Indigenous Tourism

The Agowiidiwinan Centre is the brainchild of the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba. Located at The Forks, a popular tourist destination and historically significant site, the centre was created through a partnership between the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Canada to strengthen, rebuild and enhance the Treaty Relationship.

Agowiidiwinan means ”Treaties” and the centre features educational exhibits where visitors can learn about First Nation Treaty-making from the pre-contact period to the present.

The centre features visual displays, cultural items and artwork that represent First Nations history, way of life and knowledge. Displays are equipped with QR codes, so visitors can engage with additional videos, interviews, articles and photographs featuring teachings and stories from a wide range of knowledge keepers, scholars and elders.

Employing eight full-time Indigenous employees, the centre also works closely with its Council of Elders, representing First Nations from different linguistic groups and Treaty areas across Manitoba.

The centre partners with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations to hold training sessions and events, attracting hundreds of visitors to The Forks each year.

Agowiidiwinan Centre is a proud and important cultural and heritage site at The Forks bringing people together to learn about our shared responsibilities and history.

Borealis Beading’s tireless commitment to sharing Métis culture and heritage has had a profound effect on Indigenous tourism in Eastern Manitoba and across the province.

Borealis Beading exhibits a passion and skill in framing Métis cultural learning experiences in an inviting and unique way. Grounded in storytelling, Borealis Beading weaves a memorable experience for visitors through a multitude of tourism offerings, including beading workshops, culinary experiences and foraging opportunities.

By showcasing the distinctiveness of Métis culture, Borealis Beading bridges cultural gaps, promotes understanding and fosters appreciation through tourism.

Founded by Florence Hamilton, Dene Routes is a cultural tourism experience in Churchill, Manitoba, dedicated to sharing and preserving the traditions of the Sayisi Dene people. Florence, a proud Sayisi Dene woman, embodies a deep respect for the land and her ancestors, offering immersive experiences that connect visitors to Indigenous history, storytelling, and artistry.

Guests at Dene Routes gain insight into the nomadic traditions of the Sayisi Dene, learning how caribou sustained their way of life for millennia. Florence shares powerful stories of survival, resilience and cultural continuity, offering hands-on teachings such as caribou hair tufting and the opportunity to taste dried caribou, arctic char, bannock, locally sourced jams and tea.

Florence’s work extends beyond tourism–she is a mentor and employer of Indigenous youth, passing down traditional knowledge to future generations. She collaborates with leading Churchill tourism operators, ensuring that Sayisi Dene culture remains a central part of northern Manitoba’s visitor experience. Through Dene Routes, Florence provides an authentic, educational, and deeply personal journey, allowing visitors to engage with Indigenous traditions in a meaningful way.

Giiwe is a Manitoba-based, Anishinaabe-owned platform dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices through storytelling, cultural experiences and economic empowerment. Founded by Aaron McKay, Giiwe offers immersive tourism experiences, such as guided storytelling tours at Riding Mountain National Park where visitors gain a deep understanding of Indigenous history, traditions and environmental stewardship. Programs like "Walk with Wisdom" at Lake Katherine (Zhaaboomin) educate participants on the ancestral connections to the land, traditional plant uses and sustainable practices.

Giiwe fosters reconciliation through events like the Anishinaabe Interpretive Cruise on Clear Lake and the Honouring the Truth reconciliation event in Minnedosa. These initiatives bridge communities by showcasing Indigenous history, music and storytelling. Aaron McKay of Giiwe also leads interactive workshops that explore healing through land connection, photography and economic empowerment.

Giiwe not only preserves cultural heritage but also fosters economic growth and collaboration by creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to connect, learn and grow together.

Brandon’s National Indigenous Peoples Day is a vibrant celebration honoring the rich cultures, traditions and heritage of Indigenous and Métis peoples. Held on the summer solstice, this free event immerses attendees in cultural displays, a tipi village, craft tables and dynamic performances, including a Pow Wow, hoop dancers, drummers, throat singers and Métis entertainers.

Interactive experiences like the "Corporate Tipi Challenge” incorporate teachings before teams assemble their own structures to create a village for all visitors to enjoy. Informational booths provide knowledge on traditional medicines, land-based living and Indigenous history. Pow Wow demonstrations highlight sacred dance styles, while knowledge keepers at the tipi village share teachings around a sacred fire.

Brandon’s National Indigenous Peoples Day fosters connection between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, promoting understanding and appreciation. With no cost barriers and shuttle services available, it remains accessible to all.

Brandon National Indigenous Peoples Day strengthens partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations, fostering collaboration that supports Indigenous employment, cultural education, authentic tourism experiences, and reconciliation.

Wild Loon Adventure Company integrates Indigenous history and traditions into guided backcountry paddling and climbing excursions, sharing personal and ancestral connections to Manitoba’s waterways.

Education is at the heart of Wild Loon’s mission, offering trips on historic canoe routes like the Bloodvein River and other Canadian Heritage River systems while teaching the cultural significance of paddling. The company is incorporating Michif, the Métis language, into its courses and prioritizes working with Elders to share traditional teachings.

Wild Loon actively collaborates with Indigenous communities, hiring local families for operations and ensuring Indigenous voices are central to its tours. The company has plans to seek out Indigenous staff to train as guides to lead trips on their traditional waters.

Wild Loon fosters the paddling community through a pay-what-you-can canoe festival and clinics designed for marginalized groups, such as Fems & Thems paddling courses. As an Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada-accredited business, Wild Loon exemplifies sustainable tourism, fostering economic empowerment, cultural education and environmental stewardship across Manitoba.