Creating an Indigenized visitor code of conduct: the development of Denesoline self-determination for sustainable tourism

Abstract

ABSTRACT The homeland of the Lutsel K'e Dene (Denesoline) spans the boreal forest and central sub-arctic tundra in Canada's northern territories. As a historically nomadic society, Denesoline are deeply connected to these vast landscapes sustaining migratory herds of caribou. Their ancestral territory includes one protected area (Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary) with another under negotiation (Thaidene Nene National Park Reserve), which, for nature-based tourists, are emblematic “wilderness” destinations. Despite transitioning to settlement lifestyles, Denesoline continue to assert their right to govern and manage the entirety of their territory. This includes communicating their expectations for responsible and sus-tainable tourism conduct. Drawing on community-based, participatory, and narrative methodologies, this paper reports a synthesis of stories told by Denesoline interview (n = 12) and workshop (n = 5) participants that relate to encounters with, and expectations for, visitors to their homeland. The paper argues that the culminating narrative reflects an “Indigenized visitor code of conduct”. These morally and culturally informed visitor guidelines assist in mobilizing Denesoline self-determination and auto-nomy in land governance. In addition to privileging Denesoline voices in matters of just and sustainable Indigenous tourism, the paper contributes contextually grounded insights that complement literatures on moral geographies of sustainable tourism, and could form a model of Indigenous tourism practice.