Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks | Tsawaak RV Resort and Campground | Tin Wis Resort

CULTURE

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation has hosted international visitors at Tin Wis for thousands of years. It continues this tradition today by welcoming guests to Best Western Tin Wis Resort Tofino and Tsawaak RV Resort and Campground. 

Tsawaak is derived from His-shuk-nish-tsa-waak, meaning “we are all one,” honouring a deep connection to nature and the land and including all visitors in the joy of this connection and responsibility for its care. A respectful stay at either of these offerings is an act of reconciliation that connects visitors to local Indigenous history and culture. 

Ownership and management by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation ensures business operations, policies, and growth strategies are deeply rooted in Indigenous governance and perspectives. This authentic leadership guarantees that all business practices align with the cultural values and traditions of the community. Both accommodation options at Tin Wis serve as a bridge between travellers and the Tla-o-qui-aht community, offering a glimpse into time-honoured traditions. Visitors can immerse themselves in Tla-o-qui-aht culture through arts and crafts demonstrations, storytelling sessions, and self-guided indoor tours with Indigenous narratives. 

“We are here. We restore and promote our traditional values; we provide enhanced services to improve the quality of life for all.”  Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation 

With the Nuu-chah-nulth language spoken and sung throughout the resort, every corner becomes a canvas for cultural expression. Tin Wis offers the Indigenous creative class a place to display their works and hosts naaʔuu [naa·ooh]: to feast together–a cultural and dining event series that shares an evening of ƛaɁuukwiatḥ hospitality, including traditional food, art, song, and dance with guests. Proceeds from naaʔuu support Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation language and cultural resurgence.

Another notable initiative in cultural resurgence is the resort’s petition to restore the original Indigenous name, Tin Wis, to the beach it is located on. This bold move towards cultural reclamation is supported by Tourism Tofino and the District of Tofino, and showcases Tin Wis’s dedication to preserving Indigenous heritage and outstanding collaboration and allyship with the broader local community.

With Nuu-chah-nulth first signage and miniature longhouses built from trees harvested onsite, Tsawaak RV Resort includes a visitor and presentation center that serves as a hub for cultural education and interpretation, where stories are told, and the rich history of the Tla-o-qui-aht is shared with visitors. 

Tsawaak contributes to Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks, which offers Youth Guardian Programs, and asks all guests to take the  ʔiisaak Pledge, to learn and follow Nuu-chah-nulth Natural Law–extending both an invitation and an expectation for guests to carry themselves with dignity, honour, humility, and respect while travelling within the haḥuułi of the ƛaɁuukwiatḥ ḥaw̓iiḥ. This pledge includes key Nuu-chah-nulth words and concepts to keep in one’s heart and guide right action on the land. 

Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks offer cultural immersion experiences, during which visitors can learn about the history, traditions, and teachings of the First Nation directly from Indigenous guides and storytellers.

COMMUNITY 

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation acknowledges all humans as a fundamental part of local ecology. To honour their reciprocal relationship with the land, they strive to engage all residents and visitors to Tribal Parks in their conservation economy.

Tin Wis and Tsawaak actively collaborate with other Indigenous businesses and organizations within and outside the Tla-o-qui-aht community. These partnerships amplify the resort’s impact, support local entrepreneurship, and create a network of Indigenous-led initiatives that collectively strengthen the community’s cultural and economic fabric.

All three Tla-o-qui-aht businesses prioritize hiring local community members for various organizational roles. By providing employment opportunities to Indigenous individuals from the Tofino area, the business contributes directly to the community’s economic well-being. These positions range from Tribal Park Guardians responsible for conservation efforts to administrative staff supporting day-to-day operations.

These businesses actively source goods and services from local suppliers and businesses whenever possible. By prioritizing local procurement, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation supports the economic sustainability of the Tofino community. These efforts contribute to sustainable health and wellness for local lands, waters, and life.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation prioritizes hiring Indigenous community members, providing them with meaningful employment opportunities. By fostering local talent and offering training programs, the resort empowers the community economically while ensuring that the workforce is representative of the local culture and values. By operating programs like the Tribal Park Allies initiative, Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses, providing a platform to showcase their products, services, and cultural practices to a broader audience while ensuring their sustainable development. 

Tin Wis–and other local businesses–collect contributions through an Ecosystem Service Fee, which are reinvested into preserving local environments and cultural landscapes. Educational initiatives further highlight the resort’s commitment to environmental stewardship, providing guests with insights into traditional Indigenous knowledge and practices and an opportunity to contribute to reconciliation through ethical travel.

SUSTAINABILITY

Tin Wis Resort takes proactive steps to minimize its ecological footprint. With water-efficient fixtures, waste reduction strategies, and a focus on renewable energy, the resort weaves sustainability into its operations. Tin Wis invites travellers to experience the beauty of Tofino and leave a positive impact on the land and its people with a luxury oceanfront stay that is also an act of cultural appreciation and environmental responsibility.

Tsawaak RV Resort is committed to sustainable tourism practices that respect the land and the community. The resort implements environmentally friendly technologies, reduces waste, and follows protocols that minimize the ecological footprint. Low-flow toilets and showers, rainwater collection for watering trees and plants on the property, and responsibly harvesting building material onsite are three simple actions Tsawaak takes to stand for the land. By promoting responsible tourism, the resort ensures its operations are in harmony with Indigenous land stewardship and sustainability principles.

“We reside in Ancestral Gardens, cared for by a community. Indigenous rights and principles, uplifted by Allies, have enabled these ancient forests to stand when so many have fallen.”

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Tribal Parks offers a Youth Guardian Training Program, providing local youth with opportunities to learn about conservation, traditional land management, and cultural practices and strengthening the sustainability of care for the Ḥaaḥuułi of the ƛaʔuukʷiʔatḥ ḥaw̓iiḥ. Through hands-on training and mentorship, young community members develop skills in environmental stewardship and leadership while deepening their connection to their ancestral lands and ensuring the preservation of their culture for generations to come.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation Tribal Parks maintain traditional stewardship practices passed down through generations to protect specific species and areas, engaging in restoration projects to rehabilitate degraded areas, including the revitalization of salmon habitat, remediation of sensitive habitats, removal of invasive species, and environmental monitoring and cleanup activities such as beach and back-road cleanups, derelict vessel removal, and invasive species control to maintain the ecological integrity of the region.

A single Authentic Indigenous tourism business has the potential to transform visitors, revitalize culture, and increase the health of Indigenous lands, communities, and economies. 

But a portfolio of three Authentic Indigenous tourism operators, all owned by one First Nation, dedicated to the resurgence of their culture and governance, and the stewardship and protection of precious biodiverse coastal waters supported by a network of local allies? 

Powerful.

Please sign the ʔiisaak pledge or apply to have your business certified as an official ally and support haḥuułi stewardship.