American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association Announces New Members to its Board of Directors
Michelle Liberty (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) and Hanford McCloud (Nisqually Indian Tribe) join the AIANTA Board of Directors and Travis Owens (Cherokee Nation) and Charlene Virgilio (Penobscot Tribe) reelected as the national nonprofit continues transforming the tourism industry
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (January 14, 2025) – The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA), the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural heritage tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States, is pleased to announce its newly elected board members who have joined the board of directors as the national nonprofit sets its sights on the future of the tourism industry.
AIANTA’s executive committee will continue to be led this year by President Travis Owens (Cherokee Nation), Vice President Lora Ann Chaisson (United Houma Nation), Secretary Kate Anderson (Citizen Potawatomi Nation), and Treasurer Brian Wadsworth (Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe).
New members of the AIANTA Board of Directors include Michelle Liberty (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) representing the Pacific Northwest Region and Hanford McCloud (Nisqually Indian Tribe) representing the Northwest Region.
Re-elected and returning to the AIANTA Board is Travis Owens (Cherokee Nation) representing the Oklahoma region and Charlene Virgilio (Penobscot Tribe) representing the Northeast Region.
“Indigenous experiences continue to be of high interest for travelers within the tourism industry and it’s imperative that AIANTA’s Board of Directors is represented by the best tourism professionals our Native Nations and communities have to offer,” said AIANTA CEO Sherry L. Rupert. “Our new board members bring a fresh and strategic perspective to AIANTA as we work together to enhance cultural tourism for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-owned businesses in the U.S.”
As AIANTA welcomes new members to its board of directors, the organization also honored the passing of valued board member Darian Morsette (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Tribes) who represented the Rocky Mountain Region for many years. Darian was a cherished part of the Indigenous tourism community whose warmth, wisdom, and dedication will leave an indelible mark. For over a decade, Darian served as the Director of MHA Nation Tourism, shaping it into the remarkable organization it is today.
To represent all Native Nations and communities in the U.S., the AIANTA Board of Directors is composed of representatives from 15 designated regions. Each representative is elected by their respective region to serve a three-year term and eligible for re-election at AIANTA’s annual conference, now in its 27th year. Each member of the Board of Directors brings expertise and resources to the organization and many valued Board members serve on other national advisory boards, state cabinets and commissions that all work to strengthen tourism across Native Nations and communities.
Brief bios of the newly elected and reelected AIANTA Board Members can be found as follows:
- Newly elected AIANTA Board Member Michelle Liberty (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation) – Pacific Northwest Region: Michelle Liberty is from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation and is based in Walla Walla, Washington. She has been involved in domestic and international tourism marketing for more than 20 years and has worked with Wildhorse Resort & Casino on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Travel Oregon, Tamastslikt Cultural Institute and more. She brings great expertise from her work on other boards to include Walla Walla Community College Board of Trustees, Blue Mountain Action Council, the United Way, Crow’s Shadow Institute for the Arts, Washington State Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee (Governor appointee), Brand Oregon Advisory Board (Governor appointee), and more.
- Newly elected AIANTA Board Member Hanford McCloud (Nisqually Indian Tribe) – Northwest Region: Hanford McCloud is from the Nisqually Indian Tribe and is based in Olympia, Washington. Serving as a leader on numerous boards and initiatives during his career to include Nisqually Tribal Council, Beyond Olympia Experience, Nisqually Land Trust organization, and more, Hanford brings a deep understanding of building relationships across various tribal and non-tribal government settings. His experience from working on the 10-year master plan for Washington State’s Thurston County Tourism programs plus other experiences gives him intimate knowledge of how to serve strategically across government boundaries.
- Newly reelected AIANTA Board Member and AIANTA President Travis Owens (Cherokee Nation) – Oklahoma Region: Travis Owens has served in various roles for AIANTA since 2015 before his appointment to president in 2024, a role in which he will continue in 2025. A devoted advocate of cultural heritage tourism, Owens began working for Cherokee Nation Businesses in 2008 and currently serves as vice president of cultural tourism at Cherokee Nation Businesses, managing the tribe’s robust tourism portfolio. Spanning 14 counties in northeast Oklahoma, those efforts include six museums, an interpretive site, a welcome center, research center, art gallery, gift shop and more. He also plays an integral part in the Nation’s approach to the restoration and preservation of historic sites, interpretive planning, cultural art, programs, and events.
- Newly reelected AIANTA Board Member Charlene Virgilio (Penobscot Tribe) – Northeast Region: Charlene Virgilio is from the Penobscot Tribe and is based in Orono, Maine. Charlene has deep experience in leading a multi-year Indigenous Tourism initiative through successful partnerships and raising more than $1.26M in funds to support the effort. She has more than eight years of services as a tribal council person, five years of experience in a Native American Certified Community Financial Institution and is currently the Northeast representative for AIANTA. Her expertise includes leadership of multiple community events, served as an elected council person, served as the USET Economic Development co-chair, and served on other non-profit boards.
About AIANTA:
For more than 26 years, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has served as the only national organization dedicated to advancing cultural heritage tourism in Native Nations and communities across the United States. Established by tribes for tribes to address inequities in the tourism system, AIANTA is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit governed by an all-Native board of directors and serves as a united voice for the $15.7 billion Native hospitality sector. AIANTA’s successful legislative work led to the industry-changing Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act (NATIVE Act) funding in 2018, as Indian Country Tourism was recognized through federal appropriations via NATIVE Act implementation. AIANTA’s mission is to define, introduce, grow, and sustain American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian (AIANNH) tourism that honors traditions and values while helping AIANNH businesses become market/export ready for domestic and international markets. Visit www.aianta.org to learn more.
Media Contact:
Liz Slobodian, APR
Liz@shipwrightcommunications.com
Photos for this announcement can be found here:
AIANTA Media Assets