How can we make this work? Building capacity in First Nations for

Tourism Development

Dr. Rhonda Koster

Protected Areas and Rural Tourism

Some context Lands for Life in Northern Ontario Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area

Background on the region… Economic change Population change Shift in mindset Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area =

tourism opportunities – why? But how to capitalize…

Eco North Conference, November 2004 Research in Onanole Manitoba June 2005

Celes Davar – Earth Rhythms

Appreciative Inquiry – shift in thinking “What is the problem and how do we fix it?”

TO: “What do we do well? What are our successes and how can we build on them?”

The History of the Workshop

Research with Parks Canada – Assessing Opportunities for First Nations Tourism, 2006-07

The Workshop – EXPERIENCE SUPERIOR - October 2007 Purpose:

1. Learn about experiential tourism

2. Realize the natural (cultural and physical) attributes of the region

3. Learn about collaboration and packaging

The History of the Workshop…con’t

Our Partnering community

The Welcome

Chief Pelletier

The Women’s Drum Group

The Workshop

The Invitation

Boreal Gems

the finished product

the beginning

Being taught the craft

Superior Soul

Jack Mickleson – Medicine Man

Sweat Lodge

Outcomes Pride in and Knowledge of place Some notes on community based tourism and

community based research Working “ON”, “FOR”, “WITH”

NO AI tangible and practical tourism development

Where we are at now Working on amendment with Parks Canada Completing 3 phases with Lake Helen

Interviews and Surveys Training Strategic Plan Development

Hoping to continue with three other First Nations on shores of Lake Superior

Some final thoughts

Challenges of rural tourism Working WITH First Nations The challenges of partnership

Thank you!

Questions & Comments?Gratitude goes to Parks Canada for supporting & funding this research