"Verginia Yazzie is helping the Navajo Nation create the first tribal department to house a federal National Scenic Byways program on the sprawling Navajo Reservation, where the borders stretch into three states.
'We have a lot of scenic areas and festivals. By designating these roads and marketing them at the national level, we're hoping to bring more people into the reservation and our nation,' said Yazzie, Navajo Nation Tourism Department coordinator.
As the largest tribe in the country, the Navajo has chosen not to operate casinos. Instead, the tribe has steadily worked to increase tourism on its 17 million-acre land holding in Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Forget about the traditional bed-and-breakfast, though. Navajo marketers are inviting tourists to experience a hogan-and-breakfast, said Yazzie.
And with $25 million in National Scenic Byways grants available in the 2007 Federal Highway Administration budget, the Navajo will be the first tribe on the list of recipients. All grant applications are due by March 19.
'Tribes have always been welcome. Now they have the opportunity to receive grants through the Federal Highway Administration,' said Michelle Johnson, director of America's Byways Resource Center in Duluth, Minn. 'They don't have to go to the states.'"
Get the Story:Indian nations making use of scenic byway program (The Missoulian 1/22) Relevant Links:
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