ITA Cultural Tourism Pathway Program
Canadian Ecotourism Services was hired by Indigenous Tourism Alberta (ITA) to develop the first virtually interactive grassroots tourism training and coaching program for Indigenous communities in the province. The inspiration for the program came from a strong desire to nourish opportunities and build capacity by engaging in grassroots initiatives that empower Indigenous communities to preserve their culture and grow a sustainable tourism economy.
CES crafted Your Path Forward, an all-encompassing training and coaching program that provides participants with a robust foundation for getting grassroots tourism started in their communities. The project involved developing three core resources including the Pathway Guide, Coach’s Guide, and Administration Guide, which encompasses seven Trails (themes), providing participants with interactive elements such as inspiration videos, templates, and tools to help them move forward with a plan, knowledge, and confidence. This project also involved a transfer of knowledge to ITA for the implementation of the seven virtual sessions that structure the delivery of the Pathway Program, in which 15 community members from four Alberta First Nation communities participated during the pilot delivery. Since it’s launch, several iterations of the program have been successfully completed in Indigenous communities across Alberta.
“CES was a great team to work with. they were professional, adaptable, and delivered a program that went beyond our expectations. the team is culturally competent and understands the importance of decolonizing initiatives, especially when it comes to working with indigenous communities. the relationships they have formed and uphold are a testament to their wonderful work in creating relationships and working in a culturally competent way.”
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MACKENZIE BROWN
Indigenous Tourism Alberta