Experience Indigenous Oregon is a new free travel guide created with Oregon’s nine federally recognised Tribes, helping visitors explore Indigenous tourism experiences, cultural attractions and community-led stories across the state.

Travel Oregon has launched Experience Indigenous Oregon, a new travel guide developed in partnership with representatives from Oregon’s nine federally recognised Tribes. The free publication is designed to help visitors engage with Indigenous tourism experiences while learning about the cultures, histories and communities that continue to shape the state today.

The guide highlights a range of attractions and experiences, including tribal museums, casino resorts, outdoor activities and public events. It also features detailed profiles of each of Oregon’s federally recognised Tribes and offers guidance on how travellers can respectfully engage with Indigenous communities and landscapes.

Oregon's Indigenous history stretches back thousands of years. Long before European settlement, more than 50 Tribes fished along the region’s rivers and waterfalls, including Celilo Falls on the Columbia River, which was submerged following the construction of The Dalles Dam in 1957. Indigenous communities also left behind significant cultural landmarks, from petroglyphs at Picture Rock Pass to what is believed to be the world's oldest known footwear at Fort Rock.

Bobbie Conner, director of the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and a member of Travel Oregon’s Tribal Tourism Leadership team, says: “Indigenous people, as stewards of this land since time immemorial, are glad to welcome you. This guide, a result of partnership between the nine federally recognized Tribes of Oregon and Travel Oregon, is our invitation to you to enjoy the history, culture and values that make our Indigenous communities so extraordinary. I’m proud of our collaboration and shared work to create and promote meaningful and engaging tourism experiences. We hope you will visit us.”

The publication was previously known as the Oregon Guide to Indian Country. According to Travel Oregon, the new title was chosen by Tribal tourism leaders who wanted a name with broader international appeal and a more contemporary identity.

The guide’s cover was photographed by a member of the Warm Springs community and features Kahmussa Green, a former Miss Warm Springs, collegiate athlete and advocate for missing and murdered Indigenous women. Travel Oregon says the image reflects a new generation of Indigenous leaders who are preserving cultural knowledge while helping to shape the future of their communities.

Lisa Norton, chief administrative officer of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, says: “This guide is a powerful example of what happens when Tribes take the lead in shaping their own stories. It highlights that Tribes can honour the long-held tradition of our role as good hosts while celebrating the interconnection that is at the heart of our Tribal way of life.”

The launch comes as Indigenous tourism continues to gain visibility globally, with destinations increasingly working alongside Indigenous communities to ensure cultural experiences are presented authentically and on their own terms. Rather than focusing solely on heritage, Experience Indigenous Oregon aims to connect visitors with living cultures, contemporary stories and community-led tourism initiatives.

Produced with publishing partner MEDIAmerica, the guide is available online, can be ordered free of charge through Travel Oregon’s website and is also distributed at welcome centres, Tribal casinos and hotels across the state.