Retreats

Book a productive retreat

Take your organization or business retreat to the next level in Clayoquot Sound! Hire the IISAAK OLAM Foundation to coordinate and facilitate either part or all of your experience by introducing you to the region with a proper welcome to Tla-o-qui-aht Territory and Tribal Parks. 

Stay at the cozy 12-room IISAAK Learning Lodge at the Clayoquot Campus (former Tofino Botanical Gardens), and surround yourself in the beauty of the majestic coastal rainforest. Meet with Indigenous Elders and knowledge holders, learn about Indigenous worldviews and approaches to conservation and sustainable economic development, connect with the land and waters on unique excursions, and build memories of a lifetime. 

Our productive retreats aim to meet you where you’re at, help you with your internal organizational goals and aspirations, and support you with your commitments to reconciliation.

We take an ‘Ethical Space’ approach and focus on the various appropriate roles that different sectors can play in supporting the establishment of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs). We also work directly with Indigenous Nations, governments, and communities to support their IPCA journeys and aspirations.

Guided Tribal parks tour

Our retreats begin with a traditional welcome to Tla-o-qui-aht Ha’Houlthee (Territory) at the watershed boundary, known colonially as Sutton Pass. We ground ourselves on the land, acknowledging our rightful hosts and their current and historic role in stewarding the lands and waters in which we’ve arrived. We journey respectfully toward Načiks (Tofino), making several stops along the way to learn about the connection between the places, species and Nuu-chah-nulth culture and language. The story of Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks emerges through stories and tangible examples of economic development, stewardship, and infrastructure initiatives that are part of the Tribal Parks (a model of IPCA) vision.

 

This guided journey is an introduction to Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and sets the foundation for sessions in following days at the Clayoquot Campus.This guided journey is an introduction to Indigenous-led conservation using the Tla-o-qui-aht tribal parks as an example. This sets the foundation for other sessions and subject matter that can be covered in your retreat.

 

Our retreat packages

Discover Tribal Parks

Up to 20 guests :: Flexible length

Learn about Indigenous-led conservation through the Tribal parks of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation.

This package includes:

  • Your stay at the IISAAK Lodge and 
  • Guided Tribal Parks Tour
 

Other tours, discussion and services can be booked a la carte from our range of offerings. Some of our most popular are:

  • Discussion on Indigenous land guardians program with Terry Doward, co-founder of Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks Guardian program (2-2.5 hours)
  • Carving shed and Indigenous art tour (2 hours)
  • Boat Tour to Meares Island Tribal Park (4 hours)
 

This experience is ideal for:

  • Groups looking to augment their staff retreat or family holiday by learning about Indigenous-led conservation
  • Allies of Indigenous-led conservation wanting to learn more about Tribal Parks and IPCAs

Tribal Parks Immersive

Up to 20 guests :: Flexible length 

For our Immersive retreats guests will be joined for the entirety of their stay by Indigenous knowledge holders. This will include time with our co-founder and CEO Eli Enns who is a world renowned thought leader on Indigenous-led conservation and reconciliation and co-founder of the Ha’uukmin Tribal Park.

 This package includes: 

  • Your stay at the IISAAK Lodge
  • Guided Tribal Parks Tour
  • A full time Indigenous knowledge holder on site
  • Boat Tour to Meares Island Tribal Park
  • Guided tour of the Clayoquot Campus
  • History of Tribal Parks
  • History of the modern Indigenous-led conservation movement
  • Your choice of other discussion topics


This experience is ideal for:

  • Indigenous nations wanting to learn about legal strategies used in IPCA and Tribal Park declarations
  • Government agencies looking to learn in depth about Indigenous culture and how to partner with Indigenous nations
  • Groups looking to learn in depth about Indigenous-led conservation and reconciliation
 
 

Contact us for retreat booking inquiries at coordinator@iisaakolam.ca