Indigenous experiences in Atlantic Canada

Indigenous communities have called Atlantic Canada home for thousands of years, carving out a unique way of life founded on a deep connection with nature and a remarkable spirit of resilience. Here, we pick out the top experiences to help you explore the unique heritage of the peoples of Canada's Atlantic provinces.

Communities such as the Mi’kmaq, Innu, Inuit, Beothuk, Maliseet and Abenaki have created rich cultures across the four Atlantic Canada provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. As such, visitors to the region have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating history of the First Nations people and experience their millenia-old traditions firsthand.

With the Indigenous Tourism Association of Prince Edward Island (ITAPEI) winning the prestigious ‘Provincial or Territorial Association of the Year’ accolade at the 2025 ITAC Indigenous Tourism Awards, Atlantic Canada is being recognised for its dedication to collaboration and building a resilient Indigenous tourism industry. Here, we’ve rounded up the most enriching Indigenous experiences across the four provinces of Atlantic Canada. 

New Brunswick

Home to 15 distinct First Nation communities, including the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and the Passamaquoddy, New Brunswick offers a fascinating insight into Atlantic Canada’s rich Indigenous heritage. A good place to start is to familiarise yourself with the Indigenous names for the province’s towns, rivers and landmarks; for instance, Fredericton, the capital, is known as See-dahn-sis in the Maliseet language. You could also attend a powwow (a traditional performance of singing and dancing), a smudging ceremony (in which sacred herbs are burned to purify the body, mind, heart and spirit) or an Indigenous craft workshop. All of these unique experiences will leave you with a much greater understanding and appreciation of New Brunswick’s rich history as seen through the eyes of its First Nations people. 

St Mary's First Nation Pow-wow

Newfoundland & Labrador

The largest of Atlantic Canada’s four provinces, Newfoundland and Labrador’s history of human habitation stretches back around 9,000 years. In and among the province’s sprawling forests, majestic fjords, windswept coastlines and iceberg-dotted waters, Indigenous communities have forged a profound understanding of our planet that has evolved from ancient hunter-gatherer practices originally forged in the Arctic to a more modern way of living that retains a strong appreciation for nature and culture. Visitors can learn about the province’s four main Indigenous groups – the Inuit, Southern Inuit (formerly the Labrador Inuit-Metis), Innu, and the Mi'Kmaq – through the likes of immersive forest walks, guided boat tours, cultural workshops and traditional food experiences. 

Beothuk Interpretation Centre

Nova Scotia

For more than 13,000 years, the Mi’kmaq people have called Nova Scotia home, enriching the province’s communities with their legends, art, music and spirituality. There are myriad ways to delve into this unique culture, such as storytelling and traditional hand drum-making workshops at Membertou Heritage Park; a guided hike along the cultural trail on Goat Island, home of Eskasoni Cultural Journeys; or a walking tour exploring the ancient petroglyphs dotted along the picturesque shores of Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. The Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre near Truro, meanwhile, provides a detailed insight into the language, culture and enduring spirit of the Mi’kmaq through a series of informative exhibits, alongside a souvenir shop that supports local Indigenous businesses.  

Goat island, Nova Scotia

Prince Edward Island

It may be Canada’s smallest province in terms of land area, but what Prince Edward island lacks in size it more than makes up for in natural splendour and cultural treasures – as recognised by its prestigious accolade of ‘Provincial or Territorial Association of the Year’ at the 2025 ITAC Indigenous Tourism Awards. In the Mi’kmaq language, the island’s name is Epekwitk, meaning “something lying in the water”. At the Lennox Island Mi’kmaq Cultural Centre, visitors can learn about traditional crafts, drumming, and the deep spiritual connection to the land and sea, while Atlantic Canada's only Indigenous theatre company, Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors, showcases the history of the Mi'kmaq people through stories, songs, teachings and traditional dancing. 

Mi'kmaq woman, Cape Tryon