National Indigenous Peoples Day
In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day, WestJet acknowledges the land today’s flight schedule is travelling through and highlighting incredible Indigenous tourism business in each of these destinations.
Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
As an airline, we are privileged to connect with people from across Canada. The relationships we build in the communities we serve are what allows us to keep flying.
We travel in and through the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples and are beneficiaries of the land that they have acted as steward over for generations. Each of these unique communities, often drawing their personality and culture from the character of the land, brightens our country.
Land acknowledgements serve as a starting point to broaden our understanding, help us move forward in a spirit of reconciliation with our First Nations, Inuit, and Métis neighbours.
Today, we’re acknowledging the land our flight schedule is travelling in and through and highlighting an Indigenous tourism business in each of these destinations.
WS 161 departing Edmonton, Alta.
We acknowledge that the land on which flight 161 departs is Treaty 6 territory and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including Cree, Nakota Sioux Saulteaux, Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and Métis Peoples.
Immerse yourself in the heritage and distinct Indigenous stories of the families who formed a Métis community along the historic Victoria Trail, Alberta’s first road at Métis Crossing.
WS 305 departing Toronto, Ont.
We would like to acknowledge the land on which flight 305 departs, part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land. In particular, we acknowledge the territory of the Anishinabek, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Ojibway/Chippewa peoples; the land that is home to the Metis; and most recently, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who are direct descendants of the Mississaugas of the Credit.
First Nations sisters Jenifer and Sharon Rudski connect people and build community at Oceah Oceah through stand up paddleboarding on the water in Toronto's western beaches.
WS 108 departing Vancouver, B.C.
We acknowledge that the land on which Flight 108 departs is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.
Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art
The Bill Reid Gallery has remained the only public gallery in Canada devoted to contemporary Indigenous art of the Northwest Coast.
WS 3358 departing Yellowknife, N.W.T
We acknowledge that flight 3358 departs Chief Drygeese territory. From time immemorial, it has been the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, and more recently, the homeland of the North Slave Métis Alliance.
Bundle up and gaze at the Northern lights, warm up in the winter in a spruce-boughed tipi with a crackling fire pit, appreciate the North, the People, the land, and its environment through this Indigenous family-owned business, Tugah Northern Experiences.
WS 506 departing Saskatoon, Sask.
As flight 506 departs, we acknowledge we are on Treaty 6 Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. We pay our respect to the First Nations and Métis ancestors.
The Wanuskewin area contains some of the most exciting archaeological finds in North America; Arrowheads, pottery sherds, and bison bones litter the valley where visitors of today walk the 6km of hiking trails. Bison jumps, tipi rings and the world's most northerly Medicine Wheel all can be found within the park boundaries.
WS 3423 departing St. John’s, N.L.
We respectfully acknowledge the territory in which flight 3423 departs is in traditional Mi’kmaw territory, and we respect the diverse histories and cultures of all the Mi’kmaw, Innu, and Inuit Peoples of this province.
At the ShaMaSha Centre, you can connect to Mother Nature through hiking, boating, yoga, meditation and more in Newfoundland on a five-day immersive experience.
To learn more about WestJet’s partnership with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), including the nine Indigenous entrepreneurs who are recipients of our 2020 and 2021 grants, visit westjet.com/indigenous.
WS 449 departing Winnipeg, Man.
We acknowledge that our flights to and from Winnipeg reside in Treaty 1 territory and that the land on which we gather is the traditional territory of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Immerse yourself in First Nations Culture and choose from the locally made moccasins, mukluks and mittens, Dreamcatchers, Caribou tufting and soapstone carvings, bear oil wellness products and smudge kits at Teekca’s Boutique.
