Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada ‘cash flow’ issues hurting small

Carey Perkins’s business was approved in January 2025 for a grant of $25,000 to cover studio space, insurance and overhead expenses. But over a year later, she still hasn’t received anything. 

Perkins, who is Kanienʼkehá:ka from Akwesasne, owns Niio Perkins Designs and is well-known for her raised beadwork jewelry. 

Perkins is among several small business owners that were counting on funding through the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC) they have not received. 

“Now it’s just, everything is collapsing,” she said.

“I became delinquent on my insurance for my studio space and then maintaining the space became difficult. I ended up having to leave in August 2025.”

ITAC is aimed at supporting and growing authentic Indigenous tourism across Canada through development, marketing, leadership and partnerships, according to its 2023-24 annual report.

In early 2025, about $3.3 million in federal funding through the Indigenous Tourism Fund’s Micro and Small Business Stream (MSBS), administered by ITAC, was awarded to 136 Indigenous tourism businesses.

A representative from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said in an emailed statement the department “has heard the concerns and is following up directly with the organization to seek clarification to ensure that ultimate recipients have appropriately been reimbursed.” 

“ISED is taking the issue very seriously and will be undertaking a review of the situation.”

ITAC President and CEO Keith Henry, a member of the B.C. Métis Federation, said he’s aware people are still owed from the MSBS program.

“Ninety per cent of the MSBS projects approved in 2024-2025 have been fully paid. About 10 per cent remain outstanding and we will ensure outstanding payments in full as the revenues arrive,” Henry said in an email to CBC Indigenous.

In a separate email Henry stated between 2023-2026 ITAC approved 322 development projects, including the MSBS-funded projects; 300 of them were projects supported by ISED.

He said ITAC has paid 274 project grants with 48 outstanding.

“ITAC has been pioneering revenue options and has been funding our own solutions as best we can,” the email continued.

“ITAC continues to work towards that goal to ensure the payables, current cash flow needs, and ensure a predictable future.”

Instructed to spend funds before receipt

For Perkins, she said her experience with ITAC has made her feel like she’s “failed at one of the most exciting parts of her business,” growing outside of her community.

“I signed the contract and then I was told that I needed to have the funds spent and the project completed by March 31, 2025,” Perkins said.

She was told cheques were being issued March 31 but thought it was odd she had to spend the funds before receiving them, she added.

Prior to this, she said, hers was the only Mohawk business in the nearby city of Cornwall, Ont. — a studio space where she was teaching classes, with a…