Indigenous Tourism in the US – Exploring Research and Extension Collaborations

This webinar explores collaborations supporting Indigenous communities through travel and tourism research and applied work. There are 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations in the United States, and countless more that are either recognized at the state level or not recognized formally by these jurisdictions. Indigenous communities — globally and in this context — have faced centuries of oppression, assimilation, and displacement. Tourism, and its promotion and development, is one way that Tribal Nations support their economies, Peoples, and culture, leading to cultural revitalization, development, and sovereignty. Yet, when tourism development does not integrate community voices, it runs the risk of cultural appropriation, economic leakage, and mismanaged projects.

Hosted by the National Extension Tourism Network (NET) and the Northeast Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (NETTRA), this webinar and its panelists examine the relationship between tourism, Indigenous communities in the United States, and university research and Extension programs. 

Panelists:

• Gail E. Chehak, Community & Partner Relations Director, American Indigenous Tourism Association
• Tiffanie Hardbarger, Associate Professor in the Cherokee & Indigenous Studies Department at Northeastern State University
• Seleni Matus, Director of International Institute of Tourism Studies, The George Washington University
• Moderator: Tanner C. Knorr; Assistant Professor of Tourism and Event Management at the University of Wisconsin