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Indigenous Arts & Cultures in Nelson

Discover Indigenous Destinations and Experiences in Nelson

Nestled in the heart of British Columbia’s Kootenay region, Nelson is located within the traditional territory of the Sinixt (Lakes) and Ktunaxa First Nations. Surrounded by majestic mountains and pristine lakes, this vibrant community offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with Indigenous culture through art, storytelling, and land-based experiences that honor the deep connection between the land and its original inhabitants.

Start your journey by exploring the Touchstones Museum of Art and History, where exhibits highlight the history and resilience of the Sinixt people, who have called the Columbia Basin home for thousands of years. Visit local Indigenous art galleries or public art installations that feature works by Ktunaxa and Sinixt artists, blending traditional styles with contemporary expression.

Immerse yourself in authentic Indigenous experiences by participating in guided nature walks that highlight traditional plant knowledge, listening to Indigenous storytelling sessions, or attending seasonal cultural events that celebrate traditional drumming, dance, and craft-making. The region’s lakes and rivers have long been sacred to the Sinixt, making paddle tours and eco-cultural experiences an excellent way to explore Indigenous perspectives on land and water stewardship.

Whether you’re engaging with Indigenous artists, learning about the Sinixt Nation’s efforts to reclaim their ancestral rights, or exploring sacred landscapes, Nelson invites you to connect with a powerful and enduring Indigenous legacy that continues to shape the cultural fabric of the region.

Every community has its own unique cultural footprint.

Please come back to visit this community as we are curating content and destinations throughout the Province of BC. If you or your organization wish to be presented on this page, we invite you to become a Marketing Member

Upcoming Community Events

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Vessels | The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery

The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Nelson
Date:
February 15, 2025
-
May 24, 2025
No Reviews
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Vessels Amelia Ford February 15 to May 24, 2025 Objects such as glasses, fruit, flowers, and tchotchkes take on figurative roles to represent their latent symbology and challenge the male gaze. Amelia Ford Before breaking the rules, you must first understand them. Emerging artist Amelia Ford works within the confines of the traditional still life painting tradition–masterfully manipulating oils to Read more...
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Dark Chapters | The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery

The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Nelson
Date:
March 22, 2025
-
June 28, 2025
No Reviews
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Dark Chapters David Garneau March 22 to June 28, 2025 There are so many ways to investigate how the written word can implicate, illuminate, and interpret artworks. David Garneau Rocks and books and bones, shadows and light, and the balance between these things; studied in isolation and interpreted by 17 leading artists, essayists, poets, and academics from coast to coast, Read more...
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Touchstone Nelson Heritage Walking Tour | Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Nelson
Date:
May 13, 2025
-
May 10, 2026
New
No Reviews
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We hope you will enjoy your exploration of our historic downtown core. Please follow the map, at your own pace, and stop at any one of our outdoor spaces to enjoy the streetscape. If you see a building, not on the Tour, which piques your interest, please make a note of it and ask about it at the museum. Please Read more...
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Forest for the Trees (working title) | Nelson Museum Archives & Gallery

The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery
Nelson
Date:
June 7, 2025, 10:00 am
-
September 13, 2025, 6:00 pm
No Reviews
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Forest for the Trees explores the regional history and relationship to the lumber industry. From the early settler days of logdriving down Kootenay Lake, to the Eddy Match Company’s matchstick factory, to the Save Cottonwood movement, the show features themes of resource extraction, land use, environmentalism and climate change, homebuilding, energy use, wildfire mitigation, and more. The story is told through Read more...
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Kaslo Jazz ETC Festival

Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Nelson
Date:
August 1, 2025
-
August 3, 2025
No Reviews
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This year, August 1 to 3, the Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival will once again make use of the astounding acoustics of Kaslo Bay Park to showcase an array of blues, jazz, latin, folk, world music, and much more.  Our unique floating stage transforms Kaslo Bay Park into a natural green amphitheater and sends live music reverberating out over Kootenay Lake.  Read more...
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Nelson International Mural Festival | Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism

Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism
Nelson
Date:
August 8, 2025
-
August 10, 2025
No Reviews
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The Nelson and District Arts Council is excited to present the fifth Nelson International Mural Festival happening August 11th, 12th, 13th, 2023 throughout Nelson, BC. Cultural vibrancy in Nelson continues to flourish under the festival’s engagement of street artists, muralists, creators, and art enthusiasts joining the festival from the local, national, and international art scene. Through large scale public artworks, Read more...
Columbia Basin Culture Tour

Columbia Basin Culture Tour

Columbia Basin Culture Tour
Nelson
Date:
August 9, 2025
-
August 10, 2025
No Reviews
Favorite
August 9 & 10, 2025 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Each year, the tour invites you to:  meet people behind the scenes at galleries and museums  visit studios and venues not normally open to the public shop for original art or fine crafts  enjoy special events Self-directed and free of charge, the tour features the work of skilled Read more...
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