Destinations: The National Gathering on Aboriginal Cultures and Tourism

Held December 1-3, 2003 in Whistler, BC, Destinations explored the relationship between the support, celebration, sustainability and promotion of Aboriginal cultures and tourism in Canada. It provided a forum in which key stakeholders from the Canadian Heritage Portfolio came together with Aboriginal tourism operators, artists, traditionalists, academics, youth, Elders and other governmental representatives to discuss both the support needed by Aboriginal communities to have ownership over how their cultures are represented in the context of tourism, and how tourism can be made to work in support of the long-term well-being of communities and their cultures.

For participants, Destinations provided opportunities for networking and dialogue, sharing of best practices, increased knowledge of available support from federal departments and agencies, brainstorming on opportunities and strategies for change, and open and relevant discussions of key issues. For the Canadian Heritage Portfolio, Destinations led to a better understanding of how the mandate of Canadian Heritage relates to the support of Aboriginal tourism. A website with background information and the final report can be found at: www.destinations.gc.ca