Challenge to the Tribes

Challenge to the Tribes for Arts and Culture to Gain Economic Prosperity
Native American Art & Cultures are an Economic Asset for Tribes

Issuing a challenge to the tribes of Indian Country, USA to consider formal participation in giving State Wide Attention to Alaska Native and Native American Arts and its rich culture for economic gain and well-being

Terrance H. Booth, Sr.
6/8/2007


“We in the public sector need to keep in mind what and important role the arts play in economic development. Part of a community’s vibrancy is defined by its arts and cultural quality and diversity. All the things we do at county level to support the arts can make difference, and I encourage county officials to step up to make sure their communities understand the linkage between local economic development and the arts.[1]
A prime example exists in the State of Alaska is the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Its Mission: “Alaska is a land of diverse Native peoples: the Athabascan of interior and southcentral Alaska, the Yup'ik and Cup'ik Eskimo of southwest Alaska, the Inupiaq and St. Lawrence Island Yupik of northwest to northern Alaska, the Aleut and Alutiiq from Prince William Sound to the end of the Aleutian Island chain, and the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of southeast Alaska. Today’s indigenous Alaska Natives live in cities, towns, and villages separated by vast distances.
Alaska Natives represent many languages, creeds, and philosophies, but we share common goals, values, and the challenge to embrace modern changes in such a way that we can be full participants in this new era. We build on the traditional cycle of knowledge that has helped to perpetuate Native societies for hundreds of generations.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is an exciting place where all people can come to expand their understanding of Alaska's first people. Here we share the rich heritage of Alaska's eleven cultural groups - drawing upon the lifeways of long ago, the wisdom of our elders, and the traditions that endure. The encounter is designed to enhance self-esteem among Native people and to encourage cross-cultural exchanges among all people.” [2] This particular Alaska Native Center incorporates all of the Alaska Native Tribes of all of Alaska. It has a busy schedule year around activities include: School Visit Programs, Cultural Awareness Programs, and Cultural Outreach Programs which all bring about educating the public at large on Alaska Natives. In the summer months during tourism season Alaska Native Artists participate, Storytellers, Musicians, Elders, Dancers, and other cultural appropriate activities that taps into Alaska’s thriving tourism industry.
“4,500 Alaskans-about 2% of the entire workforce-earn income from arts-related activity-more than Alaska's mining industry, the residential construction industry and the banking sector. This direct arts employment includes arts-related organization, art retailers and an estimated 3,000 producers of Alaska art and fine crafts. (McDowell Group)
Arts-related spending by individuals employed in the arts results in an indirect economic impact of the arts industry at approximately 600 jobs and $16 million in payroll. “(McDowell Group)[3]
The economic impact for all of Alaska for state wide tourism adds much revenue to the economy of Alaska.
“An estimated 1.63 million out-of-state visitors traveled to Alaska between May and September 2006,
spending more than $1.5 billion on lodging, tours, retail and other out-of-pocket purchases according to
the newly released Alaska Visitor Statistics Program [AVSP] Summer 2006 report.
The AVSP research is a statewide program periodically commissioned by the State Department of
Commerce, Community, and Economic Development (Commerce) to collect information from visitors
about their spending habits while traveling in Alaska as well as to find out where they visited, the activities they enjoyed and whether they arrived by cruise ship or on their own.
"The results document how widely tourism serves the entire state, contributing to the economies of dozens of communities", said Caryl McConkie, manager of the State’s tourism development programs.”[4]

Alaska Native and Native American Tourism are highly organized across Indian Country, USA. One National Alaska Native and Native American organization the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association existence their mission: “The mission of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association is to facilitate a network of American Indian tourism interests and cooperatively identify cultural benefits, markets and tourism opportunities in order to enhance tribal business and economic strategies.” [5]
“Native Tourism supports the growth and economic vitality of sustainable Native American tourism enterprises in the United States. Tourism contributes to the well being of indigenous peoples and the preservation of valuable assets: lands, culture, heritage and language. The focus of Native Tourism is to strengthen the capacity of American Indian tribal communities and individual entrepreneurs to develop such enterprises and to participate in the global tourism market.
The goal of this website and directory is to act as a resource to domestic and international travelers in locating destinations within Native America.”[6]
Potential opportunity exists in Phoenix, Arizona with development of building a Native tourism center on the former Phoenix Indian School site. “Once a center of forced Native American assimilation, the Phoenix Indian High School will soon be transformed into a place of peace and a showcase for Native culture and tourism - but only if supporters of Arizona's first statewide Indian cultural center can raise $2 million to fulfill a deal struck with the city of Phoenix. The Spanish-style dining hall at the school, once hidden by classrooms and dormitories, is cluttered with dirt and rubble, awaiting a new life as the Native American Cultural Center. It will serve as a "one-stop" tourist and arts center for tribes hoping to capture more of Arizona's $13 billion tourist trade. Tribes are the second biggest attraction in Arizona, behind the Grand Canyon.”[7]
"Understanding and acknowledging the incredible economic impact of the nonprofit arts and culture, we must always remember their fundamental value. They foster beauty, creativity, originality, and vitality. The arts inspire us, sooth us, provoke us, involve us, and connect us. But they also create jobs and contribute to the economy."[8]

Arts & Economic Prosperity III provides compelling new evidence that the nonprofit arts and culture are a significant industry in the City of Phoenix—one that generates $361.05 million in local economic activity. This spending–$133.01 million by nonprofit arts and culture organizations and an additional $228.03 million in event-related spending by their audiences—supports 11,164 full-time equivalent jobs, generates $213.23 million in household income to local residents, and delivers $39.79 million in local and state government revenue. This economic impact study sends a strong signal that when we support the arts, we not only enhance our quality of life, but we also invest in the City of Phoenix’s economic well-being.”[9]

On a national basis the arts have made a huge impact on the economies of states, cities and towns and the arts is a thriving prosperous industry to consider among the Tribes of Indian Country, USA. What is the economic impact of the arts nationally? “Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in the United States drive $166 billion industry-a growth industry that supports 5.7 million full-time jobs and generates nearly $30 billion in government revenue annually. Arts and cultural organizations-businesses in their own right-leverage significant event-related spending by their audiences that pumps vital revenue into restaurants, hotels, retail stores, parking garages and other local businesses. This study lays to rest a common misconception: that communities support arts and culture at the expense of local economic development. In fact, communities are investing in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, and is the cornerstone of tourism. This report shows conclusively that, locally as well as nationally, the arts mean business.”[10]

Without a doubt the evidence of this writing readily points out that arts and culture is big business across American within states, cities and towns. There is very high interest across Indian Country, USA and unique Alaska Native and Native American have formed State wide Native Organizations for the arts and cultural tourism. There are many examples of success like the Alaska Native Cultural Heritage Center which not only promotes the arts and culture but have public awareness of the Alaska Native people educating not only the public at large but school districts, corporations, businesses, service organizations to bring about better understanding of Alaska’s Indigenous people.

As stated in the beginning of this document $13 million dollars industry for Arizona Tourism. Arizona is featured as one of the places to visit and 17% of these visitors have culture as one of their reasons to visiting Arizona. All of the available Native American expertises are in place to make a cultural perspective to creating this Arizona Tribal Cultural Center. It is time we tap into this major industry and highlight all of the cultures together acting in one accord to bring awareness of all of Arizona's First People.

The Challenge is for Indian Country, USA give high priority upon Alaska Native and Native American Arts and Culture not only for economic gain and prosperity but to enlighten the public at large who we are as Indigenous of America. Decade after decade Tribes have confronted elected officials of their particular states, their state legislatures, Congressional Delegation, the President’s Cabinet, and the Office of the President to have an expression of our social and economic needs. Thus, through the arts which are a reflection of ourselves we can regain our cultural pride in ourselves and fully capitalize upon ourselves and letting America know once and for all who we are as Alaska Native and Native American Tribes.


[1] Linda Langston, Linn County Supervisor, Chair, Arts Commission, National Association of Counties.
[2] http://www.alaskanative.net/
[3] http://www.anchorageculturalcouncil.org/artmatters.html
[4] http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/pub/Final_AVSP_Release.pdf
[5] http://www.aianta.org/?page_id=31
[6] http://www.nativetourism.org/about.asp
[7] http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=2389
[8] —Robert L. Lynch, President and CEO, Americans for the Arts, http://phoenix.gov/ARTS/aep3.pdf
[9] http://phoenix.gov/ARTS/aep3.pdf
[10] http://www.AmericansForTheArts.org