Indigenous tourism has the power to advance self-determination and reconciliation, while creating jobs and opportunities across Canada. That’s why supporting its growth is one of the Government of Canada’s top priorities, in close partnership with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Most significantly, the government is working with the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada to roll out the $10 million Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF,) which offers direct financial support to Indigenous tourism businesses.

Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, today announced that five businesses in the Northwest Territories have received a combined $121,866 in funding from the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s (ITF) Micro and Small Business Stream (MSBS.) Administered by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), in collaboration with provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations, the ITF MSBS is part of the $20 million ITF announced in Budget 2022. This $10 million initiative supports the Indigenous tourism industry towards long-term, sustainable growth.

A key requirement for MSBS funding is an initial assessment under ITAC's The Original Original (TOO) Accreditation Program, which helps identify barriers to business, visitor and export readiness. This prerequisite ensures applicants will be able to use the fund effectively. By providing non-repayable contributions of up to $25,000 for qualifying businesses, the MSBS helps Indigenous tourism grow and thrive, supports Indigenous communities and further positions Canada as a top global destination.

This announcement follows previous rounds of funding support:

• Round 1: Distributed approximately $1.94 million in funding to 78 Indigenous tourism businesses.
• Round 2: Provided about $1.67 million to 67 Indigenous tourism businesses.
• Round 3: Awarded $1.01 million in funding to 41 Indigenous tourism businesses.

Round 4 has awarded 68 Indigenous tourism businesses with $1.65M in non-repayable grants of up to $25,000. This brings total among of delivered funding by the MSBS to approximately $6.27 million, supporting 254 Indigenous tourism businesses to date.

About the ITF-MSBS:

Budget 2022 allocated $20 million over two years to establish the ITF, aimed at facilitating the Indigenous tourism industry's progression towards long-term, sustainable growth. The ITF-MSBS was officially launched on November 17, 2023, in Vancouver, BC, marking a significant step forward in this initiative. It focuses on financial support, promoting the TOO Accreditation Program, and working with provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations to ensure equitable distribution of funding across the country. This initiative reflects a commitment to Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation, aiming to integrate authentic Indigenous experiences into Canada's tourism landscape. It is aligned with the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy "Canada 365: Welcoming the World. Every Day", shaped by consultations with tourism stakeholders and Indigenous groups, underscoring the critical role of Indigenous tourism in Canada's tourism strategy.

Quotes

“Indigenous tourism has the power to create opportunities, transform Canadian tourism and advance reconciliation. That’s why helping it grow and thrive is one of our top priorities. Through this Indigenous-led process, we are supporting communities in making their own decisions and developing tourism at their own pace. I look forward to seeing the difference that this funding makes here in the NWT.

– Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories

“The Indigenous Tourism funding will support our Indigenous family run business to operate year round.  We will be utilizing the funds to build an indigenous themed mini-golf course and other adventures.  We currently offer dogsled rides, axe-throwing, archery, Dene culture tours and Aurora viewing from our Skydome. We truly appreciate the opportunities that the Indigenous Tourism funding provides and how we will be able to share our heritage with guests from around the world.”

- Kelly Clark, North of 60 Aurora Adventures

Quick facts

• Before the pandemic, Indigenous tourism was the fastest-growing segment in the Canadian tourism market, posting significant gains in job creation and contributions to Canada’s GDP.
• The Indigenous tourism industry was hard hit by the pandemic but is now showing signs of recovery. According to ITAC, as of 2022, the industry generated $1.2 billion in direct GDP and 32,000 jobs.
• The Government of Canada’s 2022 Budget dedicated $20 million to the Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) to aid the industry’s recovery from the pandemic.
• In addition, at least 15% (or $16 million) of the Tourism Growth Program from Budget 2023 will be invested in Indigenous tourism attractions.

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