Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED): Re-Visioning the economic future of Indian Country

Due to the lack of access to credit and the limited economic opportunities that exist in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, the Office of Indian Economic Development (OIED) through the Division of Capital Investment (DCI) will provide information about the Indian Loan Guarantee Program (ILGP). The Division of Economic Development (DED) will provide an update on the 2024 Tribal Tourism Grant Program (TTGP) awards, which support Tribal economic development and fulfill the mission of the NATIVE Act by providing funds to implement Tribal Tourism projects. The final updates will include an introduction to OIED.  

Enhancing Accessibility: Creating Inclusive Destinations for All Travelers

Join us for an engaging session on enhancing travel accessibility through storytelling and impactful strategies. Explore real-life success stories and the positive impact of inclusivity. Learn practical solutions and best practices to create memorable, inclusive travel experiences for all.

“Got A Plan?” Business Plan Development – A Case Study
This panel will provide an overview of the business plan development process, including its key components, purpose and uses. It will then present an actual case study of how a business plan has been developed and is now being utilized for the operation and marketing of a planned tribal agritourism destination.

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)

Understanding and Protecting Native American Intellectual Property and Indigenous Knowledge

Western intellectual property law is in significant ways incongruent with Indigenous peoples’ worldviews of knowledge, who”owns” it or has rights to it. This presentation will explore this conflict, ways Native Americans can protect knowledge within the prevailing intellectual property paradigm, and strategies for protecting Indigenous knowledge going into the future.

Understanding the research and application process for BIL (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) Funding

Join us in this informative, hands-on session to dig into the U.S. Forest Service Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act Funding Areas including Community Wildfire Defense Grants, Forest Landowner Support Tribal Market Access, Forest Landowner Support Underserved and Small Acreage Landowner, Wood Innovations Program Grans and Urban Community Forestry. We will be looking at the intersection of healthy forests and cultural tourism and recreational tourism. AIANTA staff will be walking through the research, application and compliance process to better assist you in accessing these funding opportunities.

Harmony of the Past and Future: AI That Feels More Human
In this session, explore the fusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Indigenous culture. Discover how AI can embody empathy and respect to enhance Indigenous tourism, weaving technology with tradition to create deeply human, culturally rich experiences.

Securing your Funding for your Tribal Tourism Project plus the Cape Croker Park Experience

This workshop will share practical, detailed tactics and examples so you can develop your tourism project and secure your capital funding. This inspiring presentation includes seven key financing steps ‘from the field’, and moves onto to higher level strategies and tactics you can use to bring your project to life.level strategies and tactics you can use to bring your project to life.

Empowering Indigenous Voices: Inclusion of Local First Contact Tribes in Cultural and Ecotourism at Wealthiest Historical Colonial Sites

Delve into the crucial conversation on how integrating Indigenous communities from the wealthiest locations in the country enriches the narrative, preserves heritage, and promotes sustainable tourism practices. Discover the significance of honoring ancestral knowledge, fostering economic empowerment and environmental stewardship through collaborative partnerships.

Agritourism: Is Virtually Anywhere…Anywhere​

In this session, learn how can agritourism be incorporated into existing native agritourism operations to be a value-add for producers and businesses. Identifying how American Indian Foods producers have utilized their operations to welcome consumers into their operations and teach them about how their food is produced.

Understanding the Characteristics of International Visitors

In this session, the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) Deputy Director of Research David Huether will provide an overview of NTTO’s research programs, highlight some recent improvements, and demonstrate how to access and utilize NTTO research to better understand the international visitor.

Culture as a Career: Goldbelt’s Impact in Juneau

This educational session will share with you the efforts of Goldbelt, an Alaska Native Corporation, to incorporate and showcase Tlingit culture in their business ventures, particularly in the tourism industry.  One of the key initiatives is the revitalization of the Goldbelt Tram, the most-visited private attraction in Juneau, into an immersive cultural experience.  As tourism is a major industry in Juneau, we will discuss what Goldbelt is doing in partnership with the City of Juneau to improve tourism management and stimulate the local economy.  Goldbelt aims to be an example of a business that prioritizes cultural preservation alongside economic development, and we are excited to share a part of that journey with you today

Leveraging Technology: Enhancing Tour Operations with Booking Platforms

Native American Tours (NAT) is a comprehensive booking platform designed and built for Indigenous tour operators. The software is fast, secure, user friendly and seamlessly allows customers to book and manage their reservations. NAT also offers advanced reporting for taxes and permit fees, affiliate management, e-signing for waivers, and more.

Centering Tribal Communities in Cultural Tourism

In this session, hear a case study in how the Museum of the Cherokee People pivoted focus toward its tribal community in its Museum Store and developed a new brand that shares Cherokee and Indigenous cultures authentically with its community and visitors.

Intro to BIL (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) and IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) Funding to support Native Land Resilience

In this session, participants will hear from Native leaders working to minimize the risk and impact of forest fires on Native lands and communities. Learn about fire mitigation efforts and the importance of healthy lands and forests for tourism and recreation. Hear from leaders engaged in the cultural response in preparation for and in response to the wildfires. Discover how special handling and training protected significant cultural sites, underscoring the role of culturally informed fire prevention in preserving Native heritage and promoting sustainable tourism.

Maximizing Exposure: How Writers, Media, and Marketing Can Boost Your Destination

Learn how to elevate your destination’s visibility through effective storytelling and marketing strategies. This session covers hosting media FAM tours, crafting compelling narratives, and creating advertising messages that engage international and domestic travelers. Discover how to build strong media relationships, leverage coverage, and expand your destination’s reach to attract a diverse, global audience.

Building Recreation Trails to Increase Outdoor Tourism

The Eastern Band of Cherokee’s Fire Mountain Trails have helped the Tribe build its outdoor economy and improve the quality of life of its members.The Tribe’s multi use trail system is a network of more than 11 miles formountain bikers, hikers or runners. In this session, we’ll share how building the trail has brought outdoor enthusiasts and adventure travelers that contribute to the Tribe’s other tourism attractions and local businesses. The Rails to Trails Conservancy will share their resources to connect the nation’s trails, unlocking the impact that trail systems can have on people and places.

Welcome to Indian Country: How Working with Bloggers Helps Tourism and Education

Indian Country has so much to offer people that it can only benefit from working with bloggers. From travel bloggers/writers to lifestyle bloggers, as well as foodies, working together benefits Native American communities and attractions through sharing stories, history, tradition, and culture. Bloggers/writers benefit from gaining a better understanding of Indian Country, places and people they likely haven’t had much contact with.

America’s Scenic Byways: Boosting Tourism and Empowering Communities

Scenic driving is extremely popular among Americans and international visitors who often have a variety of iconic routes on their bucket lists. Designated scenic drives and byways across the U.S. showcase the diversity of American landscapes, culture and attractions. This session will explore these distinctive travel experiences and how routes recognized at the state and national level can help increase tourism and empower local communities to enhance and protect critical resources..

Building Indigenous Tourism – Tools for Business Assessment

As the world of tourism continues to evolve and consumer demand for authentic Indigenous tourism experiences continues to be on the rise, we invite you to dive into the only mark of excellence that follows ISO Standards and the only mark of authenticity in tourism designed by Indigenous people, for the Indigenous tourism Industry. Come learn how you could benefit from The Original Original Accreditation which has been created and is now implemented in Canada by the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and how we can collectively build, strengthen and protect our work through this unique mark.

Working with Historic Trails to Tell Your Story, Promote Tourism and Conserve Historic Sites and Lands

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a major event in U.S. history and a draw to visitors from around the globe. The National Park Service partnered with AIANTA more than 5 years ago to find and share the stories of Native American Tribes and the Trail. For more than 40 years the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc. has been the nation’s premier non-profit organization for the preservation of the Lewis and Clark Trail and the sharing of its stories. In this session, hear the story of how these groups work together to help preserve and maintain the Trails and promote tourism within the tribal and neighboring communities along the Trail. Also learn about Terrain360, which has been virtually mapping lands along the Trail, including working with tribes and their lands.

Protecting Our Lands: Launching Tools for Responsible Tourism

Join us for the launch of two new resources developed through an AIANTA and Leave No Trace collaboration: “Engaging Responsible Visitors Through Your Story,” a tool to help communities convey their expectations to visitors before they arrive, and “How to Responsibly Visit Tribal Nations and Alaska Native Villages,” a guide offering insights for non-Indigenous guests based on the experiences of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian community members. Learn how these resources can protect your lands while promoting responsible tourism.

How to Use AI Tools to Build Your Cultural Tourism Marketing Materials

In this session, you’ll discover how to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to create compelling cultural tourism marketing materials.

Sustainability at the Core

Discover the most recent sustainability resources designed for your community to embark on a practical journey of education and action in the field of sustainability, all organized around three guiding principles: EDUCATING your community to urgent sustainability matters, EQUIPPING communities to take action, and EMPOWERING travelers to contribute to meaningful sustainable practices.