Dancers at NATOW Conference, June 21, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
KESHENA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Native American Tourism of Wisconsin held it annual conference Wednesday in Keshena.
Leaders there say tourism to Indigenous destinations is on the rise.
It is expecting to surpass $65 billion in the U.S. by 2032.
That number is up from $40 Billion in 2022.
Having 11 federally recognized tribes here in Wisconsin, Native culture continues to grow the tourism market.
“We typically bring in, before the pandemic, it was around $1.5 billion each year…so that includes taxes, room taxes, that’s the lodging that’s the golf courses, the RV parks, that’s everything,” said Executive Director of NATOW, Suzette Brewer.
Brewer says while this money does come from the casinos, it’s other attractions as well.
“So the tribes have a lot of offerings that most people don’t know about, including biking, hiking, birding, swimming, water sports,” says Brewer.
“The tribal nations wherever they may be, whatever county they’re in, they’re normally one of the top employers in that county,” says Ho-Chunk NATOW Board Member, Casey Brown.
NATOW members tell us that’s why the group puts on this conference each year, to showcase the Native culture.
“All the 11 federally recognized tribes have a member on the board and everyone brought whether it be speakers, storytellers, dancers, people that are artisans, builders, beaders,” says Brown.
Members of NATOW say the biggest thing they’d like to get across is they want everyone to come and enjoy all the reservations throughout the state of Wisconsin.
“That’s the biggest question I get out in the communities is ‘are we allowed to go on the reservations,’ and absolutely you are and it’s more than just about casinos, and it’s more than just about powwows…you’re welcome, come and join us, come have fun,” says Brewer.
Brown says it’s also about education.
“We not only are bringing folks in for our communities and for financial reasons, but also to teach them about our people and about our histories,” says Brown.
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