Mādahòkì Farm receives $750K in federal tourism funding

The federal government announced a $750,000 investment in Indigenous Experience's Mādahòkì Farm, an Indigenous women-led agri-tourism business in Ottawa's Greenbelt.

The farm is one of 14 businesses receiving a share of the Federal Development Agency of Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) $2.7 million investment in women-led tourism businesses. The investment, made through the Government of Canada's Tourism Relief Fund, is intended to help the businesses attract visitors and “strengthen their communities.”

Located on 164 acres off of West Hunt Club road, Mādahòkì Farm offers farm-to-table culinary experiences and cultural experiences from an Indigenous perspective.

The non-repayable investment from FedDev Ontario will be used to construct a four-season venue to host agricultural and culinary events, make the facilities more accessible and inclusive, and create a year-round marketplace for Indigenous artists, creators and farmers. The project will also provide a permanent home for five endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses.

“With the support of the Tourism Recovery Fund, we were able to build an even brighter future for our organization,” said Trina Mather-Simard, founder and executive and artistic director of Indigenous Experiences. “Our small but impressive team of Indigenous women leaders has created an exciting venue that is already welcoming student groups, local residents and domestic and international visitors and supporting over 50 small Indigenous businesses.”

The federal government's $500 million Tourism Relief Fund was created in 2021 to help tourism businesses recover in the wake of the pandemic. A minimum of $50 million has been earmarked for projects that are either Indigenous-led or Indigenous-focused.