Tashii Paddle School is a local First Nations (Tla-o-qui-aht) owned and operated business. They specialize in outdoor education including first national cultural interpretation, paddle instruction, and tours that explore a variety of areas in Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks. The company offers paddleboarding and dugout canoe tours in a traditional, handcrafted, cedar canoe with a Nuuchahnulth First Nations guide
"T'ashii" is a Tla-o-qui-aht word meaning path on land or on water and T'ashii Paddle School seeks to create a path to learning and connection with the natural environment through paddling.
Dugout canoes are a traditional form of transportation that has been THE way of getting around on the west coast of Vancouver Island for thousands of years, making it a special way to learn about local indigenous history and rich culture.
From March to October T’ashii Paddle School offers guided tours in a 25-foot hand-carved dugout canoe (carved by the owner's father). These tours are a window into local aboriginal culture and involve a walk through the old-growth rainforest showcasing 1000-year-old red cedar trees.