12 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022
tourism
Indigenous tourism
BY JIM TIMLICK
Manitoba regional coordinator for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) says one of the driving reasons for it was the discovery of children’s remains in unmarked graves at several former residential schools. “After the news about the children and the bodies that were found a lot of people became aware and became interested in what exactly happened and they started asking questions,” says Holly Courchene. “It really picked up then and people genuinely wanted to know more about Indigenous people and the history and the culture of our people. I think they want to relate more and understand more of what it is that Indigenous people have gone through in our history.” In addition to injecting tourism dollars into Indigenous-owned businesses and communities, Courchene says the industry is also helping to build bridges between Indigenous and non- Indigenous people. “It’s creating a better understanding. When you learn the history and the culture, you feel a part of that and more connected to the people as opposed to being on different teams,” she explains. “When Indigenous people provide this
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, INDIGENOUS TOURISM HAS ENJOYED A HUGE SURGE IN INTEREST BOTH HERE IN MANITOBA AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. According to the Conference
Board of Canada, the number of Indigenous-owned or led tourism- related businesses in the province has increased from 91 in 2017 to 145 in 2022. Nationally, Indigenous tourism was worth an estimated $1.9 billion in 2019 prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While that growing interest can be attributed to a number of factors, the
Bannock Point Tour with Diane PHOTO BY TRAVEL MANITOBA
ai165176966921_FWS_IndigenousDay2022.pdf 1 5/5/2022 11:54:33 AM
On June 21, we celebrate YOU
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This year the First Nations Family Advocate Office (FNFAO) is celebrating 7 years of Bringing Our Children Home. Opened in ceremony, the FNFAO was gifted the name “Abinoojiyag Bigiiwewag”, which translates to “Our Children are Coming Home”. The FNFAO provides advocacy to First Nations families involved with CFS to bring children currently in the system back to their families and home Nations. Guided by traditional values and teachings, FNFAO offers workshops and supports that encompass a holistic approach to healing families and children.
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Proud to honour the heritage, culture and contributions of Indigenous, Inuit and Metis Peoples.
FWSgroup.com
Learn more by visiting www.firstnationsfamilyadvocate.com
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