Culture and tourism has been in Robert’s blood since he was a boy. As a child he experienced many world travelers coming by to ask questions about his Dad’s folk work. He would follow in his father’s footsteps in the woods and trees, streams and rivers, icy lakes and uninhabited islands in his community as his father sought out his next culturally related folk art project.
Robert translated success in sports as a youth into leadership roles in his Mi’kmaw community and across the Province of Nova Scotia. In his late 20’s he became the first Executive Director for the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Sports & Recreation Circle. A few years later he started his first company focusing on Indigenous relations in the oil and gas industry and working with multiple government departments, all aimed at increasing the employment, training and capacity needs of his people.
Recently Robert’s interest and reconnection to his younger days when he was immersed in his culture has led to his current contract position as the Operations Manager & Cultural Tourism Planner for the Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage Centre. His involvement in cultural tourism provincially has also lead to his appointment to the national board for the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (ATAC) and currently sits as the national chairperson for the organization.
His interest is in promoting all cultures through innovative support frameworks for the arts, crafts and cultural industries that will work towards producing sustainable and meaningful initiatives.