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Hidden deep in the forests of British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands is a holiday paradise that is steeped in Aboriginal culture and tradition.

"Culture is what it's all about," said Louie Waters. Waters welcomes visitors from all nations and backgrounds to his island paradise.

Although he grew up in Saskatchewan on the Starblanket Reserve near Prince Albert, Sask., a move to a small island near Queen Charlotte City soon convinced him that the lifestyle of this pristine area of Canada was one he never wanted to leave.

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Since it was first established 72 years ago, the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff has worked to broaden public understanding about the people and lands of the Colorado Plateau. Visitors to the museum can learn more about the area's natural history and Indigenous people by visiting the museum's collections, touring its exhibits and, each summer, taking part in the festivals and marketplaces that make up the museum's summer heritage program.

This year's summer heritage program will celebrate the art and culture of the Hopi, Navajo, Zuni and Pai people.

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Step back in time through four centuries and live at Kanata (pronounced Gah-na-dah) as a 17th century Iroquois person, making fire by friction, tanning hides, pounding corn, and playing First Nations games like double ball and snow snake.

Participants will dwell in the elm and cedar longhouse and eat authentic Native cuisine made by their own hands at the 22.5 acre replica of the 17th century Native village.

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One of the largest exhibits of First Nations artifacts in Canadian history opened for viewing in the Galt Museum and archives at Lethbridge in southwestern Alberta in May.

The Kainai artifacts, originally purchased from the nearby Blood reserve, brings together a collection that was split in the early 1900s and kept in storage at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto, and the British Museum in London, England.

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The Victoria Native Friendship Centre is again joining forces with the Royal British Columbia Museum to host the First People's Festival from Aug. 9 to 11.

This is the 18th year for the festival, one of the largest urban Aboriginal gatherings in the country.

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Six men sit around a great drum chanting, making thunder, while behind them lightning starts to slash through the sky. The song leader, the men, and the drum are one. The heartbeat of Mother Earth is deeply felt.

When the song is finished, the men gaze at the coming storm from the 8th floor of a New York City highrise.

The group, Heyna Singers ("heyna" is a Hopi word for "second born sons") was founded by Louis Mofsie, the song leader. This is their weekly meeting at the American Indian Community Center where they also perform at monthly powwows.

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For many years Aboriginal people have celebrated the summer solstice on June 21 and in 1996, former governor General, Romeo Leblanc, officially declared it National Aboriginal Day.

This declaration has given thousands of people a chance to showcase the cultures of Inuit, First Nations and Metis people across the country and recognize the contributions that the first inhabitants of Canada have made.

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Like an arrow taut on the bow, the pale white steeple of Holy Trinity Church seems to hang in the balance between earth and sky. Framed by evergreens, the lips of the Churchill River lapping a few feet from its front steps, the church stands alone on its rocky point-a place the Cree people of the area call "Amachewespimawin", or "shooting-up place".

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Whether your idea of a perfect holiday involves living on the land, sleeping in a tent, and hunting or fishing, or if you lean more toward waking up in a comfortable bed and being greeted by room service and a breathtaking view out your window, there are many Aboriginal businesses across Quebec waiting to provide just what you are looking for.

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On April 27, the new Miss Indian World for 2002/2003 was chosen out of 24 contestants at the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque, N.M.

Twenty-one-year-old Tia Smith of the Cayuga Wolf Clan from Six Nations, Ont. won the coveted title. The runner-up is also originally from Ontario, Kinwa Bluesky.

The former Miss Indian World for 2001/2002 was Ke Aloha Alo of mixed ancestry from the Apache, Hawaiian and Samoan Nations.

"I have big shoes to fill," said Smith. "From what I hear, she was a great Miss Indian World."