Indigenous perspectives on ecotourism development: a British Columbia case study

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to examine Gitga'at First Nation approaches and objectives concerning the use of local biological and cultural resources through the lens of a locally-driven proposal to establish an eco-cultural tourism enterprise. Design/methodology/approach - This project was developed in collaboration with the Gitga'at First Nation and employed a qualitative case study approach. Primary data gathering techniques were active participation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and work with key informants. Findings - Participant responses highlight the interconnectivity and importance of social, ecological and cultural integrity in local economic development. Three major principles for resource use were widely expressed: control and management by Gitga'at; equitable distribution of any benefits; and the imperative of environmental and cultural sustainability. Research limitations/implications - Gitga'at band members living within the Gitga'at traditional territory played a central part in this research. Future work could include non-resident band members. Furthermore, if the Gitga'at decide to move forward with this proposal, further research could examine how the resource use principles discussed here may be applied. Practical implications - This research provided a forum to explicitly identify research participants' hopes and concerns surrounding eco-cultural tourism and the possible outcomes of this potential project. Social implications - This research may be beneficial to other communities interested in eco-cultural tourism development or other development activities dependent on local resources use. Originality/value - Although essential to creating economic opportunities that reflect local goals and interests, socio-cultural dimensions are often overlooked in local economic development. This research explicitly sought to unpack these domains.