The Kinu Tourism Project at Mount Saint Vincent University is considered to be the first of its kind in the county, according to the school. Photo by Aidan Rawding /Truro NewsArticle contentMILLBROOK – A new collaboration has been launched to strengthen Indigenous tourism.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentOn Oct. 3, Millbrook First Nation and the Kinu Tourism Project at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) announced a partnership that aims to improve access to Indigenous tourism education.Article contentArticle content“It’s significant, because what it does is it allows us an opportunity to get individuals trained in the tourism sector,” said Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation.Article contentArticle contentIndigenous tourism can take a lot of different forms, from working in restaurants, to being a guide in parks, or even a community tour guide. There are opportunities in the Millbrook area, for example, working at the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre or the future Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre.Article contentThe partnership between Millbrook and MSVU received federal funding from Indigenous Services Canada’s Post-Secondary Partnership Program.Article contentThe Kinu Tourism Project was founded to support authentic Indigenous tourism education and grow Nova Scotia’s Indigenous tourism sector, according to MSVU’s website.Article content Chief Bob Gloade of Millbrook First Nation delivering the partnership announcement on Oct. 3 at Mount Saint Vincent University. Photo by Aidan Rawding /Truro NewsArticle contentOne of the major gaps identified in the local tourism industry, explains Kinu Tourism Project manager Kelsie Johnston, is that there weren’t enough trained professionals to offer Indigenous tourism experiences.Article contentArticle content“There are now more tourists who are asking for these kinds of Indigenous experiences and products, especially that are authentic to the region they’re visiting,” said Johnston.Article content“There aren’t enough trained and educated Indigenous professionals to keep up with this demand. It was really that knowledge and that gap that launched Kinu, and it continues to motivate us.”Article contentGloade points to the many ways that the school’s project benefits Indigenous tourism as a whole.Article contentHe said it can be helpful for entrepreneurs, and, because the program attracts students from beyond Nova Scotia, it can also provide students with a way to share knowledge about their communities with one another.Article content“They can bring other knowledge to the table,” said Gloade. “It creates a lot of opportunity for growth and future development for individuals in the sector that (don’t) really have a place to learn outside of their community.”Article contentJohnston said one of the focuses of the partnership with Millbrook is providing opportunities for their students to engage with Indigenous tourism, especially anything related to land-based learning.Article content“But really, it’s just about showing students that there’s this great career path out there in Indigenous tourism,” she continued.Article content“We’re just really excited to see where this funding can take us, and the new opportunities it opens for us.”Article content
Millbrook, MSVU announce partnership for Indigenous tourism project
