Indigenous tourism is growing in Manitoba and a new discovery space at The Forks is now open to help locals and visitors explore it themselves. Explore Indigenous, launched by Indigenous Tourism Manitoba (ITM) and The Forks North Portage Partnership, officially opened as the new home for Turtle Tours and ITM’s Discovery Centre.
“Indigenous tourism is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors in Canada and Manitoba has an important role to play in that growth,” said the Honourable Nellie Kennedy, Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism. “This space provides a vital link between Indigenous-led businesses and visitors seeking meaningful, authentic experiences.”
Explore Indigenous was developed to build awareness and understanding of Indigenous-led tourism experiences in Manitoba. The space offers self-guided learning tools and interpretive displays that introduce visitors to ITM’s network of operators—who they are, where they’re located and what types of experiences they offer. A curated product showcase features Original Original-accredited artisans, linking visitors directly to Indigenous-owned businesses through QR codes and, in the future, on-site retail. Rotating displays and videos help tell the stories of Indigenous tourism operators in Manitoba paired with visitor information service staff to help travellers include an Indigenous tourism experience in their trip planning.
“Even with all the work that’s been done to grow Indigenous tourism, many people still don’t know who our operators are or where to find them,” says Holly Spence, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Manitoba. “This space is designed to change that. It’s about creating awareness, education and pride, celebrating authentic Indigenous voices and ensuring visitors can easily explore, learn and connect.”
The Original Original accreditation, led by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), helps visitors identify experiences that are a minimum 51% Indigenous-owned, ensuring cultural integrity and economic benefits within Indigenous communities.
Alongside the opening of the space, ITM has also launched its new guidebook, Adventure to Understanding, a travel companion highlighting Original Original-accredited operators across the province.
“Manitoba is home to many powerful and inspiring Indigenous experiences,” said Angela Cassie, Chief Operating Officer of Travel Manitoba. “Explore Indigenous helps shine a light on those stories, those places and the people leading the way in Indigenous tourism.”
The space is also the new home for Turtle Tours, an Indigenous-owned walking tour and culinary experience, owned and operated by Ashley Smith who also runs Turtle Village in Riding Mountain National Park.
“We’re proud to bring our storytelling and food experiences to The Forks, in the heart of Treaty One territory,” said Ashley Smith, owner/operator of Turtle Tours. “This space allows us to welcome people in, share stories and honour the culture and history of this land. We hope visitors leave with a deeper connection to the place and the people.”
The project was created in partnership with The Forks North Portage Partnership, which provided the space for ITM and Turtle Tours to use and create Explore Indigenous together.
“We’re proud to welcome Explore Indigenous with Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and Turtle Tours to The Forks. These organizations highlight the powerful stories, teachings, and traditions deeply connected to this land. These authentic tour experiences share knowledge, encourage reflection, and offer a deeper understanding of the importance of The Forks as a historical meeting place,” said Jessica Floresco, Chief Operating Officer of The Forks. “Creating a platform for Indigenous-led tourism allows us to build meaningful relationships, and advance our commitment to reconciliation in action.”
