Empowerment Through Native Art

    Route 66 Native Arts Alliance promotes authentic Native empowerment through educational programs and events that highlight all forms of Native American artwork. Route 66 was officially a commissioned highway from 1926 to 1985. More than 25 tribal nations were located where this highway ran through. Native Americans were used as a lure for tourists during these times and our arts became toys bought at stores. Native Arts Alliance uses this opportunity to rebrand Route 66 history and preserve authentic Native art. 

  Preservation of Native Arts is preservation of culture, family, and Native life. Route 66 Native Arts Alliance gives the opportunity to display and educate the arts. We are open to the public with ongoing demonstrations and activities operated by Native artists.

  Route 66 Native Arts Alliance located at 1801 N hwy. 66 Catoosa, OK 74105 on the Cherokee Reservation. Our target audience is Native population and Non-native travelers on Rt. 66 to give insight and education on the culture, arts, and traditions of Native people.

  Rt. 66 Native Art Alliance is a Native organization that delivers authentic cultural experiences with ongoing demonstrations and activities operated by the Rt. 66 Native Arts Alliance with artist onsite. 

    Route 66 Native Arts Alliance faces cultural barriers that Solve can help us overcome by shining a light on the importance of authentic Native Art, the teaching of traditional arts, and demonstrating the importance preserving our culture.

Empowerment Through Native Art

The Rt. 66 Native Arts Allowance provides an authentic experience for cultural tourism. Sharing Native culture with the thousands of travelers on Rt 66 is a way of defining the value of the culture bearers, elders and hospitality professions.  What's more, elevating culture bearers is the very antidote to the false narratives that prevail and are often magnified by the tourism industry. 

Rt 66 Native Arts Alliance has created and operates the Vault Gallery located on Rt 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma.  Catoosa is the gateway to the Cherokee Reservation. The Cherokee Reservation is home to the largest Tribe in the United States.  The Rt 66 Native Arts Alliance is a recognized Cherokee Tribal Organization.

  Native artists have been especially hard hit by the pandemic - most shows were cancelled.

The Centennial of Route 66 will be 2026, and a very long stretch of Rt. 66 travels through the Cherokee Reservation.  Funding and marketing opportunities in conjunction with the Centennial should include the Native Experience and that experience should be defined by tribal citizens.  The Alliance and Gallery provide that authentic experience. 

The Alliance is advocating a collaboration  that our members, our tribe, our local and state entities unify and embrace our authentic   By embracing cultural tourism, we provide an authentic experience and engage the entire community in a spirit of collaboration that creates a better economy and provides a better understanding of the native Culture.

We are growing rapidly due to members joining.  We have been recognized by our Tribal Government as a certified community organization.

We have received Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Kevin Hern for outstanding and invaluable service to the community.

By providing a Central meeting place and market, we provide travelers an opportunity to have an authentic Native cultural experience.  We have tribal members and artists on site to share their culture with the community as well as Rt 66 travelers. There is the opportunity to buy directly from the artists.  We also provide training, workshops and events that engage the public.  We are a collective that empowers economic development through cultural tourism.  

Our Native culture is cognizant of the need to respect Mother Earth and her resources.  Our centuries old traditions of respect and gifting to others is a way to unite and bring people together.  Our native games and traditions, food and arts attract people to unite and share extraordinary gifts from the creator and technology allows us to leverage sharing that knowledge with the inhabitants of the universe. 

We are a Native organized with 51% Natives.  Our membership is both Native and Non-Native and we have support and membership from:

               Catoosa Chamber of Commerce

                Stonebrook Organization, a non-profit org.

                 Catoosa Historical Society

                  D.W. Correll Museum

                   Museum of History, Claremore

Cultural Tourism is our model.  We provide value to our community by identifying and marketing an authentic native experience on Rt. 66. 

We bring in money to fund our work through memberships, donations, grants, selling products and services.  

$5,000 from Cherokee Nation Businesses

$5,000 from Chinowth & Cohen Realtors

$20,000 from Fund Raiser - Rt 66 Gala

    25,000 additional received from events, memberships & donations