Indigenous

Every inch of Australia is written in song. Songs track lines along the continent, with every jutting rock or bowing tree being represented by a line or a verse. The cadence, the rhythm, and the musical patterns that define the song are a mimicry of the feet of Australia’s ancestors, of the first feet to walk along the land. 

Most of us probably remember from history class that Spanish explorers brought horses to North America in the 14th century. Many people are surprised to learn native horses existed before the Spanish arrived, at least in Canada. Ojibwe Spirit Horses, also known as Lac La Croix Indigenous Ponies, are the only known indigenous horse breed native to Canada. Thousands of them lived in harmony with Indigenous communities in (mainly) Northern and Western Ontario and roamed the forests that surround Lac Le Croix.

Traveling throughout the Caribbean and especially the West Indies, one can experience the cultural influences of the Garifuna people in the food, music, dance and island traditions. 

Since 2008, when the main city George Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, tourists flocked to Penang to savour the food, see the sites, and indulge in ‘heritage tourism’. Every day, you can see walking tours searching for the Insta-famous street art peppered across the Heritage Zone. However, heritage tourism is a double-edged sword; what they think is cultural heritage is, in fact, a brilliant tourism campaign promoting the historic image of Penang at the cost of the locals who live it.

The cholita indigenous women from Bolivia’s countryside, are an indomitable symbol of resilience. In a country ravaged by colonial greed, ransacked resources, and periods of crippling poverty, the Bolivian people are no stranger to adversity.

The regions of Biobío and Araucanía, which lie somewhere in the middle of the 2,653 miles that stretch from Chile’s top to bottom, are nevertheless known as “the south.”

I hate to admit it, but when we booked our trip, I didn’t even know where to find Papua New Guinea on the map. Our travel companions had selected the destination. But in the months leading up to our departure, I began to fall in love with a place that was extremely difficult to find accurate information on.

The Enchanted Mountains of Cattaraugus County, New York are the homeland of The Seneca Nation, one of six Native American tribes that formed a confederacy in the region. The largest of the six tribes, The Seneca, who lived in the Western part of the Confederacy, called themselves the Onöndowa’ga,’ or “Keepers of the Western Door,” because they controlled the land foreigners had to cross to gain access to the Confederacy.

In Patagonia, a sub-region of Chile and Argentina, there are many exciting cultural experiences to discover.  However, wherever you go, responsible travel is what you should strive for. It is important to understand how your actions impact your destination.

Nancy Gardella, executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, says that Martha’s Vineyard is so much more than its pretty beaches and famous residents. Among the stories Nancy reveals is the Vineyard’s troubling story of colonization and the island’s surprising legacy of sign language.

However, there is a lesser-known story. Yet one that exemplifies enormous courage and one which has had an immense impact on our nation. It is a story of forced settlement, death, devotion, and incredible spirit. It is the story of Chief Standing Bear.

The sleepy village of Licin is situated in the Banyuwangi regency of East Java, Indonesia. It’s a 30-minute drive from the town of Banyuwangi – Java’s easternmost tip – and an hour from the slopes of Kawah Ijen, the legendary volcano famous for its electric blue flames.