Empowering native Americans: Communication, planning, and dialogue for eco-tourism in Gallup, New Mexico

Abstract

A challenge for communication practitioners is facilitating increased representation of marginalized cultural groups in public dialogue. Utilizing a project between Gallup, New Mexico, and a Navajo community as a case study, this paper demonstrates how public planning across cultures can be conceptualized as a dialogic process. The author conducted a communication assessment of this eco-tourism project. Analysis revealed the importance of finding ways to meet the participatory needs of the marginalized community, instituting specialized communication practices, and purposefully preparing the contextual environment to support involvement in dialogue. These findings highlight the need for continued development of dialogic practices, and for closer ties among communication and planning scholars. © 2011 National Communication Association.