Real Talk with Teresa Ryder

After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology at SFU, Teresa Ryder has spent more than 10 years in Indigenous tourism development, starting her career with Indigenous Tourism BC. She has worked with Indigenous tourism operators and partners to grow Indigenous tourism while implementing regional and provincial destination development strategies and improving the market readiness of operators. Teresa is passionate about Indigenous tourism not only for the economic benefits but also for the social impact on Indigenous People and communities who thrive in business while sharing unique stories from coast to coast to coast. As the Director of Partnerships for the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, Teresa is responsible for supporting relationships and partnerships as well as developing and implementing programs across Canada to establish and grow regional Indigenous tourism associations. 

In 2020, Teresa led the $16 million Stimulus Development Grant program for ITAC - an effort made to stabilize more than 675 Indigenous tourism operators as they navigated the loss of travellers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has also overseen the growth of the International Indigenous Tourism Conference – the largest Indigenous tourism conference in the world – since 2018, being a part of this project for many years since its inception.

Teresa is a true Woman of WORTH and we were thrilled to have her take the time out of her schedule to let us get to know her better. In this interview, she shares her advice for other women who are seeking leadership roles along with ways we can all support the female-led Indigenous tourism industry.

What motivated you to follow a career path in the tourism industry?

I fell into the tourism industry professionally, somewhat by accident. After working in hospitality through my undergrad, I needed a change while I decided what I wanted to do with my career – originally intending to go into the criminal justice system. When I found Indigenous tourism – it was the perfect fit. A way for me to celebrate my Indigenous culture, work with Indigenous youth and elders and make meaningful positive change in our Indigenous communities. I knew from early on that this was where I wanted to spend my career.

What are some of your most memorable and proud career highlights to date?

There are so many, it's difficult to recount. I watched a cohort of youth who worked on a summer project go on to learn their language at the university level. I have worked alongside Indigenous operators from startup to opening their doors. I have worked alongside provincial and territorial organizations as they have gotten stabilized, connecting the grassroots operators to a local organization. We have also built the International Indigenous Tourism Conference – this year with more than 1000 delegates -which celebrates Canada as a world leader in Indigenous tourism. All have been so impactful.

Can you talk about one woman who has impacted your life and career?

I should start by saying, I work alongside some pretty amazing women – and that I come from a family of strong women who work in this industry. That said, I would like to acknowledge one of my aunties – Cecilia Point – who encouraged me to apply for my first Indigenous tourism job with the (then) Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC. We have worked together now for more than 10 years. She pushes me, encourages me and supports me with cultural mentorship. I am ever in awe of her.

What piece of advice would you give up-and-coming women leaders in the tourism industry?

Take the space. Too often our board rooms and C-suites aren’t representative of our industry. I believe it's our time to change that – take the risk, apply for the job, raise your voice. 

33% of the 1900 businesses represented by ITAC are owned by Indigenous women, more than double the percentage of the national average of entrepreneurship. How can our readers support women- owned Indigenous businesses?

Go out and experience the AMAZING Indigenous tourism businesses that are out there! Book the tour! The operators I have the privilege of working alongside have so many great experiences to offer and they are complete rockstars of industry. You will find these women out on the land delivering cultural experiences, in boutiques, galleries and restaurants celebrating Indigenous traditions through art and food, or running accommodations (to name a few) You can learn more about these experiences on destinationIndigenous.ca

You’ve been working in the Indigenous tourism industry for over 10 years, what are some of the biggest shifts you have seen in Indigenous tourism since then? What would you like to see in the next 10 years?

In my career, I have seen a shift in the way that the industry and the consumers have come to

understand the power of Indigenous tourism. Early days, it often felt a little “check-box” to include an Indigenous experience, now it’s the Indigenous product and conversation that is so integrated into how we shape tourism in Canada. It’s a great start. Now, we are seeing Indigenous tourism as a path to reconciliation – a way to learn the true stories of Canada and as a way to start to advance the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I see this as a better way forward for Indigenous people in Canada. Indigenous tourism is a way to build meaningful economies for our people while also creating a broader perspective and understanding of who we are. I would hope that this work continues over the next 10 years.

When you are not working as the Director of Partnerships for ITAC or serving as Vice Chair on the Tourism Industry Association of Canada Board of Directors, what might we find you getting up to?

I am a born and raised west coaster – in my spare time you can usually find me out experiencing all this coast has to offer – I especially enjoy camping, spending time outside and laughing with friends and family.