ND tribes work to form tribal tourism association

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – American Indian tribes in North Dakota plan to band together and seek state funding to promote tourism on reservations.

Turtle Mountain Tourism Association Vice Chairman Les Thomas tells The Bismarck Tribune (http://bit.ly/1T4JHQG ) that tribes want visitors to North Dakota to experience the whole state, including Native American culture.

Tribal leaders and state and federal officials are meeting at the North Dakota Native Tourism Summit in Bismarck, with the goal of forming a tribal tourism association. It would be an affiliate of the national American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association.

Bureau of Indian Affairs tourism specialist Ed Hall says the opportunity for tribes is “tremendous.” He says the influx of dollars would make businesses on reservations more sustainable and boost tribal economies.

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, http://www.bismarcktribune.com