Alaska News

Scott McMurren: Alaska sees growing interest in cultural tourism

This week, Anchorage hosts its largest convention of the year for the Alaska Federation of Natives. After all, Anchorage is home to more Alaska Natives than any other community in the state.

There's a growing interest in "cultural tourism" around the world -- and that includes learning more about the history and lifestyle of Alaska's native people. At this year's AFN conference, Camille Ferguson of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), will host a cultural tourism educational meeting. "We want to educate Alaska Natives on the economic opportunities cultural tourism can present," she said.

Ferguson, AIANTA's executive director, is a Tlingit from the Kiksadi Clan and a member of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. She has extensive tourism-related experience in Sitka, including her tenure as president of the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"The trends in travel are changing," said Ferguson. "International travelers, especially Germans, are very interested in Indian Country."

Although Ferguson is an Alaska Native, her office is in Albuquerque and her job is to work on travel and tourism-related projects for the 566 federally recognized tribes in the country, including Native Hawaiians.

"Tribes are looking at ways to develop economies, including those that will preserve, protect and perpetuate their cultures," she said.

There are many opportunities in Alaska for travelers to learn more about the first Alaskans. In Sitka, Sitka Tribal Tours offers guided walks through the Sitka National Historic Park (Totem Park). The local Alaska Native guide will identify edible and medicinal plants in the rainforest, share stories of the totem poles and talk about rainforest ecology.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Sitka is the headquarters of Alaska Dream Cruises," said Ferguson, "a Native-owned and -operated small-ship cruise line that's built around the Tlingit culture. They sail to many small villages throughout Southeast Alaska," she said.

Although there may be interest on the part of travelers in a particular region or about a specific culture, it's important that a community or tribe be prepared to accommodate travelers and their needs while still balancing the values of their own way of life. And that is the discussion Ferguson wants to further at AFN. Specifically, her aim is to broaden awareness of her organization (AIANTA), identify the prospective economic impact of travel and tourism in a region or community and help Alaska Natives take advantage of marketing resources.

As a traveler herself, Ferguson is enjoying the cultural travel opportunities in and around her new home in Albuquerque, including her first Apache "feast day".

Another example of a rich culture near Albuquerque is Acoma Sky City, which is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America, going back to 1150. This pueblo, built on top of a 367-foot sandstone bluff, is known worldwide for its unique art and rich culture.

All around Alaska, there are more opportunities to learn about the rich history of Alaska Natives. The Anchorage Museum features extraordinary exhibits in conjunction with the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. And a walk through the village sites at the Alaska Native Heritage Center gives residents and visitors alike a unique glimpse into the rich cultural traditions around the state.

Melissa Stanley of the Alaska Native Heritage Center has a long list of cultural events, including:

- Intertribal Gathering on Nov. 8, featuring performances by Medicine Dream, traditional Hawaiian dancers and the center's own dancers.

- Summer of Alaska Native Art, with more than 30 artists demonstrating their artistic and cultural knowledge.

- Spirit -- the Seventh Fire of Alaska, a multicultural rock and dance spectacular. More than 80 performers combine Broadway dazzle and contemporary music and dance with the chants and dance of Native American and Alaska Native cultures. The event is scheduled for Feb. 20-22, 2015, at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

Beyond Anchorage, there are many opportunities for travelers to learn more about the indigenous cultures of Alaska, including:

- The Inupiat Heritage Center in Barrow. In addition to its comprehensive display of Inupiat culture and whaling heritage, the museum features a workshop where local craftsmen come and carve ivory and baleen.

- The University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks. The Ethnology Collection at the museum features more than 13,000 objects made and used by Alaska Natives.

- The Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak. The museum offers a fascinating look at more than 7,500 years of Alutiiq heritage.

Of course, museums and exhibits are just one aspect of the cultural tourism sector. More activities and excursions around Alaska include the stories and traditions of Alaska Natives, including:

- Riverboat Discovery in Fairbanks, where visitors disembark and walk through a recreated Athabascan Indian village. Guides explain how wolf, fox, marten, beaver and moose were used to provide food and protection.

- Mt. Roberts Tram in Juneau. On the ride up from the terminal, local Alaska Native guides offer travelers a glimpse of their culture and invite them to watch the film "Seeing Daylight" at the mountaintop theater.

- Mahays Jetboat Adventures in Talkeetna. All of Steve Mahay's jetboat tours include a stop at a Dena'ina Indian encampment along the Susitna River.

One important aspect of Ferguson's trip to Alaska is to better prepare Alaska Native communities, both on travelers' expectations and on the prospective economic benefits of the tourism and hospitality industry. There are wide swaths of Alaska which represent opportunities both for interested travelers and Alaska Natives.

Scott McMurren

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. Subscribe to his e-newsletter at alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.

ADVERTISEMENT