the park ranger.

3. Southwest Native Trails

This complete immersion in Native American heritage will delight anyone who is interested in this rare opportunity to delve deeper into the captivating culture, traditions, and history of the Ancestral Puebloans who once thrived in America's Southwest landscapes.

Trace centuries-old stories etched in stone by Ancestral Pueblo peoples and early Spanish settlers when you visit the Petroglyph National Monument. Continuing your journey to Acoma Sky City Cultural Center & Haak'u Museum for a guided insight into one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States and the 28th Historic Site designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

One of the highlights of your Southwest journey will be the visit to Chaco Canyon inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Chaco Canyon is one of America's most significant and fascinating cultural and historic centers of ancestral Puebloan culture. It was the central hub for ceremony, trade and administration for the entire Southwest area. See Pueblo Bonito, one of the most important “ Great Houses” representing the apex of Anasazi, renamed Ancestral Puebloan, in modern day culture. With its 5 stories high and almost 700 rooms it stood as the largest structure in North America until the 18th century.

You’ll also tour Canyon de Chelly National Monument with a certified Navajo guide, visit Hovenweep National Monument, one of the most intriguing pre-historic settlements in the Southwest, see some of the best preserved Puebloan archaeological sites at Mesa Verde National Park, and visit the Taos Pueblo—not only a National Historic Landmark, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

So, on this Indigenous Peoples Day, maybe you’ll want to think about a trip to explore the art, history, and culture of Native American nations. If that sounds good, we’d love to help you make that happen. Just drop us a line, and we’d love to tell you more!