AITC 2019
21st Annual American Indian Tourism Conference
September 16-19, 2019 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa | Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thank you for joining us at our 21st Annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC.)
We hope that you found the conference informative with plenty of networking opportnities. The primary goal of AITC is to to bring together Tribes, Native-owned enterrprises and other tourism professionals for a global educational forum.
Speakers & Sessions
Below, find a list of the panels and breakout sessons for AITC 2019. Please note, items in red are downloadable links to copies of the presentations given. Or, click here to view the complete speaker class for AITC 2019.
Keynote Speeches
Keynote Luncheon
Tuesday, Sept. 17
How U.S. Travel Works to Elevate the Entire Travel Industry
Roger Dow, President & CEO, U.S. Travel Association
How Indigenous Tourism is Reshaping Tourism in Canada
Keith Henry, President and CEO, Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC)
Breakfast and General Session
Wednesday, Sept. 18
Empowering Tribal Nations to Build Sustainable Economies: The Role of Federal Policy
Jefferson Keel, President, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
Keynote Luncheon
Wednesday, Sept. 18
President’s Report/Director’s Report
Emerson Vallo (Pueblo of Acoma), Board President, AIANTA; Sherry L. Rupert (Paiute/Washoe), President, AIANTA
Authentically Cultivating Cultural Tourism
Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Keynote Luncheon
Thursday, Sept. 19
Many Voices – Telling the Story of the USA Through Film
Nick Mattera, Brand USA; John Herrington (Chickasaw), Astronaut; Ariel Tweto (Inupiak), TV Personality & Producer
The Business of Art
Monday, Sept. 16, 2019
Nina Alexander, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior
Alan Atkinson, Oklahoma Arts Council
Larry Burton, Photographer
Dorothy FireCloud (Sicangu Lakota Tribe), Montezuma Castle National Monument/Tuzigoot National Monument
Linley B. Logan (Seneca Nation of Indians), Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, Evergreen State College
George Rivera (Pueblo of Pojoaque), Artist and former Governor of the Pueblo of Pojoaque
Jarica Walsh (Osage Nation), Oklahoma Arts Council.
Block 1
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019
10:30 a.m.
Breaking Down the NATIVE Act
Chris Carroll, Oklahoma Humanities
Sherry L Rupert, AIANTA
Why Overseas Tourism Matters to Indian Country
Julie P. Heizer, National Travel and Tourism Office, U.S. Department of Commerce
Building Tribal Arts Programs
George Rivera (Pueblo of Pojoaque), Artist and former Governor of the Pueblo of Pojoaque
Linley B. Logan (Seneca Nation of Indians), Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, Evergreen State College
Nina Alexander, Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior
Block 2
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019
1:05 p.m.
Toby Bloom, US Forest Service
Erin McDaniel (Choctaw), Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
Karen Wilde (Muscogee (Creek) Pawnee), Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Driving Tourism Through Cultural Centers
Kate Anderson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Marnie Leist, Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center
Shoshanna Wasserman (Thlopthlocco/Muscogee (Creek)), The American Indian Cultural Center & Museum
Partnering with RV Clubs to Attract Road Warriors
Shawn Loring, Escapees RV Club
Michael Ochs, RV Industry Association
Block 3
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019
2:15 p.m.
Shared Stewardship: Re-claim Your Narrative by Co-Managing Public Lands
Martin Begaye (Navajo Nation), Navajo Parks and Recreation Department
Lisa Gassman (Sitka Tribe of Alaska), Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Give a New Voice to Your Marketing through Storytelling
Kainoa Daines (Native Hawaiian), Hawai’i Visitors & Convention Bureau
Video: Hawaii Rooted: Transformation Through Tatoo
Video: Hawaii Rooted: Building a Hula Legacy
Sébastien Desnoyers-Picard (Huron-Wendat), Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
Video: Wendake: The Power of Aboriginal Tourism
Geotourism Along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Daniel Wiley, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, National Park Service
Block 4
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019
10:30 a.m.
Beat the Odds: Casinos Exploring Cultural Narratives
Tracy Banfield, Tulalip Resort Casino (moderator)
Demetri B. Morris (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa), Legendary Waters Resort & Casino
Kayla Anderson, Isleta Resort & Casino
Jonelle Clark, Paragon.Resort
Digital Tools for 21st Century Marketing
Gail Chehak (Klamath Tribes), AIANTA
Jordan Crahan, Shank Marketing
Tony Hines, BHW1 Advertising
The Importance of Customer Service in Cultural Tourism Development
Camille L. Ferguson (Sitka Tribe of Alaska), Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Block 5
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019
1:15 p.m.
Jon D. Panamaroff (Native Village of Afognak), Kodiak Brown Bear Center
Stacey M. Simmons (Village of Afognak and Native Village of Port Lions), Kodiak Brown Bear Center
Greg Takehara, Tourism Cares
Protecting Tribal Sovereignty Through Contracts
Taiawagi Helton, University of Oklahoma College of Law.
The Asterisk Nation: The Importance of Data Collection
Kyle Dean, PhD, Oklahoma City University
Patti Krausert, Tulsa Convention & Visitors Burea
Paige Williams Shepherd, Chickasaw Nation
Block 6
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019
2:30 p.m.
The Strategy of Familiarization Tours
Dawn Melvin (Navajo/Hopi/Tewa), Arizona Office of Tourism
Strategic Planning for Cultural Tourism:
Travis Owens (Cherokee Nation), Cherokee Nation Businesses
Anne Ketz, 106 Group
Penny Peters (Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe), Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Many Roads Lead to Tribal Tourism
LeRoy Gishi: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Block 7
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019
4 p.m.
Tribal Agritourism Development
Janie Simms Hipp, J.D., LL.M. (Chickasaw), Native American Agriculture Fund
Six-Steps to Honing Your Tribal Tourism Skills
Seleni Matus, the George Washington University
Anna Barrera, the George Washington University
Got Press? How to Pitch Media Like a Pro
Levi R. Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation), Native News Online
Whitney Dittman (Cherokee Nation), Cherokee Nation Businesses
Block 8
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019
9 a.m.
Welcome Centers on Tribal Lands
Gail Chehak (Klamath Tribes), AIANTA (moderator)
Linda K. Cooley (Yurok), Yurok Economic Development Corporation
Erin McDaniel (Choctaw), Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
A Native Approach to Sustainable Tourism
Loren Bird Rattler (Blackfeet), Blackfeet Nation
From Camping to Bison Viewing to Forest Therapy, Identifying Opportunities in the Recreation Economy
Toby Bloom, US Forest Service
Tedd C. Buelow, USDA Rural Development
Dr. Lee R. Denney, USDA Rural Development
Block 9
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019
10:30 a.m.
Gold Key Tools for International Tourism Success
Chrystal Denys, U.S. Commercial Service (United Kingdom)
Luisa Salomoni, U.S. Commercial Service (Italy)
Itinerary Building
Crystal Holtz (Oneida Nation), Radisson Hotel & Conference Center Green Bay (moderator
Apache Danforth (Oneida Nation), Native American Tourism of Wisconsin
Donovan Hanley (Navajo), Navajo Nation.
Developing a Tribal National Park
Loren Bird Rattler (Blackfeet), Blackfeet Nation (moderator)
Martin Begaye (Navajo Nation), Navajo Parks and Recreation Department
Gabrielle R. VanBergen, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.
