Honoring the Past, Guiding the Future: The Story of Talaysay Campo

By Sierra Campbell, Managing Editor for small.news

(small.news) — For Talaysay Campo, childhood meant being surrounded by teachings. Not from books, but from the land itself. Some of her earlier memories are of walking the forest trails with her mother, Candace Campo, who would introduce her to her relatives.

Her relatives meaning the trees, the plants, the animals, and the waters. Candace, a teacher and knowledge keeper for the Sechelt Nation, gave Talaysay a gift that would shape her life: A deep connection to her culture and the place she calls home.

“I feel grateful to have grown up in a deeply cultural household, surrounded by the teachings of my community,” Talaysay said.

In 2001, Candace founded Talaysay Tours in Porpoise Bay Provincial Park, Canada, offering kayak rentals and tours on the Sechelt Inlet, the traditional territory of their people. For Talaysay, summers were filled with laughter, introductions, and adventures on the water.

Even as a young child, Talaysay loved meeting people. Her grandmother would even say that she “knew sales before she knew how to spell.” Those early summers built lifelong friendships and an enduring love for sharing the land with others.

Adapting From The Forest to The City

In 2006, Talaysay’s family moved to Vancouver, Canada, to her father, Larry Campo’s, Squamish Nation territory for better schooling opportunities. Moving from the forest into the city brought huge changes, but also new opportunities for Talaysay.

Talaysay Tours evolved into walking tours in Stanley Park, starting with Talking Trees and later adding Spoken Treasures and Talking Totems. Talaysay would often join her mother, helping her guide tours or attending keynote events. Her mother’s gift for storytelling became a quiet training ground for Talaysay’s own public speaking.

“I often say Talaysay Tours feels like a sister to me. We’ve grown together, faced challenges together, and celebrated milestones together,” Talaysay explained. “My mom started bringing me to work at age four, and over time, my involvement evolved naturally.”

Weathering The Storms

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many challenges for Talaysay that went beyond small business operations. Almost overnight, all bookings disappeared, forcing Talaysay to lay off staff members, including family members. It was a decision that weighed heavily on her.

On top of that, many elders within her communities died due to the pandemic. These were not only beloved family members and friends, but also knowledge keepers, making their loss especially painful.

Sharing cultural truth is also emotional work. On the Spoken Treasures tour, guides speak about residential schools, the Potlatch Ban, and the spread of smallpox to Indigenous communities. These are not abstract lessons, they are lived experiences for the grandparents and great-grandparents of her people.

Some days, telling these stories feels heavy, but Talaysay knows they need to be told.

Building for the Future

After high school, Talaysay studied management and marketing at UBC’s Sauder School of Business with the goal of strengthening Talaysay Tours. When she returned as co-owner, one of her first initiatives was to connect with the Vancouver Secondary School District to offer Indigenous Peoples’ social studies programs.

Out of 42 schools, she secured 38 contracts—work that supports reconciliation in education and keeps business operating year-round.

In April 2024, Talaysay took the stage at the Bill Reid Art Gallery as part of a TED Talks partnership, speaking on the revitalization of Northwest Coast art and design after the Potlatch Ban. Her talk, The Doors of Opportunities, shone a light on the work of artists like Bill Reid and George Clutesi. Looking back, she sees how her mother had prepared her for moments like these since she was a child.

Honoring Her Mother Through New Work

This year, Talaysay launched THEDA X NENA, an Indigenous skincare line named after her mother’s middle name.

The products, which are made with red west coast cedar, local sage, vitamin C, and peptides, are inspired by her mother’s teachings and connection to the land.

Recognized and Ready for What’s Next

In 2025, Talaysay was awarded the BC Tourism Industry Award for Tourism Woman of the Year. While she is grateful for the recognition, she sees it as a step along a much longer path.

“I have big dreams for Talaysay Tours, expanding our work to Vancouver Island, partnering with more school districts from kindergarten through university, and continuing to help our staff and community connect with culture in the most meaningful ways possible,” Talaysay said.

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