by Shannon Monk, KMKNO

Cultural authenticity is at the heart of cultural tourism, and yet it is a very difficult concept to define. As we have been meeting with Elders and knowledge keepers as part of our process for drafting Cultural Tourism Authenticity guidelines to bring to the communities, it is clear there is no “one size fits all” approach. Our initial report is almost complete, and we are looking forward to sharing it with our committee and working group members, and also with you, for input and opinions.

In the meantime, we would like to share some of the ideas that have come from the wonderful interviews conducted to date. It may get you thinking about how YOU define what it means to be Mi’kmaq, as an individual, as a family, as a community, and as a Nation.

What is meant by Mi’kmaw cultural authenticity?

All Elders and wisdom holders who participated in this study recognized the challenge of delineating cultural authenticity. As one informant noted, “It’s hard to define, but I know it when I see it”. At its core, “authenticity is a sincere appreciation and celebration of our Mi’kmaw culture.” Authenticity comes from the heart, mind, and hands of the Mi’kmaw. Terms such as honesty, sincerity, positive intentions, and openness were used to describe authenticity. While there was agreement that authenticity comes from Mi’kmaw traditions, ceremony, language, etc., perspectives are shaped by age, religious affiliation, gender, historical legacy ...