FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO (October 13, 2021)- The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) is proud to announce Patuk Glenn as “The Heart Speaks” keynote speaker during the 23rd Annual American Indian Tourism Conference.
Patuk Glenn works as the Executive Director of the Arctic Slope Community Foundation (ASCF) to help support and positively develop the remote areas of the Arctic Slope in Alaska. Over the years Patuk has helped to promote and preserve the Inupiaq way of life through museum curating and project management.
The Inupiaq Native went viral on TikTok at the beginning of 2020 for a video she posted about her family’s ice cellar which is used to store traditional Alaska Native foods such as bowhead whale, caribou and seal.
With this newfound stardom, Patuk also received backlash about this way of life, as many non-Native environmentalists had misconceptions about Indigenous subsistence lifestyles.
“Through this misunderstanding, I felt compelled to educate and share who we are, and how we live, and the sort of things that we do for survival and for thriving,” she explained. “It’s the distillation of all of our [ancestors’] knowledge passed down on to us. And I think that is something to be so proud of.”
Patuk now uses her platform to educate non-Natives about her culture’s past, present and future.
“We are delighted to welcome Patuk Glenn to our American Indian Tourism Conference,” said Sherry L. Rupert, AIANTA CEO. “By simply sharing her Native culture, Patuk has reached more than two million people on TikTok. She is a shining reminder to all Native tourism professionals that there is a significant interest in learning more about authentic cultural experiences.”
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About AIANTA
For nearly two decades, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has served as the national center for providing tourism and recreational travel technical assistance, training and capacity building to American Indian nations. AIANTA is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit association of Native American tribes and tribal businesses and was incorporated in 2002 to advance Indian Country tourism. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian tourism that honors traditions and values.
For more information and images, contact:
Monica Poling
Marketing & PR Manager
AIANTA
