Regenerative travel is a new approach to tourism that goes beyond sustainable or responsible travel. While sustainable travel aims to minimize the negative impacts of tourism on the environment and local communities, regenerative travel takes it a step further by actively contributing to the restoration and well-being of those environments and communities. The idea is to leave a destination in a better condition than it was before you visited.

The key principles of regenerative travel include:

Regenerative travel aims to create a positive impact on both the traveler and the destination, fostering a sense of responsibility, connection, and contribution to the well-being of the places visited. It represents a holistic approach to tourism that seeks to regenerate ecosystems, empower communities, and enhance overall sustainability.

The Parksville Qualicum Beach area is situated within the ancestral lands of several Coast Salish First Nations, with specific ties to the traditional territories of the Qualicum and Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose) First Nations. Here's a brief overview of these nations:

Qualicum First Nation:

The Qualicum First Nation's traditional territory encompasses sections of the Parksville and Qualicum Beach area, contributing to the broader cultural and linguistic fabric of the Coast Salish group. The historical language spoken in this region, known as Puntledge, Pentl’ach, or Puntlatch, extended from Comox to Parksville and Port Alberni to the islands of Denman, Hornby, Lasqueti, and Texada. 

In the 1940s, the last fluent speaker of the language passed away, leading to the language being officially declared extinct. The community was deeply saddened to learn that their ancestral language, once vibrant and integral to their identity, was deemed no longer significant. However, in recent years the community has rallied together with determination and resilience to embark on a journey to revive and reclaim their language. Today the language has been revived and is no longer considered extinct.

Currently, The Qualicum Nation is committed to a prosperous and stable future for their families and citizens. They operate the waterfront Qualicum First Nation Campground, which offers a variety of lodging options along the shores of the Salish Sea. Additionally, a number of members of the community work to support and restore the Pacific Salmon populations at the Big Qualicum Fish Hatchery. The Big Qualicum Hatchery is engaged in a number of natural and artificial enhancement techniques to help bolster declining salmon populations. In doing so, they provide an important source of fish for local First Nations food fisheries, along with creating sustainable stocks for recreational fishers. Visitors to the hatchery can engage in a self-guided tour of the facility and explore the Big Qualicum River Regional Trail which begins from the hatchery. The trail navigates the riverside tree canopy and the 10km gravel road that provides excellent cycling opportunities for all ages. For those hoping to view salmon, mid-September to mid-November is typically the busiest time, with Chinook and Pink Salmon returning to the hatchery.

Snaw-Naw-As:

The Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose) First Nation resides on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island, adjacent to the town of Lantzville, nestled between Parksville and Nanaimo, within the picturesque Nanoose Bay. The name Snaw-Naw-As originates from the Halkomelem term “Naus,” signifying “inside looking out,” a reflection of Nanoose Bay's distinctive shape. Their traditional language, Hul’q’umi’num’, constitutes one of the three branches of the Halkomelum dialect spoken from Nanoose to Oregon. Historically, the Snaw-Naw-As First Nation's traditional territory encompassed villages scattered across the mid-Island region of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

Referred to as the Nanoose First Nation, the Snaw-Naw-As community is part of the Coast Salish people, joining 18 other Nations in the Salish Sea. Positioned as one of the northern Coast Salish Nations on the eastern side of Vancouver Island, their cultural identity is deeply rooted in the rich heritage of the Coast Salish.

Affiliated with the Te’mexw treaty association, the Snaw-Naw-As are proud members of a non-profit society comprised of five Coast Salish Nations – Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW), Malahat, Snaw-Naw-As, Songhees, and T’Sou-ke. The Te’mexw Treaty Association was established to foster collaboration among these Nations, uniting their efforts within a single organization to collectively negotiate distinct modern treaties with the federal and provincial governments as part of the British Columbia treaty process.

The Snaw-Naw-As operate a popular oceanfront campground just north of the community of Lantzville that welcomes campers from May to November every year. The 80-site facility offers a number of fully-serviced and waterfront sites in a family-friendly environment that is well-situated for people looking to explore the incredible outdoor recreation opportunities located in the surrounding area. Be sure to stop by the Snaw-Naw-As market to fuel up and explore their collection of indigenous art, products and literature.

Indigenous Tourism BC has developed a series of best practices to consider when engaging with tourism on Indigenous Lands.