7-Day In-Person Training (indoor and outdoor learning)
Sharing our Voices: Indigenous Guide Training
Visioning
- Indigenous welcome and participant introductions
- Sharing your stories, guiding aspirations
- Recognize the key responsibilities and expectations for guides in different settings
- Develop a personal professional vision of how guiding can align with personal and/or community values
Foundations of the tourism industry
- Gain a basic understanding of the tourism industry, the key players
- Learn about how tourism operates in Manitoba and Canada including key trends for Indigenous tourism
- Understand the importance of Indigenous perspectives in contributing to meaningful and respectful tourism experiences
- Appreciate the benefits and challenges of tourism in Indigenous communities
Welcoming, engaging and communicating with guests
- Recognize the responsibilities and expectations for guides in different settings
- Understand the importance of cultural protocols and how they will vary between communities and businesses
- Apply strategies for clear and inclusive communication with diverse audiences
- Learn how to create a welcoming atmosphere for guests on arrival and departure
- Discover ways to adapt communication to different guest needs
Group management
- Learn techniques for guiding diverse groups efficiently while maintaining cohesion and ensuring guest safety
- Apply methods to keep groups interested and engaged during tours or experiences
- Address challenges such as varying energy levels, diverse backgrounds and address guests who may demonstrate insensitivity, lack of awareness or make ignorant or racist comments
- Appreciate the importance of time management with guests and the experience being delivered fits into their overall travel plans
Storytelling – sharing your stories and those of your employers
- Create and share authentic stories that resonate with guests, emphasizing local culture, history, and traditions
- Incorporate stories provided by employers in a way that aligns with personal and community perspectives
- Enhance guest connections using storytelling as a tool to build deeper connections between guests, the guide’s community and environment
Safety and Risk Management
- Recognize and mitigate common safety risks in guiding scenarios
- Apply best practices for ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants during activities
- Practice handling unexpected situations and emergencies efficiently
- Understand the importance of managing your own mental health with guests who unintentionally offend
- Appreciate the legal consequences with guiding as an employee or self-employed
Required: First Aid Certificate by end of course
Our first group of students will participate in Winnipeg in October 2025 (we are planning future in-community training to take place regionally in 2026).
We encourage interested students to inquire soon as we will be holding interviews and finalizing the group in early September. Complete the inquiry form below if you are interested.
