Our Story
We live, work and play on the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw and the Nuu-chah-nulth peoples.
Wild Root Journeys was born from a love of nature’s intricacies and a joy of connecting people with their own environments. We are certified guides through the Sea Kayak Guide Alliance of BC, with ongoing first aid and skills training to assure our clients experience a safe, responsible and smooth journey. Our guides and facilitators are attuned to the interconnection of the natural world and humanity. We are motivated to give in life and work. We always strive first to purchase our equipment and food locally, sustainability and ethically. We are advocates of equality, and offer a safe space, which is inclusive for all who wish to join us on a kayak journey. We invite you to join us on one of our trips. Come for the day and wet your feet; stay for a while and immerse yourself!
Our Guides
Silke Hockemeyer
Owner, SKGABC Level 3 Guide, Level 1 Paddle Canada Kayak Instructor – she/her/hers
I feel so fortunate to live in this Coastal Temperate rain forest, a land of natural abundance and beauty to which I have had a lifelong pull to. It has been a natural transition for me to become an ambassador and guide for the land that has taught me so much. Many of my days have been spent paddling, carefully watching the story of the sky, and my nights have been spent relaxing by campfires with incredible people. I first fell in love with kayaking when I felt the tremendous power of the rolling ocean. My kayak moved through a series of swells, and I was overcome by feelings of joy and humility.
Most of my professional kayaking experience has been in guiding groups on trips ranging from 4 to 20 days. Areas I often return to are the territories of the Nuu-chah nulth, Heiltsuk, Haida, Coast Salish, and Kwak waka’wakw peoples including the Pacific Rim National Park, the Great Bear, Haida Gwaii, the Sunshine Coast and the Broughton Archipelago. As an outdoor educator, I have found myself in the local mountains snowshoeing, split-boarding, hiking, and dare I say it even inside classrooms. I have a strong life pull in learning and sharing our ecology, to understand the interconnection and moreover to elevate the care of our world.
I proudly identify as a person of the LGBTQ community and stand for raising the bar in compassion for all.
Michael Jeffery
SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide – they/them/their
Michael is a settler of Northwest European descent living on the traditional territory of the Sinixt peoples on an off-grid queer land co-op near Nelson BC. They hold a masters degree in Environmental Education and have been guiding on the ocean and in the mountains for 5 years. They also work as an ecopsychology and psychedelic integration guide with a passion for ecocentric consciousness development. They love to facilitate conversation between humans and the more-than-human natural world.
Their adult life has been devoted to many inner and outer adventures including human, horse or thumb powered travel through 40+ countries, being ordained a Buddhist monk, living with several indigenous communities, building and living in yurts, social justice and environmental activism, supporting vision quests and living as part of numerous land-based communities.
Holly Keen Goldes
SKGABC Assistant Overnight Guide – they/them/their
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Holly is an expressive arts therapist and a kayak guide. They have had the privilege to grow up on Vancouver Island and have a deep connection to the earth and water.
One of their earliest memories in nature was of singing on their family boat in the Johnstone Strait and receiving a reply in the form of a pod of Killer Whales swimming directly under their boat. This experience and many others, including going on kayak trips as a young child has helped to solidify a spiritual connection to nature for Holly.
In their time kayak guiding, Holly also weaves in elements of the expressive arts, including meditation, moments for reflection and connection, and small pauses with creation. Holly is honoured to have this opportunity to be with you on these inner and outer journeys, both on the water, in nature, and within.
This season Holly and their partner are planning to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. We wish them great weather, growing moments, and a safe journey. We look forward to co-creating journeys around meditation, inner work and outdoor play in the coming season. Please reach out with interest! And to learn more about Holly’s Expressive Arts Practice please see her website here: www.HollyExpressiveArts.com.