Indigenous Land within Tourism:
The Importance of Acknowledging Native Land When We're Traveling

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is commemorated annually on August 9 to raise awareness of the contributions, achievements and unique needs of Indigenous peoples across the globe. To that end, MMGY Global BIPOC Employee Resource Group is celebrating Indigenous cultures by sharing stories about various traditions and facilitating a panel of Indigenous peoples. As representatives of travel and tourism, it's crucial we take the time to understand the importance of of honoring Indigenous lands, and share how we can be mindful in these often sacred places not only while we travel but also as we go about our everyday lives.

We held space with Tonya Fitzpatrick, founder of World Footprints, a social impact travel media company, and Allyson McCovey, program manager of the Yurok Tribe in Humbolt County, CA, to discuss their experiences working directly with Indigenous communities, the significance of Native lands in the past, present, and future, and how to be educated and respectful travelers in these spaces.

WorldFootprints.com

Screenshot of the MMGY video conference on indigenous peoples.

Click above to play the MMGY & BIPOC ERG 2022 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples Panel video conference.

Sepik Papuan girl. Ambunti, East Sepik river, Papua New Guinea. Courtesy of www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/world-in-faces

Khik woman Wakhan Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. Courtesy of www.un.org/en/exhibits/exhibit/world-in-faces

Background

The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples honors Indigenous communities across the world, which represent the majority of the world's cultural diversity with a population of 576 million people in 90 countries who speak almost 7,000 languages. While Indigenous peoples constantly strive for equal rights,, respect and recognition of their cultures and lands, they continue to be among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups of people in the world.

U.N. Indigenous Day

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

Mongolian Kazakh man
Targyn, Bayan-Ölgii, Western Mongolia

Timeline of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

1982: The U.N. holds the first meeting on indigenous people by forming the U.N. Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights.
1995: The first International Day of the World's Indigenous People is celebrated by the U.N. General Assembly.
2005 - 2015: The U.N. proclaims 2005 to 2015 to be the 'Decade of Action and Dignity' for the indigenous communities.
2019: After a startling 2016 report on the danger of more than 2,000 Indigenous languages becoming extinct, the U.N. declares 2019 to be the International Year of Indigenous Languages in order to create awareness.

International Day of the World's Indigenous People

Two people visiting an indigenous historical site

Client Highlight:
Destination Greater Victoria and the Songhees Nation

Here at MMGY, we want to highlight some of our recent work that honors Indigenous communities:

Destination Greater Victoria has been working closely with the people of the Lekwungen Territory, often called Songhees (a name others gave to them), to share their history and culture with future generations.

During a recent photoshoot for Victoria, we worked with Explore Songhees to feature their walking and canoe tours of Victoria's Inner Harbour that highlight significant Songhees areas and traditions that long predate Victoria, along with their food truck that serves a delicious modern take on Songhees cultural tradition made with fresh local ingredients.

By centering our photography around the everyday lives of the Songhees community within DGV and capturing the visitor interactions with the Songhees guide, we ensured the photos highlighted the inclusive culture of the Songhees people.

We spoke with Brenna Paxton, Senior Art Director, about working with Destination Greater Victoria to capture content of Indigenous communities. Paxton had the unique experience of growing up in Oklahoma with quite a bit of exposure to Native American communities and was honored to have the opportunity to learn directly from and collaborate with the Songhees people. She shared that the elders of the Lekwungen Nation indicate which portions of their history are ready to be shared as a way of preserving their culture. This informs the oral history that is highlighted during the Explore Songhees walking and canoe tours, which was captured during MMGY's recent photoshoot for DGV.

Brenna stressed that offerings from Explore Songhees can't be recommended enough – not only do they support the Songhees in rebuilding their resources and preserving their history but the tours are also extremely impactful. Everyone would benefit from learning from the Songhees people, and it is truly a gift that they were willing to share delete with MMGY and others.

References:

Songhees info:
Explore Songhees
Songhees Food Truck

Photos by Matt Shannon
Matt Shannon Photography

Destination Greater Victoria
Instagram

Songhees Nation indigenous peoples rowing a traditional boat on a river past a modern capitol building.

A Songhees tribe member speaks to a couple about indigenous history.

HOW TO HONOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES EVERY DAY

Avoid travel to Indigenous lands during sacred times
Research what is culturally acceptable and what is not
Avoid cultural appropriate of Indigenous attire

Learn about the the land you live on or will be visiting
Be a respectful visitor
Continue to educate yourself, even after your trip
Spend time learning about Indigenous issues
Support Indigenous-owned businesses
Get involved with issues that affect Indigenous Peoples
Support / promote the work of Indigenous creatives
Donate to communities and organizations that support Indigenous Peoples, their land, and freedoms

To learn more about how you can be an ally to Indigenous communities and make International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples more than just a day - but a movement - visit TheCut.com.

A map of the indigenous lands of North America, courtesy of native-land.ca

Click here to map Indigenous territories, treaties and languages.

Indigenous Land within Tourism: The Importance of Acknowledging Native Land When We're Traveling

Background

Timeline of International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

Client Highlight: Destination Greater Victoria and the Songhees Nation

HOW TO HONOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE WORLD'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES EVERY DAY

Indigenous Land within Tourism:
The Importance of Acknowledging Native Land When We're Traveling

Client Highlight:
Destination Greater Victoria and the Songhees Nation