Beyond the Chairlift: Building Real Partnerships That Power Mountain Tourism Growth

A few years back, I stepped into a brand-new role: Indigenous Relations Specialist at Whistler Blackcomb. This wasn’t a polished title on a org chart—it was a pioneering position carved out of a unique, long-term agreement between two First Nations (Squamish and Lil’wat), Whistler Blackcomb, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, and the Province of BC. Think 50+ years of structured collaboration focused on economic opportunity, cultural respect, and shared decision-making. Groundbreaking? Absolutely. Game-changing for everyone involved? Even more so.

That foundation let me do real work: advising on everything from guest experiences and staff training to land-use conversations and cultural integration. I’ve since brought that same approach to Helicat Canada’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, the Global BC Indigenous editorial board, and consulting gigs with the Mayor of Whistler and Whitewater Resort (where we even helped name a chairlift the right way, with local Nations at the table).

Here’s the straight talk for mountain travel pros: Authentic Indigenous partnerships aren’t about adding a land acknowledgement or a token cultural demo. They’re about co-creating value, richer stories for visitors, stronger community buy-in, new revenue streams, and experiences that actually stand out in a competitive global market. Guests today crave depth. They want to understand whose land they’re riding on, hear stories told by the people who know them best, and feel like they’re part of something meaningful. When you get the relationship right, the business results follow naturally.

I’ve seen it firsthand delivering Indigenous culture training to Burton’s sales team, speaking on governance and reconciliation for the CanWest Ski Association, and sitting on grant-making committees with EVO and Arc’teryx to redirect funding toward more BIPOC-led initiatives. The common thread? Respect, clear communication, and shared success metrics from day one.

As we head into MTS 2026 in Whistler - right in the heart of these conversations, let’s get courageous. Move past preformative gestures and lean into real collaboration. The mountains are big enough for all of us to thrive when we build together.

If your resort, tour company, or destination is ready to explore authentic Indigenous partnerships, culture training that actually connects, or co-created experiences that sell themselves, I’m your person.

Let’s grab a coffee (or a chairlift ride) at MTS and talk about turning reconciliation into revenue and real relationships. Miigwetch (thank you)

Court “Blackbird” Larabee Anishinaabe Leader | Former Indigenous Relations Specialist, Whistler Blackcomb www.blackbirdcanada.ca