SHOAL LAKE CREE NATION (DESTINATION SIPANOK)

TOURISM CONCEPT PLAN

PROJECT SUMMARY

The goal was to envision and develop the beginnings of a tourism economy where one did not yet exist. A destination tourism strategy for Shoal Lake Cree Nation in northern Saskatchewan was designed to share culture, revive tradition, and create economic opportunity. Built through close collaboration with community members, Chief and Council, and a local tourism committee, the project combined market research with deep engagement, including a 3-day tour and community event (Family Camp!).

APPROACH

• Secondary research

• Market research

• Concept planning

• Opportunity analysis

• Tourism Technical Committee consultation

• Community tour

• Community engagement

• Chief and Council engagement

Building Destination Sipanok

The Shoal Lake Cree Nation is located on Pakwaw Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. This small, remote community surrounded by rugged and lush wilderness embarked on a journey to share their rich culture, history and nature with others through tourism. Members of the Shoal Lake Cree Nation were not only seeking to develop a tourism economy from scratch, but also to reconnect with their own culture. Many of their traditional practices and language have been lost. Through tourism they want to revive and strengthen culture for their younger generations.

Stormy Lake was hired to develop a destination tourism strategy that offers authentic tourism experiences bridging traditional Cree culture with contemporary Indigenous ways of life. This meant working in very close consultation with the local people, the Tourism Technical Committee, and Chief and Council to ensure tourism would reflect the community and benefit its members as much as visitors.

The project included regular meetings with the Tourism Technical Committee for guidance, presentations to Chief and Council, community surveys, thorough market research, and a 3-day immersive tour of the region. Our tour provided the opportunity to intimately experience the potential of the area and connect with the local community members during a community-wide event. We were able to build relationships and solicit ideas, thoughts, and feedback as the foundation of the strategy.

The result was a cohesive cultural tourism strategy firmly rooted in community values and market research & analyses to ensure that smart, unique tourism concepts were developed to align with the community and drive year-round visitation. Chief and Council approved.