“This is a passion project that we always hoped to grow in our community. We are proud to provide our visitors with a unique insight of Native American culture. We exist to share our roots and resilience as Native Americans. The SBDC resources allowed us to learn the language of business to bring our dream to life. We greatly appreciate Cindy’s advocacy and support for our business. Ahéhee’, thank you.”
Emerging from the Ashes
Background
Red Heritage is a dinner theater, showcasing several vibrant styles of powwow dancing, featuring World Class Hoop Dancers. Red Heritage brings tradition and culture into the spotlight through engaging storytelling and lively performances of song and dance. Owners Tomas and Katelynn Hunt had a vision for this type of indigenous dinner experience and went all in.
Challenges and Opportunities
Launching during the challenging times of the pandemic, owners Tomas and Katelynn Hunt faced the daunting task of thriving in an industry heavily reliant on tourism. Determined to overcome obstacles, they enlisted the support of their family, friends, and the SBDC.
SBDC Support
With the SBDC’s guidance, they devised a strategic, tiered approach and assisted with cash flow analysis and budgeting so they could easily see when they could afford to move to the next step.
Results and Future Plans
They worked hard to upgrade the space to accommodate their shows, attended tourism conferences to network and find connections to tour companies, and updated their show content and regalia to best showcase the beauty of native heritage and culture.