A visit to a tribal community offers a close-up look at history, but pieces of that history related to America’s expansion weren’t always positive.

Members of the North Dakota Native Tourism Alliance who spoke at a panel discussion during the North Dakota Travel Industry Conference in Minot Wednesday said tribal communities don’t shy away from difficult questions but welcome the opportunity to educate and forge friendships.

“We’re always open to answer any questions. I know some of these questions might seem a little uncomfortable, but that’s why we’re here. We’re here to answer these questions, to make sure that we’re educating beyond the textbooks that were in schools,” said Kiera Fox, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara tourism director, New Town.

“People always have questions because of Native American imagery and history and movies – all sorts of media,” said Kenneth “KJ” Graywater, preservation officer for the Spirit Lake tribe. “I’ve been asked foolish questions, and I’ve been asked really good questions and thought-provoking questions. I’ve always enjoyed all of it, because the better I can explain things, the easier it makes it when I encounter someone that has a similar question.”

Panelists also addressed the balance that exists between protecting Indigenous culture and the land while still sharing them with visitors. Graywater said it comes down to educating guests.

“One of the things to keep in mind is that each individual tribe has its own protocols and teachings on how they carry themselves with different events or ceremonies, and the better we are at explaining that and the better our guests are at asking questions, the better the experience overall,” he said.

Tamara St. John, archivist for the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, said it is the tribe’s responsibility to prepare guests and ensure they feel welcome and wanted. She said each tribe has sacred places and ceremonies that aren’t for show, but there is much that trained guides can offer to visitors to enable them to experience the culture.

Graywater said amateur archeologists may have been more of a problem in the past, but it remains essential that visitors don’t disturb sites, instead reaching out to tribal preservation offices or the State Historic Preservation Office for guidance.

NDNTA President Les Thomas, with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, mentioned the importance of tribal websites in informing and preparing potential tourists. NDNTA’s website also offers a single location for tourists to find information about North Dakota’s tribes and their events. Panelists encouraged planning ahead by tourists to get the most from a visit.

Fred Walker, global marketing manager in the North Dakota Tourism office, said the Native American section of the office’s website also includes events information, along with protocols for people who want to experience events such as powwows for the first time.

“What we’re trying to do is direct them to talk to somebody once they get on the ground, create a friendship and follow along,” he said. “Be open to ask the questions of the people that you’re going to visit.”

The tribes acknowledged the importance of working with neighboring communities to get information to prospective guests before they arrive. Thomas advocated for using outside platforms to educate and tell stories, such as the state Heritage Center in Bismarck or a side stage planned this year at Norsk Hostfest in Minot.

For tourists who do want to experience the Indigenous culture, opportunities include craft demonstrations, historic site visits, buffalo herds, birding, unique architecture, outdoor recreation, hiking and dance demonstrations. Fox said food can be a big part of the experience, although tastes are seasonal, such as a traditional juneberry pudding.

“We do ask that if somebody is going to go to a tribal nation, they go to more than one,” Walker said. “It would be like saying ‘I went to Europe’ because I went to France. There’s a lot more culture, a lot more history, a lot more that can be learned and told.”