New guide hopes to give tourists a chance to appreciate Alaska Native cultures

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Its fascinating vistas and glaciers, untamed wildlife, and distinctive historical past are all a part of what makes Alaska a worldwide vacationer vacation spot hotspot.

However vacationer’s calls for for extra ‘actual Alaska’ experiences have fostered the expansion of a brand new motion — cultural tourism — and a brand new journey information insert has been created to handle that want.

President and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Middle in Anchorage, and board member of the Alaska Journey Business Affiliation, Emily Edenshaw mentioned how there was room for enchancment to fulfill vacationer demand for details about Alaska Native cultures.

Edenshaw, who’s Tlingit and Haida, defined how a brand new journey information insert will assist convey vacationers the “actual Alaska” expertise they’re hungry for in an genuine and respectful method.

Alaska Natives controlling their very own narrative within the context of tourism is an element of a bigger bid to combine Indigenous views with tourism, and broader efforts of Indigenous teams to sustainably preserve cultural accuracy.

A statewide contingent of Alaska Native creators and artists jumped on board for the undertaking. This mirrors how in Alaska’s historical past, Natives didn’t sit on the periphery however have been in reality central to the event of the territory. It’s additionally extra according to the Alaska of right now and of the long run, says undertaking contributor and proprietor of manufacturing firm Midnight Run LLC, Mary Goddard.

“Regenerative tourism is all about being a steward of the land, being a steward of no matter has been given to you,” Goddard stated. “And so, Alaska Native values actually helps the regenerative tourism efforts.”

Sarah Leonard, President and CEO of the Alaska Commerce Business Affiliation, defined how that group allotted a number of the cash for the undertaking from pandemic-related financial growth funds. The financial advantages of the brand new information are apparent, given tourism’s standing as a significant business within the state. However there’s additionally an emotional significance that’s troublesome to quantify.

In lower than 20 pages, the small information provides a broad view of Alaska Native cultures, languages, and societies — from the World Eskimo Olympics in Fairbanks, to the Cama-i dance pageant in Bethel.

With the assistance of this new journey information, cultural tourism will assist cement the Native Alaskan inhabitants right into a broader context, highlighting the wealthy complexity of their cultures alongside the items of Alaska’s story guests can already can simply entry.

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