Carrie Back

Chef Nephi Craig leveraged his twin passions for cooking and Native American Food Sovereignty to heal himself from substance abuse disorder. Today he uses his personal experience—and his kitchen—to support other Native people who are recovering from addictions.

At first glance, the cobblestone streets in the sprawling capital of Colombia seem sleepy and strangely quiet, but under the surface, Bogotá is a bustling city with various districts and lots of things to do and enjoy if you know where to look. For solo travelers, the nightlife is a revelation, accommodation is diverse, and meeting people is a breeze.

A long history of United States government policy has separated Indigenous children from their families and communities. The Indian Child Welfare Act was created to stop this without a good cause. It's now being challenged. The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is a federal law that sets standards for the placement of Native American children in foster and adoptive homes.

With Medellín’s blissful temperate climate, it’s known as the City of Eternal Spring – and the city of Medellín has transformed and blossomed over the decades into a cosmopolitan hub oozing sophistication. There are plenty of places to stay for all types, not to mention authentic places to eat and trendy microbreweries for solo travelers to settle into – and, of course, make friends.

Noc Provisions commissioned Winger-Bearskin to create a woven tapestry strap for Nocs that features a custom pattern based on the designs of her Nation—its goal is to raise awareness for the Honor Native Land initiative.

Between its charismatic cities, idyllic beaches and unforgettable national parks, Colombia’s Caribbean Coast is a dream come true for solo travelers. Spreading from the Panama border to the desert of La Guajira, near Venezuela, the region is a surefire winner for beachgoers and food lovers.

Native American Heritage Month begins in November, a month when many people in the United States recognize Indigenous culture and celebrate Thanksgiving. While this heritage month has good intentions, for Native Americans it is far more complex. Thanksgiving is a grieving time for many Natives because of the various massacres that occurred exactly around this time frame.

Born in Honolulu and learning to surf on Waikiki Beach, Carissa Moore has dominated the surf world since she was a pre-teen—and this summer the now 29-year-old became the first woman to ever win a gold medal in Surfing's Olympic debut in the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. Carissa started surfing at just 5 years old, where she grew up hitting the waves with her family on the beaches of Oahu.

From the Andes to the Amazon, Colombia has earned a spot on almost every traveler’s bucket list, with its rich indigenous history and Afro-Caribbean roots. Visitors are drawn by its diverse landscapes, from snow-capped mountains to steamy rainforests and sun-drenched shorelines.

Indigenous creators are sharing their cultures with the world on #NativeTikTok through dancing, jokes, history, and more. The platform, like Twitter and other social media channels, offers hours of endless entertainment, but it has also developed into a powerful and educational tool for activism.

Chances are you’ve got some time in the south Chilean town of Punta Arenas en route to Antarctica – cruise ships depart regularly for the White Continent between December and March. Or perhaps you’re en route to or from the jagged horizons of Torres del Paine National Park. Whatever your reason for being in this remote outpost – 2,220km from the capital of Santiago – you won’t want to waste a minute.

Sri Lanka’s surf scene offers surfers not just warm waters, charming beach shacks, local curry houses, and palm-fringed beaches, but waves for every skill level and surfable swells nearly year-round. The best waves are found on the southern and eastern coasts. In the south, the prime surfing season is from October to the beginning of April.

The beautiful, bustling hillside port of Valparaíso is known for being one of the homes of the celebrated Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who died in 1973. This colorful city is recognized worldwide as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a deserved award given its photogenic architecture, its rich history and its cultural currents.

Most tourists head to Nazca in Peru with the sole intention of visiting the enigmatic Nazca Lines, a series of mysterious etchings that have puzzled archaeologists for eons. While these world-famous geoglyphs are certainly the city’s biggest attraction, there are plenty of other fascinating things to see nearby, including sand dunes, burial sites, and museums.

Connect with local guides and immerse yourself in unique experiences far from Phuket’s typical tourist spots. We’ve narrowed down the list of the best places to stay on Thailand’s largest island for a local experience – you can choose anything from family-run retreats to restaurant-rich resorts that embody the ever-evolving fusion of cultures that makes Phuket such an extraordinary place to visit.