The following programs are open to ITA Members. If you are not yet a member, you may still apply alongside your membership application. Click here to apply for your ITA Membership.

For more information, email membership@indigenoustourismalberta.ca.

ENTREPRENEUR WORKSHOP

ITA Entrepreneur Workshops are virtual or in-person training sessions designed to guide participants through the basics of getting started in the Indigenous tourism industry and help them identify the initial steps required to create an Indigenous tourism business. The workshop spans two 2.5-hour sessions and includes an Elder’s prayer, facilitated discussions, a panel session on business startup experiences, and hands-on learning through activities and participant interaction.

This program is suitable for ITA Members at the In-Development or Visitor-Ready market levels.

ITA TEA TIMES

Tea Times are virtual sessions conducted by ITA’s Regional Representatives and Partners addressing key topics and emerging trends relevant to the development of Indigenous tourism experiences. While these sessions are primarily designed for ITA Members at the In-Development or Visitor-Ready market levels, they are tailored to meet the needs of higher-level members as required.

GOOD RELATIONS MENTORSHIP

The Good Relations Mentorship is designed for ITA Members seeking rapid advancement in market readiness, this program offers 1:1 mentorship and guidance from senior-level professionals with extensive expertise in both private and public sectors. Participants with specific short-term goals have the opportunity to interview and select a mentor who is a subject matter expert aligned with their objectives. Mentors can assist in various areas such as business development, marketing, finance, and tourism/hospitality, fostering a collaborative approach aimed at capacity building.

STRENGTHENING OUR ROOTS

This program will look at Strengthening the Roots of your business, the operations, insurance, and business infrastructure. Within this program, participants engage in online coaching focused on the following topics:

  • Products & Experiences
  • Operations & Infrastructure
  • Marketing & Communications
  • Culture & Sustainability

This program is suitable for ITA Members who are working towards becoming Market-Ready or are looking to enhance their Market-Ready status. Participants must have the capacity to commit to bi-weekly (1 hour) coaching sessions for a minimum of 3 months, with additional time to complete program tasks and assignments.

SIX SENSES

Six Senses is an immersive, land-based program tailored to support Indigenous tourism businesses in enhancing or creating new visitor experiences, preparing them to welcome international guests. The program is broken down into three key phases:

  1. Experiential Journey: this program begins by taking participants on an immersive land-based experience where they get to learn by doing, organically internalizing knowledge that is grounded first and foremost in the natural world, playing with the senses, and focusing on our connections with one another and everything that surrounds us.
  2. Mentoring Journey: participants will be mentored by an experienced Indigenous Tourism Mentor to begin building (or enhancing) their experiences. Mentoring will include planning, capacity building, and troubleshooting any roadblocks before they can bring their idea to a tangible reality.
  3. Piloting Journey: participants will launch their newly born experiences and begin testing the waters. In this step, there will be continued support from ITA, their Mentor, and other participants for feedback, troubleshooting, and implementing new ideas.

This program is for ITA Members at the Market-Ready level, focused on enhancing their capacity to welcome international visitors. Participants must have the capacity to commit to bi-weekly (1 hour) sessions with their mentor for a minimum of 3 months, with additional time to complete program tasks and assignments.

CULTURAL TOURISM PATHWAY PROGRAM

The Indigenous Cultural Tourism Pathway is an innovative grassroots training program designed to empower Indigenous community members to discover and achieve their tourism vision while remaining grounded in their traditional values and local realities. This Program is designed to guide participants towards an understanding of the benefits that Indigenous tourism holds for cultural preservation, environmental safeguarding, social progress, and local economic
growth.