BISMARCK, N.D. ? Hundreds of American Indian tourism leaders from across the country, Alaska, Canada and a few from Europe gathered here to participate in a festive discourse on tourism in Indian country.

Optimism runs high for the tourist industry in Indian country as an economic development vehicle and expectations are equally high that tribes and tribal organizations will benefit from one of the world’s biggest industries.

But, events on Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2001, brought pall to the gathered crowds. While speakers were scheduled for the banquet room in the morning, more people were in the hall, eyes and ears were glued to the television monitor.

Comments were rare, gasps and many similar reactions were frequent. The attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon caused the usually up-beat people who work in American Indian tourism to have heavy hearts and solemn looks. Every prayer, before meals and sessions was directed to the victims.

The conference would most likely have been canceled, but most of the people attending were dependant on the airlines, which were grounded. So, those who remained made the best of a situation and stayed to conduct business.

But the thought of the attack on the United States was only another television monitor away. The vendors and others who were there to conduct business did their best, but, the thoughts of Sept. 11 never left.

Gregg Bourland, chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, brought the attack into perspective. Bourland visibly felt the effects of the attack and his speech to the gathering on Wednesday morning carried a message that may not have been the one he had intended.

‘The families of the victims have my deepest condolences. The tragedy cast a shadow on this conference.

‘The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is ready to do what we can to help people who are suffering. We will watch to see what will happen and be prepared for war if necessary.

‘We must stop our own little, petty politics, they are insignificant. Stop the fights with Congress and quit squabbling amongst ourselves, it’s too petty. The time for pettiness has ended.

‘The attack and its ensuing effects have a ‘message and a lesson,’ Bourland said.

‘Plan ahead. When you see storm clouds on the horizon and see lightning in the storm, prepare for the storm.’

His message, in the shadow of the attack on America, was to make sure they had a future by ‘squirreling away resources’ and act like their ancestors.

‘Put something away as our ancestors did. If they didn’t put food away, they wouldn’t eat and survive and we wouldn’t be here.’

Bourland’s comments reflected thoughts of mortality.

He said the events of the week would be felt in the tourist industry, which will have an effect on other tribal economic development enterprises, such as gaming.

Conference delegates spent much of their time trying to figure out a way to get home to Florida, Alaska, Arizona and Canada where the border was closed.

As the conference continued, most people extended their hotel reservations and planned to wait until airlines were allowed to fly or were checking maps and rental car agencies and counting how many days it would take to drive home.

In the newsroom at Indian Country Today, far from New York in Rapid City, S.D., the editorial staff, stunned as most people were by the events, gathered around a television set and watched in disbelief as the events unfolded.

All work came to a standstill for at least half the day, aghast at what they were watching. ‘We were paralyzed and frightened. Lots of us called to check with loved ones, even though they were local. I remember the sensory overload,’ said Barbara Bad Wound, copy editor.

‘It was a challenge hoisting it all aboard, coming to terms with believing that what was happening was real.’

The editorial team huddled together for security and support. Sharla Boyd, graphic artist and layout designer, listened to the events on the way to work and wondered if she or anyone else should even come to work.

The everyday routine of work and personal concerns seemed to fade into a foggy background and the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were paramount.

‘We talked about how the world would be affected by this, and how it would never be the same,’ Bad Wound said.