Author: GW IITS

To address this challenge, we have been working over the past year and a half with the nine federally recognized Tribal Nations in South Dakota (also known as the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ or “Seven Council Fires”) to assess the potential for native tourism. This process has led to the creation of the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance (SDNTA), an ad hoc network of representatives from the South Dakota Tribal Nations, and local, state, and federal partners. By 2025, the SDNTA envisions tribal governments actively working with industry and state and federal partners to develop Native American tourism experiences that attract visitors, encouraging them to stay and experience more in Native American communities, ultimately bolstering local economies and the well-being of local communities. 

We have also been working with Native American entrepreneurs to help them remain viable during the COVID-19 pandemic by providing training and mentorship aimed at developing and launching virtual tourism experiences. One of our pilot participants was Bonnie LeBeaux (Navajo and Lakota), who resides on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. Bonnie offers a virtual tour of the traditional textiles given to mark milestones and show appreciation and gratitude. “I am just so grateful for this opportunity with the mentors and being invited into a training like this,” LeBeaux said. “I would have never done it on my own. Everybody was just so helpful and giving of their time and their talents and they just made this experience come to life.”

Bonnie is the second of five entrepreneurs who went through the training to launch her Online Experience on Airbnb. You can learn more about Bonnie’s tour and book it here.

Other tourism entrepreneurs who went through the training have created educational videos showcasing their culture. In this video, Guss and Tianna Yellow Hair of the Oglala Sioux Tribe share the history of parfleche art and explain its significance in Lakota culture. This father-daughter are partners in Tatanka Rez Tours, which is one of the very few Native American tour operators in South Dakota. 

Even though most Tribal Nations in South Dakota remain closed to outsiders for now, the virus won’t last forever. As the world recovers from this pandemic, Tribal Nations will reopen and visitors will begin to explore new places and seek inspiration in new connections—with people, nature, and culture. We hope that you will consider visiting the less explored, off the beaten path Native American communities in South Dakota when it is safe to do so.

Cover photo source: the South Dakota Department of Tourism

Today, Indigenous women in tourism must push past barriers such as access to loans and capital, lack of education and a lack of representation in the tourism industry. Despite these obstacles, a significant number of Indigenous women are demonstrating resilience and determination with their individual stories of entrepreneurship. Indigenous women entrepreneurs contribute to sustainable development by improving the living conditions for their families, upholding the traditions of their communities, and creating economic independence and work opportunities for themselves.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2021, the Indigenous Tourism Collaborative of the Americas (ITCA) brought together Indigenous women heading up successful tourism social enterprises throughout the Americas for a virtual hour-long discussion, covering topics ranging from what a typical day on the job looks like to the most pressing challenges they’ve faced in starting tourism enterprises. The roundtable discussion, “Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs in Tourism” was a part of the George Washington University School of Business Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Impact Conference held on March 8.

Joining the panel discussion were: 

• Uhwanie Martinez, Owner and Manager, Palmento Grove Eco-cultural and Fishing Institute, Belize
• Olivia Rose Williamson, Founder of Indian Battle Tours, United States
• Graciela Coy, Director, Ak’ Tenamit, Guatemala
• Teresa Ryder, Director of Business Development, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
• Moderator: Seleni Matus, Executive Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at GWU and a member of the ITCA Steering Committee 

In a Q&A style session, panelists responded thoughtfully to questions posed by the event moderator. A snapshot of the discussion is provided below. A recording of the event is also available here.

What does a typical day look like for you?

What are some of the most difficult challenges in starting and growing social enterprises?

How have you overcome these challenges?

In playing so many roles in educating Indigenous youth in tourism, having restaurants, gift shops, and accommodations, how do you see the values of your story integrated into what you are doing at different levels? 

Similarly, how do you see the values of your story integrated into what you are doing at different levels?

In thinking about resilience, how would you define it and what advice would you give?

Any further advice?

A New Collaborative Network Takes Shape

The first-ever indigenous Tourism Forum of the Americas, held October 12-16, invited speakers and leaders to explore the significance of Indigenous tourism in the Americas, the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous tourism, and how to recover and prosper in the aftermath.  

Before the spread of COVID-19, tourism was providing a very promising approach to sustainable development in Indigenous communities—to generate income, alleviate poverty, increase access to healthcare and education, and conserve cultural and natural resources.

Even as COVID-19 continues to ravage tourism and hospitality economies, thought leaders in the Americas have turned their attention to the future, to recovery and rebuilding.

Ancient Indigenous communities gained resilience and strength through exchanged knowledge and shared goods, ensuring peace and prosperity and empowering Indigenous people to determine their own fates and futures. We at the George Washington University International Institute of Tourism Studies (GW IITS) brought two other institutions with overlapping Indigenous missions together in 2019 to explore how ancient networks throughout the Americas could be re-imagined to empower Indigenous tourism.  

The original Indigenous Tourism Forum of the Americas was planned as an in-person event to be held in the spring of 2020 in New Mexico, and then COVID-19 struck. Pivoting, the GW IITS and the Organization of American States (OAS), in collaboration with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), held a webinar to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous tourism and what could be done to mitigate them. The main takeaway was the need for stronger communication, networking and recovery planning. 

Inspired by these results, the three organizing entities—led by faculty and students of GW IITS—became the driving force behind a forum held in October, a virtual gathering of Indigenous tourism leaders and tourism industry leaders from across the Americas—Canada, USA, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.  

More than 230 participants came together to explore many vital topics, including a collaborative network that could attract attention, support, research, and commerce to sustain economic recovery for Indigenous communities engaged in tourism through and beyond  COVID-19. Participants engaged enthusiastically in the Forum’s deep and wide program—

• Each day included inspiring keynote addresses. We heard from Governor of Acoma Pueblo Brian Vallo, who has been a friend of cultural tourism for decades; the chef and TV personality Loretta Barrett Oden, with a message about the centrality and importance of food in tourism; CEO of Indigenous Tourism Ontario Kevin Eshkawkogan gave a presentation on strategic tourism planning; and Pilar Montesino Cusiyupanqui reinforced the importance of collaboration as President of the Regional Network of Community Tourism (Peru).
• More than 30 Indigenous tourism practitioner panelists, including the current President of the National Congress of American Indians, discussed economic recovery, tourism planning and development, protecting intellectual and cultural property, and feasible visitor experiences post-COVID-19. For notable quotes from speakers and organizers, click here. 
• Panels were moderated by editors and writers from Indigenous and national media, including National Public Radio, Indian Country Today, National Geographic Traveler, and Skift.
• High level participation included ministerial, federal and state and tribal government leaders from Mexico, the United States, Dominica, Panama, Peru, Ecuador and El Salvador with messages of support for Indigenous tourism.
• Also outstanding were the number of sustainable tourism guideline presentations. They included global good practice (Planeterra, G Adventures, GWU), community-based rural tourism (OAS), Reconciliation Action (Intrepid Travel and Australia), Indigenous tourism (UNWTO and World Indigenous Tourism Alliance), and authentic Indigenous experiences (Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada).
• With an emphasis on the need to leverage technology during COVID-19, destinations across the Americas presented entertaining, informational video tours.
• Key to the recovery going forward, there was a gathering of new advisors to the collaborative made up of Indigenous tourism leaders and tourism industry leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities of a COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 environment.

GW IITS looks forward to continuing to work with OAS and BIA to build on this very strong beginning. The collaborative network’s aspirations—led by GW, OAS and BIA—are worthy of investment: thriving Indigenous tourism communities through increased knowledge and capacity, leaders valuing their contributions and supporting their development, and visitors from across the globe able to experience the wonders of Indigenous lands and life. 

To listen to excerpts from speakers and organizers, please subscribe to the Indigenous Tourism Forum of the Americas on Youtube.