The future looks bright for Fort Simpson’s K’iyeli Tourism Services after a $25,000 investment from the Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF).
“We’re looking at things going a lot better,” said Gilbert Cazon, who owns the business with his wife Mary Jane Cazon.
“We were very happy [when we learned about the funding],” he added.
The ITF was established by the federal government in 2022, and is intended to support Indigenous tourism operators across the country. K’iyeli Tourism Services received their funding through the ITF’s Micro and Small Business Stream.
The business has been operating since 2010 and offers a range of services, from Dene cultural experiences to aurora viewing to culinary programs. The funding received from ITF will help expand its already long list of offerings.
“It will help us expand our services,” Cazon said. “There’s not a lot of business in our area, so we have to be versatile.
“This funding we got, it helps us continue with our services and start expanding.”
Cazon believes there is huge tourism potential in the Dehcho, but contends it’s “still an area that hasn’t really been marketed.”
One of the biggest draws of the region, in his opinion, is the rich Dene culture.
“We want to bring people to our area and give our knowledge to the people that are coming to visit,” he said.
The natural splendor is also an attraction, he added.
“We have the mountains, we have glaciers in our area, we have the river, and we have a lot of land that’s so pristine, and a lot of wildlife.
“There’s some destinations in our area that are world heritage sites, like Nahanni National Park. We’re kind of like the gateway to these different areas in our region.”
Arguably the best thing about the Dehcho, according to Cazon, is the transformative effect it can have on visitors.
“The Dehcho is a beautiful area,” he said. “There’s a lot of scenery, there’s a lot of wildlife, and there’s a lot of time to be alone and get away from the physical paradigm and get into a spiritual paradigm. Coming to the Dehcho, because not a lot of areas are overpopulated, you have time to yourself and you have time to learn what you need to know, what should be valued for you.
“When you’re coming to the Dehcho, it will humble you. You will come away a better person for your visit.”
K’iyeli Tourism Services’ ITF funding was announced by NWT MP Michael McLeod, who said that “Indigenous tourism has the power to create opportunities, transform Canadian tourism, and advance reconciliation.”
“Through this Indigenous-led process, we are supporting communities in making their own decisions and developing tourism at their own pace,” the MP added. “I look forward to seeing the difference that this funding makes in Fort Simpson.”