About the conference
The University of Waterloo, Tourism Education Futures Initiative (TEFI) and Six Nations Tourism warmly invite you to the Indigenous Tourism Futures Conference, taking place June 7–10 on the territory of Six Nations of the Grand River, Turtle Island.
This landmark gathering, Co‑creating Decolonial Pathways, brings people together on the land to reckon with the ongoing legacies of colonialism in tourism and to co-imagine bold, relational, and decolonial futures. Rooted in place and guided by community leadership, the conference creates space for honest dialogue, shared learning, and collective visioning among all who care about transforming tourism.
Our gathering is positioned as the first‑ever land‑based learning and experiential tourism conference. We are designing a program that blends presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and immersive experiences, all grounded in community knowledge and relationship‑building. The event is truly unique in its format, its location, and its co‑creation with Indigenous partners, reflecting a commitment to learning with community rather than simply about community. We hope this approach resonates with those working in community, those studying tourism, and those partnering across sectors to advance decolonial change.
Grounded in TEFI values and shaped by the teachings of the Two Row Wampum Covenant Chain Treaty, our event centers Indigenous voices, knowledge systems, and responsibilities to one another. Through conversations, hands‑on workshops, cultural experiences, and land‑based learning, participants will engage in meaningful relationship‑building that supports long‑term transformation within tourism and beyond.
This is more than a conference, it is an invitation for community members, scholars, students, and industry partners to walk together, learn together, and co‑create pathways toward more just and reciprocal futures.
Conference objectives
- Foster collaborative knowledge exchange among Indigenous communities, scholars, students and tourism practitioners
- Co‑create actionable frameworks and pedagogical approaches for decolonial tourism education
- Catalyze sustained networks and partnerships that support ongoing reconciliation work
QUESTIONS?
For questions about registration or on-site accommodations, reach out to sixnations.tefi@gmail.com.
Conference registration
- Faculty / Industry: $650
- Student: $325
- Indigenous: $275
Questions about registration?
Contact: sixnations.tefi@gmail.com
Agenda
| Date/Time | Activity |
|
Day 1: Sunday, June 7, 2026 Registration open from 10:00 - 1:00 |
|
| 10:00 - 12:30 | Delegate Arrivals, Check-in and registration |
| 12:30 - 1:00 | Bus to WCC |
| 1:00 - 1:20 |
Opening |
| 1:20 - 4:00 | Guided Tour of Woodland Cultural Museum and Mohawk Institute, Brandtford |
| 4:00 - 4:30 | Bus to Chiefswood Park |
| 4:30 - 5:30 |
Six Nations Bus Tour: Reflections on Tourism Gaze Led by: Jaquie Jamieson |
| 5:30 - 6:00 | Dinner |
| 6:30 - 6:50 |
Closing |
|
Day 2: Monday, June 8, 2026 (Registration open from 8:00 - 4:00) |
|
| 9:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast |
| 10:00 - 10:20 |
Thanksgiving Address & Opening |
| 10:20 - 12:00 |
Keynote Panel 1: Settler Identity and Colonialism Dr. Emma Battell Lowman, Dr. Adam J, Barker, Heather George Facilitated by: Jaymieson O'Neil & Mahshad Akhoundoghi |
| 12:00 - 1:00 | Lunch |
| 1:00 - 2:30 |
Skin Making/Tattoo Demonstration Led by: Kaity Adams |
| 2:30 - 3:30 |
Spotlight Presentations: Amplifying de-colonial frameworks and foundations 2:30 - 2:55: Decolonizing Coastal Ecology through Millennial Ocean Epistemologies: Surf Tourism and Indigenous Stewardship in Huanchaco, Peru Alexandra Areliano & Frederique Bourdua, University of Ottawa 3:00 - 3:25: A Transformational Experience: A Collaborative Learning Approach to Examining Indigenous Issues, Policies and Livliehoods in Canada's North Sonya Graci, Toronto Metropolitan Universty |
| 3:30 - 4:30 | Mindfulness Break (Beading workshop led by Jaymieson O'Neil) |
| 5:00 - 6:30 |
Keynote Presentation 2: Beyond Reconciliation: Indigenous Tourism Futures and Regenerative Pathways Dr. Tiffanie Hardbarger, Malia Sanders (virtual), Nadine Toetoe (virtual) Facilitated by: Aicha Smith-Belghaba & Afrah Shaik |
| 6:30 - 8:00 | Dinner |
| 8:00 - 8:30 |
Closing |
|
Day 3: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (Registration open from 8:00 - 4:00) |
|
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 9:20 |
Thanksgiving Address & Opening |
| 9:30 - 11:00 |
Keynote Panel 3: Critical Perspectives on Reconciliation and Community Relationship Building Dr. Dan Henhawk and Dr. Chris Hiller Facilitated by: Jaquie Jamieson & Dr. Karla Boluk |
| 11:00 - 1:00 | Teas between the Trees led by Josh Sherry (lunch) |
| 1:00 - 3:00 |
Spotlight Presentations: Implementation & Praxis 1:00 - 1:25: Moving Beyond human/content-centric course outlines: Our journey with land-based learning in Kinesiology Larkin Lamarche, Nicolette Richardson & Ashley Day, York University 1:30 - 1:55: Reframing Indigenous Tourism Education: Course Development Through Land-Based Pedagogies Alexndra Arellano, Brittany Giles, Frederique Bourda & Samira Salehi, University of Ottawa 2:00 - 2:25: Decolonizing a Geography of Tourism Course Syllabus Henok Alemneh, University of Manitoba 2:30 - 2:55: The Convivial Classroom: Reflections on an Agritourism Field School Kellee Caton, Thompson Rivers University |
| 3:00 - 4:00 | Mindfulness Break (Beading workshop led by Jaymieson O'Neil) |
| 4:00 - 5:30 |
Lacrosse Demonstration Led by: Ben VanEvery |
| 5:30 - 7:00 | Dinner |
| 7:00 - 8:30 |
Bonfire: Oral Histories and Stories Led by: Kaity Adams |
| 8:30 - 8:50 |
Closing |
|
Day 4: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 (Registration open from 8:00 - 4:00) |
|
| 8:00 - 9:00 | Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 9:20 |
Thanksgiving Address & Opening |
| 9:20 - 10:50 |
Spotlight Presentations: Regenerative Futures 9:20 - 9:45: Regenerative Growth Beyond Degrowth: A Sheng-Sheng-Informed Framework Qingyun Pang & Hongpen Xiao, Hong Kong Polytechnic University 9:50 - 10:15: A Collaborative Journey Through Gastronomy: In Search of the Time Capsule Daniela Freund, Institut Quimic de Sarria IQS 10:20 - 10:45: Youth and Care Embodiment in Tourism Communities in Ontario, Canada: A Hermeneutic Phenomelogical Study Wut Yee Kyi Par & Karla Boluk, University of Waterloo |
| 11:00 - 1:00 | Food for Thought: led by Aicha Smith-Belghaba (lunch) |
| 1:00 - 2:00 |
Tow Row Sharing Circle Facilitated by Kaity Adams & Dr. Karla Boluk |
| 2:00 - 2:20 |
Closing |
Important dates
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2026
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Feb
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FEBRUARY 25 - Paper submission deadline
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Mar
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MARCH 25 - Acceptance notification
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Apr
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UNTIL APRIL 15 - Accommodations availability guaranteed
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May
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UNTIL MAY 15 - Regular registration
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Jun
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JUNE 7-10 CONFERENCE
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Feb
Organizing Committee
Kaity Adams
Entrepreneur, Adam’s Family Ink (Onondaga, Six Nations of the Grand River)
Mahshad Akhoundoghli
PhD Candidate, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
Karla Boluk
Associate Professor, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
Jaquie Jamieson
Senior Manager of Tourism and Community Development, Six Nations Tourism
Ellie Joseph
Co‑Founder, Two Row on the Grand (Mohawk, Six Nations of the Grand River)
Jaymieson O’Neil
PhD Student, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo (Cayuga, Six Nations of the Grand River)
Afrah Shaik
MA Student, Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, University of Waterloo
Aicha Smith‑Belegaba
Founder, Esha’s Eats (Mohawk, Six Nations of the Grand River)
Accommodations
A block of accommodations is being held for conference participants at Chiefswood Park with guaranteed availability until April 15, 2026.
To book
Please contact Chiefswood Park: 519‑752‑3969, or the Guest Experience Team: 226‑446‑9900 and reference Group Folio 671268A.
A variety of options are available to meet different needs and preferences, including:
- Grand cabins
- Small cabins
- Accessible cabins
- Camping sites
- Glamping units
A block of units is being held for conference participants until April 15, 2026. After this date, units may still be available but bookings will be first‑come, first‑served.
We acknowledge that this conference takes place on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and honour the Indigenous peoples who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.