Cultural tourism is important for Cherokee Nation and all of
northeast Oklahoma because, while it showcases and preserves our rich culture
and tradition, it also creates jobs and economic opportunities for so many of
our citizens. As the global interest in Native culture grows, it is important
for tribes to realize the benefits of sharing our unique heritage with
travelers from around the world.
Our tribal culture, heritage and history matter and always
will. As chief, I have taken an oath of office to preserve and defend those
things. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously. Preserving those cultural values and
traditions connects us to the past, to all our ancestors who went before us,
and it is what guides the path toward our collective future. While our heritage
is the core of our unique identity as Indian people, we still treasure the
language and traditions of our ancestors in the southeast United States, our
home before removal.
And we, as Cherokees, have always been eager to share our
heritage in an appropriate way.
Across our 14-county jurisdiction, cultural tourism efforts
have led to the preservation and restoration of multiple historic buildings. Our
home is marked by an abundance of lakes, rivers, state parks and nature trails.
Tourism is already part of our way of life. Cherokee Nation has a $1.5 billion
impact on the state, and cultural tourism is an important part of our business
portfolio.
Recently, Cherokee Nation led tribal efforts to pass the
NATIVE Act that was just signed into law by President Obama. The NATIVE Act,
which was authored by Cherokee Congressman Mark Wayne Mullin, will require
federal agencies with tourism responsibilities to include tribes and Native
organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning.
Tourism in the United States and in Indian Country is one of
the largest and fastest growing sectors of the U.S. economy: International tourism to Indian Country grew
181 percent from 2007 to 2015. That resulted in $8.6 billion in direct
spending, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
This is a win for Oklahoma’s tribal communities and will
benefit the state’s 38 federally recognized tribal governments and its
citizens. As tribal governments we partner on a multitude of efforts, including
tourism. It’s important for tribes, like the Cherokee Nation, to be able to
tell our story from our own perspective.
Preserving and sharing Cherokee culture is so important to
us that we have taken steps to ensure money does not limit our capability to
tell our story through museums, art procurement and our TV program, “Osiyo,
Voices of the Cherokee People,” which runs statewide. The tribe actively
partners with renowned institutions, like the Oklahoma Historical Society and
the Gilcrease Museum, to preserve and showcase our culture. Additionally, our
own world-class museums complement annual events, like Cherokee National
Holiday, to offer visitors a unique glimpse of Cherokee culture.
Our stories are both vast and personal – we have a culture
like no other. It’s critical to knowing who we are today, to know where and
what we have been in the past.
I was taught that we honor our ancestors by living quality
lives that leave our world better for the next seven generations. Today, we are
dedicated more than ever to the betterment of our people and the continuation
of our legacy. Our cultural tourism
efforts play a vital role in sharing that story around the world.
