NIXON — Gov. Brian Sandoval has appointed Tribal Chairman Wayne Burke to the Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT). Burke, chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, becomes the first Native American leader appointed to the commission since its creation in 1983. Chairman Burke has been appointed to a three-year term on the commission.
“I am honored to be appointed by the governor to the Nevada Commission on Tourism,” said Burke. “Tourism is critically important to the economy of Nevada and Pyramid Lake; I look forward to working with Gov. Sandoval, Lt. Gov. Krolicki and all of our industry partners to attract additional visitors to all of Nevada.”
NCOT is an 11-member body that is responsible for promoting and marketing Nevada as a tourism and travel destination. The commission works to encourage cooperation among public and private entities to attract more visitors from domestic and international markets and to lengthen their stay.
Chairman Burke is an enrolled member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and was first elected to the Tribal Council in 2010. He was elected Tribal Chairman in 2011 and has been a passionate advocate for Native American Veteran issues and water rights for Pyramid Lake. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a professional artist spending time painting portraits and working with nonprofit organizations. He lives with his wife, Leticia, and their family in Nixon located on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in Northern Nevada.
