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Premier hosts of Native American tours - travel American Indian lands & traditions - tribal culture and history
Included in National Geographic Traveler's TOP 50 Tours of a Lifetime
Go Native America is a member of / promoted by:
American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Alliance Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance
American Indian Crafts Assoc. Wyoming Travel and Tourism Rocky Mountain International RMI Real America Black Hills Badlands Association
FAIR TRADE ETHICAL TOURS in Native American
Indian Country
Family Edutainment and Adventures
It's ALL Indian Country
August 13-23, 2012
Pre Tour Information
Frequently Asked Questions about the Its ALL Indian Country journey
Is it safe to be in Yellowstone – between the Super Volcano predictions and the recent grizzly attacks I’m a little hesitant.
Predictions about when the volcano will blow are varied, but serious geologists believe there is at least another 60,000 years to go. Whenever it does erupt, the sheer volume of a volcano with a caldera that is over 50 miles wide ensures there will be nowhere in America that is not affected, so safety will be out of your hands. Bears and other large mammals however are a different deal altogether – your level of safety is directly linked to your decisions and we will not enter the park until we are sure that every person, young and old, understands the safety rules. There have been two fatal bear attacks this year, and although the reasons for those attacks are complex, both victims unfortunately breached cardinal rules in Bear Country; both ran away – a clear signal to the bear that they were prey to be hunted, and neither carried bear spray – a substance proven to be much more effective against bear attacks than even bullets.
What ages are the Science Kids and Junior Ranger programs aimed at in Yellowstone?
Those programs are aimed at 5-12 year olds, but please remember these are only additional opportunities for visiting kids, and don’t define our journey.
How far is the hike to the Medicine Wheel? Is it a suitable trail for kids?
The hike is about a mile each way, the trail is wide and flat with undulations up and down in both directions. Kids over 8 should do it easily. Younger kids, be prepared to piggy-back! We’re in no rush amid the outstanding views, serenity a-plenty, and awesome bluebird and marmot spotting!
My kids are fussy eaters. What are the arrangements for restaurant meals?
As it happens, Go Native America journeys never include meals so that people can choose what they want to eat and how much to spend on meals for themselves. Expensive hotel meal packages would significantly raise the cost of the trip for just one person, let alone for families so we take you to good, family-friendly eateries where you make your own choices.
Are we going to visit Wounded Knee?
We have not included Wounded Knee purposely. It is sacred, hallowed ground and not suitable for all families. However if you particularly would like your family with older kids to visit, at nominal cost we can arrange a Lakota tour guide to take you to Pine Ridge, touring the reservation and visiting many sites and sights on Thursday 23rd Aug. You would then fly out of Rapid City (RAP) on the 24th.
Powwow sounds great, but won’t my child get bored from just watching? Can we leave early, or can my child join in?
The powwow has so much for families to enjoy – stalls, foods, tipi camps and of course the dancing. Usually there is even a bouncy castle, but we time our visits for when the best activities are taking place. However if everyone wants to leave early we can certainly do so by consensus.
For everyone to join in the dances is already part of powwow. It’s called a Round Dance, it is easy to follow (something like a two-step shuffle) but ONLY when the Powwow MC invites people to come and dance. When competition dances are in progress, the audience watches, but intertribals are a chance for everyone to participate if they want to.
I have kids ranging from 5 to 17. Can you keep them all busy and engaged?
Activities are really intended for kids of 8 and over but younger kids could enjoy this itinerary with a greater level of parental support. We circumnavigate the dreaded ‘Are we there yet?’ syndrome by making sure that wherever we are - on the road or at a destination - we are right where we want to be and always have things for kids to do. Older kids – no problem – everyone will engage at their own level and there is plenty to keep all adults (young and old) thinking.
Do I have to accompany my child on this journey or is it like a kid’s camp?
Emphatically, all kids need to be accompanied. This journey is a family experience, but if you wanted to look at bringing a school, or church group where kids are properly chaperoned, but not necessarily by parents, we can certainly arrange an alternative experience specifically for you.
Transport…
We travel in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles, ranging from 4-wheel drive vehicles (Range Rover/Jeep Sport Utility or similar) to 15 seat passenger vans. All modes of transport are spacious enough for our tour members to travel in comfort. However, luggage space is of a premium, therefore we urge you to read our 'Packing Checklist' - it is amazing how little you need to take.
Health and Vaccinations...
It is sensible that you have both a dental and medical check-up and we recommend that you ensure your Tetanus inoculations are up to date.
Baggage Allowance...
With limited room available in the vehicles it is important that everyone travel as light as possible. Please bring a soft hold-all / sports bag, and not a hard suitcase. Hotels will have laundry facilities and these are generally big, fast and easy to use.
Accommodation/Lodging…
Wherever possible, we support tribally owned and/or operated properties. We stay in a wide range of good quality accommodations on our journeys. All rooms are en-suite as standard; many have swimming pools and often laundry facilities. We choose from established hotel chains, log cabins in National Parks or unique period properties.
Temperature/Weather...
Usually our trips are planned for optimum weather conditions, however this is Yellowstone!
Please take nothing for granted - things can change very quickly. You will need good sunscreen and sunglasses, and a cold weather jacket. Be prepared, and expect the unexpected.
You’ll need broken in hiking/walking boots or shoes, and the best way to dress is to layer, layer, layer! A good daypack is useful. Overall the tour is very casual – no need to dress for dinner, et al.
Insurance…
Travel insurance is a vital aspect to booking a holiday, giving you protection against unforeseen circumstances that could otherwise spoil your holiday. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that properly covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. We strongly advise you obtain travel insurance at your time of booking so that you are protected against cancellation and you must provide us with details of your insurance with your final payment. For your own safety and protection, we will not allow tour members to alight our vehicles unless we have copies of your travel insurance policy, or you have US health insurance in place.
How to Book…
Before you book, we recommend that you carefully read the enclosed information and itinerary. To book your place on this tour, please telephone or email with any questions you may have about the tour, then book the tour online on our secure site. A deposit of $750 is due in order to hold your space on the tour or if you book less than twelve weeks prior to departure, full payment is due at the time of booking.
