Government of Canada and NACCA working together to enhance key tourism experiences in Indigenous communities
Investing in Indigenous tourism supports First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and advances economic reconciliation while creating jobs. Government investments need to focus on empowering Indigenous communities to grow and develop the culturally rich experiences and projects they are sharing with the world.
That is exactly what the Indigenous Tourism Fund's (ITF) Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream (SITES) aims to accomplish. Today the Government of Canada announced the first project to receive funding through SITES, which invests in one-of-a-kind Indigenous-led tourist attractions. The partners that made the project possible also participated in the announcement.
Kwanlin Dün First Nation is receiving $755,000 toward expanding off-grid accommodations at the Sky High Wilderness Ranch to add new log cabin units to accommodate larger groups and boost revenue. Located near Fish Lake, about 15 km west of Whitehorse, Yukon, the ranch offers diverse experiences throughout the year, such as dog-sled, snowmobile and horse tours as well as aurora viewing. With tourism, we know the economic opportunities are immense, and the funding announced today will help the Kwanlin Dün First Nation benefit from that growth.
The Honourable Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, together with Elaine Chambers, Board Chair of the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA); the Honourable John Streicker, Yukon Minister of Tourism and Culture; Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon; and representatives from Kwanlin Dün First Nation, made the announcement today in Ottawa.
Supporting Indigenous tourism
The launch of the $10 million SITES initiative was announced by Minister Ferrada in May 2024. SITES is designed to support key experiences that anchor tourism destinations in Indigenous communities and help develop the infrastructure and services needed for the industry. This stream is administered by NACCA, an umbrella organization representing more than 50 Indigenous financial institutions across Canada. NACCA has over 35 years of experience in Indigenous economic development. It is working with an Indigenous advisory committee, composed of representatives from Indigenous tourism associations across the country, to assist in identifying and evaluating projects that contribute positively to communities and have the potential to attract further investment.
This funding is part of the broader $20 million ITF established as part of Budget 2022 to foster sustainable growth in Canada's Indigenous tourism industry. It is being delivered through two streams: SITES, which develops key Indigenous tourism experiences, and the Micro and Small Business Stream, which helps Indigenous tourism organizations become business-, visitor- and export-ready. Investing in Indigenous tourism is central to the government's broader work of bolstering Canada's tourism sector, as laid out in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
