Naturally native in beautiful Quebec

Guide Page 4

Whether your idea of a perfect holiday involves living on the land, sleeping in a tent, and hunting or fishing, or if you lean more toward waking up in a comfortable bed and being greeted by room service and a breathtaking view out your window, there are many Aboriginal businesses across Quebec waiting to provide just what you are looking for.

Aboriginal owned and operated accommodations and attractions abound across Quebec, where the province's 11 Aboriginal nations are taking advantage of the increased interest in ethno-cultural tourism, eco-tourism, and adventure tourism by developing tourism-based businesses in each of the province's 15 tourist areas.

The job of promoting those businesses is the responsibility of Tours Innu, a tourism broker created by the Societe Touristique Des Autochtones du Quebec/Quebec Aboriginal Tourism Corporation. Created in 1997, Tours Innu became the first tourism broker managed by and for Aboriginal people.

A quick visit to the Quebec Aboriginal Tourism Corporation Web site will provide a listing of the member businesses, along with a description of the services and attractions they provide, as well as contact information for each.

The site lists businesses providing ethno-cultural adventures, where you can sleep in a tipi, sample traditional food, find out about traditional uses of native plants, and learn about the history and culture of the area's Aboriginal people.

Information about expeditions is also listed on the site, offering trips via canoe, snowmobile or dog sled, and even the chance to sleep in an igloo.

If hunting or fishing are more to your liking, a long list of Aboriginal outfitters are also listed on the Web site. And if you feel more comfortable on water than on land, businesses offering cruises and whale watching are also among those featured.

For those less adventurous, who want to experience Aboriginal culture but who aren't anxious to give up the modern amenities, Quebec's Aboriginal tourism sector offers everything from tents with wood stoves to cottages, bed and breakfasts and resorts.

For more information about Aboriginal tourism destinations across Quebec, visit the Quebec Aboriginal Tourism Corporation Web site at http://www.staq.net, or call them toll-free at 1-877-698-STAQ (7827). You can also get a copy of the latest Quebec Aboriginal Tourism Guide by calling Tourisme Quebec toll-free at 1-877-BONJOUR (266-5687), or by visiting their Web site at http://www.bonjourquebec.com.