03/11/2026
Tourism Industry Association of BC - Community Contribution and Impact Award 2026 Winner…
Notes:
Kukstemc to Sylx and Okanagan people for welcoming me onto their territory
Kukstemc to Amy Thacker and the team of three CTA for nominating AAC
to Tourism Richmond and Air Canada for sponsoring this award.
As an Indigenous person with Title and Rights it is my responsibility to take every opportunity to share what I have learned from my ancestors and lived experiences about our truths.
Kukstemc to my Mom for refusing to forget that we are indigenous and raising me to be proud of us. To Xat’sūll for including me in the XHV journey to honour and protect our lands, resources and true history!
Kukstemc to Cariboo Chilcotin Aboriginal Training and Employment Centre for seeing me and asking me to establish AAC so they could contract me to develop and implement the Aboriginal Tourism Training in 2003…
Kukstemc to
Phyllis Webstad for seeing the success of the program and telling Racelle Kooy, who was the Acting Blueprint implementation manager for then Aboriginal Tourism BC;
Barkerville Historic Town & Park for finally opening the gate and honouring my family connections to our shared history.
Kukstemc to ducta Mike Retasket, my companion and partner in everything I do, for joining me in this journey picking me up off the floor and carrying me when I felt defeated…
Orange Shirt Day Society for trusting us as Ambassadors of Phyllis Webstad’s story and the journey of truth sharing towards reconciliation! Kukstemc to our team members Shannon and Debbie for being here to support me.
Kukstemc to my now bff Racelle Laloya Kooy;
our Mom Ada, niece Sharron and her husband Ed, Mike’s sister Cathy and husband Chester for travelling here from Washington