American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism: Opportunities to Explore Native Life and Lands

I recently had the pleasure of attending the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism (AIANTA) Association national conference in Washington State. I came away with news, information and experiences that will inform and entice travelers who love exploring history, culture and natural beauty. Native tourism opportunities are growing, native hospitality is welcoming and the access visitors have to native lands and people is much more open that you might realize.

Tulalip Resort Casino Surprises
As you drive north of Seattle you’ll see a hotel and casino complex at Tulalip, just off I-5. If you aren’t a gambler you might pass it by. At least that is what I always did. Attending the AIANTA conference at the Tulalip Casino Resort conference center opened my eyes to the beauty of the hotel, the impeccable service and the history of the Tulalip tribes.

As you arrive at this AAA Four Diamond hotel, you’ll see a large Native canoe, a water feature. Inside the lobby you are greeted by two-story high locally carved totems. Throughout the luxurious hotel you will find Northwest Coast Salish artwork and textures. The resort has undergone a recent renovation. The rooms have state of the art electronics, amazingly comfortable beds and a frequently lauded shower with three adjustable heads.

Yes, there are modern comforts, but the hospitality is markedly Native. The Tulalip Tribes is a federally recognized Indian tribe located on the Tulalip Reservation, which includes the resort-casino. Reservation boundaries set by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855 gave a permanent home to the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, Stillaguamish, and related tribes.

We dined on locally sourced, Native inspired foods… salmon, berries, corn, beans and squash (the three sisters). All were prepared with attention to detail and with interesting sauces and seasonings.

Close by is the The Hibulb Cultural Center of the Tulalip Tribes, a beautiful center with full-sized longhouse and interactive displays. It was the first Tribal facility certified by the state of Washington. Also within walking distance of the hotel is great shopping – The Seattle Premium Outlets.

Learn about the people of the Tulalip Tribe
at the Hibulb Cultural Center

I’ll be writing more about this beautiful hotel, the restaurants and the Tulalip people in upcoming articles. I was impressed and I am sure you will be too. The lobby art, alone, is worth a visit next time you are in the area.

Discovering Native Country – Where to Start
At the conference Native tourism leaders from across the United States came together to share and learn. We heard that international visitors, especially those from China, want to experience authentic America.

So where should the average traveler with a desire to experience Native culture and land start? You might get some ideas from exploring this years’ AIANTA Destination Award Winners.

The Tribal Destination of the Year was awarded to Icy Strait Point, the Huna Totem Corporation. Icy Strait Point is Alaska Native owned-and-operated, with all profits directly supporting the community of Hoonah, Alaska’s largest Native Tlingit village. You may have heard of this area from the TV reality series, Alaskan Bush People. And, by the way, the Browns don’t live in the bush year ‘round!

Icy Strait Point offers small ship whale
watching excursions. (Courtesy: Icy Strait Point)

Other Icy Strait Point tours take you
in search of bears. (Courtesy: Icy Strait Point)

Icy Strait Point is a frequent stop for cruise ships and now that they have a dock, even more visitors are stepping ashore to choose from 20 + tours and experiences. You’ll visit a 1912 salmon cannery and museum, nature trails, and even a beach. Chichagof Island is home to more brown bears than humans, eagles soar overhead and whales are regularly seen just offshore. You can take an ATV trip into the rain forest or soar above it via ziprider. It’s an exciting place that is truly Alaskan. I’d recommend putting it on your itinerary when cruising Alaska.

Not all Puye Cliffs tours
require ladder climbing but
this one did!

The Best Cultural Experience was awarded to Puye Cliffs, on the Pueblo of Santa Clara just north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Your tour guide at Puye will be from the Pueblo, a great way to meet a Native person with ancestors who may have lived in the dwellings you are exploring.

Puye Cliffs was home to 1,500 Puebloans who lived, farmed and hunted game there from the 900s to 1580 A.D.

You can walk along the cliff and cave dwellings and take a ladder down into a kiva. The welcome building and small museum is housed in an original Harvey House. But the most enjoyable part for me was listening to the personal stories of the guides as they described life at Puye Cliffs and pointed out things we might have overlooked. And the view of the high desert from the top? Amazing.

Puye Cliffs offers special events too. October 15^th is their next Earth and Sky Weekend. Because the site is on the Pueblo, you might experience closures for ceremonial reasons (or even dangerous weather) so it is good to call ahead and read their website.

Light streams into the art-filled
lobby at the Buffalo Thunder Resort.
The stained glass depicts Pueblo dancers.

Last but not least, the award for Excellence in Customer Service was awarded to Tina Whitegeese representing Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort, also north of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I’ve had the pleasure of staying at Buffalo Thunder, on the Pueblo of Pojoaque. It’s a Native art-filled hotel with more than 400 pieces of pottery, art, glasswork and sculptures. In addition, every room offers hand-designed furnishings and work by local artists, including Pueblo of Pojoaque Former Governor George Rivera.

It’s a beautiful pueblo-inspired resort with high desert views. One evening as we enjoyed cocktails on an open rooftop, we watched a storm come in from the west. Looking out over the desert expanse was a beautiful and uniquely New Mexican experience.

You’ll have plenty to do while you’re there. The golf course, full service spa, a variety of restaurants and, of course the casino, draw visitors. But what you’ll remember are the people and the Native hospitality.

The Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act

While at the conference we heard good news for Native tourism. The Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act (S. 1579) had passed both the House and Senate.

The bill allows tribal communities to be included in federal agencies’ tourism management programs. Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA Board President announced, “This legislation will forever impact the ability of our nation’s tribes to promote their true and authentic selves through tourism. It will strengthen Indian Country economic development, cultural sustainability and accelerate the progress tribes have made in international and domestic tourism.”

According to the National Travel and Tourism Office, overseas travelers who visit Indian country stay in the United States longer, visit more cities and states, use more domestic travel options, and visit more National Parks, small towns, museums, and cultural and ethnic heritage sites in comparison to all other overseas visitors.

When it comes right down to it, Native people
and their warm hospitality is what makes a visitor's experience.
These people from as far away as Alaska made my
AIANTA conference experience memorable.

Native Tourism Resources

AIANTA Members – Describes Native tourism opportunities across the U.S. with links to their websites.
Native America Travel – AIANTA website for visitors

Travel Tips for Visitors

Native American Travel Articles by Elizabeth Rose

Visit with Noted Native American Designers and Artists at Washington's Tulalip Resort

She Who Watches
Cast Glass on Copper Base
by Lillian Pitt

If you are in the Seattle-Everett area this month you will have a unique opportunity to meet celebrated Native American artists, see examples of their work and learn more about Native American tourism destinations. The public is warmly welcomed to the exhibit area at the Tulalip Resort Casino conference space just 30 minutes north of Seattle.

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) is holding the 18th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference hosted by the Tulalip Tribes of Washington at the Tulalip Resort Casino, September 12 – 14, 2016. In addition to speakers and workshops, the conference hosts an exhibit area where tourism businesses and artists share their work with the public.

The public is welcome to drop by and view the exhibits and artists. A few of the artists are profiled below, but more will be present. “The arts are an important part of Indian Country tourism,” says AIANTA Executive Director Camille Ferguson. “Artists are often cultural ambassadors for their nations as they travel to various art shows to sell their works.”

Dorothy Grant

Internationally renowned fashion designer and traditional Haida artist Dorothy Grant’s strong connection to her culture and Haida identity has been the driving creative force and her foundation as a contemporary fashion designer for over the past thirty-two years. Her work was recently seen on the runway at the Santa Fe Indian Market. There are few designers in Canada that are manufacturer, a wholesaler, and have had their own retail store front, Dorothy Grant is one of those few. She is known for her Haida inspired formal wear, purses and scarves.

Jacob Laktonen, is a Sugpiaq/Alutiiq artist from Kodiak, Alaska. He is strongly influenced by the traditional carving of his Alutiiq ancestors. Jerry combines his talent with painstaking research to produce stunning masks and ceremonial paddles. Although he did not begin carving seriously until the age of 45, his work drew the attention of the Smithsonian Museum, which bought his first mask for their gift stores

Lois Chichinoff Thadei is Aleut, born into a Tlingit and Haida community in Southeast Alaska. Thadei's work is dependent on the seasonal cycles, when different materials become available in nature: winter is for weaving Ravenstail from cedar bark and grasses and firing pottery in her home studio.

Lillian Pitt

Lillian Pitt creates contemporary works of fine art that delight today’s art lovers and honor the history and legends of her people. Her works have been exhibited and reviewed throughout the Pacific Northwest, nationally and internationally, and she is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions. Lillian's most recent public works are featured at the Vancouver Land Bridge, one of the seven Columbia River “confluence” projects, designed by internationally renowned architect Maya Lin.

The exhibit area is open Tuesday, September 12 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, September 13 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit the AITC website, http://www.aitc2016.com or call AIANTA at 505.724.3592.

Address:

10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.

Tulalip, WA 98271

Gallup Flea Market: Antiques, Native American Jewelry, Car Parts and Fry Bread

People watching includes
admiring the cute kids

I've heard about the Gallup Flea Market for years. So on my four-day trip to the Gallup area I put the Gallup Flea Market at the top of my list. And I found a great place to go on a treasure hunt.

The Gallup Flea Market is scheduled for Saturdays, with the first Saturday of the month, a more happening time to go. Some resources indicate the market is also open, on a smaller scale, on weekdays.

We went the first Saturday in October. The market opens when the first vendors arrive, close to 8 a.m. We went at 9 a.m. and found plenty of interesting vendors with many more opening up later in the morning.  The author of this fun "Haul Video" suggests arriving after 10 a.m.

Gallup Flea Market Treasures
Four of us, with four different reasons for going to the flea market, had a wonderful time. When we first got there, we noticed people purchasing bales of hay, car parts and tires. As we walked down the rows of tables we found such interesting treasures:

One great find was this string
of Sterling beads or, as the locals call
them, Navajo pearls

- An ancient-looking cow hide trunk. My friend thought it dated to the 1800's and belonged in a museum
- Navajo dolls made by an elderly Navajo woman. I think these were the best made dolls I have seen. Cost: $10 for a pair

- Large Sterling handmade beaded necklace quickly snapped up by my jewelry artist friend for a reasonable $60.
- Navajo-made two strand necklace with spiny oyster beads reasonably priced at $20 (after I asked for a reduced price)
- The best jerky in New Mexico, according to my friend, was offered in many flavors and went for $5.00 a bag.
- An old cast iron figure of a miner, snapped up by another friend for $10.00
- Sodas and water for 50 cents.
- Local honey
- Navajo tea and herbal cures
- Zuni inlay jewelry
- Horno bread
- Roasted corn
- Delicious-looking tacos, fry bread, tamales, bar-b-que

There were tables with rocks and minerals, antique tools, Navajo traditional clothing, Indian jewelry, antiques, household junque, and several litters of puppies.

Hand made Navajo dolls - $5.00 each.

 People watching was out of this world. It is fun to see what the locals buy and this is a local market, not a tourist market. That is why it was so attractive. The vendors sell primarily to the Native American families from the area. The market had a carnival atmosphere with families walking along eating roasted corn ears, looking at CD's, buying produce and stopping for an early hot lunch.

Recommendations
I highly recommend a visit to the Gallup Flea Market for some local flavor and shopping fun. We all agreed there were bargains to be had. None of us were shy about asking for a reduced price.

Be sure and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. You will be outside. Wear closed toed shoes as it is dusty. And when it rains, people complain of the mud.

Bring cash. Some vendors took checks and just a few took credit cards.

When You Go
The market is located off NM Highway 491 on the East side of 9th Street. It is accessible from I-40. Take exit 20 and head north. Turn right on West Lincoln Avenue, then proceeding to 9th Street, then turning Left and proceeding North up 9th Street, the market is on your right.  Map

Parking is free.

 Phone Number: 505.722.9857

Gallup Flea Market Website

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Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose