Welcome to the 2025 Indigenous Tourism Entrepreneurship Training!
Ottawa Tourism is pleased to announce a new cohort of the Indigenous Tourism Entrepreneurship Training (ITET). In partnership with Adaawe Business Hub, this new cohort will be offered in-person where participants will gain valuable skills to develop their tourism ventures, learn from industry experts and network with like-minded peers.
Want to learn more about the training?
Course content
All Indigenous facilitator-led modules are delivered in person at the Adaawe Business Hub.
Meet some of our previous ITET participants
Makatew Workshops
Marc Forgette is a proud Anishinaabe Algonquin member of the Wahgoshig (Little Fox) band in Northern Ontario. His business, Makatew Workshops, stems from his journey to self-discovery and brings Indigenous teachings to those with a thirst for First Nations culture.
Read more to learn how one Little Fox found guidance from the past in this inspiring tale of perseverance.
Ondarez Clothing and Goods
Paula Naponse is an Indigenous entrepreneur with strong ties to the land and the community of Atikameksheng. Her business, Ondarez Clothing and Goods, is a symbol of that bond and the result of a deep passion to create something from start to finish.
Read more to learn how Paula’s turning a homegrown business into a household name in this story of love, triumph and resilience.
Featured local Indigenous tourism entrepreneurs
Special thanks to all of our guest speakers and the following local Indigenous tourism business leaders for sharing their entrepreneurial journeys as part of our training material.
Indigenous Experiences
Trina Mather-Simard is a member of Curve Lake First Nation and a vital contributor to Ottawa’s urban Indigenous community. Her business, Indigenous Experiences, highlights the diverse cultures of Canada’s First Nation communities through Indigenous events.
Birch Bark Coffee Company
Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow wears many hats. He’s a humble leader, visionary and change maker. And he’s also a driven entrepreneur with a passion for coffee. Through the Birch Bark Coffee Company, Mark’s mission is to bring clean drinking water to Indigenous communities across Canada.
Indigenous Walks
Jaime Morse from Indigenous Walks believes there’s a key component of Ottawa’s heritage missing: its Indigenous stories and their cultural significance in the region. It’s become her mission to bring those stories to light to help residents and visitors see the city from a different perspective.
Acknowledgements
The pilot for ITET was initially developedby Ottawa Tourism and Algonquin College. It was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada.
