Indian hotel serves NMAI

Indian hotel located near National Powwow siteThe Marriott Residence Inn at 333 E St. S.W. is only a couple of blocks away from the National Museum of the American Indian, making it a convenient spot to stay if you're attending the National Powwow. But what makes it even more interesting is the fact that it was developed by a consortium of four Indian tribes.

The Four Fires project made history when it was announced in 2002 at the National Press Club by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (California), the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin, the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians of California.

It wasn't news that tribes were developing a hotel, since many of them have done so in conjunction with casino projects. But this project was the first to be developed as a general economic development project between multiple tribes from different states involving a project not on any of their tribal lands, in the interest of diversifying their economic bases.