AIANTA and University of Nevada Las Vegas Tribal Education Tourism Planning Training Program – Part 1

AIANTA and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) have joined together to produce a custom training program designed to train Tribal tourism leaders in the best practices of creating cultural tourism systems, exploring connectivity between tourism and land use, and tools for developing a successful grant application proposal, compliance and post-award reporting on U.S. Department of Forestry grants.  

Speaker: 

Tammi Tiger (Choctaw and Muscogee), Director of Tribal Education, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)

As the founding Director of the Tribal Education Initiative, Tammi Tiger is focused on developing future generations of leaders in Tribal gaming & hospitality enterprises through a world-class education at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ms. Tiger’s career in public service started with Clark County, department of Public Works, where she spent 25 years in administration and operational support for the engineering, construction and maintenance of public infrastructure with one of the largest counties in the nation and home to the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Ms. Tiger is appointed to the governing board of the Nevada Department of Native American Affairs and the NV Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy. She obtained a Master’s degree of Public Administration from UNLV, where she is also one of the founding members of the UNLV Native American Alumni association. Tammi Tiger is a citizen of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and a descendant of Muscogee and Seminole nations.

Empowering Your Community with Strategic Planning Foundations

This strategic planning presentation provides tribal tourism enterprises with a structured strategic planning approach that serves as the essential foundation before seeking funding or investment. Without this planning framework, businesses can struggle to clearly articulate their vision and resource needs to potential funders. In session, we will review what it means to have a Resource Assessment Focus. In the workshop, we will addresses resource identification and allocation, helping communities conduct a comprehensive inventory of existing assets before seeking external funding – which is critical for realistic business planning and succession planning. Participants will leave with Funding-Ready outcomes. Having been led through a planning worksheets that directly support grant applications and funding proposals, this workshop will help make communities immediately better positioned to pursue financial opportunities.

Speaker:

Dawnielle Tehama, (Klamath), Sr. Associate Principal, Coraggio Group

Dawnielle is a tourism professional with extensive experience in stewardship and Indigenous tourism. As a DMO leader, she focused on regenerative travel and diversity initiatives. After law school, she owned small businesses before finding her passion in tourism, where she helped form a Destination Management Organization in Southern Oregon and became a liaison to her tribe. Her career includes overseeing global marketing for the Hualapai Tribe at Grand Canyon West, developing the Hopi Tribe’s economic development plan, and working with multiple tribal organizations including Grand Ronde, Siletz, and Klamath Tribes. She holds a Class III gaming license in three states and has been a speaker for prestigious organizations like The World Travel and Tourism Council regarding Indigenous tourism. Dawnielle’s credentials include certifications as a Certified Diversity Tourism Professional, graduation from the Oregon Tourism Leadership Academy, and recognition as Woman of the Year from the National Tour Association. She Chairs the NTA DEI Advisory council, is a member of the Tourism Cares Program Committee and serves as a Climate Champion within the Expedia Sustainable Destination DMO program. In all her work, she remains dedicated to unifying stakeholder voices while promoting stewardship that sustains communities for generations.

The Pueblo Model: Community-Based Tourism Grounded in Tradition​
In Pueblo communities, tourism is not a product—it is a responsibility. This session will explore how Pueblo-led tourism models center language, land, family, and ceremony in every experience offered. From traditional meals and guided hikes to feast day etiquette and multigenerational storytelling, this session highlights how community-based tourism can preserve cultural integrity, provide direct economic benefits to families, and serve as a tool for cultural pride and preservation. Speakers will share best practices for cultural review, capacity building, and visitor education to ensure traditions remain intact as tourism grows.

Speaker:

Deborah Torres (San Ildefonso and Isleta Pueblo), Chief Executive Officer, Passport To Pueblo Country

Deborah Torres is a Native entrepreneur, cultural preservation advocate, and tribal liaison based in New Mexico. She is the founder of Passport to Pueblo Country and serves as the Tribal Liaison for the City of Santa Fe’s Economic Development Department. With deep roots in San Ildefonso Pueblo and over two decades of experience in Indigenous tourism, policy, and community engagement, Deborah is dedicated to creating culturally grounded, sustainable opportunities that uplift Native voices and traditions.

AIANTA and University of Nevada Las Vegas Tribal Education Tourism Planning Training Program – Part 2

AIANTA and UNLV have joined together to produce a custom training program designed to train Tribal tourism leaders in the best practices of creating cultural tourism systems, exploring connectivity between tourism and land use, and tools for developing a successful grant application proposal, compliance and post-award reporting on U.S. Department of Forestry grants.

Speaker:

Tammi Tiger (Choctaw and Muscogee), Director of Tribal Education, University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)

As the founding Director of the Tribal Education Initiative, Tammi Tiger is focused on developing future generations of leaders in Tribal gaming & hospitality enterprises through a world-class education at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ms. Tiger’s career in public service started with Clark County, department of Public Works, where she spent 25 years in administration and operational support for the engineering, construction and maintenance of public infrastructure with one of the largest counties in the nation and home to the iconic Las Vegas Strip. Ms. Tiger is appointed to the governing board of the Nevada Department of Native American Affairs and the NV Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy. She obtained a Master’s degree of Public Administration from UNLV, where she is also one of the founding members of the UNLV Native American Alumni association. Tammi Tiger is a citizen of The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and a descendant of Muscogee and Seminole nations.

Nevada’s Indian Territory Eco-cultural Tourism Project

Nevada’s Indian Territory (NIT) vision: “Changing the world through eco-cultural tourism of the Great Basin.” NIT combines unique ecotourism opportunities, natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and the rich culture of the Great Basin Indigenous People to create an authentic and meaningful eco-cultural travel experience. NIT implements the principles of sustainable destination planning and marketing which utilizes best sustainability practices with a clear definition of a vision, sustainability pillars, and sustainable guiding principles. These principles of sustainable destination planning will provide a pathway for a regenerative, responsible and authentic travel experience that improves the health of the land and health of the Great Basin Indigenous People.

The purpose of the Nevada’s IndianTerritory Eco-cultural Tourism (NITET) project is to strengthen cultural awareness and cultural identity through authentic eco-cultural tourism, while being environmentally responsible, inclusive of the Great Basin Indigenous People, and provide economic development opportunities. The NITET project utilizes a community value-based sustainable destination development approach that collaborates with all stakeholders to promote a niche tourism of the Great Basin Indigenous People. The NITET project is a unique opportunity to combine ecotourism and cultural tourism (eco-cultural tourism) to promote cultural awareness, cultural identify, authentic destination development, and economic development for Nevada’s 28 – Tribes while being stewards of the Great Basin ecosystem. It’s a majestic land of natural and cultural treasures. NITET offers paddle boarding the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe, hiking the Valley of Fire and experiencing its magnificent petroglyphs, camping in the Jarbidge Wilderness, being on top of the Great Basin National Park with endless stars, to fishing for world-class Lahontan Cutthroat Trout at Pyramid Lake. With natural beauty, abundant wildlife, and the rich culture of its Great Basin Indigenous People. A concept in which ecological and cultural aspects of the Great Basin are combined to create a special destination for tourists.

Speaker:

Ben Rupert (Duck Valley Shoshone Paiute and Washoe), Officer – Destination Development, Nevada’s Indian Territory

Ben Rupert Ben is of Duck Valley Shoshone-Paiute and Washoe descent. Ben is part of the Nevada’s Indian Territory leadership team, a marketing arm of the Nevada Commission on Tourism. He is a Native dancer and traditional artist. His passion is to share his Native culture through cultural presentations, dancing, fishing, hunting, traditional art, and being a steward of the Great Basin culture. He recently retired from the City of Reno Fire Department, after 33 years, in the fire service. Ben graduated from Oregon State University and recently received a master’s degree in Sustainable Tourism from Arizona State University. He also served in the U.S. Army as an Airborne/Infantryman.

Northern Alaska
Southeast Alaska
Hawai’i
Central California
Southern California
Northwest (Idaho, Washington)
Pacific Northwest (Northern California, Oregon)
Great Basin (Nevada, Eastern California)
Oklahoma
Rocky Mountain (Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming)
Central Plains (Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio)
Midwest (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin)
Southwest (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, West Texas, Utah)
Northeast (Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia)
Southeast (Alabama, Arkansas, East Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee)

Simplifying AI: Practical Tools for Indigenous Tourism

Artificial Intelligence (AI) doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or out of reach. In this engaging, one-hour workshop, you’ll discover practical and accessible AI tools specifically tailored to elevate Indigenous tourism initiatives. No technical expertise required—just a willingness to explore! Through live demonstrations, you’ll see firsthand how AI can: Generate eye-catching visuals and promotional materials in minutes; Easily create compelling videos and digital stories to enhance visitor engagement; Improve guest experiences through personalized communication and services; Streamline everyday tasks, making operations more efficient; You’ll walk away feeling confident and empowered, equipped with real-world tips and actionable strategies that you can implement immediately. Bring a laptop or device (and questions) if you’d like to follow along with the demonstrations and experiment during the session. (Completely optional—feel free to just observe and learn!) Join us to simplify AI and unlock practical tools to share your Indigenous story, attract visitors, and enrich your tourism offerings.

Speaker:

Daniel Willems, Owner, Lanier Web Development

Daniel Willems is a seasoned technology leader and advocate for meaningful, human-centered applications of AI in tourism. With extensive experience partnering directly with Indigenous communities and tourism organizations, Daniel specializes in practical, accessible AI tools that empower tribes to effectively share their stories, enhance visitor experiences, and streamline daily operations. He was the original architect of the tourism website NativeAmerica.travel, which set new standards in showcasing Indigenous tourism experiences across North America.

In addition to his work in tourism, Daniel is the founder of TYB.AI, an education platform that uses safe, conversational AI to support children’s learning and help families build strong habits together. Whether in classrooms or cultural centers, his mission is consistent: simplify complex technology to serve real human needs. Daniel’s engaging workshops equip attendees with immediate, actionable strategies to confidently leverage AI in their tourism initiatives — and beyond.

Beyond Exhibits: How Tribal Museums Foster Respectful Tourism and Protect Sacred Places

Tribal Museums are more than cultural repositories—they are dynamic gateways to respectful, Native-led tourism that uplifts Tribal sovereignty, strengthens economies, and protects Sacred places. This session, co-led by Maurice C. Jackson, Director of Museum Services at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, and CC Hovie, citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Communications and Public Affairs Director for the Association on American Indian Affairs (Association), will explore how Tribal Museums are leading the way in land-based tourism experiences—such as guided hikes, storytelling walks, cultural demonstrations, and ecological education.

The Association’s Tribal Museums Day, a national awareness campaign held each December, demonstrates how these Native-led institutions connect visitors to broader cultural landscapes. The event draws attention to Tribal Museums as vital places to learn from Native experts about history, culture, lifeways, and values. Additionally, Tribal Museums can act as entryways to nearby Sacred sites and traditional lands. In this way, Tribal Museums not only promote educational tourism and support Tribal economies—they also help guide respectful visitor engagement with the land itself.

This session will further explore how Tribal-led tourism efforts can support the protection of Sacred places—many of which are located on public lands and face continued threats from unchecked development and recreational use. Presenters will share examples and strategies that show how partnerships between museums, land stewards, and tourism programs can help ensure these culturally significant areas are honored, protected, and experienced through an Indigenous lens.

Attendees will walk away with practical ideas for designing tourism experiences that center Tribal leadership, protect Sacred lands, and strengthen the role of Tribal Museums as anchors of cultural sovereignty and sustainable tourism.

Speaker:

Ericca Hovie (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Public Affairs & Communications Director, Association on American Indian Affairs

Ericca “CC” Hovie is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and serves the Association on American Indian Affairs as its Public Affairs and Communications Director. The Association is the longest serving national Native nonprofit, since 1922. As a marketing and communications professional, CC has worked and volunteered for several non-profit organizations over the past two decades. As a former Traverse City Roller Derby Board Member, Northwest Michigan Association of Volunteer Administrators Board Member, and Bay Area Senior Advocates Senior Expo Co-Chair she worked to expand each organization’s reach and impact in the community. A lifelong learner, she attended Lake Superior State University and Ferris State University where she received leadership and management training. Prior to her position at the Association, she served as the communications manager for StrongHearts Native Helpline. Finding and supporting Native creators on social media is one of CC’s favorite things to do. A self-described reconnecting Native, participating in pow wows and sharing her culture brings her joy and fulfills her spirit.​

Simplifying AI: Practical Tools for Indigenous Tourism

Artificial Intelligence (AI) doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or out of reach. In this engaging, one-hour workshop, you’ll discover practical and accessible AI tools specifically tailored to elevate Indigenous tourism initiatives. No technical expertise required—just a willingness to explore! Through live demonstrations, you’ll see firsthand how AI can: Generate eye-catching visuals and promotional materials in minutes; Easily create compelling videos and digital stories to enhance visitor engagement; Improve guest experiences through personalized communication and services; Streamline everyday tasks, making operations more efficient; You’ll walk away feeling confident and empowered, equipped with real-world tips and actionable strategies that you can implement immediately. Bring a laptop or device (and questions) if you’d like to follow along with the demonstrations and experiment during the session. (Completely optional—feel free to just observe and learn!) Join us to simplify AI and unlock practical tools to share your Indigenous story, attract visitors, and enrich your tourism offerings.

Speaker:

Daniel Willems, Owner, Lanier Web Development

Daniel Willems is a seasoned technology leader and advocate for meaningful, human-centered applications of AI in tourism. With extensive experience partnering directly with Indigenous communities and tourism organizations, Daniel specializes in practical, accessible AI tools that empower tribes to effectively share their stories, enhance visitor experiences, and streamline daily operations. He was the original architect of the tourism website NativeAmerica.travel, which set new standards in showcasing Indigenous tourism experiences across North America.

In addition to his work in tourism, Daniel is the founder of TYB.AI, an education platform that uses safe, conversational AI to support children’s learning and help families build strong habits together. Whether in classrooms or cultural centers, his mission is consistent: simplify complex technology to serve real human needs. Daniel’s engaging workshops equip attendees with immediate, actionable strategies to confidently leverage AI in their tourism initiatives — and beyond.

Beyond Exhibits: How Tribal Museums Foster Respectful Tourism and Protect Sacred Places

Tribal Museums are more than cultural repositories—they are dynamic gateways to respectful, Native-led tourism that uplifts Tribal sovereignty, strengthens economies, and protects Sacred places. This session, co-led by Maurice C. Jackson, Director of Museum Services at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, and CC Hovie, citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and Communications and Public Affairs Director for the Association on American Indian Affairs (Association), will explore how Tribal Museums are leading the way in land-based tourism experiences—such as guided hikes, storytelling walks, cultural demonstrations, and ecological education.

The Association’s Tribal Museums Day, a national awareness campaign held each December, demonstrates how these Native-led institutions connect visitors to broader cultural landscapes. The event draws attention to Tribal Museums as vital places to learn from Native experts about history, culture, lifeways, and values. Additionally, Tribal Museums can act as entryways to nearby Sacred sites and traditional lands. In this way, Tribal Museums not only promote educational tourism and support Tribal economies—they also help guide respectful visitor engagement with the land itself.

This session will further explore how Tribal-led tourism efforts can support the protection of Sacred places—many of which are located on public lands and face continued threats from unchecked development and recreational use. Presenters will share examples and strategies that show how partnerships between museums, land stewards, and tourism programs can help ensure these culturally significant areas are honored, protected, and experienced through an Indigenous lens.

Attendees will walk away with practical ideas for designing tourism experiences that center Tribal leadership, protect Sacred lands, and strengthen the role of Tribal Museums as anchors of cultural sovereignty and sustainable tourism.

Speaker:

Ericca Hovie (Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), Public Affairs & Communications Director, Association on American Indian Affairs

Ericca “CC” Hovie is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and serves the Association on American Indian Affairs as its Public Affairs and Communications Director. The Association is the longest serving national Native nonprofit, since 1922. As a marketing and communications professional, CC has worked and volunteered for several non-profit organizations over the past two decades. As a former Traverse City Roller Derby Board Member, Northwest Michigan Association of Volunteer Administrators Board Member, and Bay Area Senior Advocates Senior Expo Co-Chair she worked to expand each organization’s reach and impact in the community. A lifelong learner, she attended Lake Superior State University and Ferris State University where she received leadership and management training. Prior to her position at the Association, she served as the communications manager for StrongHearts Native Helpline. Finding and supporting Native creators on social media is one of CC’s favorite things to do. A self-described reconnecting Native, participating in pow wows and sharing her culture brings her joy and fulfills her spirit.​