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Six Nations Cultural Experience A Sense of Place

Develop a strategic plan to promote Six Nations' culture, create economic opportunities, and enhance community pride through cultural tourism. Engage stakeholders, preserve traditions, and attract visitors for a unique and authentic experience.

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Six Nations Cultural Experience A Sense of Place

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  1. Six Nations Cultural Experience A Sense of Place Draft Strategic (Action) Plan August 7, 2013

  2. QUOTE – EMILY C. GENERAL AN IDEA IS ONLY AN IDEA UNTIL THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

  3. Background • In 2010, GREAT hosted two Six Nations Labour Force Development Think Tanks – Guest Speakers were brought in to inspire people to take action. • In July, 2011 GREAT hosted the Six Nations Cultural Experience Conference and a year later hired a Coordinator to develop a cultural tourism strategic plan • The Six Nations Cultural Experience Planning Committee was formed to help develop the plan to give visitors to Six Nations an authentic and interactive experience of Six Nations’ culture.

  4. Reasons for Developing Cultural Tourism • Increase visitors’ understanding and appreciation of Six Nations culture; • Build Six Nations’ economy; • Enhance or develop relationships with other communities; • Help develop a strong nation of people who are proud of their history and culture; and, • Create and deliver training and employment opportunities in the cultural tourism sector.

  5. Benefits of Cultural Tourism for Six Nations • Connect generations and help preserve traditional knowledge. • Give the youth the opportunity to carry on as ambassadors of Six Nations. • Instill pride in ourselves, our community, and our culture. • Re-establish Six Nations as a point of destination for local, national and international visitors. • Dispel myths and help break down racism, discrimination, and stereotyping.

  6. Six Nations Cultural Experience Committee • Chiefswood National Historic Site • Grand River Champion of Champions Pow Wow • Grand River Employment and Training • Six Nations Legacy Consortium • Six Nations Polytechnic /Indigenous Knowledge Centre • Six Nations Public Library • Six Nations Tourism • Two Rivers Community Development Corp. • Woodland Cultural Centre

  7. Relevant Statistics Demand for Arts and Culture The January 2013 report commissioned by the Ontario Arts Council, shows a significant impact of arts and culture on the Ontario tourism. Key findings of the Ontario Arts and Culture Tourism Profile, by Research Resolutions & Consulting Ltd identify the following: • 9.5 million overnight tourists in Ontario participated in arts and culture activities during their trips in 2010 – representing 22% of all Ontario’s overnight visitors;

  8. Relevant Statistics • The average Ontario arts and culture tourist spends twice as much per trip as does a typical tourist - $667 per trip versus $374; • The market for arts and culture tourism in North America is large: 89% or 18.5 million of Ontario’s 20.8 million North American tourists who travel to Ontario over a two-year period seek an arts or culture activity on their trips; and of that 89% - 14% or 2.9 million participated in an Aboriginal cultural activity.

  9. Relevant Statistics • There is a projected shortage of workers. According to Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council 2010- “The Future of Canada’s Tourism Sector: Economic Recession” there will only be a temporary reprieve from labour shortages. • By 2025 the province’s tourism sector could see a potential labour shortage of more than 80,000 full-year jobs left unfilled.

  10. Relevant Statistics The Aboriginal population is in a position to fill these projected shortages. • According to the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council – Aboriginal Peoples Employed in Tourism and the 2006 Census, more than 50,000 people or 3.2% working in Canada’s tourism sector, self-identified as an Aboriginal person. • The accommodations industry employed the largest share of overall Aboriginal workers at 4.7%. This is followed by industries within the category of recreation and entertainment ( 3.3%).

  11. Process for Input into the Strategic Plan Community Driven Six Nations Labour Force Development Think Tank 2010 Six Nations Cultural Experience Conference 2011 and formation of Steering Committee Surveys One x One Interview Conference 2013 Focus Groups Draft Strategic Plan

  12. Process for Input into the Strategic Plan • Six Nations Community Plan 2007 was referenced when developing the strategic plan; • A series of focus groups and one on one interviews were held. They included: artisans, business owners, sports and recreation, historians, knowledge keepers, and service providers. • An on line survey was developed and posted on the Steering Committee websites and distributed at local community events - Six Nations Language Conference and the Community Awareness Week • The on line survey received 116 responses.

  13. Process for Input into Strategic Plan • A report entitled “Why Place is the Key to Cultural Tourism”: by Steven Thorne. “Research tells us that what cultural tourists most want is to explore a different culture, to be enriched – intellectually and emotionally – and to gain a new perspective on life. They want to experience what makes a destination distinctive, authentic, and memorable. In short, cultural tourists want to experience “place”. “Place-based cultural tourism” refers to the history, arts, culinary, stories, heritage of Six Nations; essentially the place is the product. Visitors want to experience “a sense of place”.

  14. Process for Input into Strategic Plan Highlights from the Six Nations Community Plan: • Eco-tourism – multi-use trails throughout community; • Develop a tourism strategy, secure funding for 5 years, engage the community in developing arts and culture; • Build a better forest theatre; • Engage community in a strategy to move arts and culture forward; • Secure funding - hire an Arts and Culture Coordinator; • Create an economy that supports arts and culture

  15. Process for Input into Strategic Plan The Six Nations Cultural Experience Committee hosted a conference titled the Realities and Possibilities of Cultural Tourism on Thursday, July 25, 2013. • Attended by 50 people representing a cross sections of the community such as; artisans, business owners, service providers, knowledge keepers, youth. • Provided an opportunity for the community to learn about cultural tourism and provide further input into the strategic plan.

  16. On line survey results1. What effect would increased cultural tourism have on Six Nations?

  17. On line survey results2. In developing cultural tourism, how important are the following?

  18. On line survey results3. What is the potential for developing the following at Six Nations?

  19. On line survey results4. Which of the following might present challenges to developing cultural tourism?

  20. On line survey results5. Who do you think should be involved in developing and managing cultural tourism at Six Nations?

  21. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Challenges/Barriers: • Douglas Estates – fear, people may not want to come • Funding to implement strategies • General populous is not welcoming; lack of customer service and racism towards non natives • Market readiness • Treading on ground where there is no consensus • There is a fear of losing what we have and growing in ways that we don’t know or can’t control • Limited accommodations, lack of washrooms, garbage disposals • Leadership buy in

  22. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Recommendations: • Interact with the radio station - interview visitors • Tourism/ customer service training • Enhance what we have - start with farmers market – that could lead to an authentic village • Develop zoning by-laws business regulations • Promote community pride building activities • Integrate language and promote language i.e. purchase equipment where visitors presses a button and it repeats common phrases

  23. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Recommendations: • Develop a speakers bank - scholars willing to provide presentations • Work with young kids to teach them the arts, • Promote that Six Nations as a tax free zone • Develop a charitable organization where people can make donations to the community • Billboard map of the community in a central location, similar to the ones in malls

  24. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Recommendations: • Scholarship/sponsorships for tourism training and education • Put up a sign that says “thank you for visiting” in the language • Create a volunteer bank/list of people who are willing to volunteer • Outdoor amphitheatre should be studied and explored further

  25. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Opportunities • Cultural conferences • Planned and organized – excursions with a tour guide to experience the “inside view” • Opportunity to connect with the land – trail by the river, nature trail at Chiefswood Park and other areas to access Carolinian Forest • Walking tours, church tours, tour of residential school • Modern fashion show/designs that are native inspired • Sports tournaments

  26. Focus Groups and Conference Comments Opportunities • Literature, theatre and drama opportunities to engage youth in creative arts • Eco-tourism (hiking, canoeing, nature trails) • Literature and art (pageant and educate non native people on our history) • Old Bingo Hall (turn into an Arts School for adults and children, open up as a conference facility) • Culinary (fresh and local) traditional foods • Tourist area should be centralized so people go to one place

  27. Six Nations Cultural Experience Strategic Priorities and Goals Seven strategic priorities have been identified as follows: • Marketing and Promotion • Partnership Development • Human Resource Development • Product Development • Cultural Industry Protocols • Governing Body • Evaluation of Impact

  28. Marketing and Promotion Goals: • To work in collaboration with the cultural experience stakeholders to support and promote our unique cultural experiences. • To develop and implement a marketing initiative and strategy.

  29. Marketing and Promotion Activities: • Develop base line data measurements • Develop and promote positive messages about Six Nations to the public - welcome signs • Success stories of visitors experiences including phone in radio show, on line video • Develop a speakers corner at targeted sites for visitors so they can tell us about their experiences • Updated inventory of sites, attractions, products and services with pictures, bios, contact information available in print and on line.

  30. Partnership Development Goals: • To build relationships with other communities and increase their understanding and appreciation of the Six Nations culture. • To create cross cultural collaboration that generates new economic opportunities and increase public/private support for cultural experiences.

  31. Partnership Development Activities: • Invite other community service organizations within Six Nations who want to be part of the Six Nations Cultural Experience.  • Develop relationships and MOU’s with Tour Companies and other groups that promote and offer tours • Develop relationships with off reserve tourism groups and associations and become members of these groups. • Expand and implement Memorandum of Understanding with the Regional Tourism Organization # 3.

  32. Human Resource Development Goals: • Provide an opportunity for youth to enter into careers and training opportunities in the hospitality and tourism industry. • Provide an opportunity for our local knowledge keepers to be engaged and compensated for sharing their experience. • Provide learning opportunities for visitors and community members in cultural tourism.

  33. Human Resource Development Activities • Develop, plan and conduct a series of workshops and training options for youth who want to enter into a cultural tourism career. • Use our knowledge keepers to conduct this training and/or develop curriculum for these workshops. • Develop and maintain a cultural volunteer program

  34. Product Development Goals • Provide an opportunity for authentic high quality Six Nations products and services to be offered to visitors. • Increase Six Nations delivery of unique cultural tourism products and services.

  35. Product Development Activities: • Deliver market ready workshops and customer service workshops to those who are interested in providing visitors with a cultural experience. • Develop a plan to build on the existing sites, attractions, products and services with those who are interested in providing visitors with a cultural experience. • Develop a CD on the history of Six Nations including sites and attractions. • Develop walking tours in the village of Ohsweken. • Develop and plan for an authentic Iroquoian Village site.

  36. Cultural Industry Protocols Goals: • Create and deliver authentic, true realistic, safe, and quality products and services. • Develop and implement cultural protocol guidelines that respect our traditions, places, and ensure activities are environmentally sensitive. Activities: • Develop draft guidelines using resource documents: Great Spirit Circle Trails Cultural Authenticity Guidelines and Aboriginal Tourism Marketing Circle and present to community for comments. • Work with the cultural experience governing body to get buy in and approval from the community.

  37. Evaluation of Impact Goals: • Develop a process that will measure the impact of cultural tourism on Six Nation’s economy, relations with local communities, and sense of cultural identity. Activities: • Begin collecting information on the strategic plan’s impact to Six Nations in terms of # of jobs, students trained/educated in tourism, # of new businesses, # of visitors, dollars spent by visitors, # of partnerships formed, improved relations with local communities.

  38. Governing Body Goal: • Develop a governance system in collaboration with cultural experience providers that will oversee the implementation of the five year strategic plan. Activities: • Invite youth, artisans and cultural groups to be part of the governing body. • Develop options on the governance structure, i.e. existing organizations or develop new structure • Develop an administrative body to implement the strategies, ie. Six Nations Tourism Department.

  39. Next Steps Secure funds to implement the strategic priorities, examples: • Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports - Culture Development Fund • Casino Rama Fund • Canadian Heritage Department Written approval and support from the Six Nations Elected Council and Confederacy Council.

  40. Next Steps Prioritize two or three of the strategic priorities and begin to implement, i.e. governing body and marketing and promotion. One option is that the Six Nations Tourism Department take a lead role in coordinating the marketing and promotion activities within the strategy.

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