TALKING TOTEM TOURS is an inbound tour operator company that contracts with First Nation tour suppliers to provide both education and a cultural immersion for visitors.  

We work with First Nation tour suppliers and attend cultural events in the Vancouver Whistler, Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Island areas in British Columbia, Canada.

Audry Lochrie has combined her interest in Aboriginal Culture with her career in tourism to create guided eco-group tours and day tours.

She knits together festivals and totem pole sites with high-caliber specialists, anthropologists, interpretive guides,performers and artists at breath taking destinations.

The people in charge and accompanying our tours are expert interpreters and guides of their history, traditions and culture.

1) Mission Statement and Mandate

Talking Totem Tours is dedicated to Cultural Authenticity and environmental stewardship.  By recognizing the urgent need to preserve cultural resources for future generations our tours focus on accuracy of portraying First Nations interpretations and ongoing efforts to minimize environmental impacts.

2) Purpose and Goals

Talking Totem Tours is committed to having information available for visitors to access the First Nation events that are open to the public.  The celebrations are run purposely for First Nations’ and are an opportunity for guests to witness and experience authentic cultural activities.

Through education and sharing visitors experience first hand the practice of cultural integrity and are able to access authentic, cultural activities through dance, songs and stories at cultural events where first Nations people gather.

The business promotes responsible aspects to preserve the living culture and provide financial support to the events and reduce environmental impacts.

 The tour operator company checks cultural suppliers programs and codes of conduct for environmental practices in their companies. The cultural tour suppliers and event coordinators are provided the resources to support environmentally responsible aspects of the operation and provide information to host green events.

The People in Charge

Talking Totem Tours has put together the top experts in their field of culture awareness with the top collection of First Nation traditional events, ceremonies and sites available in British Columbia. We even have the top carvers that can often be persuaded to guide for days at a time because of their love for their art and culture.

Our unique tours take you to:

• the world's tallest totem pole presently pointing skyward in Victoria BC

• the world's oldest, original (indoor) totem pole collection, being cared for in Ketichikan AK.

• the worlds thickest totem pole, in Duncan, BC

• the world's second tallesttotem pole in Alert Bay, BC

• the world's most viewed totem poles, about 8 million visits a year, (Vancouver Parks Department figures) are in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada

• the worlds oldest outdoor collection of totem poles on Anthony Island, Ninstints, Queen Charlotte Islands, BC.

Our special interest tours have been until recently mostly perceived as private ceremonies and difficult for visitors to access.

Destinations

The tour package destinations are in Vancouver, Whistler, Vancouver Island, Alert Bay, the Queen Charlotte Islands and the lower maiinland along the BC Coast.

Talking Totem Tours are designed with activity choices for each location to give visitors the broadest range; allowing them to personalize their own cultural experience.

Extensive destination and cultural knowledge ensure proper planning has gone in to developing the cultural tour packages.

The destinations were chosen and coordinated with special cultural events and guided activities from each territory.

• We offer day trips and guided tour packages and a choice of Celebrations to attend, totem pole sites to visit and guided tours to participate in

• Whether you're dreaming of a trip for self-discovery to an ancient culture or simply relaxation in a culturally rich pristine environment.

• whether you're traveling alone, as a couple, or a as a group there is plenty of free time to digest the cultural experience

As part of Talking Totem Tours commitment to support the First Nations communities and assist in the development of cultural tourism, a portion of revenues are donated to provide micro-funding for cultural businesses and to assist with funding for the events. We believe in investing in the creation of cultural tourism to make a positive difference in the communities where we work and live.

Talking Totem Tours supports traveling responsibly and conscientiously, and provides visitors with travel orientations to protect the environment and nourish its many cultures. By promoting eco-tourism our priorities are aimed at the preservation of this planet’s natural and cultural treasures. By focusing on the impact of our actions and using respect, travelers can make the right decisions to positively affect the world around them. 

Audry Lochrie 1st started working with First Nations business people at a band-owned tourism centre, twelve years ago, She is the owner of the tour operator company and provides eco-tours to Festivals, Celebrations and Sites ensuring unparalleled levels of authentic representations and service.