Last year I visited Manitoulin Island and was introduced to Anishinaabe history and legends of the land. Curious to learn more from Spirit Island’s indigenous people, I returned, this time to the Great Spirit Circle Trail (GSCT), in M’Chigeeng to participate in some cultural experiences.
Getting the Tourist Thing Right
Kevin Eshkawkogan, CEO, welcomed me and explained the history and mandate of the GSCT as he guided me around the site. As interest in aboriginal tourism began to grow in the mid-90s, non-aboriginal guides began bringing tourists into the region, giving their well-intentioned interpretation of aboriginal history, culture, and traditions, but quite frequently they were getting it wrong.