Host: TOTA Indigenous Tourism Team
$30 | Registration is limited
The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association Indigenous Tourism team is hosting a 3-hour virtual workshop to empower tourism professionals to engage with Indigenous neighbours, businesses, and communities within Canada.
Words and actions have the power to respect and honour - or hurt and offend. This is particularly true when working across cultures. When working with Indigenous Peoples you have an understanding of how history has affected your communication and relationships with Indigenous Peoples, such as the Syilx, Nlaka'pamux, and Secwépemc nations in the Thompson Okanagan region.
In Canada, we share a responsibility to acknowledge the pain and suffering that our diverse societies have endured – a pain that has been handed down to the next generations.
We must do our part to right those wrongs, heal together, and create a new future that honours the unique gifts of the Indigenous people and communities.
The workshop will include:
A brief history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada
How non-Indigenous people can support reconciliation and be an ally
Overview of the 6 categories of the Truth & Reconciliation 94 Calls to Action
How to incorporate the Calls to Action into everyday life at work, home, and play.
Special Guest
Desiree Baker, Indigenous Consultant
Desiree is an independent contractor working with TOTA to share her knowledge of working with Indigenous people.
With a passion for people and community, Desiree collaborates with non-profits and economic development offices to work in partnership with Indigenous communities in order to establish strategic plans for respectful engagement and sustainable development for strong thriving communities.
For more than 20 years, Desiree has worked with various organizations such as First Nation Health Authority and the Sto:lo Nation, providing services such as:
Grant writing support for organizations
Economic development plans for Indigenous communities
Indigenous business plans for many First Nation business clients and communities
Desiree moved to the Okanagan region in January of 2021. She is originally from Alert Bay, home of the the U'mista Cultural Centre and the World's Tallest Totem Pole.