The International Institute of Tourism Studies (IITS) at the George Washington University School of Business has been selected to lead a national cooperative agreement supporting Tribal Nations, tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations in strengthening cultural heritage tourism.
The agreement provides $1.5 million in annual funding, with the potential to total nearly $7.5 million over five years. The initiative places IITS in a national role and marks the first time an academic institution has been the recipient of this federal cooperative agreement.
Through this award, IITS will provide technical assistance, capacity building and federal coordination to help Tribal Nations develop tourism in ways that support their economic, cultural and community goals.
The agreement builds on IITS' longstanding work with Indigenous communities. The institute has supported more than 20 Tribal Nations with tourism planning, product development, capacity building and regional alliance building. In 2021, IITS also helped establish the Indigenous Tourism Collaborative of the Americas after hosting the Indigenous Tourism Forum of the Americas with the Organization of American States and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
IITS was selected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Office of Indian Economic Development and the U.S. Department of the Interior for the cooperative agreement.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Billy Kirkland said tribal tourism showcases the rich cultures, histories and traditions of tribal communities while creating jobs and strengthening local economies.
“By developing sustainable tourism opportunities that preserve their heritage, tribes can attract more visitors, strengthen their economies and advance economic self-determination for future generations,” Kirkland said.
The initiative will also create applied learning opportunities for GW students in areas such as Indigenous tourism planning, research and entrepreneurship. GW graduate students already contribute to IITS projects as research assistants and student consultants.
Seleni Matus, IITS executive director, said for years, students at GW have partnered with Native American communities around the country, including in North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Washington and Maine, to develop tourism models that respect Indigenous values and knowledge and educate visitors about the richness of Indigenous cultures.
“This new agreement will allow us to provide technical assistance to tribes, tribal organizations and Native Hawaiian organizations, creating valuable opportunities for Tribal Nations and for our students who want to use tourism as a tool for sustainable development,” Matus said.
The institute will work with organizations that bring complementary expertise in tribal economic development, Indigenous entrepreneurship and inter-tribal engagement. Partners include NCGrowth at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Center for Native American Health and Economic Development.
Edward Hall, who is affiliated with the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and serves as executive in residence for Indigenous Economic Development and Tourism at IITS, said this agreement will bring valuable resources to Tribal Nations.
“By providing tribal communities with the resources they need to develop tourism offerings they can own and be proud of, we're helping them to increase resilience, foster cultural pride and secure more reliable income,” Hall said.
