About Us

Who Are We?
Sasquatch Tours is a unique First Nations tour operator, owned by the highly-regarded Charlie family, a traditional First Nations family from Chehalis, British Columbia. Chehalis is a small First Nations community in Southwestern British Columbia which lies midway between the resort community of Harrison Hot Springs and the roadside community of Harrison Mills, on the banks of the Harrison River.

What Do We Do?
Sasquatch Tours operates enriching and memorable Aboriginal cultural cruises, interpretative programs, traditional ceremonies & dances, cultural awareness workshops, sensitivity training programs within the beautiful Coast Mountains of southwestern British Columbia.

Our cultural cruises explore the Harrison River, a main tributary of the Fraser River which drains a geographical area of 8,500 km sq. and Harrison Lake, the largest lake in southwestern British Columbia. Rich in wildlife and other natural resources, Harrison Lake is also a glacial-fed lake with headwaters extending high into British Columbia's magnificent Coast Mountain Range.

How Do We Share Our Culture?
Willie Charlie, co-owner of Sasquatch Tours, is the chosen storyteller among the Chehalis people, a high calling in an oral culture that didn’t have a written language until contact with westerners.  From childhood, Mr. Charlie learned to listen well to the stories of his Elders and to retell the stories accurately, clearly understanding the lessons embedded within.

“Our Elders taught us our drumming, singing (Halq'emeylem), and dancing. These traditions have been deeply embedded in our family for many generations. It is our way that every place has a name and every place has a spirit. Our stories, legends and songs all come from this belief. It is through our Elders’ teaching that we have carefully chosen songs, stories, legends and dances that can be shared by our guides with guests to our territory.”

Where Do We Operate?
Sasquatch Tours experiences all occur within the traditional lands of the Chehalis people - part of the 'Sts'ailes' First Nations and the Coast Salish cultures of the Pacific Northwest, with a history dating back thousands of years.

Sasquatch Tours cultural cruises depart from the public boat docks opposite the renowned Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa (www.harrisonresort.com) in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., and a 2 hours drive east of Vancouver. Our traditional Long House is located in the village of Chehalis on our family’s traditional land, 20 minutes from Harrison Hot Springs.

Our Boat:
Our boat has been custom designed to navigate safely through the waters of the Harrison River and Harrison Lake. Our 26 foot vessel has room for up to 12 people allowing for a small group experience. It is fully equipped with life jackets, first aid kits, floatation devises and fire extinguisher to ensure the clients’ safety. The boat has a washroom facility which is used for half day or full day tours. There is a back deck for guests to enjoy during the boat ride or for taking pictures when we stop at sites.

Our Name:
The name 'Sasquatch' derives from the legendary 'sasq'ets'. Sasquatch is a mythological being that resides in the Harrison River and Harrison Lake region. The Sasquatch is important to the Chehalis First Nations people and is part of their culture, spirituality, legends, and history.

Our Cultural Experiences Include: