The sustainable Indigenous tourism
industry is growing across
Canada thanks to organized efforts
by Indigenous communities and
leaders who are actively creating
opportunities in the sector. Based
on a tourism model that honours
and celebrates Indigenous traditions
and culture, it's an industry
that is being built around a deeper
understanding of our connection
to, and ongoing relationship with,
Mother Earth.
A symposium, coordinated
through Vancouver Island University's
(VIU) Scholarship,
Research, and Creative Activity
Department, is taking place at the
Nanaimo campus April 12-13 to
share innovative best practices
in community-based Indigenous
tourism.
VIU Master of Arts in Sustainable
Leisure Management student
Britta Peterson and Tourism
Management student Sara Fulla
are helping organize the event.
Fulla, a member of the 'Namgis
First Nation in Alert Bay, BC, says
they have speakers coming from
all over the world to share their
sustainable tourism successes and
talk about how best to support and
grow the industry moving forward.
"There is a wide range of examples
of sustainable Indigenous
tourism that will be explored, and
this symposium will be looking
into successful Indigenous tourism
products from across the world,"
said Fulla. "Innovations in research
methodologies, increasing
awareness about Indigenous tourism,
and initiatives to support the
development and revitalization of
Indigenous languages are just a
few examples of topics that will
be covered."
The event was made possible
thanks to funding from the Social
Science and Humanities Research
Council of Canada (SSHRC) and
is being led by Ryerson University
with the participation of many
partners including the World Indigenous
Tourism Alliance, Cape
Breton University and the University
of Tasmania.
"I'm really enjoying helping to
plan the symposium and through
this process I'm learning so much.
I've been able to put into practice
what I've learned in the past three
years in the Bachelor of Tourism
program so I'm really just thankful
to have the opportunity to be a part
of it," said Fulla.
The research symposium will
be interactive and participants
can attend the event in person or
watch via a live online broadcast. A
virtual think tank will be set up to
allow online participants to share
ideas, innovations, and news as
the event progresses. Discussions
before and after the event will also
be made possible through various
social media platforms.
Confirmed speakers include Ben
Sherman, who is a member of the
Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation and
chairperson of the World Indigenous
Tourism Alliance; Kelly Galaski
who is a program manager
for the world's largest adventure
travel brand G Adventures; and
Dr. Nicole Vaugeois who is the
BC Regional Innovation Chair in
Tourism and Sustainable Rural
Development and VIU Associate
Vice-President of Scholarship,
Research and Creative Activity.
Vaugeois says VIU is proud to
support this symposium. She says
Indigenous tourism is a booming
market that is growing, in part,
because people are increasingly
seeking not just adventure but authentic,
meaningful experiences
when they travel.
"This will be an event that brings
professionals together who have,
through trial and error, developed
exceptional community-driven
tourism businesses. For delegates,
the agenda is set up to stimulate
ideas that they can translate into
projects that support their own
community's economic, sustainability
and cultural tourism aspirations,"
said Vaugeois.
Registration is now open for the
symposium. To learn more please
go to Sustainable Indigenous Tourism
Symposium, 2017.
— Gazette Staff/
VIU news release