Salish Sea Journey
Jericho Beach
A Shared Journey on the Salish Sea - Indigenous Storytelling & Coastal Canoe Experience
Talaysay Tours and MacSailing come together to offer a unique, land-and-sea-based experience that blends Indigenous storytelling, marine ecology, and a guided coastal canoe journey along Vancouver’s shoreline.
This three-hour experience begins on the beach with Indigenous guides from Talaysay Tours, sharing Coast Salish teachings about the ocean through story, science, and lived knowledge. The journey then continues on the water in a voyageur canoe, guided by MacSailing’s certified instructors, offering a deeper connection to the Salish Sea from shore to paddle.
What to Expect
This experience unfolds in two connected parts:
Salish Sea & Me (Land-Based Experience)
Begin with an engaging beachside session led by Indigenous guides from Talaysay Tours. Through storytelling, observation, and discussion, you’ll explore the Coast Salish Peoples’ long-standing relationship with the ocean, learning about marine life, ocean systems, stewardship, and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Coastal Canoe Journey (On the Water)
Following the land-based experience, you’ll board a voyageur canoe with MacSailing’s guides for a guided paddle along Vancouver’s coastline. From the water, you’ll experience the Salish Sea in motion; observing shoreline ecology, ocean conditions, and the rhythms of the coast.
No prior paddling experience is required.
Every tour concludes with a cup of Indigenous tea; a moment of gratitude, connection, and conversation.
A Living Relationship with the Salish Sea
The Coast Salish Peoples have long lived in relationship with the Salish Sea, guided by values of respect, responsibility, and stewardship. This experience shares their stories, science, and teachings while inviting participants to reflect on their own relationship with the ocean; past, present, and future.
Through both land-based learning and time on the water, Salish Sea Journey offers a holistic way to understand the coast as a living system, shaped by culture, ecology, and care.
Where We Meet
Jericho Beach – MacSailing Office
Check in at the MacSailing office at Jericho Beach, a gathering place between ocean and forest. Located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Peoples, this shoreline offers a meaningful setting to begin your journey into Indigenous knowledge, marine ecology, and coastal exploration.
Detailed check-in instructions will be provided upon booking.
Book this Tour
Thursdays • April–September • 5:00–8:00 PM • Jericho Beach
Before Your Tour
Dress for the weather; layers are recommended
Wear comfortable clothing that can get wet
Closed-toe shoes are encouraged
Bring water and sun protection on warm days
This experience runs rain or shine, except in unsafe weather conditions.
What’s Included
Indigenous-led storytelling and ecological teachings
Guided coastal canoe journey with certified instructors
All equipment provided (canoes, paddles, life jackets)
No prior paddling experience required
Guest Protocol
Tours start promptly
Arrive 15 minutes prior to tour start
Late guests or missed tours are not reimbursed
Individual booking cancellation: 48 hours notice prior to tour is required and a 20% administration fee applies
Group booking cancellation: 10 days notice prior to tour is required and a 20% administration fee applies
Cancellations with less than the required notice are 100% non-refundable
