News
2008
October 28, 2008 -
"Our Native Pathways" Workshop Series A Success
The America’s Byways Resource Center recently completed Our Native Pathways: Byway Opportunities for Indian Tribes, a series of workshops developed to conduct effective and comprehensive outreach to Tribal governments throughout the nation.
The project was funded through a partnership with the US Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) with a grant of $220,000. Core elements of the project were to organize three regional meetings that included presentations on the National Scenic Byways Program by key national and regional byway leaders (FHWA, State coordinators, byway leaders, Federal land management agency representatives, Resource Center staff and byway representatives from Indian Country). More than 60 Tribal governments were represented at the three workshops.
The workshops provided educational materials, information and networking opportunities for Tribal governments. Each meeting included presentations about the National Scenic Byways Program (grants and nominations) and panel presentations on what it means to designate and maintain a byway. Dr. Father Oleksa, a nationally recognized expert on cross cultural communications, provided information to assist Indian tribes in building external partnerships in pursuit of byway programs. Key speakers included Cindi Ptak, Federal Highway Administration; Verginia Yazzie, Navajo Nation; and Pam Ternes, Standing Rock Native American Scenic Byway.
The Resource Center is pleased to announce that the BIA has awarded additional funds to continue these outreach efforts to Indian Country. Watch www.bywaysresourcecenter.org for updates, or contact Scott Sufficool, Tribal Liaison, at 1-866-974-6403 or ssufficool@byways.org.
