A four-way tourist project of Indigenous culture in Saskatchewan is planned for a 2020 launch.
The project involves a partnership by four Indigenous groups — the Whitecap/Dakota First Nation, Wanuskewin Heritage Centre and First Nations from Beardy’s and Okemasis’ Cree bands.
“We have never really capitalized on some of the core strengths that are available in Saskatchewan,” tourism consultant Christian Boyle told the 49x110 tourism conference in Swift Current.
“We never had a co-ordinated story with the missing voices coming to the table to tell the story.”
Seventy-four First Nations and Metis call this territory home and their stories are “a powerful piece of what this area is all about and who we are.
“We can become a destination for northern plains Indigenous culture.”
No one else in North America is telling this story which made planning risks difficult as there is no comparable venture.
Boyle was a consultant for a hotel on the Whitecap/Dakota casino golf course site when the concept arose. The community discussed and agreed to a cultural tourism plan.
Part of the plan was cultural workshops. Wanuskewin which already does these was brought on board as a partner.
Boyle learned that Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree bands had plans for cultural tourism explaining traditional culture and the Riel Rebellion. Discussions saw them become partners.
The partnership will involve package tours for three or four days with an art display, dinner theatre and storytelling under the stars as the centre piece.
The tour targets German tourists who are fascinated by North American Indigenous culture.
“I think we’ve done a good job of introducing Saskatchewan to the world. I don’t think the world has really been introduced to us. We’ve always kind of struggled to tell our story,” Boyle said.
The tour packages can be expanded to other parts of the tourism sector.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
