Your Voice Can Shape Indigenous Tourism

Tourism in this region has always been shaped by the land, the water, and the people who have cared for both since time immemorial. Now, Explorers’ Edge and Moccasin Trails want to hear directly from Indigenous young adults about their vision – their ideas, their experiences, and their aspirations for what tourism can look like when it’s built by and for Indigenous communities.

We’re hosting a virtual focus group on Monday, July 13, 2026, and we’re inviting Indigenous youth between the ages of 20 and 29 to take part. This is a genuine conversation – not a survey, not a checkbox. Your input will directly inform the development of an Indigenous youth tourism entrepreneur strategy for this region.

Session Details

Format

Virtual via Zoom (link provided upon registration)

Date Monday, July 13, 2026

Time 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Eastern Time

Duration Approximately 90 minutes

Honorarium $100 for your time – because your knowledge has value.

Who Should Participate

We’re looking for Indigenous young adults, ages 20–29, who:

• Live or have lived in Algonquin Park, Almaguin Highlands, Loring-Restoule, Muskoka, Parry Sound, or South Algonquin
• Belong to Indigenous communities and Nations with ancestral, cultural, or ongoing relationships to these lands and waters on Turtle Island
• Have an interest in tourism, entrepreneurship, culture, or community development
• Want to contribute to shaping an Indigenous youth tourism entrepreneur strategy

You don’t need a business background or experience in the tourism industry to participate. What matters is that you have a perspective on this region and a stake in its future.

Why This Matters

Indigenous-led tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Canada — and for good reason. When Indigenous communities lead, tourism becomes a vehicle for cultural expression, economic self-determination, and renewed connection to the land. But strategies built without Indigenous youth at the table miss the voices that will carry this work forward.

This focus group is a step toward changing that. The insights gathered will shape a real strategy, developed in partnership with Indigenous youth, for Indigenous youth.

How to Register

Space is limited. To reserve your spot, reach out to:

Hali Belanger [email protected]

Once your spot is confirmed, we’ll follow up with a Zoom link and any additional details.

Questions about the focus group?

Contact Greg Hopf: [email protected] | (250) 718-0205

We hope you’ll join us.

This focus group is hosted by Explorers’ Edge and Moccasin Trails as part of an ongoing commitment to Indigenous-led tourism development in the Algonquin Park, Muskoka, and Parry Sound region.