I never suspected that I would come face-to-face with Canada’s aboriginal people, but that’s just what happened on the day I visited tiny Havre-Saint-Pierre. On a tour offered to cruise passengers, I visited the Innu people, and it turned out to be one of the most interesting tours of my life.

Not to be confused with the Inuits, this sub-Arctic tribe still has its own language and honors its ancient customs just a few miles down the road from the village of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Like cruise passengers visiting the Innu, I learned how the Innu lived and worshiped — and how they live today.

It’s easy to see why the Innu came here. The Mingan Archipelago is a mystical place. I didn’t get to see as much as I would have liked, but I did set out on a boat on a day when the ocean was not so calm to see the odd rock formations known as flower pots. The mysterious monoliths represent only a small part of the natural beauty here in this chain of islands and islets.

Havre-Saint-Pierre is an Avid Cruiser Recommended Destination on Saint Lawrence Cruise Itineraries.