Outdoor recreation groups in B.C. looking to partner with First Nations are welcome to attend an upcoming event hosted by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC).
March 11 at 1 p.m., ORCBC is hosting a webinar where outdoor groups can learn how Indigenous nature-based tourism and recreation initiatives align with the outdoor recreation community. Many projects have similar objectives, and by partnering with First Nations from the outset, outdoor groups can ensure they have meaningful engagement on Crown land, enhance reconciliation and target a rapidly growing tourism niche. The webinar is sponsored by the Real Estate Foundation of BC.
Four experts are on deck to discuss how to partner with First Nations and Indigenous-owned businesses.
Shelley Witzkey is a member of the Secwépemc Nation and leads the Secwépemc Landmarks Project in collaboration with the Shuswap Trail Alliance. Evangeline Clifton is the economic development officer and councillor with Heiltsuk Tribal Council in Bella Bella, and she is partnering with First Journey Trails creating the Waglisla Trails initiative. Adrian Lewis handles tourism development at the McAbee Fossil Beds near Cache Creek, which includes the Bonapart First Nation. The area encompasses 10 kilometres of trails and plans to expand ATV trails, create an interpretive and meeting centre and enhance visitor experience. Last but not least, Chatman Shaw is the corporate services manager at Indigenous Tourism BC. He was born and raised in Prince Rupert, and is a member of the Nisga’a Nation community of Gitlaxt’aamiks.
Respectful engagement
Witzkey said she understands the misunderstandings that can take place when Western mindsets and Indigenous groups come together, and she hopes to help attendees learn from her own experience. Despite being Secwépemc, she worked in Western environments for her first 20 years of employment.
“The status quo is we come to a meeting, start on time, get the agenda items banged out and go our separate ways to carry out the action items. It is meant for efficiency and expediting the process … When I started working on the Secwépemc Landmarks Project on a grassroots level, I had to relearn a whole process I had forgotten from my childhood,” she said.
“Indigenous protocol speaks more to the human side of any issue, it’s more important for us to reconnect and bond, have a good understanding of why were at a meeting and the purpose, socialization is a key part. When everyone feels settled, connected and safe, the meeting can start, and the information can flow.”
She will go into detail about the engagement process, building relationships with First Nations, meaningful Indigenous engagement and what that means in tangible terms, the process of decolonization Nations are embarking upon, and the Secwépemc Landmarks Project.
Community benefits
Ryan Stuart, community engagement lead for ORCBC, said many members of ORCBC recreate on First Nations traditional territory and there is strong interest in learning more about Indigenous partnership.
“Anytime we cover topics related to reconciliation or recreating on Indigenous land, it’s been well received. There’s lots of First Nations working on tourism recreation so it’s a good fit,” Stuart said.
According to a 2025 report from the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Indigenous tourism in Canada includes 2,750 businesses, and in 2023, “Indigenous tourism contributed $3.7 billion to Canada’s GDP.”
Panellist Clifton said attendees will learn how outdoor projects enhance reconciliation through community building, become economic drivers and enhance appreciation for the natural environment. She spearheaded trail-building at marshy Martins Lake in Bella Bella.
“Our community has always been about fishing and logging. Both industries have declined over the years, and we’re filling in the gaps through seasonal jobs with trail building and maintenance. It helps community members who want to work outside,” she said.
While building trails is fulfilling, Clifton said more funding needs to be made available for these projects.
“It’s extremely hard to fund trailbuilding—$10,000 doesn’t make a big impact," she said. "Material costs, shipping costs are heightened here. We can’t just drive down a street, we need to factor in freight and travel."
