Province puts $450K into Manitoba's Indigenous tourism industry
The Province of Manitoba is spending nearly half a million dollars to support Indigenous tourism.
The Indigenous Reconciliation Initiatives Fund will provide Indigenous Tourism Manitoba with $450,000 for one-on-one coaching, training and guidance for Indigenous tourism operators across the province. The money will also go towards marketing and promotion, development support, and a new Indigenous tourism conference.
When David Daley started up Wapusk Adventures in Churchill back in 2000, his dog sledding business was relatively small-scale.
"I promised my wife I would only have six dogs, and then when I had 12 dogs I had to figure out a way to start buying some dog food money," said Daley.
More than two decades later, Daley has 50 sled dogs and takes thousands of tourists from around the world for dog sled rides and northern lights tours.
"It's just grown into sharing about who we are as Indigenous people," he said. "Along with our connection to the land is through the animals. I was doing Indigenous tourism before I even knew there was Indigenous tourism."
The Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) believes there is room for a lot more success stories like Daley's.
"We need at least three times as many businesses, and we need at least 3,000 people working in the industry," said ITAC president Keith Henry.
He added there are about 150 Indigenous-owned and operated tourism businesses in Manitoba, creating about 1,000 jobs, and adding up to $600 million to the province's gross domestic product (GDP).
Henry said there is great potential to grow Manitoba's Indigenous tourism industry, as people from around the world are looking for opportunities to understand culture.
"How many of us in the world have been to the pyramids? It's a calling for many of us. And I think the world is realizing that Canada has a tremendous thousands of years old ancient history, that's still living today with the Indigenous people," said Henry.
Established in 2021, Indigenous Tourism Manitoba is an Indigenous-led, non-profit organization that provides leadership and resources to strengthen Manitoba's Indigenous tourism economy.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.