Who are we?
We are a collective of First Nations leaders, knowledge holders, storytellers, and trail advocates working across cultures and continents. Brought together through the World Trails Network, we are united by a shared commitment to ensuring that trails honour Indigenous values, voices, and connections to Country.
Rooted in community and culture, we guide trail development through Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing - grounded in respect, truth-telling, and the stories that shape the land.
About Us
Indigenous Ways is a growing global movement led by First Nations peoples, committed to transforming how trails are developed, experienced, and understood.
We exist to champion Indigenous leadership, stories, and knowledge systems in trail development and nature-based tourism. Through truth-telling, cultural safeguarding, and purposeful engagement, we advocate for trails that honour Country, community, and culture.
Our work spans three interconnected pillars:
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Purposeful Engagement: Creating frameworks that centre Indigenous voices in trail planning, land use, and governance.
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Storytelling and Truth-Telling: Supporting communities to share their stories in the right way, with the right people, in the right places.
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Workforce Development: Fostering safe, inclusive spaces and economic opportunities for Indigenous people within the trails and tourism sectors.
We are part of the World Trails Network’s Education and Inclusive Engagement Task Team and are led by a diverse group of Indigenous trail advocates, planners, storytellers, and community leaders from across the world.
Together, we are shaping a future where trails connect more than places - they connect people to culture, land, and shared responsibility.
About Our Logo
The Indigenous Ways logo tells a story of connection — to the land, to the sky, and to the footsteps of those who have walked before us. Its spiral form, designed to resemble a fingerprint, speaks to identity, belonging, and the unique imprint that Indigenous communities leave on the world. It reminds us that every trail is not only a pathway across landscapes but also a record of journeys, stories, and knowledge passed through generations.
The colours are drawn from the earth itself, representing the diversity of trails across all environments — from deep forests and rugged mountains to deserts, coasts, and grasslands. These earthy tones honour the interconnectedness of nature and the enduring relationship Indigenous peoples hold with their lands.
The small dots positioned alongside the spiral symbolise stars. For Indigenous peoples, stars have always been vital guides — a means of navigation, orientation, and storytelling. They remind us that trails are not only grounded in the earth but also connected to the sky, charting journeys that align with both ancestral knowledge and celestial guidance.
Together, the fingerprint spiral, the trail-inspired colours, and the guiding stars create a symbol of resilience, identity, and purpose. The logo encapsulates the vision of Indigenous Ways: to walk in harmony with land, culture, and community, ensuring that the trails of today prepare the way for future generations