National Native Tourism Organization Presents “Enough Good People Award” to Senator Schatz

Oct. 22, 2015 - PRLog -- Yesterday, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) presented Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) with a special award to honor him for his authorship of S. 1537, the bipartisan NATIVE Act and for his leadership in championing economic development and cultural strength for American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians.

Each year, AIANTA awards “Enough Good People” awards to three individuals, nominated and selected to honor outstanding contributions to Native tourism advancement. This year, however, AIANTA has chosen to present a special Enough Good People award to Senator Schatz, who recently wrote and co-sponsored the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitors Experience (NATIVE) Act in the U.S. Senate.

The NATIVE Act seeks to enhance and integrate Native American tourism; empower native communities; increase coordination and collaboration between federal tourism assets; expand heritage and cultural tourism opportunities in our nation; promote unique visitor experiences for domestic travelers and international visitors; and, help create the tourism capacity and infrastructure needed to sustain Native tourism.

“Tourism is not only good for our economy, but it is one of the best ways for Native communities to tell their own stories and share their history and culture.  No organization knows that better than AIANTA,” said Senator Schatz.  “This award is a real honor.  I want to thank AIANTA for this award and for the work they do every day to advocate for Native communities and support tribes and Native-owned businesses in Hawai‘i and across the country.”

The bill would require federal agencies with recreational travel and tourism functions to include Native Hawaiians, Indian tribes, Alaska Natives and Native organizations in updated management plans and develop Native American or tribal tourism plans to improve travel and tourism data collection and analysis, increase integration of federal assets and support national tourism goals.

This special “Enough Good People” award was presented in the form of the print, “Medicine Lodges,” by renowned artist Terrance Guardipee. The print represents the cover of the book, “Enough Good People,” created by a national advisory committee representing forty modern Native Nations whose homelands were traversed by the 1803-1806 Lewis & Clark Expedition. The book's first purpose was to express appreciation to all the good people who built a bridge to one another making tribal involvement in the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial possible and successful.

About AIANTA:

The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit association of American Indian tribes, tribal tourism, cultural and private sector representatives, representatives from the tourism industry, Federal, State and local governments, colleges and universities, and friends that was incorporated in 2002 to advance Indian Country tourism. The association is made up of representatives from six regions: Alaska, Eastern, Midwest, Pacific, Plains and the Southwest. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values.

The purpose of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association is to provide our constituents with the voice and tools needed to advance tourism while helping tribes, tribal organizations and tribal members create infrastructure and capacity through technical assistance, training and educational resources. AIANTA serves as the liaison among Indian Country, governmental, educational and private entities for the development, growth, and sustenance of Indian Country tourism. By developing and implementing programs and facilitating economic development opportunities, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association helps tribes build for their future while sustaining and strengthening their cultural legacy.