Travel Manitoba to advance Indigenous tourism with new association
Global News
The vision of the updated strategy is to have a prosperous Indigenous tourism industry across Manitoba.
The Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Association (MITA) and an updated Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Strategy were officially recognized at the opening of the MITA virtual summit on Thursday, according to a release from Travel Manitoba.
The vision of the updated strategy is to have a prosperous Indigenous tourism industry across Manitoba, said Dave Daley, Board Chair of MITA and owner of Wapusk Adventures in Churchill.
Daley introduced the other members of the MITA board, including Jason Gobeil, wellness coordinator with Dakota Ojibway Child & Family Services, Sky Bridges, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation, Edna Nabess, co-owner of Cree-Ations, and Lee Sinclair, director of operations with Paskwayak Business Development Corporation.
The MITA Virtual Summit was organized by the MITA Travel Manitoba and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)
The summit was hosted in Manitoba which encompasses Treaty 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 Territory and communities who are signatories to Treaties 6 and 10, the original lands of the Anishinaabeg, Anish-Ininiwak, Dakota, Dene, Ininiwak and Nehethowuk and the homeland of the Métis.
“Indigenous tourism experiences are an important part of visiting Manitoba and an opportunity to improve the socio-economic environment for Indigenous communities,” said Indigenous Reconciliation Minister Alan Lagimodiere.
Minister for Economic Development Jon Reyes said tourism is vital for the province’s economic success and growth.
“Manitoba’s diverse landscape and Indigenous cultures lay the foundation to create and enhance unique, world-class experiences,” he added.