petrellasn@yahoo.com
Office: (505) 726-2048
last updated September 23, 2004
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| Stephanie Petrella | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contact Info: petrellasn@yahoo.com Office: (505) 726-2048 |
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| Background | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian reservation in the country, spanning an area larger than the state of West Virginia. It is a nation within a nation, and is divided into 110 chapters, which serve as local governments. About eight miles east of Gallup, nestled among the towering Red Rocks, is the Churchrock Chapter, the community in which I work. Churchrock occupies a unique position on the Navajo Nation. Its proximity to Red Rock State Park, the Cibola National Forest , and the City of Gallup, as well as its distinctive cultural heritage make it a prime location for tourism development. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Job Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| My site placement is with the Churchrock Tourism Action Council (CTAC), the Churchrock Chapter, and the Navajo Nation Tourism & Department (NTD). CTAC was created by the NTD as a model for community based tourism and economic development initiatives on the Navajo Nation. CTAC's mission is to foster economic growth and social self-sufficiency through sustainable tourism and other economic development initiatives. I work with the Board of Directors to accomplish this mission, to generate new and creative ideas, to seek funding sources, and to create and maintain partnerships with other organizations and individuals in the area. With the Churchrock Chapter I am working to help implement the Chapter Land Use Plan. Part of the plan includes securing various pieces of land that will be used for some of the tourism/economic development initiatives, such as building a cultural center, and a park. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recent Accomplishments | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In December, CTAC partnered with the Red Rock Balloon Rally Association to sponsor Native American dances, a Native American Arts and Crafts Exhibition, the Pyramid Rock 5 mile run, a raffle, and a food-vending booth, at the annual balloon rally. Overall the weekend was a success. We brought 18 local artisans to the event to comprise the arts and crafts exhibition, and got locals and tourists to experience the beauty of the Pyramid Rock Trail. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Links | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Navajo Nation Tourism | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I came to the Gallup area in November from a small town in Northwest Pennsylvania called Meadville. I made the decision to participate in VISTA in New Mexico after spending the summer in the Navajo community of Crownpoint. I was overwhelmed by the landscape's beauty, the Navajo's unique culture, and the vast amount I could learn from the people and places. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home last updated September 23, 2004 |
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