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Aboriginal Cultural Tourism: Cape Breton Island (Unama’ki, Land of the Fog)

What is the current status of Aboriginal cultural tourism nationwide, and how does this influence Cape Breton’s Mi’kmaq, who view tourism not only as a means to promote to the non-Native world a better understanding of their history and tradition, but also to preserve—and revive—among the People, their own language and value system?
Joanne Pyke, Assistant Professor in the Shannon School of Business at Cape Breton University, sees Aboriginal cultural tourism within Cape Breton as a business venture still in the state of becoming.  Because this is a relatively new market, there are as many opportunities as there are challenges.
In the recent past, a lack of government involvement in this emerging field of business made it difficult to coordinate initiatives. On top of that, since many levels of community have to be involved in the process so that the tourist experience is “authentic,” entrepreneurs have encountered many complications.
That’s why the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs has been mandated the task of promoting cultural tourism development initiatives within Canada’s First Nations. They want to assist in the creation of cultural tourism business plans by providing the institutional linkages between Aboriginal communities, federal, provincial and territorial departments and agencies, and private sector tourism developers and marketers.
While the benefits of tourism-related economic development in terms of employment, commercial activity, revenue generation and community vibrancy are obvious, such tourism development needs to respect cultural heritage and traditions, promote cultural authenticity in tourism content, products and messages, and enhance cross-cultural understanding and awareness between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. It goes without saying that all undertakings must be subject to the control, direction and wisdom of First Nations governments, elders, and community members. The importance of asserting cultural and historical authenticity in presentations respecting the nature of Aboriginal life, culture, arts, crafts, beliefs and world views needs to be at the forefront. Authenticity should also be considered essential to anyone involved in the industry itself. 
When Joanne Pyke, along with CBU co-authors Keith Brown and David Johnson, interviewed Mi’kmaq leaders they found all five Cape Breton First Nations communities supported the promotion of tourism opportunities including local arts and crafts initiatives for individual artisans and larger-scale cultural festivals and Pow-Wows (Journal of Culture and Tourism Research, Vol. 10(20), Dec. 2008). Representatives recognize the potential that Aboriginal cultural tourism ventures can offer their communities in terms of economic development, employment, and the generation of wealth. As well, Aboriginal cultural tourism can promote an authentic portrayal of Mi’kmaq history and culture, and encourage cross-cultural communication and understanding between members of the Mi’kmaq Nations and the rest of Cape Breton. Furthermore, representatives of the Wagmatcook, Waycobah, and Membertou First Nations have already supported the construction of community centres, museums, art galleries, arts and crafts production rooms, gift shops and restaurants that would facilitate tourism services.
There was recognition by local leaders that the uniqueness of each community and its tourism offerings was a cultural strength for the entire Mi’kmaq cultural venture, with such diversity serving to attract the interest of those non-Aboriginals seeking to learn more about Mi’kmaq traditions and identity, both past and present.  Interviewees also stressed the needed involvement of local non-Aboriginal government and tourist operators to further develop and promote Aboriginal products and services for the tourist trade. Of course, Aboriginal leadership needs to be prioritized in the development of all First Nations tourism and following that, partnerships with like-minded persons, government officials, elders and community groups within their own First Nation, as well as with other individuals, government officials and business leaders in the non-Aboriginal community, should ensue. 
But just as Cape Breton’s Mi’kmaq need to speak with a single voice if they are to fully realize their cultural tourism potential, so too the non-Aboriginal agencies and officials interested in promoting Aboriginal cultural tourism need to develop the ways and means to co-ordinate their policy and program development initiatives in order to promote greater coherence in initiative, design, development and implementation.
To that end, Pyke, Brown and Johnson agree that there is great potential for Aboriginal cultural tourism development in this region. It is hoped that tourists in the near future will not only be visiting Cape Breton Island to experience a bit of Scotland while taking in Atlantic Canada’s magnificent scenery, but also to have indigenous adventures with local Mi’kmaq communities.