LISTENING AND TALKING CIRCLES IN THE TOURISM PLANNING PROCESS Susan Guyette, Ph.D. Tourism Planning & Development

The Cultural Tourist Wants to learn from other cultures Is respectful of local ecosystems Desires to contribute to a local economy Seeks the experiential Appreciates the authenticity of the experience Frequently contributes to conservation and cultural retention efforts

A New Paradigm Encourages cultural retention Based on concepts of small-scale economy Focus on equity Supportive of entrepreneurs Corrects cultural misinterpretations Interpreting from within the community Inclusive of all groups Addresses sustainable options Low environmental impacts

Planning from Within Identify values relating to tourism Listening is the key skill for planning Asking “what do we want to sustain and for whom?” A responsible tourism ethic Working with local values and local ecosystems

Value-Based Planning Value-based method for cultural tourism planning and development--from within a community Cultural, economic, environmental basis Culture is the cornerstone of sustainability Away from mass tourism Small-scale

INDIGENOUS VALUES RELATING TO TOURISM Generosity Extended family support Community Cooperation Cultural learning Indigenous methodology

WORKING WITH CULTURE Sustainable cultural tourism fosters respect for the privacy needed to practice and perpetuate traditions. Rather than seeking equilibrium based on one point in time, sustainable cultural tourism contributes to the renewal of local traditions over time, as they evolve

TALKING CIRCLES Follow traditional protocols Prayer opening Everyone a place & a time to speak Gaining consensus in the Indigenous community Pace of the community Feedback to the community on the directions

LISTENING Listening skills are central for perceiving opinion and understanding desired directions Observe patterns and connections Difference between an agenda and a topic Listen to negative comments

A RESPECTFUL MEETING Time for everyone Cultural values Respectful of cultural privacy Follows cultural protocols Food served Multigenerational participation Elders Youth

GATHERING COMMUNITY INPUT Informal discussion; Community meeting/gathering Focus groups interested in a topic Interviews Surveys conducted at meetings, in households, and businesses; A survey within another community survey

A PROCESS OF DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK One or more talking circle sessions A larger gathering to involve the community/ visioning Small focus group sessions Detailed community sessions Interviews with local government A balance of qualitative and quantitative

ORGANIZING THE MEETING Announce the meeting 2 weeks ahead Use methods to attract all age groups Schedule meetings to include all—evening, afternoon, weekend Serve food/ provide child care Observe protocols for who speaks first Start with a prayer, if the custom Set a time length, unless understood that end is full discussion Prepare a summary of meeting results/ give feedback

SUSTAINABILITY FACTORS Economic gain is not always a primary motivator Preservation of traditional lifeways Creating the maximum number of jobs A place for everyone Multiple income streams Slower pace Linked projects/ networks Consensus in the planning process Communities in nature, a part of nature

About the Book 2 Winning with a Regional Approach TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Understanding Tourism 2 Winning with a Regional Approach 3 Beginning the Planning Process 4 Community and Visitor Surveys 5 Analyzing the Market 6 Completing the Action Plan 7 Interpretive Centers & Museums 8 Creating Jobs 9 The Tourism Enterprise 10 Increasing Sustainability print ISBN 978-0-9858788-0-1 www.amazon.ca www.amazon.com e-book ISBN 978-0-9858788-1-8 Wholesale: Ingram Content susanguyette@nets.com www.susanguyette.com

Upcoming talk in Canada: THANK YOU FOR JOINING Upcoming talk in Canada: September 12-14 Vancouver/ WINTA, World Indigenous Tourism Alliance www.susanguyette.com susanguyette@nets.com