{"id":19,"date":"2026-04-09T07:20:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T15:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/?page_id=19"},"modified":"2026-04-17T09:38:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:38:13","slug":"projects","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/?page_id=19","title":{"rendered":"Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n\/* Remove gap between nav and hero *\/\nmain.wp-block-group { margin-top: 0 !important; }\nmain.wp-block-group > .wp-block-group.alignfull:first-child { padding-top: 0 !important; }\n.entry-content { margin-top: 0 !important; }\n.wp-block-post-title { display: none !important; }\n\/* Hide page title on front page *\/\n.wp-block-post-title { display: none !important; }\n\n\/* Constrain full-width images *\/\n.entry-content > .wp-block-image.aligncenter img,\n.entry-content > figure.wp-block-image.aligncenter img {\n    max-height: 400px;\n    width: auto;\n    object-fit: contain;\n    display: block;\n    margin: 0 auto;\n}\n\n\/* Cover block \u2014 tighter *\/\n.wp-block-cover.alignfull { margin-top: 0 !important; }\n\n\/* Better blockquote *\/\n.wp-block-quote {\n    border-left: 4px solid #8B4513 !important;\n    padding: 1em 1.5em;\n    background: #faf8f5;\n}\n\n\/* Earthy buttons *\/\n.wp-block-button__link {\n    background-color: #8B4513 !important;\n    border-radius: 4px !important;\n}\n.wp-block-button.is-style-outline .wp-block-button__link {\n    background-color: transparent !important;\n    color: #8B4513 !important;\n    border: 2px solid #8B4513 !important;\n}\n\n\/* Gallery refinement *\/\n.wp-block-gallery .wp-block-image img { border-radius: 4px; }\n\n\/* Captions *\/\n.wp-element-caption { font-size: 0.85em; color: #666; font-style: italic; }\n\n\/* Three-column images consistent height *\/\n.wp-block-columns .wp-block-image img { \n    height: 200px; \n    object-fit: cover; \n    width: 100%;\n    border-radius: 6px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull\" style=\"min-height:280px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-black-background-color has-background-dim-55 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"Native American art\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/powwow-craft-vendors.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\" style=\"color:#ffffff\">Our Projects<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"color:#eeeeee;font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.392), 18px);\"><em>Research, service, and storytelling \u2014 here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ve been working on.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cultural Tourism Economics Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:35%\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vivian-history-panel.jpg\" alt=\"Vivian Wan studying Nanticoke tribal history exhibits\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:65%\">\n\n<p><strong>Status:<\/strong> Ongoing (2025\u2013present)<br><strong>Faculty advisor:<\/strong> Professor at Texas A&amp;M University<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This independent research project examines the <strong>economic potential of Indigenous cultural events<\/strong>, specifically the Nanticoke Indian Tribe&#8217;s annual PowWow in Delaware. Using economic theory from the University of Chicago&#8217;s field experiment tradition \u2014 including <strong>Professor John List&#8217;s non-market valuation methods<\/strong> \u2014 we investigate how cultural tourism can generate sustainable revenue while preserving Indigenous heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Three core research questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How much are visitors willing to pay for Nanticoke cultural experiences, and what factors influence their valuation?<\/li>\n\n\n<li>What motivates visitors to attend Indigenous cultural events?<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Is year-round cultural programming feasible and desirable beyond the traditional two-day PowWow?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Findings (n=420 survey respondents + 35 interviews)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<p>\ud83d\udcca <strong>70%<\/strong> of respondents showed strong interest in year-round Nanticoke cultural programming<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udcb0 <strong>64%<\/strong> willing to pay $50+ for a day program; <strong>38.6%<\/strong> would pay $100+<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfe8 <strong>55%<\/strong> would book overnight stays with authentic lodging<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n\n<p>\ud83c\udfaf Top motivation: <strong>&#8220;Learning about culture&#8221;<\/strong> rated 4.5\/5<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u270a <strong>90%<\/strong> said tribal control of programming is important or very important<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udcc8 Revenue projection: <strong>$1.93M\/year<\/strong> potential vs. current $184K<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Our regression analysis (R\u00b2 = 47%) found that <strong>income level<\/strong> and <strong>prior PowWow attendance<\/strong> are the strongest predictors of willingness to pay \u2014 meaning the more people experience the PowWow, the more they value it. In interviews, 89% emphasized they wanted to &#8220;learn from actual tribal members, not interpreters.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This data gives the Nanticoke Tribe evidence-based tools to advocate for economic development, federal recognition, and sustainable cultural programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/?page_id=133\">Take Our Cultural Tourism Survey \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nanticoke PowWow Volunteer Program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:35%\">\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/vivian-wristband-volunteer.jpg\" alt=\"Vivian volunteering at the PowWow check-in station alongside tribal members\"\/><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:65%\">\n\n<p><strong>Status:<\/strong> Annual (since 2023)<br><strong>Location:<\/strong> Millsboro, Delaware<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Each September, we volunteer at the annual Nanticoke Indian PowWow \u2014 one of the longest-running PowWows on the East Coast. Our team helps with event logistics, visitor engagement, and educational outreach. Vivian has also organized Girl Scout troops to participate, introducing young people to Indigenous culture and creating lasting connections between the tribal and broader Delaware community.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/nanticoke-powwow-booths.jpg\" alt=\"Nanticoke PowWow Information Booth and Elders Craft Work\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The annual PowWow features Nanticoke Indian Elders&#8217; craft work, cultural demonstrations, and community booths.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.196), 16px);\"><em>More projects coming soon \u2014 check back for updates as we expand our work.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Have questions or want to collaborate? <a href=\"\/?page_id=21\">Get in touch \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cultural Tourism Economics Research Status: Ongoing (2025\u2013present)Faculty advisor: Professor at Texas A&amp;M University This independent research project examines the economic potential of Indigenous cultural events, specifically the Nanticoke Indian Tribe&#8217;s annual PowWow in Delaware. Using economic theory from the University of Chicago&#8217;s field experiment tradition \u2014 including Professor John List&#8217;s non-market valuation methods \u2014 we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-19","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":157,"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19\/revisions\/157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/empowernativetribes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}