Tourism and Culture-Centered Economic Development
Tourism and culture-focused activities reveal how tribal and Native communities balance economic development with cultural preservation. They actively protect sacred sites, safeguard Native lands and ecosystems, preserve their communities' tranquility and privacy, and resist outside influences that threaten their cultural heritage. This perspective highlights their priorities and challenges.
This CoP session provided an introduction to ATNI-EDC and Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development and highlighted tourism projects across Indian Country such as:
The Wind River Development Fund
NC Growth and their partnership with the NCAIED for the Native Edge Tourism Technical Assistance Center
Akwesasne Travel of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.
Subject Matter Experts
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What was your decision-making process when starting these Tourism and Culture-Centered projects?
How does crossing invisible lines such as US/Canadian border affect tourism development?
How do you determine what access should look like? Who do you engage in these conversations?
Communication, Marketing, & Education Efforts within Tourism across Indian Country
“A rising tide lifts all boats”
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
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Seeing your community’s assets and opportunities holistically underscores successful planning. Tourism involves more than deciding which sites visitors will see or where they will stay. It requires identifying needed jobs , assessing the community’s existing assets, planning infrastructure to support future businesses like restaurants, stores, cafes, evaluating walkability, and ensuring cultural values are upheld during decision making. Strategic planning keeps you on track towards your goals and limits pitfalls.
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Recognizing what makes your community unique provides new opportunities to attract tourists. For example, the Wind River reservation benefits from its proximity to National parks and it’s Buffalo Initiative. Similarly, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe attracts both Canadian and US Citizens due to its location on the border.
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Openly communicating what visitors should or should not do on Indigenous/Tribal lands fosters understanding, protects ecosystems, and ensures the safety of people, sacred sites, and cultural practices. Educating the public not only enhances safety but also attracts new visitors and economic development. When non-tribal members or non-Indigenous peoples understand proper etiquette, they feel more comfortable engaging with Indian Country.
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Every community has diverse opinions on how government and leadership should strengthen it. In Indigenous communities, tourism is a particularly complex topic. Land, scared sites, and cultural practices add important considerations when inviting non-Indigenous people onto Indigenous/Tribal land. Tribal leaders must also weigh the historical disregard for scared sites by non-Indigenous visitors, which remains a significant concern.
Tourism that respects the living land, animals, and people can be achieved with open communication and strategic planning. Tourism initiatives led by Indigenous Peoples can strengthen their communities by offering job creation, entrepreneurship opportunities, partnerships, connections, and higher-quality of life.
Session Summary
Resource Groups Highlight
Resource Groups Highlight
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC)
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC)
Casey Pearlman discusses the work and impact of ATNI-EDC
The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC) is a non-profit Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that works regionally serving the 57 Member Tribes and their Tribal Members of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (ATNI).
ATNI-EDC works regionally to build economic sovereignty through their Native communities by providing access to capital, pathways to professional training and coaching, lender support through their Northwest Native Lending Network (NNLN), and showcase events like the Northwest Native Economic Summit and Fashion Show.
In the clip Casey Pearlman, Executive Director, discusses ATNI-EDC and their:
Technical Services: Providing resources through the Economic Development Corporation and the Northwest Native Lending Network.
State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI): Administering the program on behalf of the largest voluntary tribal consortium ever involved. Notably, when SSBCI launched a decade ago, there were only two deals across Indian Country. -Check out Dept. of Treasury ’s article on ATNI-EDC
Treasury Collaboration: Delivering technical assistance and working closely with the Department of the Treasury.
Partnership and Coalition Building: Strengthening alliances to enhance economic opportunities for Native communities.
Harvard Kennedy School - Project on Indigenous Governance and Development
Harvard Kennedy School - Project on Indigenous Governance and Development
Dr. Jeffery Burton and Eric Henson (Chickasaw citizen) discuss the impact of the project
The Project on Indigenous Governance and Development is the recognized leader in practical research, teaching, leadership development, policy analysis, and pro bono advising for Native communities. With Indigenous peoples so long shut out from access to world-class and relevant educational and economic opportunities, the core mission of the Project is to arm Indigenous people themselves with the tools needed to govern effectively and to strengthen their economic, social, and cultural fabrics. These nations are being rebuilt, poverty is being pushed back, and cultures are being strengthened as Indian communities take charge of their own destinies.
In the clip Dr. Jeffery Burton and Eric Henson (Chickasaw citizen) discuss the project:
University Partnerships: Eric teaches a class where students collaborate with Native communities to tackle local issues, developing creative solutions.
Project Examples:
Klamath Nonprofit: Students worked with a nonprofit providing housing stability and mentorship for individuals transitioning from drug treatment centers or mental health care facilities.
Aleutian Island Community: Students supported a project to establish the first Native-led federal marine wildlife sanctuary in the islands north of the Bering Strait.
Collaborative Success Stories:
Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe: Randi Barrero and her daughter participated in the program and advocate for its value.
Wind River Development Fund: Paul Huberty also partnered with the project, highlighting its impact.
This program showcases how Native and tribal entities can successfully partner with non-tribal collaborators to address complex community challenges.
Project Highlights
Project Highlights
Introduction to Tourism and Culture-Centered Development, Wind River Development Fund, and NCGrowth
In the clip to the right, Kevin Klingbeil introduces the topic of tourism and culture-centered economic development, emphasizing the importance of considering benefits and challenges for Indigenous communities. He highlights an array of funding mechanisms to support these initiatives, such as the recompete grant through EDA, the SSBCI grant, BIA funding programs, and other federal programs.
The conversation was framed around the question “How do you avoid opening the floodgates to activities on your lands that start to become out of your control while addressing your culture?”. Kevin also explores:
Establishing guardrails to manage tourism and cultural activities effectively
Ensuring proper management of these activities
Securing funding to build the infrastructure necessary to support tourism and culture initiatives responsibly.
Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) Intro
Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) Intro
In the clip above Erika Warren-Yarber and Paul Huberty of the Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) introduce themselves and their organization.
WRDF supports local entrepreneurs and businesses in Freemont and Hot Springs Counties, Wyoming, by providing access to capital, technical assistance, support, training, and professional capacity in retaining, expanding and developing enterprises. As the only Native CDFI in all of Wyoming, WRDF serves the state’s sole reservation, a 2.2-million-acre area that is home to two tribes, the Northern Arapaho and the Eastern Shoshone tribes. This unique dynamic of shared land brings both rewarding opportunities and unique challenges to their work.
NCGrowth Intro
NCGrowth Intro
In the clip above Mark Little introduces himself and NCGrowth
NCGrowth is a National EDA University Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that includes economic development professionals and a dynamic cohort of more than 30 part-time graduate student analysts. Their portfolio of work rests on a foundation of collaborations with more than 500 organizations including the National Center for American Indian Economic Development (NCAIED), other NGOs, foundations, corporations, and faith organizations.
Origins and Expansion: Began with a local focus on creating wealth and jobs in North Carolina’s economically distressed communities. Has since expanded to national-scale projects.
Tourism and Tribal Collaboration: Partnered with NCAIED on a new initiative funded by the Office of Indian Economic Development to promote tourism-based economic development for tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and Alaskan villages. Early partnerships, dating back 12 years, included tourism-related businesses. Long-standing partnership with NCAIED began with supply chain work and continued with a joint project last year.
Current Initiative: Preparing to launch a website for the new tourism initiative. Learn more through the press release: NCAIED Tourism Technical Assistance Center.
Additional Resource: Explore NCGrowth’s Blueways Guide, which helps communities leverage waterways for tourism: BluewaysGuide.
Akwesasne Travel Intro
Akwesasne Travel Intro
Raeann Adams and Randi Barreiro introduce themselves and Akwesasne Travel
In the clip to the left, Raeann Adams and Randi Barreiro introduce themselves and Akwesasne Travel.
Akwesasne Travel is the official Destination Marketing and Management Organization (DMMO) for Akwesasne, based in the Office of Economic Development of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe in Akwesasne, New York.
Key focus areas include supporting small business development and providingtechnical assistance in the tourism space.
They also serveas both a visitor management and destination marketing organization.
Territorial Reach: Represents their entire territory which spans into Canada to the north and New York to the South. They are over two provinces, Quebec and Ontario and two counties, St. Lawrence and Franklin County in the uppermost part of New York State.
The tribe faces unique challenges and responsibilities in managing such a vast and diverse territory. However, this cross-border location also provides significant opportunities for growth and development.
Project Q&A
Project Q&A
What was your decision-making process when starting these Tourism and Culture-Centered projects?
What was your decision-making process when starting these Tourism and Culture-Centered projects?
WRDF decision-making process
WRDF applied and received the Recompete Award from the EDA for approximately $36 million, a portion of which is geared to catalyze an indigenous-led eco-tourism economy on the Wind River Reservation. Paul Huberty shared:
The WRDF team “had an epiphany” after looking at the reservation and saying, “you know, we’ve got to do better.” They know that traditional economic development was not going to work in Wind River as it has not worked in the past due to multiple complex issues. They decided that economic development for Wind River has to balance culture and native sovereignty.
WRDF came up with this model of by thinking about how “to strengthen the fabric of our community, our culture, and our language, while at the same time creating opportunity for people to pursue their dreams.”
They also developed this plan with a holistic approach. They shared that they needed a strong healthcare system, a strong food system on the reservation, and job training programs for jobs in Wyoming.
Erika Warren-Yarber of WRDF shared:
Paul's been encouraging of understanding what the state is leveraging, what people are getting into and what is the number one job creation sector? Number one used to be oil and gas for job creation, but what it has been recently is tourism and hospitality.
Fremont County, which includes part of the reservation, brings in $167 million every year. Out of that $167 million that's being created through tourism, the reservation probably received about 1% of that funding. WDRF asked themselves “How do we stop that leakage?”
Resources are one barrier to stopping that leakage. The reservation is 2.2 million acres, which is the same size as Yellowstone. However, Yellowstone has 230 game wardens to manage that land and those resources and Wind River has 4.
WDRF thought about the resources that Wind River already has. Resources such as untouched, lakes and thousands of miles of streams. Wind River also has their Buffalo Initiative which is rematriating their Bison. This initiative is right on the highway to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone.
The next steps are to think about how Wind River will attract and host these visitors. They hope to create Fish and Game building, invest in staff, create more funding and sustainability, and uplift Indigenous entrepreneurs. Also to invest in infrastructure like restaurants, cafes, car mechanics, and other economic and community strengthening infrastructure.
How has your partnership grown?
How has your partnership grown?
Mark Little speaks about NCGrowth’s project with NCAIED
Mark Little from NCGrowth shares:
NCGrowth’s partnership with NCAIED has been building for a few years. Mark highlights that partnerships are a huge benefit even if projects do not work out the first or second time. He encourages maintaining those partnerships for when the right time and project does come along.
The partnership with NCAIED is now focused on the Native Edge Tourism Technical Assistance Center. This work envisions how tourism can be used as a tool for economic development by tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations and Alaskan villages.
Mark shares that tourism planning does not just encompass one facet of the economy and community, but also includes things like where visitors will get gas, where they will stay, where they will eat, etc. This creates an eco-system of opportunities.
Mark emphasis that ensuring visitors do not disturb the natural eco-system or sacred sites requires intentional planning.
This project aims to benefit Tribes that have not planned out Tourism projects. It will provide technical assistance and find cross cutting themes that could be useful in multiple places.
How does crossing invisible lines such as US/Canadian border affect tourism development?
How does crossing invisible lines such as US/Canadian border affect tourism development?
Reann discusses how borders affect Tourism
Reann of Akwesasne Travel of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe:
St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is engaged in tourism and funding efforts on all sides of the borders they lay across. They work with US initiatives such as the EDA Indigenous Communities program.
Akwesasne Travel used these funds to launch the industry and provide small business support in tourism spaces. It helps with product development, market assessment, training, technical assistance, workforce development and marketing.
It is important to engage in strategic partnerships and develop those relationships with agencies, whether it's at the local, regional or federal levels. It is important to really advocate the need for additional capacity building mechanisms.
It’s also important to ensure education of visitors so they understand the unique aspects of tribal nations and how to act in these spaces. They aim to develop a relationship with visitors so that it can become a recurring trip or referral of their friends and families.
Akwesasne plans holistically and strategically about what needs to be done and the entire process. They leverage partnership opportunities to really grow and represent an international market.
How do you determine what access should look like? Who do you engage in these conversations?
How do you determine what access should look like? Who do you engage in these conversations?
The SME discuss access and engagement in their communities
Raeann of Akwesasne Travel of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe:
They have conducted extensive community engagement. They officially started the tourism initiative in 2018, but even almost 10 years prior to that they were already talking about tourism within the community.
In 2018 they received an ANA grant for creating a tourism industry businesses and jobs project. Through the grant they were able to receive a lot of that feedback. However, community engagement never really stops. Akwesasne Travel continues to receive feedback from artisans, business owners, and tribal members. The community chooses what access looks like.
Paul from WRDF shares:
Two years ago on the reservation, there was an Intertribal Tourism Summit that brought together anybody who wanted to participate in that daylong conference and discussion. The outcome from it was that there was just a general consensus that there is an opportunity. However, they did not walk away from this summit with clear next steps.
WRDF worked with other tribal leaders on the reservation, like Tribal fish and game and Tribal Buffalo Initiative, and decided that there's an opportunity here that they want to pursue.
There's not a general consensus around ecotourism and outdoor recreation. There are some people who believe that there should be no people except for tribal members on parts of the reservation and some people who believe that that they should take advantage of what Yellowstone has done, so the goal is finding a balance that works.
Communication, Marketing, & Education Efforts within Tourism across Indian Country
Communication, Marketing, & Education Efforts within Tourism across Indian Country
The SME share trends, challenges, and strategies for communication
Mark of NCGrowth shares:
Having a separate entity for Tourism initiatives can be a benefit as it can create a general consensus and long-term planning.
On the consumer side, most visitors respond to a clear understanding of what the expectations are in terms of behavior or what they're coming there for. People generally will respect those clear guidelines.
Erika of WRDF shares:
A barrier to a general consensus and long-term planning for Wind River is two separate tribal councils that change every two years.
Launching a Powwow promotion video can show visitors the types of events that non-tribal members can visit and what culture they can experience. They also provide a Powwow etiquette guide and an audio tour of the reservation that shares locations that non-tribal members can and cannot go. Knowledge is power - This can educate and attract tourists to the reservation as they feel more comfortable knowing the etiquette expected of them.
Raeann of Akwesasne Travel shares:
There are two markets for the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. There are visitors that come to specifically engage in the economy and community of the Tribe and travelers who use the highway.
It can be a barrier to reach these travelers as there isn’t an established way to educate them if they do not look into the tribe specifically.
Are you using strategic planning in your Tourism efforts?
Are you using strategic planning in your Tourism efforts?
SME share their experience with strategic planning in Indigenous Tourism
Erika of WRDF shares:
WRDF does utilize strategic planning. Wind River engaged in the pilot program for ERC Fellows and now works with a fellow specifically for ecotourism for the next two and a half years.
Raeann of Akwesasne Travel shares:
Akwesasne is still implementing efforts from their original strategic plans. Strategic planning can be comprehensive and by the time you implement your efforts, aspects may have changed. It is important to be nimble. Creating programs to fit community needs is what’s best for Akwesasne.
Akwesasne Travel has completed their CEDs work with the EDA which will help focus on strategic growing for the next 5 years.
Randi Barreiro shares that Akwesasne Travel has been an entity that others in Indian Country look up to. One of their strengths is meaningful networking and partner engagement, not only with other Tribes but other local communities.
“A rising tide floats all boats and every community that gets stronger and can offer something very meaningful helps all of us.”
Mark of NCGrowth shares:
The Native Edge Tourism Technical Assistance Center will help with strategic planning efforts such as thinking about community assets, developing community surveys, understanding what other communities have done and what's been successful, and what may or may not be successful in your geography. Strategic planning is an essential step to successful community economic development projects.
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts
There are resources available, including the above subject matter experts (SME), who can help tribes and their programs get involved in large scale projects.
Questions, with answers from the Resource Group and fellow participants, will continue to be posted in the Knowledge Bank on the CoP website. If you have questions that you want answered, please ask in the LinkedIn group or share it with the administrators.
Resources and Upcoming Events
Resources and Upcoming Events
Resources Mentioned in This Session
Upcoming CoP Events:
Navigate This Page:
What was your decision-making process when starting these Tourism and Culture-Centered projects?
How does crossing invisible lines such as US/Canadian border affect tourism development?
How do you determine what access should look like? Who do you engage in these conversations?
Communication, Marketing, & Education Efforts within Tourism across Indian Country