TULSA, Okla. –
A new app and website help travelers on Route 66 learn about the roads’ connections to Native Americans.
With Travel Native America, you can plan your Route 66 road trip with different tribes in mind.
Route 66’s connection to Native America
For 100 years, drivers along the 2,500 miles of Route 66 have passed open fields, wide deserts and big cities.
Many never realize that along the road are historic Native American lands and reservations as well.
The American Indigenous Tourism Association is a non-profit that works to share the diverse culture and history of Indian Country through tourism. With the influx of tourists along Route 66 for the road’s centennial, the group decided to make an app and website.
“We see this as an education opportunity, an opportunity to educate the consumer about our 575 tribes across this nation,” said AITA CEO Sherry Rupert.
Rupert said that education in large part comes through the new website destinationnativeamerica.com and its companion app, Travel Native America. Inside, Native American attractions and landmarks nationwide are laid out. For Route 66’s centennial, her team built new features focused just on Route 66, like a detailed travel guide and itinerary builder.
“We have been working really hard to populate both of those with indigenous destinations, accommodations, experiences, events that people can participate in,” said Rupert.
How does “ Travel Native America” work?
Tourists can create their own travel plan using data all within the app.
For example, in far northeast Oklahoma near Miami: “Quapaw tribe, for example, has Quapaw farms, greenhouses, farmers market, and food hub,” said Rupert.
Or further west in OKC: “First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, which I personally have been to,” said Rupert.
Or in Shawnee: “Citizen Potawatomi Nation has an eagle aviary,” said Rupert.
In Tulsa, a new destination will soon be added.
Burning Cedar Sovereign Wellness is an inner tribal community center that provides cultural activities and fellowship. Nico Albert Williams, a Cherokee citizen and founder and executive director, said she was recently contacted about being added to the app – and is excited about the visitors it could bring.
“I think this app is a great thing for Indian Country. We’re always looking for ways to tell our own stories right, and so it’s important for folks to interact with and make connections to Native Communities,” said Williams.
