Implementing Sustainable Tourism Development: A Sheguiandah First Nation Case Study

Abstract

<p>As an employee of the Sheguiandah First Nation at Manitoulin Island, Ontario, and a student researcher from McMaster University, I have attempted to implement a theory of sustainable tourism development based on selected sources in the literature that seemed relevant to this case study. The Sheguiandah First Nation has an interest in establishing a teepee campground and is also interested in developing an archaeological interpretive centre specific to the Sheguiandah archaeological site. The notion of a teepee campground has been established in the community and requires capital funding. The interpretive centre, however, has not been established. Thus, for the most part, the scope of this thesis concerns the interpretive centre, while the teepee campground is included in the broader discussions oftourism development. After reviewing relevant sources in the literature, I set out to implement tourism development on the First Nation based on a model I developed. An evaluation of this implementation is provided.</p> <p>Methodological tools used to address this model included questionnaires for community members and tourists, personal interviews with the First Nation community and professionals familiar with First Nations tourism and interpretive centres, and two focus groups. Throughout this process, the community was regularly informed of the development through a community newsletter,distributed monthly and accessible to all members of the community. Based on the analysis of all the data acquired from these consultations, a conceptual model of an archaeological interpretive centre was developed that was considered accurate enough to justify pursuing further development.</p> <p>The Sheguiandah First Nation currently lacks economic opportunity; economic development is therefore a priority for the community. I propose that the most significant factor contributing to this situation is the existing political system that does not appropriately contribute to First Nations economic development. I further suggest that when a teepee campground and an archaeological interpretive centre are established, the experience gained in this initiative will allow the community to intensively pursue further economic development opportunities.</p>