Call to Action #12

Seek the advice and guidance of Indigenous Elders in all culturally-specific aspects of economic development.

Inactive Status

No evidence was found of programs, services, or initiatives created specifically in response to Call 12. Elders play recognized advisory roles within existing Indigenous governance and organizational structures, including the Assembly of First Nations’ Knowledge Keepers Council, Friendship Centre Elders’ circles, and community-level band governance. However, these roles predate the NIES, carry broad mandates spanning culture, health, justice, and spirituality alongside economics, and were not established to systematically integrate Elder guidance into economic development decision-making as the Call envisions. Academic literature documents the importance of Elder knowledge in shaping culturally grounded approaches to economic development, but this literature describes community practices and aspirations rather than dedicated programs or institutional mechanisms responding to the Call.

Supporting Evidence

“My Jijii would always tell me: We're getting you ready. We're getting you ready”: Indigenous presencing in adventure tourism

Type of Evidence: Academic Literature

Summary of Key Findings:
The paper examines Indigenous tourism’s role in land governance and cultural resurgence through Bobbi Rose Koe’s adventure tourism company, Dinjii Zhuh Adventures, highlighting the importance of Indigenous presence in tourism for land protection, cultural governance, and youth guide training, presented through a dialogue-based approach that centers Indigenous voices and relationality.

Topics & Keywords:
adventure tourism, cultural resurgence, Indigenous guides, Indigenous tourism, land governance

Limitations:
The paper is limited by its single-perspective focus on Bobbi Rose Koe, which fails to capture the diverse experiences of other Indigenous guides and operators, indicating a need for future research involving multiple Indigenous voices to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the industry.

More Information

Call to Action #12

Seek the advice and guidance of Indigenous Elders in all culturally-specific aspects of economic development.

Supporting Evidence

“My Jijii would always tell me: We're getting you ready. We're getting you ready”: Indigenous presencing in adventure tourism