More and more tribes are turning to tourism in hopes of expanding economic opportunities on their reservations.

But with increased development comes questions tribes must consider. Tohono O'odham Nation Vice Chairman Ned Norris Jr. said tourism draws draws mixed feelings from tribal members. Mark St. Pierre, executive director of the Pine Ridge Area Chamber of Commerce on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, says non-Indians wonder if they are welcome.

The Arizona American Indian Tourism Association helps outsiders navigate tribal protocols. And tribes like the Tohono O'odham Nation offer loans for members who want to start businesses. The Bureau of Indian Affairs provides technical support for tribes who ask.

Get the Story:
'Ridin' the Rez': the trials of Indian tourism (The Christian Science Monitor 2/23)

Relevant Links:
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association - http://www.aianta.org

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Indian tourism conference wraps up in Ariz. (08/07)
Indian tourism conference underway in Ariz. (8/5)