April 2021
What's New at AIANTA

O me'a"kwa
(I’m going to travel over there, Northern Paiute)
If spring is a time of change, we’re certainly seeing that at AIANTA. This month we welcomed our newest staff member, Maureen Chavez (Pueblo of Acoma), our Visitor Outreach Manager. We are excited to introduce this new AIANTA department, and I’m sure you all will be hearing from Maureen soon. Other changes on tap include...

Travel Publications You Should Be Reading
For Native-American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian marketers looking to extend awareness of their tourism products through articles in the “press,” the best first step is to take stock of what’s out there. 


The Comeback Trail
“Before the pandemic, indigenous tourism in North America was an economic engine that helped tribes share and preserve cultures. Stakeholders say it’s more important than ever that tourism picks up where it left off.”
 
AIANTA Signs Agreement with Leave No Trace
The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics have announced a new partnership that will promote a consistent, nationwide message of sustainable tourism throughout indigenous communities across the United States.

AIANTA Announces New Visitor Outreach Department
AIANTA is celebrating the formation of its second new department in 2021. The new Visitor Outreach department will fulfill the organization’s goals in expanding awareness of indigenous experiences and destinations with domestic and international visitors.
 
NEW: AIANTA Town Hall Series
As the visitor industry looks to a renewed and rejuvenated future, AIANTA is rolling out an interactive new Town Hall Series. In addition to providing a sneak-peek at AIANTA’s major initiatives for the coming year, each session encourages tribal tourism professionals to share their own cultural heritage tourism programming. 
 
Ten Native American Tourism Experiences for 2021
Here are just a few of the Native American, Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian cultural experiences we're excited for in 2021.

AIANTA Is Looking for Native Tour Operators & Guides
AIANTA is updating its 2021 Native Tour Operators list, which is distributed at tourism trade shows around the world.

If you operate a tour or tour guide business or know someone that should be included on this list, please email mpoling@aianta.org to be considered for inclusion on this year's list.

Case Studies in Tribal Agritourism
The first guide of its kind, Case Studies in Tribal Agritourism was created to inspire Native American and indigenous farmers, ranchers and other food producers interested in expanding their agricultural operations to include visitor components.

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
In partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), AIANTA is chronicling the stories of the tribes located on or near the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

The three-year partnership will result in educational webinars, a print/online guidebook reflecting past and present-day tribal attractions at key spots along the trail, and a first-of-its kind map, that will translate key locations along the trail back in their original native locators.

Experience Native America Along the Lewis & Clark Trail
In partnership with the National Park Service, AIANTA is working with tribes adjacent to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to develop cultural heritage content and itineraries. The project is bringing together businesses, attractions, landmarks and other points of interest on and around the trail to help promote sustainable tourism.

AIANTA Opportunities
AIANTA Webinar Series
AIANTA's Webinar Series presents marketing tips, funding opportunities and other tips for creating and growing successful tribal tourism enterprises.

Save the Date

Tuesday, April 27, 2021 10 a.m. MDT
On-Demand Webinars

Mapping Indigenous Place Names
Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Missions & Tribes: Including Native Perspectives in the Historical Record
Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Cultural Centers: Planning for Tourism
Tuesday, March 9, 2021

Interpreting Culture: Tips for Running a Successful Tour Business
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
American Indian Tourism Conference
American Indian Tourism Conference
October 25-28, 2021
We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort
Fort McDowell (Scottsdale), Arizona
Sponsor AITC 2021
Extend your visibility by sponsoring the 23rd Annual American Indian Tourism Conference, the only national conference dedicated to travel and tourism in Indian Country.

A conference sponsorship helps AIANTA augment its hands-on programming at this annual gathering while providing you and/or your organization with increased exposure through our conference marketing.

AITC 2021 Call for Speakers
AIANTA is seeking expert speakers to lead the breakout sessions at the American Indian Tourism Conference.

Showcase your expertise in front of more than 300 tourism professionals, including tribal tourism professionals, tribal leaders, Native American entrepreneurs, federal employees and many more.


Excellence in Tourism Industry Awards Gala and Silent Auction
AITC concludes with an evening gala, the 10th annual “Excellence in Tourism Industry Awards Gala and Silent Auction,” hosted by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. 

As the only organization dedicated to advancing indigenous tourism across the United States, AIANTA recognizes the best of Indian Country travel and tourism at its annual Excellence in Tourism Industry Awards (formerly known as the Enough Good People Industry Awards) ceremony.

Winners of these prestigious awards have made a significant impact on tribal tourism, have helped AIANTA achieve its mission, foster a greater understanding of and appreciation for authentic culture, history, heritage and/or the arts, and showcase the best of Indian Country travel and tourism.

Donate to the Silent Auction
The silent auction portion of the event raises funding support for AIANTA’s Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Program benefiting Native students pursuing post-secondary degrees in Hospitality and Tourism Management and other tourism-related fields.

Discover Native America
Salmon King Fisheries
Fish caught from the Columbia River are an important piece of tribal history, connecting all past and present generations. Salmon were routinely sold to and traded with neighboring tribes, settlers and explorers.

NatImage titleive-owned and operated by Sean and Brigette McConville, Salmon King Fisheries is a commercial, retail and wholesale fishery that sells tribally harvested salmon. Sean and Brigette are members of The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, and The Nez Perce Tribe.

Salmon King Fisheries currently markets twenty-five fish products including sturgeon, spring chinook, sockeye, summer chinook, fall chinook and steelhead. The fish can be purchased fresh, smoked, frozen, fresh canned, smoke canned, smoked vacuum packed and wind-dried. For their canned fish, Salmon King Fisheries uses its own recipe utilizing a minimal amount of salt.


In the News
AIANTA in the News

Thursday, April 8, 2021 - The Native tourism outlook
Native America Calling; April 8, 2021
The pandemic has taken a toll on one of Native America’s leading economic development sources. But that doesn’t mean cultural tourism and gaming are finished. The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association lists a number of destinations and experiences that remain viable despite the lingering worries about COVID-19.

NATOW Forms Historic Partnership with AIANTA
Lake Superior News; March 25, 2021
NATOW is proud to announce its historic partnership with the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), a national center for providing tourism and recreational travel technical assistance, training and capacity building to American Indian nations.

Traveling on Stolen Land: How to Acknowledge and Respect its Indigenous Identity
tripsavvy; March 25, 2021
The recent confirmation of Laguna Pueblo member Deb Haaland to lead the Secretary of the Interior is a historic acknowledgment of the lands and lives stolen from Native Americans by the U.S. government. It wasn’t so long ago that North America—not to mention Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere—was a patchwork of Indigenous homelands.

Visit USA Italy guarda al futuro
T&A Magazine; March 11, 2021
Un forte impulso verrà dato alla promozione della destinazione sui social media per raggiungere un pubblico sempre più ampio co Il premio Simonetta Busnelli, sponsorizzato da American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), è andato a Marco Berchi per il consumer award per la promozione degli Usa.

U.S.Commercial Service to Recognize Women Exporters
Just The Real News; March 2, 2021
In honor of International Women’s Day, the International Trade Administration’s U.S. Commercial Service will host an event to honor women exporters. This event will be held on March 8 and is part of their Women’s Global Trade Empowerment Program, a premier resource for for women entrepreneurs who wish to boldly grow their business into new markets.

Celebrating Our First Ten Years: The Walk That Launched Native News Online
Native News Online; February 15, 2021
Since then, I have covered the White House tribal nations conferences during the Obama administration, Capitol Hill hearings and national meetings of the National Congress of American Indians, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, the National Indian Gaming Association, the National Indian Housing Council, and the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and others.

An Unlikely Publisher Celebrates 10 Years of Covering News in Indian Country
Native News Online; February 15, 2021
Sherry L. Rupert, CEO of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, offered her thoughts: “From a tiny operation of just 16 readers when it started ten years ago, Native News Online has grown to almost five million-page views this past year. The site is the very embodiment of the importance of following your dreams—something we always encourage with our Native tourism partners. Native News Online is an unbiased source of information on the happenings and events that are critical to Native peoples across the country and we congratulate Levi Rickert on ten years of successful news coverage.”

AIANTA Membership
Welcome New AIANTA Members
Rincon Economic Development Corporation (Tribal Enterprise-Pacific)
Kim A. Townsend (Senior-Southwest)

Thank You Renewing Members
12 Tribes Resort Casinos (Tribal Enterprise-Pacific)
Tim Trudell, Tim Trudell Media (Senior-Plains)
Join AIANTA Now

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
Shop AIANTA at Amazon.com

AIANTA has joined the AmazonSmile charitable giving program. After you designate AIANTA as your preferred charitable organization through AmazonSmile, Amazon will contribute .5 percent of all purchases to help support AIANTA programming.
Save the Date(s)
Mark Your Calendars For These Upcoming Events

Go International
Dates: April 21-22, 2021
Location: Virtual

23rd Annual American Indian Tourism Conference
Dates: October 25-28, 2021
Location: We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, Fort McDowell, Arizona
Funding Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
EPA's Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. 

Sign up for AIANTA newsletters (or update your subscription) now to receive our monthly Funding Opportunities notices.
Thanks to Our AITC Sponsors
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