Culture captivates tourists. (Aboriginal Business).

From canoeing expeditions to learning how to erect a teepee, tourists are flocking to vacation experiences that are not only fun, but also incorporate teachings of Aboriginal culture and history. Northern Ontario's First Nations are meeting the tourism challenge head on with unique marketing ideas encompassing not only their history and culture, but the beauty of nature as well.

The Moose Cree First Nation is one of many capitalizing on its vast natural resources to create an Aboriginal tourism wilderness destination.

The Wa-sh-ow James Bay Wilderness Centre, which will celebrate its grand opening next summer, will provide year-round accommodations for guests to learn more about the Cree culture, says Darrell O'Connor, the First Nation's tourism officer.

"To really gain a sense of the Cree lifestyle, visitors need a hands-on experience and that is what we offer," O'Connor says. "Everything about the experience will be unique from the construction of the lodges to the activities we offer."

The centre, located in Hannah Bay, 60 kilometres southeast of Moose Factory, will be constructed using a traditional Cree vertical log building technique, he explains. The 4,200-square-foot main lodge is designed to depict a bird with outstretched wings. The wings of the bird comprise six guest rooms which can accommodate up to 22 guests. Although the building is unique, it is also practical, making use of renewable energy sources such as wood, solar and wind. An adjacent half-circular shaped west lodge will accommodate an additional 12 guests.

Aside from the lodges, three traditional villages will also be constructed. Each, site will be designed to teach guests about Cree life as practiced during pre-European contact, post-European contact and present times.

"Traditional activities will be offered to guests at each village location," O'Connor says; "The pre-European and post-European sites will be a trip back in time for our guests while the present day site will give them insight into how we live today."

Activities, regardless of the season, would include preparation of traditional foods, construction of traditional dwellings, as well as participation in all forms of day-to-day camp life.

The $2.2-million centre is being funded by FedNor and Aboriginal Business Canada, with the First Nation itself paying for roughly 25 to 30 per cent of the project. It is money well spent, however, O'Connor adds, because in the past 18 months inquiries for Aboriginal wilderness experiences numbered in the thousands.

The popularity of Aboriginal tourism has increased so radically in fact that Manitoulin Island and North Shore First Nations have teamed up to create the Great Spirit, Circle Trail, a tourism initiative officially launched this summer. The initiative, which allows visitors to "experience the past and enjoy the present," links Manitoulin First Nations Wikwemikong, Sheguiandah, Sucker Creek, M'Chigeeng, Sheshegwaning and Ziibaahaasing with North Shore First Nations Sagamok and Whitefish River.

The Waubetek Business Development Corp. in Whitefish River First Nations is managing the marketing effort and assisting representatives from each community to work together as a tourism network.

Matthew Owl, Waubetek's tourism co-ordinator, says each tourism operation in the eight First Nations adds to the individuality of the trail.

"I think what makes the Great Spirit Circle Trail so different is we offer recreational and educational experiences," Owl says. "Unlike other operations which offer only recreation, we offer a spiritual aspect. That is the element people are looking for."

Sucker Creek's new year-round ecotourism operation, Endaa-Aang, has something for everyone, with a mixture of both traditional and modern activities. The operation, which opened in May, offers six fully furnished, locally crafted cabins located on the Bedford and East Rouse Islands, 15 minutes from the mainland, while more adventurous tourists can bed down for the night in a tepee or at the available campsites. "Those who come here will have a traditional cultural experience," says operation manager Gladys King.

Various cultural workshops are held on Bedford Island, such as craft making and traditional dance and drumming.

Storytellers are often on hand to entrance audiences with stories of Aboriginal history and culture.

Although the Great Spirit Circle Trail's popularity continues to grow, Owl says there is still much work to be done. Waubetek has been actively targeting the European market for over a year. In 2000, Waubetek participated in Germany's Hanover Expo as part of the Northern Ontario Trade Delegation, in order to market the trail in all the major cities. From there, interest in the trail snowballed.

"There is such great enthusiasm from Europeans when they come here," Owl explained. "For them, every aspect of the aboriginal culture is captivating.