Reconciliation for Whom? Fostering Meaningful Relationships Through Indigenous Tourism in Ontario

Abstract

The development of Indigenous tourism worldwide has attracted the attention of both travelers and scholars. However, current research regarding Indigenous Tourism in Canada fails to acknowledge how Indigenous tourism benefits the community in which it occurs while simultaneously fostering a meaningful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. To address this, I engage with the concept of reconciliation and explore tourism as a tangible way in which Canadians can engage with this often-abstract concept. This project is ethnographic in nature and involves a relational and collaborative approach with Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory located on the northeastern peninsula of Manitoulin Island, Ontario. My findings draw on semi-structured interviews with Wikwemikong Tourism employees and participant observation during a three week stay in the community during August 2019. Overall, this thesis demonstrates how the interactions that occur through Indigenous tourism create a dialogue of mutual understanding that is crucial for reconciliation in Canada.