Three Indigenous Tourism Groups Leave National Association, Plan New Organization Amid Federal Funding Cuts

Three regional Indigenous tourism organizations have withdrawn support from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and signed a memorandum of understanding to establish another national tourism organization. C. and Nova Scotia Indigenous Tourism Enterprise Network will invite other organizations to join the new body in the coming months, according to letters obtained by CBC Indigenous.

ITBC Chair Brenda Baptiste sent a letter to ITAC dated May 12 citing escalating public concerns and sustained unresolved issues regarding ITAC's conduct, direction and governance. "To safeguard the credibility and growth of our provincial sector, we are refocusing a provincial-led model of governance until a national governance structure is created," the letter stated.

18, NSITEN executive director Robert Bernard said the deteriorating relationship between NSITEN and ITAC over the past few years has been a great disappointment. Bernard stated he personally witnessed the fall from what was originally seen as great growth in regions and real impact across the country since the organization began in 2012.

ITBC and NSITEN sought resolution through mediation with ITAC's CEO and board but efforts were not met with meaningful participation.

The three organizations have now moved to create an alternative national structure. Keith Henry released a statement saying ITAC was in crisis and he had made the decision to lay off ITAC’s remaining team members while he remains on staff unpaid. All ITAC staff were laid off by Feb.

15 and are now on temporary layoff benefits. Henry stated the root cause of the emergency is a lack of federal investment. ITAC received no federal funding for 2026-27 and its federal funding had declined over several years.

U.K. charity, funding that has not materialized. Henry stated that statements made by ITBC regarding financial mismanagement and lack of transparency are unfair and untrue.

He said ITAC had tried to meet with the three withdrawing organizations for several years but that NSITEN and ITBC agendas have lost sight of the importance of building one strong industry voice. ITAC has received over 60 letters of support to restore federal investment.

Henry provided 12 of the support letters to CBC Indigenous. U.K. funding partner and continued to expect the deposit to arrive within approximately two weeks.

"We hope Canada will recognize the actual core issue here for Indigenous tourism in Canada is a lack of commitment and investments to infrastructure," Henry stated. Holly Spence, CEO for Indigenous Tourism Manitoba, expressed support for ITAC but said she could not comment on ITAC’s internal matters.

Spence stated that Indigenous tourism in Canada requires continued support to ensure Indigenous tourism operators across the country have equitable access to development, marketing, and leadership and partnership opportunities.

A representative from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada stated that a comprehensive review is currently underway regarding the Micro and Small Business Stream grants. Aïcha Smith-Belghaba has been waiting for her $25,000 Micro and Small Business Stream grant since January 2025.

She owns Esha's Eats, which provides catering and Indigenous culinary experiences, and is Kanien’kehá:ka and Algerian from Six Nations of the Grand River.

Cbc reported that several small business owners have said they have not received federal funding they were promised that was being distributed through ITAC. Other Indigenous-owned businesses reported late payments after an Indigenous tourism conference hosted by ITAC in Edmonton in February.