Wikwemikong Tourism captures national award
By Sam Laskaris
WIIKWEMKOONG UNCEDED TERRITORY – As the Wikwemikong Tourism manager, Luke Wassegijig is usually doing his best to bring people into his community.
Earlier this month, Wassegijig was notified that he had to travel to the country’s west coast to accept another award on behalf of Wikwemikong Tourism, a department of the Enaadmaagehjik (Wikwemikong Development Commission ) and is responsible for community tourism development guided by the Wikwemikong Tourism Strategy for Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory since 2007.
Wassegijig was presented with the Indigenous Adventure Award on Nov. 14, during a ceremony held in conjunction with the International Indigenous Tourism Conference staged in Kelowna, B.C.
This marked the eighth year for the conference hosted by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC).
“It was a real surprise,” Wassegijig said, adding he is still unaware who nominated Wikwemikong Tourism for the national accolade. “We knew we were nominated maybe two or three weeks beforehand. And then the Friday before [the ceremony] we found out we won. I had to make some travel plans pretty quickly.”
Wikwemikong Tourism was one of the three finalists for the Indigenous Adventure Award.
The others nominated in this award category were Wapusk Adventure, based in the Manitoba town of Churchill, and Fishwheel Charter Services, located in the Yukon town of Dawson City.
The Indigenous Adventure Award is annually presented to a business that recognizes best practices in Indigenous adventure travel with a focus on responsibility and sustainability.
The business must demonstrate effective sustainable management, provide social and economic benefits to the local community, respect cultural heritage and minimize environmental impacts.
As for ITAC, its aim is to improve the socio-economic conditions of Indigenous people in all 10 of Canada’s provinces and its three territories.
Besides providing tourism conferences, ITAC also offers economic development advisory services, capacity development training and workshops, as well as industry research and information for Indigenous tourism operators and communities.
This marked the third straight year that Wikwemikong Tourism had captured an award.
In 2017, it won a Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario award. And just last year it captured the Indigenous Tourism Award from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.
Wassegijig was thrilled Wikwemikong Tourism earned its first national award earlier this month.
So what could top this honour?
“It would be nice to be recognized next internationally,” Wassegijig said. “Who knows? The sky is the limit.”
Meanwhile, Wassegijig was also in Collingwood in October to accept the Indigenous Tourism Award, for work on the Wikwemikong Annual Cultural Festival, which is typically held each August. This accolade was presented at the Ontario Tourism Awards of Excellence.
Wassegijig believes winning a national award will boost Wikwemikong Tourism’s profile.
“I think it provides credibility to the product we offer,” he said. “And it recognizes the work we’ve done.”
Wikwemikong Tourism offers a number of different cultural tours of its community, delivering authentic experiences that reflect the cultural lifestyles and traditions of the Anishinabek people of the Three Fires Confederacy – Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi. Day and multi-day packages are available, including to students, both at the elementary and high school levels.
Wikwemikong Tourism also offers various tour packages on Point Grondine Park, located on Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. The park, located in Killarney, is a three-hour drive from Wiikwemkoong but only about a 20-minute boat ride away.
“I think it recognizes the product we have in Ontario,” Wassegijg added of the national award. “Indigenous travel is in huge demand globally.”
Officials with Wikwemikong Tourism are hoping to also start offering canoe tours next year.