Integrating Indigenous Voices into Heritage Tourism: Lessons from Barkerville

Interest in Indigenous culture is experiencing a revival and gaining greater visibility among travellers in Canada and beyond. As tourism evolves, historic sites are adapting to offer visitors a more complete and inclusive narrative. One such place leading this transformation is British Columbia’s Barkerville Historic Town and Park.

For years, Barkerville’s storytelling centred on colonial history, particularly the gold rush of the 1850s and 1860s, when thousands of settlers and prospectors flocked to the region in search of fortune. Recently, however, the site has expanded its interpretation to include Indigenous perspectives that were long overlooked.

Stewart Cawood, Manager of Public Programming and Media, sees this as a vital shift. “In some cases, [visitors] think we’re changing history,” he says. “But what we’re actually doing is addressing history that has been ignored or purposefully forgotten.” This transformation has been shaped by Indigenous leaders like Cheryl Chapman, who has spent decades advocating for representation at Barkerville. Today, she collaborates with Mike Retasket and others to share the Indigenous histories that have always been part of the site’s past.

While the process has met some resistance, Barkerville demonstrates that heritage tourism can serve a greater purpose—educating visitors and acknowledging historical injustices. By embracing Indigenous voices, the site is setting a new standard for how history is told in British Columbia.

“It is our responsibility in Barkerville not only to celebrate the things that have happened in the past but to address the mistakes of what has come before us, so that we can build a better future.” — Stewart Cawood

Listen below or visit here to learn more: