Indigeno Travel, North America’s first national full-service Indigenous-owned travel and tourism agency, has announced its formal launch and the addition of its latest equity partner, Treaty One Development Corporation.
“We welcome Treaty One as an equity partner in Indigeno,” said Phil Sproul, the industry veteran who has taken on President and CEO of Indigeno of the company.
Treaty One CEO, Whelan Sutherland, adds, “The choice becomes whether to send travel related jobs and profits to other countries or to keep it closer to home, to benefit Indigenous people and Canada’s economy. For many, that’s probably going to be an easy decision”.
As a result of its partnership with two independent travel firms: Great Canadian Travel Group, for leisure travel, and Continental Travel Group, for corporate travel, Indigeno Travel says it operates at the scale and capacity of one of Canada’s largest full-service travel agencies.
Indigeno has taken aim at adding to its corporate travel client base by approaching corporations, governments, universities, and colleges that support the Truth and Reconciliation Reports’ Calls to Action.
“We want to acknowledge the many commitments we see across Canada from corporations and others that embrace the TRC’s Calls to Action. Indigeno makes it easy to follow through on those commitments” says Indigeno spokesperson, Jessica Dumas, the former chair of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the first Indigenous woman to hold that post, and President of Jessica Dumas Coaching & Training.
“Combined, with our partnership with Great Canadian and Continental, this will make Indigeno one of the most competitive travel agencies in Canada, with 42 employees, and plans for further expansion across the country,” says Chris Maxfield, Founder and VP Business Development.
According to the agency, Indigeno Travel creates travel and tourism career opportunities and revenue sources for Indigenous people across Canada, and facilitates the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Call to Action #92 for reconciliation through business and commerce. Indigeno Travel builds travel and tourism experiences for its corporate and leisure clients, offers online booking platforms, and promotes Indigenous tourism experiences. Indigeno is headquartered in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg, with associate offices in Brockville, ON, and Edmonton.
Indigeno Travel was started by Darrell Phillips of Hollow Water First Nation and Chris Maxfield from Winnipeg. Maxfield continues their shared dream after Phillips was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2017.
“Our Indigenous community has embraced the idea of a major national Indigenous-owned travel agency erving non-Indigenous and Indigenous customers” says Chief Dennis Meeches of Long Plain First Nation, the lead spokesperson for the Treaty One Development Corporation (T1DC) and the Naawi Oodena Development in Winnipeg.
“Travel is about to come back in a big way,” Meeches continued. “Indigeno offers a choice for Canadians of goodwill towards Indigenous people. Travel agencies aren’t a thing of the past, as some believe. Even when you book travel online, with us or anyone, you’re using a travel agency.”
“We want every Canadian to know; Indigeno is for non-Indigenous people and Indigenous people. No matter who you are or where you’re going, Indigeno is for all of us to use”, said Charlene Phillips, Darrell’s surviving spouse, part owner, and board member. “The story of Darrell and Chris is one of Reconciliation; two long-time friends create a partnership with the goal to create Indigenous employment.”
For more information on Indigeno Travel, visit its web site.
