b'tourismWe have also been working very hard to open up new markets and partners and provide great experiences and thats a big reason we are seeing an increase, he adds.Research from ITAC and the Conference Board of Canada shows that international visitors are a key component to Indigenous cultural tourism. And while visitors are coming from far and wide, many are as close asThroughout the resort, guests will notice an Indigenous Canadas own backyard. theme to the property as well as history of the area, I would say the large majority of Canadians are veryGrimes details.aware of Indigenous people but theyre not aware of theMeetings, conferences and corporate events can be culture and the opportunities to come learn together,completely customizable with a variety of meeting space. Henry explains. The only condition while staying at Stoney is to save some The opportunities extend from small, intimate practices,time to play and discover.like smudging, a ceremony that involves the burning ofVisitors to the resort can also enjoy an unforgettable sacred herbs for spiritual cleansing or blessing, to largehelicopter tour with Alpine Helicopters and enjoy the pow-wows, to luxury accommodations at four-star hotelsscenery of the mountains and surrounding areas with and conference centres. a history of the Stoney people, says Grimes. Whether The Htel-Muse Premires Nations, located in thesomeone is coming to the resort to stay in the hotel, dine in community of Wendake, Quebec, is one of the premierthe restaurant or lounge, try their luck in the casino, take a experiential hotels in the province, combining high-endscenic helicopter tour, or enjoy a white water rafting trip, it accommodations with deep-roots in First Nations history. is our hope that visitors to the resort leave with a little more The community invested $30 million into their tourismknowledge of the First Nations history and culture than development in the last 10 years, Picard-Binet reveals.when they arrived.They are really into the Indigenous gastronomy as well.Kisoun Taylor agrees. In addition to a connection to the The chefs really focus on what the land has to offer. Theyland and the people, he hopes guests of Tundra North cook mainly with herbs that come from our forest as well asTours leave with a great northern story.game meat.The meeting and conference destination featuresTo add Indigenous culture to your next event,contemporary facilities that can accommodate up to 220contact Keith Henry at Keith@IndigenousTourism.ca orpeople along with cultural packages to engage groupsindigenoustourism.calarge and small. A few provinces over, Albertas Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino is experiencing a similar uptick in visitors to its state-of-the-art facility.We have seen a steady increase in Indigenous business over the last few years in both the corporate and leisure markets, says Stoney Nakodas Marketing Manager, Chris Grimes. More First Nation Bands are travelling to hold corporate retreats and attend things like pow wows and sporting events. The resort, just 35 minutes west of Calgary, offers full hotel and casino services, with the scenic Rocky Mountains in the background. According to Grimes, the beautiful landscape and impeccable interior is what makes Stoney Nakoda stand out.18 CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca'