Nemiah Valley Lodge

Life in the remote Nemiah Valley has always had challenges, and learning to live on it and fight for it is a part of Tŝilhqot’in culture. Xeni guides include a welcome ceremony for guests that shares the Tŝilhqot’in creation story and discusses the Chilcotin War of 1864 and the ongoing legal battle for Title Lands through the Supreme Court of Canada.

All aspects of your stay at Nemiah Valley Lodge have been crafted with care by Xeni Gwet’in guides–from language sharing to culturally immersive itineraries and culinary offerings that highlight traditional foods and harvesting methods. Xeni community members share opportunities for healing and transformation as they teach guests how to drum, dance, and sing Tŝilhqot’in songs. The Xeni Gwet’in are creative, resourceful, and available to teach guests beading and other traditional craftwork. Locally made crafts and artwork are available for sale. Xeni guides are proud to share their cultural knowledge and relationship to the land with guests–venture on a guided botanical walk or learn more about the Xeni relationship to local wild horses. Spend the day hiking and kayaking at Chilko Lake–the largest natural, high-elevation freshwater lake in Canada and home to one of Xeni’s traditional village sites.

Nemiah Valley Lodge employs local Xeni Gwet’in community members in all lodge roles–as Cultural Ambassadors, cooks, housekeepers, and maintenance workers. There are currently eight full-time Indigenous employees and two local businesses contracted. The remoteness of Nemiah Valley Lodge requires a tremendous sense of community and teamwork, with local relationships playing a vital role in delivering an experience that is both out of the way and out of the ordinary.

The Lodge also supports local Indigenous artists and offers the sale of their handiwork on-site. With the return of these Tŝilhqot’in Title Lands, all decision-making and revenue belong to the People. Every effort made is a source of pride and a testament to the success and strength of the community. The traditional village site at Chilko Lake brings the community together as a place to honour their ancestors and teach their youth traditional ways of knowing.

Nemiah Valley Lodge focuses on sustainability by paying professional consulting rates to their Cultural Ambassadors. This honouring of Tŝilhqot’in Knowledge and People demonstrates a career path for youth that values cultural knowledge and allows them to remain in Nemiah Valley for employment. This transfer of cultural knowledge and the addition of youth employment opportunities support the business’s sustainability and ensure that precious Xeni Lands will see new generations of caretakers who can live and thrive without leaving home.

The Lodge is proudly off-the-grid and has installed a full solar field that provides all energy needs, with generators on site for backup