K’iyeli Tourism Services thrived in 2024 and the owners of the Fort Simpson business are hoping 2025 will bring even more success.
"A lot of the things we've gotten done, we've been working on for years," said Gilbert Cazon, who owns and operates the business with his wife Mary Jane. "To see it bearing fruit, and for our work to be recognized, it's a very uplifting experience.
"We're looking forward to this year."
K’iyeli was established in 2010 and offers a range of services, from Dene cultural experiences to aurora viewing. The business has had plenty of breakthroughs over the years, but last year was particularly memorable.
Last spring, the venture received a $25,000 investment from the federal government's Indigenous Tourism Fund (ITF). Then in November, the enterprise received the Operator of the Year award at the 2024 NWT Tourism Conference in Yellowknife.
Mary Jane said she's "so proud" of their achievement, as it shows that she and her husband have been successful in their mission to promote Dene culture and traditions.
"Our parents taught us about the land, and how to make use of it and take care of it and respect it," she said. "I'm so happy that we got the recognition because we're able to show this to the community and to the people."
Gilbert echoed his wife's sentiment.
"We carry this knowledge forward, and then we're able to help educate our community, our people and their children," he added. "I'm grateful that we're able to do that and it's been recognized by other cultures and other people that are on our land.
"It's very good recognition of our people and their way of life."
Following their successful 2024, Mary Jane and Gilbert are hoping 2025 will be full of collaborative efforts with other business owners in Fort Simpson and around the territory.
"When we were awarded that Operator of the Year award, all the people that are in our [industry] were at that gala, and as we were sitting there and getting recognition, people were coming to shake our hands, and a whole bunch of opportunities to work with other operators in other regions [came up]," Gilbert recalled.
The teamwork between the married couple has helped them forge their way in business world, according to Mary Jane.
"It's amazing how we're able to work together," she said. "We're able to work together, hand-in-hand, overriding any difficulties that come our way.
"It's an awesome thing when you are able to achieve your goals together and make sure that you do everything for the long-run."