Visitors to Winnipeg in Manitoba are being invited to experience Indigenous stories, culture and connection to place with Turtle Tours, an Indigenous-led tourism company based at The Forks.
The company was founded by Ashley Smith, a proud Anishinaabe Ikwe, mother and entrepreneur with roots across Treaty 1, 2 and 4 territories in Canada.
“Turtle Tours was born out of a desire to share our history from our perspective through story, place and lived experiences,” said Ms Smith. “These tours aren’t just about learning, they’re about relationships.”
Ms Smith draws inspiration from her ancestor, John “The Falcon” Tanner, who lived among the Anishinaabe and played a key role in the 1817 Selkirk Treaty.
His story and the stories of Indigenous peoples across Manitoba continue to inspire Turtle Tours today.
Turtle Tours offers a range of Indigenous-led experiences for visitors, including:
- Walking Tours at The Forks, exploring the significance of the meeting place of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers and the Indigenous histories connected to the area.
- Taste of Survival, combining Indigenous food, storytelling and cultural knowledge.
- Boat Tours, exploring Winnipeg’s waterways and their importance to Indigenous peoples, movement, gathering and trade.
- Museum Visits, offering Indigenous perspectives and context through Winnipeg’s cultural institutions.
- Customised Partnership Tours, combining Turtle Tours experiences with other cultural, land and water experiences.
Tours are available for individual visitors, small and large groups, providing flexible ways to experience Manitoba through an Indigenous lens.
Guests are invited to listen, learn and connect with stories that have been part of this land for generations and continue to be lived today.
Beyond Winnipeg, Ms Smith is also behind Turtle Village, the first Indigenous tourism destination in Riding Mountain National Park, and she is the CEO of Grass Grows Rivers Flow, a non profit supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs, culture and land-based learning through tourism.
