First Nation Experience

We have had a fabulous day today learning all about Canada's First Nation whilst paddling replica Indian Arm Canoes beside the beautiful back drop of mountains on one side and the city scape of Vancouver on the other. 

Having seen the school buses much earlier in the tour in Calgary, we were excited to ride one out to the waterfront starting point for our Indian Arm Canoe excursion.

We met our three guides for the day, Dennis, Les and Guy who were all descendants of the First Nation Canadian Indians. They introduced themselves using their First Nation names and sang us a traditional First Nation prayer before taking us through the techniques we were to use whilst paddling our canoes.

Hannah got to learn how to use a First Nation spear during a very informative talk by Dennis on how his ancestors lived as a tribe in the surrounding area.

Although this was supposed to be a day off from sport, we still all had a good workout whilst paddling across the inlet! It was quite a challenge and I imagine there will be some tired arms tomorrow before we begin our leg workout on the bikes in Stanley Park!

We had a short rest and a chance to shower after our drop off at our hotel. We then took the girls to Granville Island via the Aqua Ferries. They had great views of the Vancouver skyline as they crossed the harbour and were then given free time to enjoy the famous market and shops before they made their own way back to downtown Vancouver via the ferries to have a shopping spree and evening meal.

Everyone is now back and all have shopped until they have almost dropped!

Tomorrow we bike around Stanley Park and play in our last netball match against Netball BC in the evening! 

Apologies to Georgia Marsh who actually was the goal scorer in our last hockey match vs the Vancouver Hockey Club rather than her sister Sophie....sorry girls!

Miss J