The coming summer months are the perfect time to explore Ontario’s landscape and First Nation’s heritage by participating in a themed Aboriginal Experience. Great Spirit Circle Trail offers numerous outdoor expeditions, including a Horse and Teepee Overnight Adventure with a campfire dinner, medicine walk, storytelling and drumming sessions, and a chance to swim with horses. There’s also a Bay of the Beaver Canoe Tour along the northern shores and fishing islands of the Wikwemikong that follows the route of ancient Aboriginals to the 17th century Iroquois battle site at Skulls Point.

Other options include guided excursions along Mother Earth Hiking Trail led by an Aboriginal guide who shares local legends, history and the traditional use of indigenous plants for practical and medicinal purposes. The Demwe Cycling Tour follows the winding roads through Manitoulin Island with the option of a swim in Lake Mindemoya, while the four-hour Bebamikawe Making Footprints Guided Hike follows scenic paths leading to replicas of lodges and hunting shelters. A number of specialty workshops can also be arranged, including lodge building, teepee set-ups, traditional torch making, fire making, storytelling and traditional medicine harvesting.