September 29, 2021
With the sun beaming over the trees in the community of Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́/ Fort Simpson on Saturday, September 25th, 2021 the community gathered around the world’s largest wooden teepee to celebrate the local tourism industry. The event was inspired by the amazing businesses that supported tourism before the pandemic and will still be here to welcome back visitors when we can. “Yundaa Gogha Tourism” means “Tourism for the Future” in Dene Zhatie; this event was about looking to the future recovery of a key industry in the Northwest Territories.”
“The tourism industry has been hit hard by travel restrictions over the last two summers and this was a chance for the community to thank our tourism businesses for enduring the hardships of the pandemic.” -Jonathan Antoine, Community Tourism Coordinator, Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation
The event opened with a lovely fire feeding ceremony by tourism operators Gilbert and Mary-Jane Cazon of K’iyeli Translation, Interpreting and Transcribing Service. Johnny Laundry and his band with Dehcho Fiddler Wesley Hardisty took the stage as the first musicians to ever play inside the 55-foot wooden teepee. The stunning venue is where community members could enjoy a free barbeque, archery, log sawing, purchasing local produce and dancing the day away. After the concert the dancing continued with a community drum dance well into the dark.
Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́/ Fort Simpson has a strong sense of community and members have always been excited to great new visitors. Once travel restrictions change the community is excited to have new faces in the community to share this beautiful place with. Mahsi Cho to all the local tourism businesses for remaining resilient during such a difficult time.
The event was hosted by Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nations’ Community Tourism Coordinator, Jonathan Antoine in conjunction with the Fort Simpson Visitor Information Center, Northern Store and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.