The Washow team (Sinclair Trapper, Clarence Trapper, & Becky Pelkonen) has just returned back to Moose Factory from an enlightening workshop in Ottawa on creating better partnerships and links between arctic-based aboriginal ecotourism providers and academic researchers/institutions. The workshop focused on indigenous peoples found in arctic areas and we made many new Inuit, Quebec Cree, Sami, and Orachen friends from across Canada and around the world alongside forward-thinking academics from the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Lakehead University, UNBC, and Acadia University, to name a few.
The most interesting outcome was discovering that the James Bay Cree share many of the same issues with other indigenous groups from across the globe. We all share the same concerns on cultural and environmental loss and degradation and find ourselves committed to the same cause – using ecotourism as a way to both rejuvenate and protect these sacred things for generations to come.
It was an intimate workshop facilitated by Sylvie Blangy, a leading aboriginal ecotoruism consultant (see here) who we also look forward to hosting in Moose Factory at the end of this month. Welcome, Sylvie and meegwetch to all those who shared their stories and expertise with us in Ottawa.
Sami representatives identifying stakeholders and partners within their regions in Norway and Sweden.
A gift from the Orachen in China presented to the Moose Cree First Nation and Washow Lodge.
The whole "community" gang! Community-level aboriginal ecotourism providers preparing for a great day out in Ottawa.
