AIANTA Launches Tourism Marketing Workshop for Tribes Along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

In an agreement with the National Park Service, AIANTA has launched the first in a series of free tourism marketing workshops to take place at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (June 2, 2021) – The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has introduced the first in a series of free tourism marketing workshops developed specifically for tribes located along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. The first workshop will take place at the Wildhorse Casino and Resort in Pendleton, Oregon, on June 10, 2021 at 8 a.m. (PDT).

Scheduled to appear at the workshop are Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA CEO; Dan Wiley, Senior Leader, Resources Stewardship with Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, NPS; a representative from the Oregon Tourism Commission (Travel Oregon); and Bruce Rettig, AIANTA Tribal Content Developer.

“We are thrilled to work with the National Park Service in presenting this workshop to tribes and Native-owned hospitality businesses along the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail,” said Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA CEO. “We are mindful that marketing continues to be a challenge for many tribes, and we look forward to sharing marketing tips that will help them rebuild and get connected to free resources to market themselves.”

The workshop is free to attend and will also be available on a virtual platform for tribal tourism representatives unable to travel to Pendleton.

Following a series of sessions on marketing, including Developing a Successful Cultural Tourism Website and Marketing Your Attractions Through NativeAmerica.travel and LewisAndClark.travel, attendees will be encouraged to share their current tourism marketing projects and what obstacles and challenges they may be facing.

The workshop and subsequent information-gathering session are one component of a project coordinated by AIANTA in partnership with the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which expands on the groundwork and learnings from the Circle of Tribal Advisors during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration (2003-2006). This updated program offers tribes new opportunities to share their cultural tourism stories to visitors through two websites, www.LewisAndClark.travel and www.NativeAmerica.travel.

The project, a result of a multi-year agreement between AIANTA, the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail and the National Park Service (NPS), which was first announced in January 2020, has already delivered a robust series of educational webinars.

“There are so many ways to explore the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail,” said Dan Wiley, Senior Leader, Resources Stewardship with Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. “These stories will come together in one comprehensive resource, LewisAndClark.travel. We are delighted to be working with AIANTA to help include the stories of the tribal nations who played such an important role in guiding Lewis and Clark.”

For more information about the project, www.aianta.org/lewis-and-clark.

Tribes and Native-owned businesses interested in participating in the project and sharing their stories should contact Gail Chehak, Tribal Relations and Outreach Manager at gchehak@aianta.org.

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About the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which connects Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon, commemorates the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. A part of the National Trails System, the trail is administered by the National Park Service, but sites along the trail are managed by local, regional, state, tribal and private organizations. The Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is the second longest of the 23 National Scenic and National Historic Trails.

About AIANTA
For nearly two decades, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has served as the national center for providing tourism and recreational travel technical assistance, training and capacity building to American Indian nations. AIANTA is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit association of Native American tribes and tribal businesses and was incorporated in 2002 to advance Indian Country tourism. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values.

For more information, contact:
Monica Poling
PR & Media Manager, AIANTA
mpoling@AIANTA.org
505.724.3578

Larry W Calhoun
Outdoor Recreation Planner
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Larry_Calhoun@nps.gov