Experience San Diego Native Culture and History during the American Indian Tourism Conference
Join the Rincon Tribe in one of two cultural tourism experiences that explore the Native culture and history of the Greater San Diego area.
Albuquerque, New Mexico (July 26, 2022) – The American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) has announced two one-of-a-kind cultural tourism experiences, which will be offered during the 24th Annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC) held on the tribal homelands of the Rincon Tribe, October 24-27, 2022 at the Harrah’s Resort Southern California in Funner, California.
Each year, AITC kicks off with unique mobile workshops that highlight the culture of local area tribes and foster networking opportunities for attendees to share, teach and learn from one another. This year’s mobile workshops will provide a deeper dive into cultural activities showcasing California tribes. Held prior to the start of the conference, Mobile Workshop attendees will visit the heart of the Rincon Tribe and explore the greater San Diego area, introducing attendees to local traditions, history and culture.
More about AITC Mobile Workshops:
Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors
Visit the Rincon Reservation and walk the path of their ancestors along the San Luis Rey River. Join the cultural resources staff from the Rincon Tribe—the people who lived from the Mountains to the Ocean– and enjoy a journey through their homelands. Find your inner artist while experiencing the Tribe’s traditional ways. Their staff will present and assist you in weaving a small basket or painting rock art onto a locally grown gourd. Walk away with a piece of their culture to take home with you.
Exploring the Cultures of San Diego County
San Diego’s Balboa Park is where culture and nature meet. Lush grounds, from gardens to forests, fountains to playgrounds, and sweeping architecture from Spanish Colonial Revival to mid-century Modern span the heart of the park. More than 17 museums are filled with everything from recognition of San Diego’s first peoples to dinosaurs to space travel, science to the study of humankind, photographs to old masters, and automobiles to orchids.
After exploring Balboa Park, board the bus and head to Rincon’s own Brewery and tasting room located in Ocean Beach. It is the first off-reservation, Native-owned brewery. Soak in the Southern California Beach experience while trying the culturally inspired beers and checking out local vendors.
About the Rincon Tribe
The Rincon Tribe resides on a 5,000-acre reservation in Valley Center (Funner), California. Established in 1875, the Rincon Tribe is a sovereign government recognized by the U.S. Constitution, the United States Congress, court precedent and federal policy. The Rincon Tribe owns Harrah’s Resort Southern California and uses profits and other commercial enterprises to provide government services, cultural programs and economic development resources for their members and surrounding communities.
About Harrah’s Resort Southern California
Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, in a mountain valley along the San Luis Rey River, Funner, California is the city where fun lives. With two luxurious towers housing 1,087 rooms and suites, an award-winning trifecta of pools, a serene 11,000 square-foot spa and SoCal’s first tribally owned brewery it’s easy to see why Harrah’s Resort SoCal is voted “Best resort in Funner, CA.” www.harrahssocal.com
Founded in 1998, AIANTA was established by tribes for tribes to address inequities in the tourism system. Governed by an all-Native board of directors, AIANTA serves as a united voice for the $14 billion Native hospitality sector. AIANTA’s priorities are; 1) to provide technical assistance and training, research, and publications to American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities engaged in tourism and hospitality; 2) to facilitate conversations with the Native communities, federal agencies, non-profit associations, and elected officials on the economic and cultural importance of a healthy hospitality industry; 3) to highlight the importance of visiting authentic Native destinations, including cultural, heritage, historic, and artistic sites; and 4) to generate awareness, interest and demand for these destinations with domestic and international travelers, the travel trade and the media. www.aianta.org