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Native leaders take ownership of aboriginal tourism in Canada

2010 Olympics part of First Nations’ efforts to take control of their future Hundreds of aboriginal leaders gathered in Whistler this week to brainstorm about First Nations culture and tourism.

2010 Olympics part of First Nations’ efforts to take control of their future

Hundreds of aboriginal leaders gathered in Whistler this week to brainstorm about First Nations culture and tourism.

But this wouldn’t be just a "talk-fest" promised Roberta Jamieson, chief of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario and one of two M.C.s at the National Gathering on Aboriginal Tourism and Culture.

"I hope, and I have every reason to believe, that some practical results will come out of this," she said.

The hope is not without basis as Jamieson, a member of the advisory council to the federal Heritage Ministry which hosted the conference, took part in the first of the National Gathering conferences last year and saw the government produce its own report card on aboriginal artistic expression. There was also a follow-up by the federal government which looked at what had been done so far to implement the recommendations which came out of the first conference,

The Whistler conference will also produce a series of recommendations said Jamieson, which she hopes will form the basis of some new government policy.

"I expect clear recommendations," she said.

"It is, of course, an on-going dialogue so this is not a once and for all. But neither is it a talk-fest. It is an opportunity to engage.

"We do expect political undertakings for response. I will be looking for that within a defined period of time and some follow up."

With Paul Martin set to become Prime Minister Dec.12 there is some uncertainty. But said Jamieson all indications appear to be positive.

"…From all early signals and any comments I have heard from (Paul Martin) directly aboriginal issues are at the top of his agenda.

"I know he is concerned about the economic standards and I think this is an important part that he will want to keep in mind.

"I am looking forward to him doing just that. We have been in a bit of a dark period in the last couple of years in this country. Even Mr. Martin has spoken about the poisoned relationship. We are looking for him to do some things substantively as well as symbolically to shift that and one thing he can do is promote initiatives such as this."

Part of moving ahead with initiatives in aboriginal tourism is the understanding that aboriginal leaders will no longer take a back seat when it comes to tourism in Canada.

"For too long we have been the poster people for Canada’s tourism ads," said Jamieson.

"It is now time that we move firmly in to the driver’s seat of controlling our own cultural properties, the use of them, the marketing of them, shaping tourism for what will work and be respected within our own communities."

That philosophy is particularly relevant in the Sea to Sky corridor as the Squamish and Lil’wat First nations play a key role in the design and implementation of the plans to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler.

The proposed Nordic centre is slated for the Callaghan Valley, an area shared by both nations.

Paul Manning, a member of the Vancouver 2010 Transition Team for the Games was also attending the conference and saw it as a reaffirmation of the organizing committee’s decision to have First Nations at the table.

"It has been hand in hand all the way and we are proud of it," said Manning.

Chief Gibby Jacob of the Squamish Nation sees the Olympics and the expansion of aboriginal tourism as a way to combat stereotypes locally, nationally and abroad.

And he believes it will offer hope to youth.

"Our youth have to have different opportunities," said Jacob. "We have to have their eyes looking out from a view point of success as opposed to eyes that see poverty and racism and that negative image.

"A healthy, happy, prosperous community is what everybody wants and we are no different."

The latest federal figures (2001) show that the total economic activity generated by aboriginal tourism was $2.9 billion. It has the potential to attract 10.8 million visitors from Europe between 2000 and 2005 and 6 million visitors from Canada and the U.S. between 2000 and 2006.

Jamieson believes all Canadians will benefit from a thriving aboriginal tourism sector. But she said the government still needs to commit more resources to help provide infrastructure, support and policies to help create the backbone of aboriginal tourism.

She is also hopeful that the 2010 Games will give a more realistic view of aboriginal people in Canada.

"The Olympics give us the opportunity to present some positive images of our people," said Jamieson, named to the Order of Canada in 1998.

"We see far too much of our reality, which are tragic social circumstances. But we also have other realities, which are about the richness of our culture our athletes, our orators, and our elders and I hope that 2010 and everyday in this country will provide and opportunity for people to witness that first hand."

The conference is the second of three organized by Minister Sheila Copps with the goal of engaging aboriginal communities across Canada in a dialogue on the key issues relating to artistic expression, cultures and tourism and traditional knowledge.

The aim of the $2.1 million federally-hosted conference is to explore the relationship between the support, celebration, sustainability and promotion of aboriginal cultures and tourism in Canada.

The third in the series of conferences will have a total cost of $10 million will be held next year. It will explore aboriginal traditional knowledge. That conference will mark the conclusion of the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People.