Explore the 7 Top Indigenous-Owned Hotels and Resorts in Canada

Canada boasts over 630 First Nation communities, each rich in unique customs and narratives. Over 70 distinct Indigenous languages are spoken by the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, which includes First Nations, Inuit, and Métis.

Across the nation, you'll find a diverse array of Indigenous-owned accommodations, from charming bed-and-breakfasts to luxurious resorts. Choosing to stay at an Indigenous-owned property is one of the best ways for travelers to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture in Canada.

Consider these seven Indigenous-owned hotels in Canada for your upcoming adventure in the Great White North:

1. Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations

Located just a 14-minute drive from Old Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Huron-Wendat reserve and Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations feature Indigenous art throughout the 79-room boutique hotel, with a beaver pelt placed at the foot of each bed. The on-site Huron-Wendat Museum and the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse provide thoughtfully curated exhibits on the history and culture of the Wendat People. The celebrated restaurant, La Traite, serves upscale Indigenous-inspired dishes, including seal tataki poached in milk with smoked thyme and duck breast with blueberry and honey sauce. Sunday brunch is enjoyed alongside rhythmic drumming.

Cultural experiences: Guests can join a guided tour of the Huron-Wendat Museum and participate in a Myths and Legends experience within the Ekionkiestha’ National Longhouse, highlighting the ancient traditions of the Wendat People. Nearby, visitors can explore a reconstructed historical Wendat village at Huron Traditional Site Onhoüa Chetek8e and experience Onhwa’Lumina, a 0.75-mile night walk celebrating the Huron-Wendat Nation through music and light.

2. Manitoulin Hotel & Conference Centre

The Manitoulin Hotel & Conference Centre is owned by the six First Nation communities of Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island), the world’s largest freshwater island in Lake Huron. This 58-room hotel features a distinctive conical lobby designed to resemble a traditional tepee and reflect the seven sacred Grandfather Teachings of Anishinaabe culture. Located in Little Current, the hotel and its renowned North46 Restaurant provide stunning views of the north channel of Georgian Bay, with a menu that includes pan-seared Manitoulin whitefish, bison steaks, and other Indigenous-inspired dishes.

Cultural experiences: Wikwemikong Tourism offers an extensive range of guided tours that introduce visitors to Anishinaabe culture, from guided hikes and paddling excursions to culinary tastings. The annual Wiikwemkoong Cultural Festival and Pow Wow, typically held in late summer, is a highlight of the island, showcasing drumming, dancing, traditional foods, arts and crafts, and various cultural experiences. For those who prefer to explore independently, the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation and numerous interpretive trails are excellent options.

3. The Lodge at Métis Crossing

Inaugurated in January 2022, the Lodge at Métis Crossing is a 40-room boutique lodge situated on historic Métis River lots, approximately 75 miles northeast of Edmonton. The term métis, used since the 18th century, refers to individuals in Canada with mixed Indigenous and European heritage. Designed by Métis architect Tiffany Shaw, the lodge and the adjoining Cultural Gathering Centre reflect Métis culture and history, echoing the original structures of the area. The wooden features of the buildings are reminiscent of traditional river lot properties owned by Métis families. Inside the lodge, guests will find a grand fireplace, a taxidermied white bison, and a café, while the guest rooms are adorned with Métis-style patchwork quilts. The Cultural Gathering Centre also houses a restaurant and a gift shop, alongside a campground, sky-watching domes, cross-country ski trails, and a skating rink.

Cultural experiences: Guests can visit the adjacent Cultural Gathering Centre, which offers a variety of cultural experiences throughout the year. These activities include traditional art workshops, stargazing, and voyageur canoe tours, utilizing large canoes once used by voyageurs for transporting furs during Canada’s fur trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. At Visions, Hopes, and Dreams at Métis Crossing Wildlife Park near the lodge, visitors can encounter rare white bison, wood bison, plains bison, elk, and Percheron horses, a breed of French draft horse.

Read more: Explore Indigenous Canada at Métis Crossing, which is expanding in 2022

4. Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel in Winnipeg

Opened in October 2022, the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel is one of Canada's newest Indigenous-owned accommodations. This 132-room hotel is owned by the Long Plain First Nation, situated on Treaty One Territory within Winnipeg’s inaugural urban reserve. The hotel features an east-facing main entrance and a curved architectural design that honors Indigenous traditions. Unique artworks created by Long Plain artists adorn each guest room, with a striking centerpiece on every floor near the elevator. With 5,800 square feet of meeting space, it includes a Knowledge Keepers’ area for Elders and Indigenous leaders. The hotel displays bilingual signage in both English and Ojibway, and Kookum’s Korner, the gift shop, offers authentic Indigenous products. The on-site restaurant, Manoomin, meaning “wild rice” in Ojibway, presents an Indigenous-inspired menu crafted by a First Nations Red Seal Chef, signifying excellence in culinary standards in Canada.

Cultural experiences: Explore Indigenous culture and history at the Manitoba Museum and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq boasts the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art worldwide. Visit Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site, where Treaty No. 1 was signed by the seven chiefs of the Ojibwe and Swampy Cree First Nations. Additionally, Riel House National Historic Site offers insights into Métis history and culture.

5. Dakota Dunes Resort

Located just outside Saskatoon on the ancestral land of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, Dakota Dunes Resort (managed by Atlific Hotels) boasts 155 guest rooms along with a host of amenities, including a casino, golf course, swimming pool, restaurant, and various conference rooms. The spacious lobby features gathering areas centered around fire pits, while Indigenous art is showcased throughout the venue—each room displays a striking graphic derived from a photograph of Chief Darcy Bear’s headdress.

Cultural experiences: A range of cultural activities are offered on-site through Dakota Dunes Adventures. These include Pow Wow dance shows, bannock-making sessions, and reconciliation workshops aimed at fostering understanding and enhancing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals. Nearby, Wanuskewin Heritage Park serves as a national historic site and the longest-running archaeological dig in Canada, featuring trails, a visitor center with artifacts, a restaurant, and unique offerings like Han Wi Moon Indigenous culinary experiences, which encompass a walking tour, an Indigenous-inspired dinner in a tepee village, and dessert with storytelling on a stunning bluff overlooking the South Saskatchewan River and the opimihāw Valley.

6. St. Eugene Resort

St. Eugene Resort, situated near Cranbrook, possesses a unique history that distinguishes it from any other hotel globally. From 1912 to 1970, St. Eugene Mission was among 130 residential schools for Indigenous children that operated across Canada from 1831 to 1996, run by various churches and religious entities. These institutions aimed to systematically dismantle Indigenous cultures and impose Western ideals. The painful legacy of abuse continues to resonate, as approximately 5,000 Indigenous children from British Columbia and Alberta attended the school, with some not surviving the experience. After its closure, local Indigenous communities chose to transform this painful history into a positive future by converting the site into a hotel, providing income and employment opportunities for the community. The 125-room resort features a health club, casino, restaurants, an award-winning golf course, RV park, and an interpretive center dedicated to promoting Ktunaxa culture.

Cultural experiences: Visitors can engage in a tour of the former school led by a residential school survivor, view historical artifacts, watch a documentary, or enroll in Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training programs at the on-site Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre.

7. Klahoose Wilderness Resort

One remarkable feature of Klahoose Wilderness Resort is its stunning remoteness. Situated on 2,500 acres of protected Klahoose territory, the resort is reachable via a 60-minute seaplane flight from Vancouver or a 45-minute boat ride from Lund, B.C. Here, glacial waterfalls cascade down snow-capped peaks, and evergreens line the picturesque Homfray Channel. The resort comprises just four lodge rooms and three cedar cabins, all with views of the ocean. Be on the lookout for humpback whales breaching at sunrise. Activities include Indigenous-led grizzly bear tours, wood-carving workshops with Klahoose interpreter Klemkwateki Randy Louie, and a communal smudging and brushing ceremony around a fire.

Additional reporting by Kathryn Romeyn.