"Crops, animals and serenity are part of the experience at Thunderbird Farm. The operation in Woodville, Ont., in the Kawartha Lakes region, is one of a number of Indigenous-owned spots that are noticing a trend: travellers seeking them out. "I'm getting a lot of positive feedback," said owner Brooks Johnson. "People are looking for Indigenous experiences, people are interested in it," he said. As Canadian tourism grows against the backdrop of the tariff war with the United States, organizations across the province are also seeing an increased appetite for Indigenous tourism experiences. People in the Indigenous tourism industry say they've noted an opportunity for growth."
"Thunderbird Farm says it currently provides short term rentals, craft workshops, hands on experiences with its farm animals, nature walks and archery. Down the road it plans to expand to include teepees, sweat lodges and educating visitors on traditional agriculture practices. "Being Indigenous myself, we're trying to grow more Indigenous basic flowers for the ceremonies and weddings," he said. "It's nice to be able to share this stuff with other people, and people seem more open to learning new things.""
"Indigenous Tourism Ontario says cultural authenticity is at the forefront of its organization ensuring that visitors' experiences are genuine, and that the businesses benefiting are Indigenous-owned. "We focus on that, first and foremost, with all of our tourism operators," said Lisa-Marie Lavallee, operations lead and executive support at Indigenous Tourism Ontario. "People are wanting hands-on storytelling face to fac"
Thunderbird Farm in Woodville, Ontario offers crops, animals, short-term rentals, craft workshops, hands-on farm animal experiences, nature walks and archery. The farm reports growing visitor interest in Indigenous experiences and plans to expand to include teepees, sweat lodges and education on traditional agriculture, plus cultivation of ceremony flowers. Indigenous tourism across the province is seeing higher demand amid a post-pandemic rebound and shifting cross-border dynamics, with potential for substantial revenue growth. Indigenous Tourism Ontario emphasizes cultural authenticity and ensuring that benefits flow to Indigenous-owned businesses as visitors seek hands-on storytelling and genuine experiences.
Read at www.cbc.ca
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