Indigenous Leaders’ Involvement in the ESTC

The ESTC recognizes the importance of innovative multi-stakeholder strategies for sustainable community development, and aims to engage Native American and First Nation peoples as business leaders and environmental stewards in the sustainable growth of the tourism sector. (See the mission and goals of the ESTC 2008)

One of the four main tracks of the conference sessions will focus on Communities & Indigenous Peoples.

ESTC Indigenous Leaders Scholarship

The ESTC Indigenous Leaders Scholarship helps provide opportunities for Indigenous community representatives to participate in the ESTC and to take advantage of the valuable networking and professional development opportunities available through the conference.

To sponsor an Indigenous leader to participate in the ESTC or to make a donation of any amount to TIES’ ESTC Indigenous Leaders Scholarship, please click here:

Indigenous Leaders Scholarship Supporters

TIES thanks all the organizations and individuals who have generously contributed to the scholarship.

Canadian Ecotourism Services


Sir Andrew and Lady Fairley Foundation
“Supporting aboriginal tourism initiatives in our local area is vital to the celebration of the rich heritage and culture of aboriginal people. We don’t know enough about their culture or their knowledge of our country and we are the poorer for it.”

the Tourism Company
“The Tourism Company is proud to support the Indigenous Leader’s Scholarship for the ESTC 2008. We believe that engaging indigenous communities through these types of initiatives are a critical component to realizing one of ecotourism’s principles—maximizing benefits to local communities and helping to preserve local cultures. In our experience, the concepts and principles of ecotourism are consistent with the values and traditions of indigenous peoples throughout the world, while ecotourism development represents a viable approach for indigenous communities to capitalize on their tourism opportunities.”

Strengthening Business and Communities

The following are some examples of TIES partnerships with Indigenous leaders for past events:

TIES Public Forum Indigenous Business Leaders in Ecotourism – April 30, 2008, Washington DC

Focusing on the roles of Indigenous community business leaders in Ecotourism, the public forum offered dynamic perspectives on conservation and cultural issues by a panel discussion featuring Indigenous business leaders and ecotourism experts, and highlighted case studies and best practice examples of Indigenous community business leaders in global ecotourism destinations.

North American Ecotourism Conference 2007 – September 26-28, 2007, Madison, Wisconsin

Organizers for the 2007 conference made a concerted effort to include Indigenous participation at all levels. A traditional Native American grand entry ceremony was performed under the tribal flags representing Wisconsin’s eleven tribal nations, officially opening the conference and welcoming the attendees. The HoChunk and other Native American tribes are “key stewards of Wisconsin’s natural treasures, working to promote economic development and diversification while practicing sustainability,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the local sponsor of the conference. Workshop presenters and facilitators included Daniel-Paul Bork, CEO with Aboriginal Tourism Canada, Pam Ward with Metepenagiag Heritage Park, Virginia McKenzie with Temagami Anishnabai Tipi Camp, and Robin McGinley with Cree Outfitters and Tourism Association.

GEC07 Indigenous Ecotourism Workshop – May 16, 2007, Oslo, Norway

TIES’ first Indigenous Ecotourism Workshop was held at the Global Ecotourism Conference 2007 (Oslo, Norway, May 14-16, 2007) and attended by 30+ representatives from around the world. Led by Annie Vanderwyk of Ngarrindjeri Nation, South Australia, the Workshop discussed Indigenous issues in ecotourism and explored various ways to utilize ecotourism as a vehicle for sustainable growth of Indigenous communities worldwide. The Workshop served as an important forum to identify the support of Indigenous representatives for a dialogue with the global ecotourism community.