NATOW Forms Historic Partnership with AIANTA
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.
NATOW recently announced that the organization will underwrite annual dues for each tribe’s participation, the first initiative of its kind to form a full statewide coalition within AIANTA’s membership.
“As one of the largest industries in Indian Country, tourism plays a critical role in economic development among our member tribes,” said Suzette Brewer, executive director of NATOW. “As such, we are stronger together and believe in the power of unity in promoting the rich diversity and cultural dynamism of our communities and are excited to be a part of AIANTA’s growing network of Tribal Nations.”
“Tribal tourism plays a vital role, not only in Native communities, but also the larger Wisconsin economy as a whole,” said NATOW board president Nathan Gordon, who is a member of Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. “Our partnership with AIANTA represents our collective strength as Tribal Nations to build the alliances and resources necessary to accomplish our overall mission in supporting sovereignty and self-determination for our member tribes.”
All AIANTA members can participate in the association’s annual programming, from attending major international tourism tradeshows to establishing a presence on AIANTA’s consumer website, www.NativeAmerica.
“We extend a warm Boozhoo (welcome, Ojibwe) to all our new and renewing member tribes from the Great State of Wisconsin,” said Sherry L. Rupert, CEO of AIANTA. “We are thrilled to work with NATOW to unveil this wonderful model of a regional tourism organization creating and amplifying a united voice in the promotion of tribal tourism. We are excited to collectively and independently work with the 11 tribes that call the State of Wisconsin home.”
“Wisconsin’s Native heritage is an important part of our state’s visitor experience and we are fortunate to have such a strong tourism partner in NATOW,” said Travel Wisconsin Acting Secretary Anne Sayers. “We are excited that through NATOW’s leadership, all of Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes will have direct access to the resources of AIANTA which will enhance our collective work of sharing Wisconsin’s story.”
NATOW’s marketing efforts include regional, national and global outreach to promote Wisconsin Tribal tourism and boost Tribal economies within the state. For more on tribal tourism in Wisconsin, please see the Native Wisconsin travel guide and the promotion of Native Wisconsin on the state’s tourism website.