I recently attended the Arctic Tourism panel organized by the Arctic Youth Ambassadors policy group. The panel was hosted Sam Schimmel, Danielle Stickman, and Matt Atkinson who all have businesses related to tourism in Alaska, and together they discussed what tourism will look like in a post-COVID world. The panelists were asked what they think it means to be culturally and environmentally sustainable and how they incorporate it into their businesses. Because unsustainable tourism has a history of exploiting Indigenous peoples and the land to maximize profit, the panelists agreed that following the cultural values of the original people of the land is the first step.

Danielle Stickman incorporates this into the Qizhjeh Vena business by centering Dena’ina Athabascan people and values. As nomadic inland people, they wouldn’t leave traces of where they were unless it was a long term fish camp, and this sets the example for tourists. Matt Atkinson stated that sustainable tourism means the tourism is at a level acceptable of the hosting tribeS and is respectful of them. Sam Schimmel said it all starts with intentionality and how they engage with the people. It’s important to maintain good relations with the tribes because those are their lands and they are the original stewards.

Stickman sees that COVID has caused a lot of people to want to get out of the house and spend more time in nature. Additionally, Schimmel has noticed social media plays a large part in exposing Alaska to tourists and influencing their trip choices. An increase in Alaska tourists also comes with the increased responsibility to make sure their tourism is sustainable. There are a number of planes that fly very low over fish camps because they want to show tourists a traditional way of living, but it’s disruptive and the tribes are not consulted about it. Many tourists also want to take photos, but Schimmel asks clients not to take photos of the subsidence fishing process because that’s a relationship between the fish and him as an Alaska Native person, unlike commercial fishing.

I enjoyed learning about tourism through an Alaska Native perspective, and I noticed similarities that Indigenous peoples also experience in the Andes and Amazon basin. Andean spirituality is a major attraction for tourists, and they may want to partake through the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches’ Market) or coca leaf readings. However, the problem occurs when tourists treat these practices as neat parlor tricks and don’t take it seriously. A tourist may buy an Ekeko doll as a quirky souvenir, but for us that is a conduit of a god to be honored. I look forward to learning more about sustainable tourism business models, and I’d be interested in ways this can be applied to other regions.

Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Program: Directorate Fellows Program

Location: Alaska Regional Office