Desktop Assessment of the Region’s Indigenous Communities

This preliminary report marks an important first step by Explorers’ Edge toward building authentic, respectful, and collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities across the region. Conducted through desktop research and Indigenous-led frameworks, the assessment provides an overview of nine Indigenous communities within the RTO12 catchment and highlights opportunities for supporting community-driven tourism and economic development.

The assessment reinforces that regenerative tourism must begin with listening, learning, and aligning with each community’s unique goals. It outlines the importance of trust, transparency, and patience in developing partnerships and recommends specific ways Explorers’ Edge can offer support—including Indigenous cultural competency training for staff, formal outreach to leadership, community event participation, and dedicating a portion of expenditures to Indigenous-owned businesses and initiatives.

Ultimately, this document sets the stage for deeper engagement, recognizing that meaningful reconciliation requires ongoing, relationship-based approaches rooted in respect and shared purpose.

Read the full report: