What's New at AIANTA
Director's Corner: Ready, Set Go!
As I finish my first month as Executive Director of AIANTA, it would be an understatement to say it’s been a busy start. My staff has had me on a whirlwind schedule filled with activities, conferences and one-on-one appointments.

Although I’ve been a board member of AIANTA for more than 10 years and have participated in numerous meetings with tribal leaders, federal partners and other Indian Country stakeholders on tourism, it is incredibly fulfilling to now do so as the association’s Executive Director.

Throughout all my meetings, there’s been one theme that has particularly stood out—the importance of collecting data in Indian Country....


Experience Oklahoma’s Native American Culture During AITC
Three Mobile Workshops will be offered Monday, September 16, 2019, before the start of AIANTA's 21st Annual American Indian Tourism Conference at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

Available only to AITC delegates, the programs will visit Cherokee Nation, Chickasaw Country and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.


Call for Board Members
AIANTA is currently accepting applications and petitions for representatives from our Pacific, Plains and Southwest regions.

We are also seeking an At-Large representative and a replacement for our vacant Midwest representative position.




Top Questions from AIANTA’s Recreation Economy Webinar
Participants in the “Recreation Economy” webinar, co-hosted by AIANTA, US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service and USDA Rural Development led a robust Q&A session; Some of the top questions from that session are highlighted here.


More News
AIANTA Introduces ‘Tribal Row’ at IPW 2019
With the theme #DiscoverNativeAmerica, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and four partners showcased the diversity of Native American cultures across the United States. // Read More

AIANTA Code of Ethics Pledge
AIANTA asks all members to sign our Code of Ethics Pledge. // Read More

Tribal Opportunities
Nominate Your Destination
Every year, AIANTA recognizes the best of Indian Country travel and tourism with the Enough Good People awards.

Hurry! The deadline is
Friday, July 26.

Nominate your favorite tribal destination, cultural heritage experience or customer service program for consideration in AIANTA's annual "Enough Good People Awards."

Awardees represent tourism entities that foster a greater understanding and appreciation of authentic culture, history, heritage and/or the arts.

Discover Native America
World Eskimo Indian Olympics
With games like the seal hop, four man carry, ear pull, one-foot high kick and seal skinning, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (July 17-20, 2019) are sure to be unlike any other athletic competition you’ve ever seen.

All the games are variations of traditional exercises practiced to hone the physical and mental skills necessary for the traditional livelihoods of Native Alaskan people.

Since ancient times, Native people of the polar regions have participated in games of strength, endurance, balance and agility. Along with these athletic games, dancing and storytelling provided an opportunity for friendly competition, entertainment and laughter. During these events, hosts cooked for their guests and provided lodging, while visitors brought news from surrounding villages. This is the spirit in which the WEIO was founded in 1961. // Read More


In the News
AIANTA In the News
Travel groups work to increase foreign tourism to Wisconsin’s native communities 
A group of Italian tourists visited the Northwoods to experience a culture they’ve only heard about. Some of those tourists are journalists who will share their experiences once they return home. “We are trying to teach the Italian visitors to experience this area and learn that Native American [sic] is not what we watch in the movies, it’s completely different,” said Luisa Salomoni, a commercial specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce. // News Watch 12 (Rhinelander, Wisconsin)

AIANTA, USDA to Present Free Webinar on ‘Recreation Economy’ 
The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), in partnership with the USDA, FS and RD, is offering an exclusive webinar to help Native American Tribes and Tribal entities identify those resources when looking to grow their own outdoor infrastructure. // Native News Online

A Route 66 Road Trip Through Indigenous Homelands
The e-travel guide American Indians and Route 66, which the American Indian and Alaskan Native Tourism Association created three years ago, will help me suss out those landmarks and historic places associated with 25 Indigenous tribes and pueblos along the Mother Road. // Yes! Magazine



AIANTA Members in the News
‘Pure love on the dance floor’: Celebrating the jingle dress tradition
In fact, the story of the jingle dress — part handicraft, part dance, and part mythology — is getting a closer look in a new exhibit from the Minnesota Historical Society’s Mille Lacs Indian Museum. The exhibit opened this spring and will run through the fall of 2020. // MPR News

The Best Small Beach Towns in the United States
La Push, Washington: To make the most of a weekend, base yourself at the Quileute Oceanside Resort, run by the local Quileute Tribe. // AFAR

Pueblos open for feast days
Several times a year, pueblos open their boundaries to the general public during feast days, which are used to celebrate a patron saint or recognize an important historical event. Visitors can watch traditional dances and share a meal with local residents. // Albuquerque Journal

Pine Ridge Indian Reservation: Home of the Oglala Sioux Tribe
The [Pine Ridge] Chamber of Commerce is located in Kyle, and is a great starting point to learn more about the reservation. Over the summer, an artist in residence will be available at the chamber showcasing their work and teaching local culture. // Rapid City Journal

Alutiiq Museum honors Native ancestors with memorial park
After several years of planning, fundraising and landscaping, a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Alutiiq Ancestors Memorial, heralding the official opening of the park to the public. // My Journal Courier

Snohomish River estuary project an example of why salmon recovery takes so long
We were trying to create more salmon habitat and the best place to do this is in the estuary. This particular area was previously farmland that could no longer be farmed because of the development that was going on around it,” explained Nelson, who works with the Tulalip Tribes. “We proceeded to purchase about 400 acres, which we converted it into 354 acres of estuary wetland.” // King-TV

Asheville City Council votes to accept Harrah’s Cherokee naming proposal for civic center
Once the new contract goes into effect, the Civic Center will be renamed the Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville. // Fox Carolina




Has your tribal or tribal tourism enterprise been featured in the news? Please let us know.
Membership
New AIANTA Members
Southeast Tourism Society
Southeast Tourism Society, a not-for-profit membership association that works to elevate the talents and strategies of travel and tourism organizations and individual professionals within its 12-state region. STS’s mission is to strengthen the economic vitality of the region by uniting all segments of the travel and tourism industry through its four pillars of education, advocacy, recognition, and networking. Established in 1983, STS is an engaged network of more than 1,000 members from 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Each year STS hosts the Congressional Summit on Travel and Tourism in Washington, D.C., where attendees, including AIANTA, have an opportunity to learn more about important legislation that can impact our industry and meetings are held with our elected officials. In addition, the STS Connections conference and STS Marketing College® programs provide education, recognition and and networking opportunities for the travel and tourism industry. www.southeasttourism.org
Eddie Sherman
Member of the Navajo and Omaha nations, Eddie Sherman is a nationally recognized fundraiser, strategist, nonprofit leader and entrepreneur. Eddie has committed his efforts to social justice, serving under-served communities and improving the quality of life for Native Americans. Principal at Hilltop Public Solutions, Eddie brings invaluable experience to the organization’s campaign, issue advocacy and communications practices and he leads efforts to help underrepresented constituencies organize and maximize their influence on politics and policy. Eddie’s community service efforts include serving as the chair of the Board of Directors for the Native American Youth & Family Center (NAYA), the President of the Executive Board of the Oregon Native American Chamber (ONAC), the co-chair of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians’ (ATNI) Energy Committee.
Laura Sonderup
Laura Sonderup is the managing director and senior strategist at Heinrich Marketing, Inc., a full-service advertising agency headquartered in Denver, Colorado. She is a nationally recognized marketing expert and is a frequent keynote speaker at national and international conferences. Over the past 10 years, she has worked collaboratively with tribal communities in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and North Dakota, in the development of successful marketing and communications campaigns. Members of her team are also responsible for the creation of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park’s influencer-based Come Across campaign, Snowmass Tourism’s Run Away With Me campaign and Colorado Tourism’s Come To Life campaign.
Join AIANTA Now
AIANTA Membership
AIANTA members are well-informed and play a key role in supporting sustainable and authentic tribal tourism that benefits not only member tribes, but all tribes. With your help, we’ll continue to make sure that the right national decision makers hear your voice—and all our voices—so our people can thrive and grow.

Support AIANTA
AIANTA Membership
A gift to AIANTA helps increase the technical support available to Native American-led tourism programs while also fostering a greater awareness of Indian Country destinations, activities and events.


Save the Date
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events

American Indian Tourism Conference
Sept. 16-19, 2019
Location: Tulsa, Okla.

Cultural Heritage Certificate Program
(with the George Washington University)
Sept. 30 - Nov. 17, 2019
Location: Online program

Go International
Jan. 27-28, 2020
Location: Albuquerque, N.M.



Image credits:

Featured: #DicoverNativeAmerica at IPW Anaheim 2019, Others: Sherry L. Rupert, Northern Nevada Business View; Cherokee National History Museum, Cherokee Nation; Knoll Lake, Coconino National Forest (c) USDA; Indian Summer Festival; World Eskimo-Indian Olympics.