Powwow Country: Quaaout Lodge - Little Shuswap Indian Band, BC

Quaaout Lodge
Little Shuswap Indian Band

Quaaout Lodge is the pride of the Little Shuswap Indian Band. It was built in 1991, and the guest rooms were fully renovated in 2009. Log balconies were added in 2010, affording views of the lake and surrounding woods. Visitors will also enjoy a sandy beach, indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and exercise room, and the 18-hole championship Talking Rock Golf Course. First Nations cuisine, culture and traditions are shared here in abundance. In the circular foyer are red-ochre painted reproductions of ancient pictographs found on rocks in the area. The main hall is circular, reminiscent of traditional kekuli homes, and just beyond are reproduction kekulis and a sweat lodge where sacred ceremonies are held for invited guests. The Quaaout Lodge Conference Centre is available for meetings, seminars and banquets, serving authentic Native gourmet meals. Jack Sam’s restaurant honours First Nations traditions of the region with menu items that include venison, cedar board salmon steak, and buffalo ragout. With 48 hours notice, you can enjoy chicken or salmon in clay, a local specialty. Barbara Callihoe, an artisan and instructor of First Nations art forms and teacher of Native Studies at the collegiate level, hosts workshops, cultural activities and seminars at Quaaout Lodge. Learn how to make birch bark bookmarks, council feathers, simple beadwork or rock painting to create a petroglyph using smooth river rocks. Learn the crafts of making a birch bark basket, moose/caribou hair tufting and moccasin making.

For more information, check out quaaoutlodge.com