Native American Festival Takes Center Stage at Super Bowl

By Lucas Frankel 1-29-15

When you think Super Bowl history you probably think only about great receptions, gritty performances, and the Lombardi Trophy. But for Phoenix, it also means Native American heritage.
                    
“When Arizona was bidding for the Super Bowl this year, 2015, one of the aspects that would make it unique was to have a cultural input,” Arizona American Indian Tourism Association President Donovan Hanley said.  

That cultural input is the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association festival located in Scottsdale, Arizona.  

“We have 22 tribes from around the state creating this ambiance, this experience of native destinations, and with that is song and dance, cultural storytelling, demonstrations, speaking presentations,” Hanley said.

Local tribes are taking full advantage of the festival’s exposure and spreading the word.   

“We work very closely with the state of Arizona and our economic development so it really promotes our tribe and all tribes in Arizona,” Tao Etpinson, Vice Chairman of the San Carlos Tribe said.  “It’s really great.”                                   

For visitors, the festival gives them the chance to experience real Native American Culture.

“It’s just so cool to see how the cultures have kept this alive and continued to pass it down to the generations,” Arizona tour guide Linda Case said.

Unlike most events during Super Bowl week, the AAITA festival is free to the public.