Visit California showcases state’s tribal heritage

Visit California recently launched online platform, Visit Native California, to showcase its diverse Native communities.

The Golden State is home to more than 100 federally recognized tribes.

The new site is a key resource of information on the varied Native American tourism experiences across the state.

This incliudes museums and cultural centres, outdoor experiences like hiking and boating, restaurants, and more.

“Visit California is honored to create a platform showcasing the rich Native American cultural heritage,” Visit California CEO Caroline Beteta said. ”

Visit Native California is funded by a federal grant awarded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Native California experiences across the state

 Across California, destinations celebrate the rich history of Native American tribes spanning more than 15,000 years..

Cultural centers and museums 

New Cultural Centre Opening in Palm Springs: Palm Springs is home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the original inhabitants of the area. Visitors can explore historic sites like the sacred reservations at Tahquitz and Indian Canyons. Scheduled to open in April 2023, the Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza includes a Cultural Museum, Gathering Plaza, gardens, Oasis Trail and The Spa at Séc-he..

Native Sites in San Diego: With over 32,000 archaeological sites in San Diego County, the San Diego Archaeology Center in Escondido features a rich collection of artefacts. The Barona Cultural Center & Museum, located on a Native American reservation, offers a unique educational journey with listening alcoves, photographic displays, archives and more than 300 artefacts.

Parks, gardens and hiking trails

People of the Earth’s Santa Monica Park: In honour of the Tongva, “people of the earth”, and Native habitants of Santa Monica, the city built Tongva Park, a six-acre urban oasis adjacent to the beach. Take a self-guided tour of the park, which is divided into four main sections: Observation Hill, Discovery Hill, Garden Hill and Gathering Hill. The park features a native and locally appropriate sustainable plant palette that changes subtly with the seasons. Visit the Santa Monica History Museum to view artefacts and learn more about the Tongva people.

Culture of the Yokuts self-guided tour: Explore the culture of the local Yokuts and Western Mono tribes in a self-guided tour that begins in Visalia. Start at Mooney Grove Museum to see one of the largest native American woven basket collections on display, before heading to the Kaweah Heritage Visitors Center at Kaweah Lake to witness bedrock mortar. Hospital Rock in Sequoia National Park is home to some of the finest examples of native American pictographs.

Educational Festivals and Attractions

Los Angeles Native American Culture and Heritage: Explore the history and impact of Los Angeles’ Native American culture and heritage at the Autry Museum of the American West  filled with Native film memorabilia, historic firearms and paintings. The Becoming Los Angeles exhibit at the National History Museum has sections on the Gabrielino and Tongva homelands. Heritage Park has traditional Tongva dwellings built by Tongva volunteers and Wishtoyo Chumash Village  recreates a working Native American village.

Festivals and Tours in Del Norte County: Del Norte County is rich with Native American culture. Experience the Yurok tribe’s annual Klamath Salmon Festival on 19 August, or Tolowa Dee-ni’ Day on 22 September. Hike the Grove of Titans to view the tallest coastal redwood trees on earth, tour the Yurok Country Visitor Center for local gems or book a Redwood Yurok Canoe Tour to paddle in an authentic hand-carved dugout canoe.

Historic hotels

Ojai Valley Inn: Surrounded by hills and lush greens, Ojai Valley Inn  honors its Native American history and the Chumash Indians who settled in Ojai more than 10,000 years ago. At Spa Ojai, experience a Kuyam (“a place to rest together”), which is a therapeutic detoxifying massage coupled with a meditative and traditional Chumash narrative.

Temecula’s Native American-owned and operated resort: Located in Temecula Valley, Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians who created the luxury resort to pay tribute to their heritage. There are cultural, historical and artist installations in the resort’s lobby and Summit Events Center. Spa Pechanga offers services derived from the healing botanicals used by Native people and is one of the only Native American-inspired spas in California.