Whitecourt town council has approved $5,200.00 in funding through the Tourism Enhancement Grant for the Whitecourt ISGA Tourism Association (WITA) for its Teepee Village project at Carson-Pegasus Provincial Park in Nakota Territory.
Officials with WITA say the money will be used for the construction and operation of a Teepee Village which includes a day-use Teepee and three to five Teepee’s to be used by overnight guests. WITA officials believe this project will increase foot traffic in the community and enhance tourism in the area as people come to experience a unique cultural attraction.
Barry Mustus, President and Founder of WITA says the Teepee Village is being developed to encourage economic development in the area.
“My plan to resurrect that Culture Camp was to bring economic development into the area for my family,” he continues. “My people that are in the reserve need some sort of economic opportunity away from the reserve, not only industrial development. Tourism was a really good opportunity to do that.”
Mustus also says there are already a few cultural experiences ready to go once the Village is completed, including:
- A Culinary Experience where guests will be taught how to make Bannoc,
- A Language Experience where guests will be immersed in the Nakota language learning key phrases and expressions used in a traditional encampment, and;
- An Arts and Crafts Experience where guests will learn the significance and symbolism behind beadwork that has been practiced by the Nakota people for generations.
“I wanted to set up the teepee village at the provincial park,” says Mustus. “And at the same time do some tourism and some education to create awareness about our heritage and culture and just how we did daily activities in the Culture Camp.”
The Tourism Enhancement Grant application submitted by WITA included a business plan, project budget, permit granting a disposition on the land and permission for development from Alberta Forestry and Parks, proof of commercial insurance and a request for $10,000.00 in funding.
Following a review and rating of the application in accordance with policy guidelines, officials with the Economic Development Committee recommended allocating $5,200.00 for the project from the $12,500.00 remaining in the Tourism Enhancement Grant.
