Wiikwemkoong manager provides First Nation’s tourism strategies at Rama conference

By Sam Laskaris

CHIPPEWAS OF RAMA FIRST NATION – When it comes to providing Indigenous tourism experiences, representatives from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory are considered leaders in the industry.

So, it might come as a surprise to some to learn that the First Nation, located on Manitoulin Island, has only been welcoming visitors to its community for less than 20 years.

Luke Wassegijig, who serves as the Tourism Manager for Wikwemikong Tourism, an organization which has received various accolades over the year, provided some insight into his First Nation’s experiences at a recent conference.

Wassegijig was a speaker at the Forward Summit conference that was held September 23-24 at the Casino Rama Resort, located on Chippewas of Rama First Nation.

He spoke at a session titled Culture and Tourism as Economic Drivers for Community Development.

Meanwhile, Kevin Eshkawkogan, a member of M’Chigeen First Nation, also located on Manitoulin Island, was another panelist for this session.

Eshkawkogan is the President and CEO of Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO).

Wassegijig told conference delegates that back in 2008, when Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory started developing a tourism strategy, the majority of its tourism revenue, about 80 per cent, resulted from the First Nation’s annual cultural festival held over one weekend.

Officials from the First Nation decided to build on that by developing some tourism infrastructure.

“Our mission was to build a foundation for sustainable tourism development,” he said. “We had a lot of great ideas. Then from that, of course, over the years, we started looking at getting into different tour companies, developing trails across Ontario, and their trail development services.”

Wassegijig also said that a lot of community tourism businesses wouldn’t survive without people who are passionate.

“We need people with passion,” he said. “It’s a huge a part – people with passion.”

He also said mentioned another key that Indigenous tourism operators require.

“The biggest part of it is community investment and community buy in,” he said. “Without that, you won’t succeed.”

Wassegijig also said his First Nation is unlike others who promote their tourism businesses in their community.

“We don’t have the fortune to leverage tax levels like some municipalities,” he said. “And 100 per cent of the investment for Indigenous tourism in our community is actually from the community. Of course, there’s government grants. But in order to make that succeed, you need community buy in. They need to see the positives of Indigenous tourism.”

Wassegijig also said that one of the pillars of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s tourism strategy was focused on local Infrastructure.

“That means developing assets that support tourism,” he said, adding that includes things such as historic sites that can educate people. “Showing those in the community the positive impacts of that is huge, but also showing them why they should invest into tourism [is important].”

Wassegijig also discussed a $12 million expand project for Point Grondine Park, which is located on Lake Huron and is owned by Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.

“The community believes in that project being a tool to manage the lands and also a way to reclaim the culture through interpretive spaces within that park,” he said.  “It’s an opportunity again for the community to see some of the benefits of it.”

The park is already popular. But the expansion is expected to bring in even more visitors.

“It is going to be one of Ontario’s newest signature Indigenous tourism experiences, coming to market in the next couple years,” Wassegijig said, adding the expansion initiative is mostly being financed through the community.

As for Eshkawkogan, he talked about the fact ITO has four pillars that it focuses on— cultural authenticity, product development, marketing and branding, and workforce development.

“You need to have your values to create something, in this case it’s Indigenous tourism,” he said. “You need to have people who are going to do the work, which is the workforce development part and the product they are going to take to consumers. And you need to build a market for this. That’s where all four of these pillars all work together.”