Ontario government promoting Aboriginal culture and activities this summer

Press Release

Celebrate Aboriginal Culture This Summer

June 3, 2013

Experience Ontario Aboriginal Tourism Destinations

Ontario offers dozens of tourism destinations for families to immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture, customs and traditions.

There are locations in every corner of the province for families to visit on a day trip or vacation road trip. For example, you can:

Taste traditional foods such as bannock, corn soup or blueberry tea in Ottawa.
Experience Manitoulin Island's majestic scenery on horseback while an Anishnaabe guide shares the legends of the land.
Go for a hike and wonder at the mysteries of ancient petroglyphs carved into marble rock face hundreds of years ago just northeast of Peterborough.
In downtown Toronto, view beautiful pieces of Inuit art in a setting that evokes the Arctic landscape.
Canoe Temagami's ancestral waterways and take photographs of loons, beavers and moose.
In Midland, time travel to a reconstructed Iroquoian longhouse and learn about Ontario's earliest European settlers and the Huron Wendat People.
Watch a moving spectacle of drums and swirling colours at summertime powwow celebrations across the province.

Supporting local tourism is part of the Ontario government's efforts to build a strong economy and vibrant communities.

QUICK FACTS

"Ontario" stems from a Huron work "Onatari:io," meaning beautiful lake.
The top five Aboriginal languages spoken in Ontario are Ojibway, Oji-Cree, Cree, Inuktitut and Mohawk.
Tourism is an important part of Ontario's economy. In 2011, Ontario tourism brought in over $23 billion and supported more than 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.

LEARN MORE

QUOTES

"Ontario is proud to promote a culturally rich Aboriginal tourism industry. See it. Experience it. Join in. Steep yourself in time-honoured traditions this summer."
- David Zimmer, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs

"I encourage residents and visitors alike to explore and experience the rich culture of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in Ontario. Historic sites such as Sainte-Marie among the Hurons allow visitors to travel back to the 17th century and learn about the Huron-Wendat people, while Fort William Historical Park brings the fur trade back to life. The long legacy, vibrant culture and honoured traditions of Aboriginal Peoples provide Ontarians with an opportunity to learn, engage and celebrate."
- Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport

"As Ontario's and Canada's original tour guides, Aboriginal tourism operators continue to share our unique culture with visitors from around the world. We invite Ontario visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of Aboriginal culture this summer."
- Kevin Eshkawkogan, CEO of Great Spirit Circle Trail Inc.

CONTACTS

Flavia Mussio
Media Contact
416-314-9455
Flavia.Mussio@ontario.ca

Scott Cavan
Minister's Office
416-314-6212
scott.cavan@ontario.ca

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs
http://www.ontario.ca/aboriginal

Media.Knet.Ca

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