Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream (SITES)

The funding application period is now closed.

SITES Backgrounder

Indigenous tourism offers an insightful glimpse into the unique stories, traditions, and landscapes of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada. Acknowledging the importance of this sector, the Government of Canada has established the Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) to support the sector’s development and facilitate its recovery following the pandemic.

Budget 2022 committed $20M over two years in support of an Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) to help the Indigenous tourism industry recover from the effects of the pandemic and position itself for long-term growth. This funding aims primarily to support the development of core attractors that anchor tourism clusters within Indigenous communities. Additionally, it assists in developing the infrastructure and services needed to complement these clusters. By supporting these initiatives, the government hopes to help Indigenous communities capitalize on increasing interest in cultural tourism.

Stream 2 of the ITF provides $10M in support of a new Signature Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream (SITES) program. SITES will invest the funds in a relatively small number of larger-scale Indigenous tourism projects across Canada, with funding contributions ranging from $500,000 to $1.25 million each. These projects are intended to establish and enhance tourism clusters that center around significant cultural or natural sites within Indigenous communities.

The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) , a well-established umbrella organization for over 50 Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFI) with over 35 years of experience in supporting Indigenous economic development, has been selected as the delivery agent for SITES. This decision was guided by NACCA’s successful track record, its robust network, and the significant contributions of its IFI members, which collectively have facilitated over $3.2 billion in support to Indigenous enterprises. NACCA will lead a committee that includes representatives from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations. This committee will assist NACCA in identifying and evaluating projects , while NACCA retains full responsibility for making all final selections and overseeing the projects. This committee will ensure projects that receive funding can contribute effectively to their communities and have the potential to attract additional private and public investment.

The project selection will prioritize those that enhance the visibility and accessibility of Indigenous tourism attractions, encouraging more overnight stays and boosting tourist spending. Priority will be given to projects that anchor tourism asset clusters, attract high-value overnight visitors, and secure additional non-federal financing, thereby elevating Canada’s status as a preferred destination for cultural tourism. NACCA will manage the application process, disburse funds, and monitor the progress of these projects to ensure they meet set objectives.

With funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada , this initiative reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting Indigenous tourism as a means of economic development and cultural expression, contributing to the broader goals of reconciliation.

For more information, contact Fabien Lamothe. flamothe@nacca.ca

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SITES Context

Indigenous tourism provides an opportunity to experience the unique stories, traditions and landscapes of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. Recognizing the importance of this sector, the Government of Canada created the Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) to support the development of the sector and facilitate its recovery from the pandemic.

Budget 2022 committed $20 million over two years to support an Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF) to help the Indigenous tourism industry recover from the impacts of the pandemic and position itself for long-term growth. This funding is primarily intended to support the development of key attractors that anchor tourism hubs within Indigenous communities. It also contributes to the development of infrastructure and services needed to complement these hubs. By supporting these initiatives, the government hopes to help Indigenous communities capitalize on the growing interest in cultural tourism.

The second component of the FTA provides $10 million to support the Iconic Indigenous Tourism Experiences Stream (ITES). The ITES program will invest the funds in a relatively small number of large-scale Indigenous tourism projects across Canada, with financial contributions ranging from $500,000 to $1.25 million each. These projects aim to create and strengthen tourism hubs centred on significant cultural or natural sites within Indigenous communities.

The National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA ), a well-established organization of over 50 Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) with over 35 years of experience supporting Indigenous economic development, was selected as the delivery agent for VETAE. This decision was guided by NACCA’s success, strong network and the significant contributions of its member AFIs, who have collectively facilitated over $3.2 billion in support for Indigenous businesses. NACCA will lead a committee that includes representatives from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and provincial and territorial Indigenous tourism organizations. This committee will assist NACCA in identifying and assessing projects, while retaining full responsibility for final selection and oversight of projects. This committee will ensure that projects that receive funding are able to contribute effectively to their communities and have the potential to attract additional private and public investment.

Project selection will prioritize projects that improve the visibility and accessibility of Indigenous tourism attractions, thereby encouraging greater overnight stays and stimulating tourist spending. Priority will be given to projects that anchor tourism asset clusters, attract high-value overnight visitors and leverage additional non-federal funding, thereby enhancing Canada’s status as a preferred destination for cultural tourism. ANSAF will manage the application process, disburse funds and monitor the progress of these projects to ensure they meet their objectives.

With funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada , this initiative reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting Indigenous tourism as a means of economic development and cultural expression, thereby contributing to the broader goals of reconciliation.