Interdisciplinary Approaches to BC Aboriginal Tourism
Taylor George-Hollis
LSBA 100
Brook L Houglum & Cheryl Schreader
Aboriginal people have existed and prospered since time immemorial. Each nation throughout the county have always been: self-sustaining, formed their own political organization, housing structures, subsistence strategies, ideologies and ways of preserving their culture. Elders preserved the culture as orators within longhouses where the echoes of the ancestors resonated through language, songs and stories. Many of them believed that their culture is their identity that of which defines who they are as unique Aboriginal people. Semi-sedentary and nomadic nations would travel through terrain by canoe and foot to broaden their network with other nations and families. Aboriginal people’s social and political systems are parallel to pre-contact, with chiefdoms and nuclear and extended families (Muckle). Today, Aboriginal people in Canada have the same connection to the land that their ancestors had, for it has always provided for them whether it be physically or spiritually. Aboriginal People have opportunities for economic development, preserving their protocols, and asserting their rights and title through socio-economic development. Through traditional ecological knowledge and governance, Aboriginal leaders are creating their own environmental assessments; and in solidarity with other Canadians strongly opposing large corporations going onto their territory with or without their consent. There are opportunities for Aboriginal Nations to create community development and there is adequate funding provided to create community comprehensive plans, in order to create vision statements and values for reserves, strategize, and submit achievable goals and long term implementation (Government of Canada).
First Nations people have always engaged in treaties, even prior to European people’s first contact. Treaties were formed to govern the use of Aboriginal lands and resources, and to clarify a healthy relationship amongst neighboring Nations. There is significance in the assertion of Aboriginal title. In many cases, especially in British Columbia, First Nations have never ceded their rights and title to the Crown. Treaties between Aboriginal groups and the Crown “From a First Nation perspective express that self-government, economic development and a relationship of mutual respect are critical objectives (Jai, 2014).” Intergovernmental agreements between the Crown and First Nations acknowledge the spiritual and economic relationship that First Nations people share with the land. Aboriginal leaders do not want to manage poverty due to exploitation of land and recourses, but they want to be respectfully consulted. It is unfortunate that many Aboriginal communities are not prospering due to the fact that they are marginalized in the processes of intergovernmental and intercultural dialogue of economic and community development.
Intercultural dialogue is an integral part in the consultation process between Aboriginal people, the Canadian government and third parties. The lack of consultation on the behalf of provincial and federal governments on Aboriginal lands perpetuate the symptoms of pervasive neocolonial attitudes (LaFever). To reverse this antiquated system of communication, levels of government should conduct surveys of population for citizen input. Therefore, prioritizing intergovernmental communications for Aboriginal empowerment through participation in community planning.
Tourism in British Columbia is a booming industry, receiving much of the province’s GDP. Eco-tourism is a platform for new Aboriginal entrepreneurial initiatives, and most recently earning $45 million within the last year (Press). To begin the process of eco-tourism is community planning. It is salient that a community is engaged in decision making about social structures because this requires long term goal setting and relationships. This is presented through intercultural dialogue and civic engagement. This is relevant in the BC Treaty Negotiation Process where a First Nation forms a new relationship with all levels of government. Treaties between the Crown and Aboriginal people were initially formed to create a relationship based on equality and respect and are being implemented through the Modern Day Treaty Process.
Communities like Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation (also known as the Ucluelet First Nation) have engaged in community discussions around socio-economic development with their local municipality and has come together to form an economic and environmentally sustainable business called, “Wya Point Resort.” This resort is operated and owned by the Ucluelet people along the West Coast of the Vancouver Island. They have made it very evident that issues of eco-tourism and entrepreneurial programs that are being initiated need to be sensitive to their territory and economically sustainable for decades. Despite being labelled as a resort, great care and attention was given to the environment. The rooms available are eco-yurts and cabins, made out of wood harvested previously from the Ucluelet Nation’s land. The eco-yurts are very environmentally efficient and LEED certified meaning that they follow the core concepts of sustainable community planning, solid waste management, sustainable community energy planning, and reduce the demand of energy through their architecture (Wya).
The eco-yurts, don’t have any electricity and the restroom facilities are running on a “Green system.” When the Ucluelet Nation leaders came together to discuss the future of the resort, many of the questions asked were formed around: the social impacts to the community, how is it going to provide economically for the Ucluelet First Nation people and what may be the risks locally and financially? The Ucluelet people are looking at the broader future, more than just the resort but establishing hiking trails on treaty settlement lands, cultural retreats and selling of non-timber forest products and or natural resources.
It is important that the First Nations, municipal, regional and provincial government have a clear understanding on the relationship between the Ucluelet First Nation’s business and land use, because the Wya Point Resort is situated on new treaty settlement lands. Land that the Ucluelet people never had access to before. The Ucluelet people are on a path of real autonomy through their treaty and self-governance. As limiting as a well-defined treaty maybe by it’s nature, their defined rights are respected and enforced by the Ucluelet Nation’s Constitution, and reinforced by the Canadian Constitution (BC Treaty).
British Columbia and Aboriginal tourism is a flourishing industry that provides opportunities that have formed ideas that are “out-of-the-box” and allow you to enjoy the serenity of what the beautiful province has to offer from it’s vast mountains to rugged coast. The tourism industry has evolved from a high energy demand business to unplugging yourself and family from the mainstream and going to the outdoors to experience the wonders of the First Peoples of British Columbia and Canada.
Works Cited
“BC Treaty Commission.” BC Treaty Commission. Web.
Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affarirs and Northern Aboriginal Development Canada; Communications Branch. 15 September 2015. 1 November 2010.
LaFever, Marcella. “Empowering Native Americans: Communication, Planning, And Dialogue For Eco-Tourism In Gallup, New Mexico.” Journal Of International & Intercultural Communication 4.2 (2011): 127-145. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web.
Muckle, Robert J. Indigenous Peoples of North America: A Concise Anthropological Overview . University Of Toronto Press, 2012.
Press, The Canadian. Aboriginal ‘cultural’ tourism booming in B.C. Travellers seeking cultural, spiritual and meaningful tourism experience. 14 March 2014. <http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/aboriginal/aboriginal-cultural-tourism-booming-in-b-c-1.2576971>.
“Way Point Resort” –Ucluelet. Web.