ATAC Announces 2017 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on Funding Program
Acceptance of Applica;on Submissions to begin June 1st, 2017
May 19th, 2017, Coast Salish Territories (Vancouver, BC) – The Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on of Canada (ATAC) is puLng
forward the call for applica;ons through their 2017 Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on Funding
Program, designed to strengthen the development of the Aboriginal tourism industry across Canada.
To increase revenues, employment growth, and the number of Aboriginal tourism businesses in the industry, ATAC will be
offering funding to provinces and territories that apply for support in building and strengthening an industry-led, not-forprofit Aboriginal tourism associa;on. Funding applica;ons may be submiRed from June 1 to 30, 2017 by comple;ng the
appropriate applica;on form available on the ATAC Corporate website: www.aboriginalcanada.ca/corporate/pt-funding
The new funding program, supported by Indigenous & Northern Affairs Canada, asks Aboriginal representa;ves from
Canadian provinces and territories who do not already have established not-for-profit Aboriginal tourism organiza;ons to
submit a formal request for support of up to $65,000 that may be awarded per province or territory. Representa;ves
must specifically demonstrate how their proposal supports the establishment of a sustainable Aboriginal tourism
associa;on. Provinces and territories with an established Aboriginal tourism associa;on are also invited to apply and
must indicate how their proposed investments directly support ATAC’s five-year goals to increase Aboriginal tourism
revenue, employment, and number of businesses.
“Support from Aboriginal leaders and entrepreneurs will play a key role in establishing and sustaining provincial and
territorial Aboriginal tourism associa;ons,” says Keith Henry, President & CEO of the Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on of
Canada. “We urge Aboriginal representa;ves to apply for funding within the June ;meframe.”
Applicants will be informed if they have been selected by the end of July, 2017. Applicants should be prepared to
demonstrate the planning they’ve done and the feasibility of their proposed project or program, explaining how they plan to
achieve the deliverables detailed in their proposal with the funding they’ve requested and in the ;meframe they have
proposed. Funded services and programs will have to be completed by March 31, 2018, and finalized with the
submission of a Project Report due April 30, 2018.
For more informa;on, visit: www.aboriginalcanada.ca/corporate
About the Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on of Canada
The Aboriginal Tourism Associa;on of Canada (ATAC) works to improve the socio-economic condi;on of Aboriginal
people through the provisions of economic development advisory services, tourism conferences, capacity development
training and workshops, industry research and informa;on for Aboriginal tourism operators and communi;es within the
13 regions; 10 provinces and three territories of Canada. ATAC develops rela;onships with other groups and regions with
similar mandates, uni;ng the Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada and works to enable collec;ve support, product
development, promo;on and marke;ng of authen;c Aboriginal cultural tourism businesses in a respeckul protocol. The
ATAC Board is made up of Aboriginal tourism industry representa;ves from each of the provinces and territories. For
more informa;on, visit www.aboriginalcanada.ca.
-30Media contacts:
Brian Cant, Tartan: 250-592-3838 or [email protected]
Keith Henry, ATAC: 604-639-4408 or [email protected]