Partnership agreed to showcase tribal heritage at National Parks

The National Park Service (NPS) and the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) have entered into a cooperative agreement to help facilitate meaningful dialogue between Tribes and the NPS.

Strengthening relationships with Tribal governments is a cornerstone of the Administration and this partnership will ensure that the voices and traditions of indigenous communities are incorporated into exhibits and cultural tourism programs in national parks.

"We look forward to expanding our relationship with AIANTA, which has already been instrumental in developing networks between the National Park Service and Native American communities," said National Park Service Deputy Director Shawn Benge.

"AIANTA’s national and international tourism programs have benefitted local communities and the organization’s past work with the NPS has demonstrated AIANTA’s understanding of the historic connections between tribes and the NPS." 

During Native American Heritage Month in November, and throughout the year, the National Park Service and its partners commemorate the traditions of America’s indigenous peoples.

AIANTA frequently provides connections between the NPS and Tribal leaders.

The new five-year agreement will expand opportunities for communication through AIANTA sponsored virtual and in-person forums between the NPS and Native nations located in national park gateway communities.

The resulting collaborations seeks to expand awareness of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian connections. 

"We are thrilled to formalize our long-standing relationship with the National Park Service under this agreement," said Sherry L. Rupert, CEO of AIANTA.

"Our previous partnerships with individual park sites, such as the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail and the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail have successfully driven awareness of the tribes located along those sites."  

This partnership will highlight opportunities for visitors to engage with Tribal communities and support Native-owned businesses.

More than 70 Tribes have been contacted to lend their voice to Tribal Stories Along the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

This project includes educational webinars for Tribes, a print and online guidebook of Tribal attractions on or near the trail, and a map that translates key locations along the trail into the original native languages.

A similar project to bring Tribal awareness to the forefront of the visitor experience is underway for the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail. 

"Native American tribes have ancestral connections to public lands that pre-date the formation of the National Park Service by millennia," said Rupert.