Syiyaya Days: Talking Trees
Join us for a complimentary community forest walk at Porpoise Bay, offered as part of Syiyaya Days. This guided experience is connected to the wider community gathering supported by the syíyaya Reconciliation Movement, the District of Sechelt, and the shíshálh Nation.
Talking Trees is a complimentary community forest walk rooted in story, observation, and relationship with the land.
Join Talaysay Tours for a free Syiyaya Days cultural walking tour at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park. Talking Trees invites guests to explore the relationships between people, plants, trees, and the living land through guided cultural and land-based interpretation.
As you move through cedar, fir, moss, and shoreline edges, you’ll be introduced to Coast Salish knowledge systems through the teachings held in plants, trees, and place.
This is an opportunity to gather in community, listen with care, and leave with a deeper sense of connection, respect, and reciprocity.
What to Expect
Talking Trees is a calm, story-driven experience that blends cultural teaching, ecological knowledge, and sensory awareness.
Guided storytelling and teachings rooted in Coast Salish relationships with the land
Learn how plants and trees are used for food, medicine, and technology
Exploration of stewardship, selective harvesting, and reciprocal relationships
A gentle walking pace with time to observe, reflect, and engage with the forest
This complimentary offering is designed to be welcoming, accessible, and grounded in community connection.
Where We Meet
We gather at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, where forest meets shoreline along the edge of Sechelt Inlet.
Our meeting point is near the interpretive sign and playground, just steps from the main parking area. From there, we begin a gentle walk through forested paths and along the beach.
This peaceful setting offers space to notice plant life, bird activity, intertidal relationships, and the living systems that connect freshwater, saltwater, forest, and shore.
Experience Details
Cultural focus: Indigenous plant knowledge, land-based learning, and Coast Salish relationships with the forest
Guided by: A Talaysay Cultural Land Ambassador
Duration: 60 minutes
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Meeting Location: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park
Accessibility & Arrival
Parking is available near the meeting area, with public washrooms located close by.
The walking route follows mostly flat and even terrain, with some areas of sand, grass, and small rocks that may present minor challenges for wheelchairs or mobility aids. Walking sticks or canes may be helpful for additional support.
If you have accessibility questions or would like to discuss accommodations in advance, please reach out to our team before registering.
Please arrive 15 minutes early and meet your guide beside the interpretive sign and playground near the beach.
Registration & Waiver
This is a complimentary community offering.
Registration is still required so we can manage attendance and share final details in advance.
Please note: All guests are required to complete a digital waiver before participating. A waiver link will be included in your confirmation email and can be completed online before arrival.