ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Goal 1:
Increase Tourism 

Tourism holds tremendous, and currently untapped, potential for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe. Across the United States, Tribes are earnestly pursuing opportunities to recapture the rich cultural heritage of their ancestors, understanding the intrinsic link between authentic cultural history and a defining modern-day cultural identity. This work is of tremendous importance to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe and the Dakota people, resulting in valid and worthy contributions to ongoing efforts to document and tell American history, which truly began centuries before Euro-American colonization. Tourism on the Lake Traverse Reservation will allow the SWO Tribe to proactively maintain control of its cultural history while enabling guests to experience authentic Native American culture and creating new economic drivers for the Tribe. 

Although tourism is not currently a significant economic driver in the community, foundational efforts have been undertaken to enable future success on the sovereign lands of the Lake Traverse Reservation. Infrastructure such as gas stations, clearly labeled roads, grocery stores, and hotels are in place, making tourism feasible. The SWO Tribal Archives and Tribal Historic Preservation Office are charged with preserving, protecting, and sharing Dakota cultural history, aligning directly with tourism ambitions. 

Tribal casinos already draw crowds to the Lake Traverse Reservation, however without well-defined opportunities for authentic experiences, this group rarely ventures beyond the parking lots. Establishing a thriving tourism sector on the Lake Traverse Reservation will bring significant benefits. With proper tax code updates in place, tourism will bring new sources of income onto SWO lands. Tourism can stimulate the local economy, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to design and lead tours and experiences, and building a market for local artisans to sell their crafts.

At the Tribal level, SWO is pursuing construction of an Arts and Cultural Facility and initial funding has been secured to complete necessary surveys and studies. Although this process will still be moving forward in five years, local entrepreneurs stand to make immediate, significant long-term gains through the successful establishment of a small business and effective tourist marketing. For example, an individual offering guided fishing expeditions could readily charge $80 per individual for a four-hour experience. With a tour capacity of six guests, this small business owner would collect $480 per fully booked excursion. Offering just two excursions per summer weekend, this entrepreneur could earn $9,600 in a ten-week period, twice the average income for Lake Traverse Reservation residents. The potential for entrepreneurship represents greater financial stability for an individual or family and will bring additional income to the Lake Traverse Reservation that could be used to purchase local foods, goods, and services – ultimately bolstering the local economy and benefitting all Tribal members.

To enhance the tourist experience and allow Lake Traverse Reservation to become a “base of operations” for visitors to the area, Tribal Council is planning creation of an RV park.  

Intrinsic to true sovereignty is the ability and opportunity to tell the story of the SWO Tribe and the Dakota people. American society continues to expand its understanding of the importance of considering multiple viewpoints when discussing the history of a nation. The ancient knowledge, customs, language, music, and craftsmanship of the Dakota has always been a guiding force for the SWO Tribe, connecting the present to the past and preserving ancestral awareness. Much work has been done to overcome the losses experienced during periods of forced assimilation, and today the Dakota are proud of the rich and ancient culture that thrives on the Lake Traverse Reservation. SWO tourism will allow visitors to better understand the history of America, enriching modern-day understanding of Tribal lands and overcoming the challenges within an educational system that too often present Native American stories as an eclectic mush that blends the stories of hundreds of unique tribes into an indistinct, irreverent, and irrelevant sidenote. 

Importantly, inviting visitors onto the Lake Traverse Reservation will enable the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe to share what can be shared, and protect what must be protected. For example, formal tourism efforts will allow the Tribe to ensure visitors are aware of appropriate powwow etiquette. Signage and tours focused on selected historic sites and opportunities for hands-on experiences will encourage visitors to explore locations the Tribe has agreed to share, while protecting sacred sites and knowledge.  

The Lake Traverse Reservation holds historic artifacts and living legacies that – if advertised appropriately and strategically presented to the public at large in conscious alignment with Tribal expectations – could draw significant crowds. 

In 2017, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate conducted a pilot tourism event, offering an immersive two-day experience that drew visitors from overseas. The authentic experience catered to educated travelers seeking a hands-on and educational tour of tribal life. The event successfully drew tourists onto the Reservation, where they spent money for lodging, meals, tours, experiences, and souvenirs. Bolstered by this success, the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe is now preparing to promote additional tourism efforts to support continued economic gains. Importantly, SWO is eager to take and retain control of Tribal history, sharing culture without commodifying or exploiting traditions but rather, selecting strategies that promote pride, engagement, and understanding.