2023 Nevada Tribal Tourism Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association partners with Bureau of Land Management for 2023 Nevada Tribal Tourism Conference

Hosted at Historic Stewart Indian School in Carson City

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (April 3, 2023) – The 2023 Nevada Tribal Tourism Conference occurred on March 20-22 at the historic Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada, as the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and Bureau of Land Management hosted the event with partners Nevada’s Indian Territory, and the Nevada Indian Commission to facilitate conversations between Native communities, nonprofit associations, federal agencies, and elected officials on the economic and cultural importance of a healthy hospitality industry, while providing support for Tribes to tell their stories.

AIANTA, the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States, has served as the national voice for American Indian nations engaged in cultural tourism, while providing technical assistance, training and capacity building to Tribal nations and Native-owned enterprises engaged in tourism, hospitality, and recreation for nearly 25 years.

“The Nevada Tribal Tourism Conference offers a vital pathway to bring information, expertise, and potential resources to our Nevada tribes that are thinking about starting or advancing their cultural tourism,” said Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA, Chief Executive Officer. “As AIANTA continues our mission to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values, our mission is amplified by the strength of great partnerships like this event.”

With education at the forefront of the conference, attendees heard from local, state and national tourism experts and hands-on presentations that showcased opportunities like agritourism and dark skies activities, along with resources available to help enhance and market cultural tourism attractions along the California Trail.

Expert speakers included Carin Farley, National Scenic Trails Lead of the Bureau of Land Management; Ben Rupert, Treasurer of Nevada’s Indian Territory; Stacey Montooth, Executive Director, Nevada Indian Commission; Bobbi Rahder, Museum Director, Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum;  and Angelica Sanchez-Clark, Ph.D. Acting Deputy Superintendent National Trails of the National Park Service to name a few.

Conference attendees were also treated to the premiere of Gravelly Ford, a documentary about the California Trail commissioned by the Oregon California Trails Association. In addition, attendees had the unique opportunity to tour the Museum and Cultural Center at Stewart Indian School and explore the grounds of this historic landmark while also exploring the California Trail as it enters Carson City with local tribal members and historians to get an idea of the impact the trail had on native people.

Tribes who are looking to start or expand their Tribal Tourism footprint can find resources at www.aianta.org and visitors interested in learning more about Tribal culture can visit www.nativeamerica.travel.

About AIANTA
Founded in 1998, AIANTA was established by tribes for tribes to address inequities in the tourism system. Governed by an all-Native board of directors, AIANTA serves as a united voice for the $14 billion Native hospitality sector. AIANTA’s priorities are; 1) to provide technical assistance and training, research, and publications to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities engaged in tourism and hospitality; 2) to facilitate conversations with the Native communities, federal agencies, non-profit associations, and elected officials on the economic and cultural importance of a healthy hospitality industry; 3) to highlight the importance of visiting authentic Native destinations, including cultural, heritage, historic, and artistic sites; and 4) to generate awareness, interest and demand for these destinations with domestic and international travelers, the travel trade and the media. www.aianta.org

Contact:
Liz Slobodian on behalf of AIANTA
(904) 237-1285 or Liz@shipwrightcommunications.com