March 12, 2013

Contact: Mike Finney

Phone: (480) 897-3331

Upper Village of Moenkopi, Az – The Institute of American Indian Arts, Center for Lifelong Educationheadquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico has partnered with the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites and the Upper Village of Moenkopi to host a unique Cultural Tourism Conference on May 13-15, 2013. Conference Coordinator Ramus Suina says “This will be the ninth annual conference that the Center for Lifelong Education has staged and we are very pleased to be returning to Hopi tribal land in Arizona this year. This is an important event and a great opportunity for Native American tourism leaders from around the country to share and learn about the rich history and culture of many tribes. Every year we strengthen partnerships and collaborations to build and sustain tribal tourism.”

Former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell will be the keynote speaker at the tourism conference. Campbell was the only American Indian serving in either the House of Representatives or the United States Senate during his tenure 1987-92. Senator Campbell was a leader in public lands and natural resources policy, recognized for the passage of landmark legislation to settle Indian water rights, and in the forefront of sponsoring and fighting for legislation to protect Colorado wilderness and water rights. In 1991 he won the fight to change name of the Custer Battlefield Monument in Montana to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument — legislation that honors American Indians who died in battle. He also initiated legislation to establish the National Museum of the American Indian within the Smithsonian Institution.

This year’s conference will be held at the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites located in the Upper Village of Moenkopi, Western Gateway to Hopi adjacent to Tuba City. All attendees are invited to tour the tribal lands of Arizona to experience the beauty, culture and hospitality of this spectacular region of Native America. Tuesday evening’s program will be held at the Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa featuring dance performance, artists, and traditional food. Attendance is open to Native and non Native participants who are interested in developing stronger economies on tribal lands.

Program topics include Forming Effective Tourism Networks ● Cultural Sensitivity & Authenticity ● CulturalHeritage Marketing ● Cultural Tourism & Photography ● Grant Writing 101 ● Managing Tourism Effectively  ● Customer Service in Cultural Tourism

Upper Village of Moenkopi Governor Sam Shingoitewa, Jr. says “It is an honor to host the Cultural Tourism Conference in our village. This is a very important gathering for Hopi and tribal members from across Arizona and the entire country and it will be an opportunity for us to share the way we have created employment and opportunity for our people”.

Program sponsors include the Arizona Office of Tourism, the New Mexico Office of Tourism, and the Hopi Tribe. Information on the program is available at www.iaia.edu/cle/events/ctw_home/ or by calling Mr. Ramus Suina at (505) 424-2308 or Mr. James Surveyor at (928) 283-4500.