By: Raina DeBrouwer
Growing up in Paqtnkek Mi’kmaw Nation – an Indigenous community nestled between Antigonish and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Gabriele Robitaille had big dreams. He described himself as a “naïve youth”, wanting to do everything from directing movies, to making music, to being a journalist. He felt overwhelmed by the possibilities.
After graduating from high school, Gabriele worked as a professional protection officer, then as an oyster farmer, and finally in wastewater management. Through these and other odd jobs around Paqtnkek, Gabriele developed an appreciation for detail and consistency. He was working steadily until his mother got sick and he became her primary caregiver. While Gabriele was happy to help out long-term, his mother saw things differently.
“She would kind of pick on me. She was like, ‘You’re 30 years old. What are you hanging around your mom for?’ It was a common theme every day. ‘What are you doing here? You should be in school. Apply for school.’ She has dementia, so she wasn’t consistently saying much, but she kept coming back to this,” Gabriele laughs.
The constant prodding eventually got to him, and Gabriele had an idea of where he might apply. His brother, Bradley, works on Mount Saint Vincent University’s (MSVU) Kinu Tourism Project – an initiative created to support authentic Indigenous tourism education and the growth of the Indigenous tourism sector in Mi’kma’ki. Through Bradley, Gabriele discovered that Kinu was actively recruiting students for September 2024.
When Gabriele considered it, he realized that tourism had always been in his wheelhouse. Since he was 10, Gabriele has been drumming and singing with his brothers in a group called Sacred Flight. The group performs at events across Turtle Island (North America), and has been featured on several national news channels. Equipped with these experiences in Indigenous tourism, Gabriele decided to apply to MSVU’s Bachelor of Tourism & Hospitality program.
When he started the program in September 2024, Gabriele was immediately impressed by the solid framework in tourism and hospitality theory he was learning. “It’s great, because in one course I will learn something, and I can directly apply it to the next course. There is a lot of synergy between courses. And it was great having that theory behind me before my first co-op work term started.”
Initially, Gabriele knew little about the co-op program. The more he considered the benefits of having relevant experience before graduation, the more interested he became in the idea. It was through a campus job fair presentation that Gabriele eventually figured out exactly where his first co-op work term would be. He saw Fairmont Hotels & Resorts presenting on their SUMMIT Leadership Development Program. Gabriele loved the idea of working at a luxury hotel and providing a top-tier, ultra-luxurious experience for guests. He also liked the idea of being mentored for leadership potential along the way.
At the campus job fair presentation, student attendees were asked to write their names down. When Gabriele later applied to a position at Fairmont, they recognized his name and got in touch.
“I originally applied to be a Front Desk Agent. They got back to me like, ‘Respectfully, you’ve never worked in hospitality. Would you accept a position in housekeeping?’ I was in!”
Gabriele traveled to Lake Louise in Alberta for the summer to start his career in hospitality. He was happy to begin in housekeeping and took great pride in his work. He started the role by cleaning five rooms per day. This quickly grew to 10, 15, and beyond.
“By the time I was finished, I had the same output as a senior person in the role. I was extremely proud of my work. I think different areas at the hotel became aware of my work ethic, which encouraged me.”
Gabriele can’t speak highly enough about his co-op role, not just as a job, but as a formative life experience. He loved the opportunity to work in a luxury hotel, providing 5-star experiences to guests who expected the very best. He also loved the scenery and friendships he forged with colleagues while in Lake Louise.
“Everything was amazing. All of us worked toward the common goal of delivering luxury to guests. A genuine sense of community was built, creating a profound bond. We helped each other out when someone needed it. We encouraged each other to raise the standard of service. I learned that front-of-house operations are impossible without back-of-house excellence. And the glaciers – I never got over how beautiful they were.”
Gabriele can see himself returning to the Fairmont for another co-op work term in a different department. Beyond that, he has big aspirations. It’s his personal goal to land a front-end middle management position shortly after graduating from MSVU. Gabriele would love to one day do something in the Mi’kmaq community. He’s noticed an international interest in Indigenous food, entertainment, and accommodations.
“Indigenous tourism is still very young,” says Gabriele. “There are artists who make art and don’t think much of what they do, and there are tourists who are eager for authentic Mi’kmaq experiences. I want to bring them together. There is also still so much to be decided and explored in the industry. I want to be part of the process of figuring out what’s for sale when it comes to Indigenous art, and what’s sacred.”
When asked if he would recommend MSVU’s Tourism & Hospitality Management program to other Indigenous students, particularly Kinu, Gabriele is enthusiastic.
“I would one thousand percent recommend Kinu to other students. The essence of the project is what a lot of Indigenous kids are lacking in traditional post-secondary education. Leaving home and being away from family goes against everything we’re taught growing up. It takes a lot of courage and foresight to leave home,” Gabriele says. “It also takes great support. It is challenging, but so rewarding. The Kinu program specifically helps me in so many ways – academically, logistically, and emotionally. They help me get to conferences, and they assist with applications for bursaries and scholarships. They even help me when I’m doubting myself. The support is incredible.”
When asked what his mom thinks of everything he’s accomplished through the Kinu Tourism Project, Gabriele smiles widely.
“She is so proud.”