Fort Simpson is about to receive a major boost in its tourism sector.
Northwest Territories Assemblyman Michael McLeod announced earlier this week that $25,000 in funding from the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s micro and small business stream will be donated to Quill Tourism Services in Fort Simpson. This is part of a larger movement led by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, which is working with provincial and territorial governments to support the tourism industry.
K’ıyelı Tourism Services has been a part of the Fort Simpson community for many years, providing interpretation and cultural education services to visitors. They hope to soon become one of the leading providers of Dene cultural tourism in the Decho region.
“Indigenous tourism has the power to create opportunity, transform Canadian tourism, and advance reconciliation,” Michael McLeod said in a statement at the time of the announcement. That’s why helping them grow and thrive is one of our top priorities. Through this Indigenous-led process, we support communities to make their own decisions and develop their tourism industry at their own pace. I look forward to seeing the difference this funding will bring to Fort Simpson.
The Micro and Small Business Stream selects recipients taking into account the presence of unfavorable barriers to business, visitor numbers and export readiness. They ensure that the business is in a position to use the funds given to it responsibly.
