Desert View Interpretive Project Sparks Inspiration

AIANTA, Blackfeet Nation and State of Montana recently came together in historic tribal tourism meetings at Grand Canyon National Park. 

AIANTA Public Lands Partnerships Program Manager Aimee Awonohopay has just returned from the Grand Canyon National Park, where she was hosting the Blackfeet Tribe and State of Montana government. Here, AIANTA showcased the great collaboration and first voice interpretation project at the Desert View Watchtower and Visitor Area. The group drew inspiration from the visit and was able to learn more about how the partnership came to be, and how the project has progressed. 

Throughout the week, the group also met with the Hopi Tribe and learned about their tremendous success harnessing visitors to the Grand Circle and the resulting economic development that has decreased the tribe’s unemployment rate, which at one point was at 50%.

See the below images for more information about the productive week sharing and discussing the many opportunities presented by tribal tourism!

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail

Native American Agriculture Fund

Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

Bureau of Land Management

National Endowment of the Arts

National Park Service

United States Forest Service