Wisconsin’s Tribes Developing TV Programming To Boost Tourism

The head of tourism for Wisconsin’s 11 tribes is spearheading efforts to develop TV programming to promote tribal tourism.

Ernie Stevens, the executive director of Native American Tourism of Wisconsin, said they’re filming video of the state’s only tribal national park, tribal fisheries, festivals and more. He said they’re pulling together a pilot program that he hopes will put tribes on the map.

“If we can just catch the right essences of the 11 tribes of Wisconsin – get it out there to the mass audience and get people to see – not only is it an education for them to know who we are and make them feel welcome to our reservations and want to visit, but also just be able to understand the differences among the tribes,” he said.

Stevens said they’re trying to raise about $25,000 by early August to jumpstart the project. He said they’d like to have the pilot show finished this fall and offer a series of programs by next spring.