Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada faces funding crisis

In his latest update to members, partners and the Indigenous tourism community, the President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC), Keith Henry provides a new update on the struggles of the organization.

Henry’s update begins: “I am writing with a difficult update. This week I made the decision to lay off ITAC’s remaining team members. I am now the only active employee at ITAC, working without pay to keep the most basic functions of the organization in place. All of our programs and services are paused until further notice.”

And he states: “To be perfectly clear, ITAC is in crisis.”

The President & CEO of the association continues: “It is important to remember that the root cause of the emergency facing Indigenous tourism today is a lack of federal investment. For many years, federal funding was the backbone of ITAC’s national work and of the Indigenous tourism infrastructure that has grown alongside it. That investment has now all but disappeared.”

He points out that: “Even as Canada’s most recent federal tourism strategy specifically named Indigenous tourism as a partnership priority, the actual investment has moved in the opposite direction.”

Henry advises members that for fiscal year 2026-27, ITAC’s federal funding stands at:

• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC): $0
• Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED): $0

States Henry: “That is a 100 percent reduction in support from ISC and ISED. This lack of investment in our core operations is the underlying cause of the situation ITAC faces today.”

Henry also said in his message to members, partners and the Indigenous tourism community that: “ITAC has also faced persistent misinformation from those who do not wish to see this organization succeed and have actively sought to sabotage our work. The strongest answer is the clear, direct voices of those who know what ITAC has done for this sector. This is the moment for the Indigenous tourism industry and our partners in the larger tourism industry to stand up for what has been built.”

For those looking to help, ITAC’s President & CEO said that: “The most direct action members, partners and friends can take this week is to write to the Honourable Rechie Valdez, federal Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism, and tell her why Indigenous tourism matters and why ITAC’s national role must be protected.”

And he says that: “Letters of support, sent now, will help make the case for renewed investment in Indigenous tourism. I urge you to send your letter today. The strength of our collective voice is what will move government to act.”

In July of 2025, ITAC received a seven-year social impact funding commitment through the U.K.-based Passion Project Foundation that – once the funds are released — will provide approximately $35 million per year to support long-term development across the sector.

Henry advises that: “On the social impact funding, our partner continues to work daily towards release of the funds. The delays remain at the banking level and we expect progress later this month. The agreement remains in place and when this funding arrives, it will be transformational for Indigenous tourism in Canada.”

For more, go to www.indigenoustourism.ca .

Photo courtesy of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)