[BCMA] Aboriginal Tourism Workshop at Royal Roads on March 12, 2011

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

*Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism *

This introductory workshop provides an opportunity for aboriginal and 
non-aboriginal tourism entrepreneurs, students in tourism/heritage 
related programs and interested community members to learn about the 
benefits of aboriginal tourism and within the context of tourism 
development, to explore traditional and non-traditional partnership 
opportunities. Case studies and a review of best practices will provide 
participants with a better understanding of the sensitivities and 
approaches to this growing industry that will strengthen their business 
ideas and overall tourism action plan.

*Who Should Attend?*

    * Aboriginal and non-aboriginal entrepreneurs involved in aboriginal
      tourism or those wanting to become involved
    *   Owners/operators of tourism businesses or heritage organziations
      interested in working with aboriginal communities
    *   Representatives of municipal governments, tourism organizations
      and chambers of commerce
    * Students of tourism and heritage related programs
    * Interested community members

*Topics:*

    * Definition of aboriginal tourism
    * Authenticity -- an essential element in aboriginal tourism
    * Tourism trends and potential for aboriginal tourism in BC
    * Benefits of aboriginal tourism to communities and businesses
    * Creating partnerships- strengthening communities
    * The role of cultural protocol
    * Working with tour companies and destination marketing organizations
    * Case studies -- best practices
    * Your next steps?

*Learning Outcomes:*

    * An understanding of the enormous cultural diversity of First
      Nations in BC
    * An understanding of the potential benefits of aboriginal tourism
      to community and organizations
    * An increased awareness of and respect for cultural protocol
    * An understanding of the role of tour companies and destination
      marketing organizations
    * An increased understanding of how to work together to develop
      aboriginal tourism
    * An action plan to include aboriginal tourism in the implementation
      of the participants' goals

*Facilitators: Ursula Pfahler,* owner and operator of Poda 
Communications, a tourism consulting and training business. Ursula has 
facilitated workshops on cultural, heritage and sport tourism in 
communities all over British Columbia, and has assisted First Nations 
communities and entrepreneurs with business planning and marketing. 
Ursula teaches tourism courses, including Indigenous Tourism, in the 
School of Business at Camosun College, and she is a Master Trainer for 
Tourism BC.  Participants in Ursula's workshops and courses benefit from 
her more than 17 years of experience in BC's tourism industry. She has 
been involved in all aspects of group travel, including tour design, 
administration and marketing, and her clients range from national and 
international tour companies to cultural institutions. Ursula has a 
passion for aboriginal tourism, and has been an associate member of 
Aboriginal Tourism BC since 1999.


*Souie Gorup* was born in Halifax, NS of Mi'kmaq parentage. She began 
her career when living with the Inuit of Nunavik carrying out community 
based research that included recording Inuit world views, land use 
activities and ecological knowledge. Souie and her children now live in 
Coast Salish territory where she began working with First Nations in the 
British Columbia Treaty process developing many friendships with the 
Elders whose resource use activities, ecological knowledge and 
perceptions she helped to document. She feels privileged to have been 
able to capture an understanding of the world as seen through the 
Elder's eyes and from this experience, believes Aboriginal tourism may 
be a powerful means to build bridges between cultures and grow 
socio-economic sustainability. She worked for Parks Canada's Gulf 
Islands National Park Reserve as First Nations Liaison and played a key 
role in the development of the First Nations Program that assists First 
Nations tourism initiatives. Souie was a regional director with 
Aboriginal Tourism BC which is how she came to know Ursula. She has done 
allot of volunteering at various sports events including the Cowichan 
North American Indigenous Games 2008 and the Olympics Games 2010. Souie 
currently works as a Senior Aboriginal Relations Advisor with the 
Provincial Government's Ministry of Agriculture and Lands helping 
support the New Relationship, treaties and First Nations partnership 
initiatives.

*Introduction to Aboriginal Tourism - *
*Date: Sat, Mar 12, 2011
*
*Length: 1 day
Times: 9am - 5pm
Cost: $165 + applicable taxes
Best to Register By: Sat, Feb 26, 2011
*
*PATH2172
*

*Registrations *
by phone: 250-391-2511** Toll-free 1-800-788-8028**
**by e-mail: info at royalroads.ca <mailto:info at royalroads.ca>
through the Royal Roads website: 
http://www.royalroads.ca/continuing-studies
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.vvv.com/pipermail/bcma/attachments/20110111/3300b86e/attachment.htm