01      What is Indigenous Guide Engagement Services?

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We are a 100% Indigenous owned business established in April of 2020 and based in one of the beautiful traditional territories of the Mi'kmaw - L'Nu people called Unama'ki - the Land of the Fog.  Our parent company, Diversity Management Group (DMG) has been in business for over 20 years.  Since most of our work is connected to Indigenous people, we felt the need to rebrand and refocus our efforts through a new name and a new approach.  This is how "Indigenous Guide Engagement Services" was born and we are very happy to share this journey with you! 

We are a unique business that focuses on a one to one customized approach with our clients in that we do not typically offer templates for the things we do, we create a strategic plan together with you as a business owner, corporate or industry client or an organization that wants to know more about the Indigenous people of Mi'kmaki.  We offer the opportunity to get to know each other better through meaningful dialogue and offer all of our strengths, our business and communications skill sets, our vast contact lists, our Indigenous lived experience as key steps towards what we believe will be mutually beneficial steps towards reconciliation.  

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 02      What type of services do you provide with your business?

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We specialize in providing support services for Indigenous engagement, cultural and tourism development, cross cultural training and development (focusing on not for profit organizations, corporate industry and government departments), Indigenous sport and recreation program development and assessments, major event management and planning, environmental support services focused on impacts to our climate changes, community planning & development for First Nations and Mi'kmaw Language Services.  We also provide capacity development for new, existing and growing businesses - we understand the challenges in being a business owner (with over 25 years in business).  We are very diverse in our experiences so we are very diverse in our offerings!

 

 

 03      What are your typical rates and billing processes?

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Our rates are reflective of our overall experience in multiple fields over the past 30 years of work.  We have been very fortunate to learn from and grow exponentially from our association with many subject matter experts in different fields including our cultural enhancement experiences working with our beautiful Elders for the past 20+ years in multiple fields.  Our rates are also based on the length of our work with clients meaning the shorter the contract or opportunity, the higher the rate.  We typically enjoy working with our clients for longer term contracts as we believe we can really build opportunities through transformative change.  For more specific rates, please contact us directly via email at info@theindigenousguide.com.  

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 04      Can you assist in planning trips and excursions in the Atlantic Region as
                     an Indigenous tourism guide?

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Yes, we can definitely do this and connect you with the exact type of experience that you would like to enjoy by yourself, with another person or in a group setting.  These experiences could be cultural in nature, outdoor type of experiences or a combination of culture, outdoor, spiritual and more!  Our process is to work with you on a one to one basis and find out key things like trip details - how long will you be visiting the area, which areas would you like to travel to, what is your "must see and experience to do list", then we talk budget - what are you willing or wanting to spend - and then we put it all together to see what is available for you in the timeframe we identify.  It is about building some unique and fascinating, quite possibly once in a lifetime experiences for you and/or your group that you would like to plan for.  Inquire further directly with us for more details!
 

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 05      What are the Do's & Don'ts with Indigenous people in the Atlantic Region and
                      across Canada?

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This is not an easy question to answer but at the same time quite simple... and if you can lead with your heart and in a respectful and easy manner, you will find that you will be welcomed in many Indigenous communities.  Always lead softly with respect and care in all that you do. 

 

Do not be afraid to ask questions but lead with advising that you would like to know this specific information but do not know how to inquire without offending anyone and ask for forgiveness up front and ask gently.  As the first people of this land, we have always been the first "guides" here for all peoples.  We want to help you, we want to guide you, we want to make things better for you.  It is common practice to ask about picture/video taking prior to actually doing so, especially during ceremonial events. 

 

A good rule of thumb is if you don't know then pretend it's a no.  The other is to use the local versions of Indigenous people, and in the Atlantic Region, the people are the Mi'kmaw (Mee'gmaw) or as we call ourselves, the L'Nu (referring to our tongue, where our people are from, the language that we speak).  And one of the big " Don't" is being very careful with what you take in terms of photos and videos.  If you are not sure, always ask an Elder or an organizer of an event before you take any photos or likenesses of people, especially during ceremony.

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 06     Is it ok for us (as Non-Indigenous people) to visit Indigenous communities?

The short answer is - of course it's ok - please visit us!  Now the more important advice is, please make sure your intent is always a positive one.  It is good practice to state your purpose or reason for your visit early and lead by truth and keep your visits and experiences as positive for all involved as possible.  It is ok to ask questions, respectfully and with explanation, all shared in a quiet and humble way.  That is acceptable.  Now if you are planning on doing some project work or create a partnership then this does require a little more collaborative effort.  This is one of the exact reasons why we established this very business and that is to help guide and prepare you and your business/organization with these steps!


07      What is the best time of year to experience live Indigenous cultural
                   experiences, gather traditional medicines or attend Indigenous showcases?

The best time of the year is the summer and early fall as most events are coordinated right at the community level.  Now, since the Covid-19 pandemic started last March 2020, this has all changed and there are no current events planned due to social distancing restrictions.  We hope this will change in 2021 depending on the spread or decline of the pandemic virus.  This has affected many business owners, communities and special events that are usually planned throughout the summer months.  We will keep you posted!