For many Indigenous communities across Canada, winter is storytelling season a sacred time to gather, connect, and share oral histories that have guided generations. As snow blankets the land, families and communities come together to pass on knowledge, teachings, and ancestral wisdom through the spoken word.

Within these oral traditions, stories are not simply told, they are lived. Many are reserved for specific seasons or settings and shared only by those entrusted as knowledge keepers. Each narrative carries lessons about the land, the changing seasons, and humanity's place within nature.

Storytelling is the thread that connects generations, keeps cultures alive and teaches us how to be in right relationship with the world around us.

Winter Tales and Modern Voices

Across Canada, Indigenous tourism operators are blending traditional storytelling with immersive, contemporary travel experiences:

• Jasper Tour Company (Alberta) – Métis guide Joe Urie brings the spirit of the land to life through storytelling-led small-group tours, connecting guests with the natural beauty and rich history of Jasper National Park.
• North Star Adventures (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) – Founded by Dene guide Joe Bailey, this Indigenous-owned tour company offers aurora viewing and northern lights chasing paired with storytelling, music, and Dene teachings.
• Talaysay Tours (Vancouver, BC) – Led by Candace Campo of the Sechelt and Squamish Nations, guests are invited on Talking Trees walks and cultural tours that share the deep-rooted relationship between Indigenous people and the land.

Immersive Experiences for Cultural Explorers

For travellers seeking to combine cultural immersion with Canada's winter wonderlands, Indigenous-owned operators across the country offer experiences that blend outdoor adventure, reflection, and storytelling:

• Spirit of Winter (Kingston, Ontario) – In February 2026, downtown Kingston transforms into a living art installation, with Cree stories projected onto historic buildings, narrated in Cree, Ojibwe, English and French.
• Arctic Bay Adventures (Nunavut) – Journey into the Arctic Circle for dogsledding, Inuit storytelling, and northern lights viewing beneath star-filled skies.
• B. Dene Adventures (Yellowknife) – A hands-on introduction to Dene culture through traditional drumming, winter activities, and stories passed down through generations.
• Métis Crossing (Smoky Lake, Alberta) – Experience Métis craftmaking, guided snowshoeing and storytelling under the stars. Guests can now stay in the new Skywatching Domes and learn how the Métis used the constellations to track time, navigate, and live in harmony with the land.

A Winter of Connection and Continuity

For Indigenous peoples, storytelling is more than entertainment,  it is a living bridge between the past and present, carrying lessons of respect, balance and belonging. This winter, visitors are invited to listen, learn, and share in the magic of stories that have shaped the spirit of Canada for thousands of years.