The 2017 International Aboriginal Tourism Conference (IATC) was held at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino, on the TsuuT’ina Nation in Calgary, Alberta from November 7th to 8th, 2017. More than 500 delegates from across Canada and the USA met in Calgary to focus on the continued growth of Indigenous tourism nationally and globally, during the sold out sixth annual IATC.

Highlights from the 2017 conference included the official name change of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada to the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), as well as the 2017 Aboriginal Tourism Awards Gala which recognized leaders and businesses who have showcased their ongoing dedication to increasing the profile of Indigenous tourism experiences in Alberta and throughout Canada. Click here to view our report on the most successful IATC in history.

Conference partners and sponsors included Destination Canada, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), Parks Canada, Government of Alberta, Travel Alberta, Tourism Victoria, World Indigenous Tourism Alliance, Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Tourism Calgary, Tourism Edmonton, Tourism Saskatoon, and the Calgary Stampede. Further highlights from the 2017 IATC may be found at www.iatc-canada.ca.

We hope to see you next year in Saskatoon for the 2018 IATC!

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2017 IATC Speaker Presentations

Keith Henry, President & CEO of ITAC – The Path Forward for the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada: Year 2

Trina Mather-Simard, Atlantic Regional Coordinator, ITAC – Building Indigenous Tourism

Dave Laveau, Quebec Aboriginal Tourism – What are we working towards?

Ron Ostrom, Northern Regional Coordinator, ITAC – ATAC Update: Canada’s North

Casey Vanden Heuvel, Director of Business Development & Partnerships, ITAC – Product Development – ITAC 2017-18 Investments

Darrell Balkwill, Whitecap Dakota First Nation – Building a Tourism Development Foundation

Brady Smith, Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre – Shaping Experiences for Success Across Canada: Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Russell Walters, Adventure Travel Trade Association – Consumer Research Perspectives: Tomorrow’s Adventure Traveler

Ben Sherman, WINTA – Indigenous Relationships and Voice

Sherry Rupert, AIANTA President – AIANTA and ITAC Memorandum of Understanding

Graham Dickson, Arctic Kingdom & Moses Anagoalik, Pond Inlet, Nunavut – Creative Partnerships to Grow Indigenous Tourism

James Cowpar, Haida Style Expeditions – Welcome to our Backyard: Cultural Adventure Experience

Georges Beaudry, Ô Roseau – Ô Roseau Historical Métis Interpretive Camp

Dené Sinclair, Director of Marketing, ITAC / Maureen Riley, Destination Canada – Learning About the Consumer

Scott Roberts & Sherry Baumgardner, Riata Partners Inc. – Driving Tourism through Packaged Experiences

Dené Sinclair, Director of Marketing, ITAC – Marketing with ITAC: Being Ready to Tell Your Story

James Allan, Shakat Tun – Summer Trails & Sharing Tales: Authentic Indigenous Immersion in Canada’s Yukon Territory

Kevin Yates, Grey Eagle Resort & Casino – Successes in ATAC’s Marketing Channels: Grey Eagle Resort & Casino

Alberta Indigenous Tourism Planning Day

Keith Henry, President & CEO of ITAC – Indigenous Tourism in Alberta

Sébastien Desnoyers, Wendake – Community Development: Wendake First Nation

Brenda Holder, Mahikan Trails – Alberta Research Results

Nordina Newton, Nations Creations – StÓ:lō Nation – Artisan Development

Alberta Culture & Tourism – Welcoming Tourism to Communities – are you ready?

Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada – Where are we going next in Alberta?