Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Explore the scenic lands and culture of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe near Tucson.

The Pascua Yaqui Tribe descends from Uto-Aztecan people who once occupied Mexico and the Southwest United States. Today the tribe has eight communities in Southern Arizona spanning scenic desert lands. Visitors are invited to experience Pascua Yaqui culture at two museums and multiple annual ceremonies that showcase the tribe’s cherished deer dances and distinctive arts and crafts passed down through generations.

24/7 Gaming Action

Visitors head to Casino del Sol to try their luck on more than 1,300 slot machines and table games including blackjack, craps, poker, roulette and baccarat. AVA Amphitheater brings headliners to an outdoor concert venue throughout the year. The resort also features Sewailo Golf Club, a desert-style course designed by Notah Begay that boasts five tee boxes on each hole to appeal to golfers of all skill levels. Dining options range from street tacos to sushi and two hotel towers with multiple pools and a spa encourage guests to go all in at this oasis in the Sonoran Desert.

Preserving Traditions

One of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s modern leaders, Anselmo Valencia Tori, envisioned a place where tribal members would gather to pass their traditions onto future generations. Yoemem Tekia Cultural Center & Museum invites visitors to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe with displays of art and artifacts. Another heritage museum in Tucson, the Old Pascua Museum & Yaqui Culture Center, also invites visitors to experience the cultural traditions of these ancient people.

Other Area Experiences

Tribal communities throughout Southern Arizona are represented at the historic Mission Garden, located at the base of A Mountain in Tucson. This plot of land is known as Tucson’s birthplace, where evidence of cultivation dates back more than 4,000 years. The living agricultural museum represents food cultures of the area’s early nomadic tribes as well as Spanish Colonial settlers that followed. Visitors learn about food pathways and stewardship that sustained the area’s original inhabitants in themed gardens dedicated to crops that have grown in the region for centuries. See desert-adapted fruit trees, heirloom crops and edible native plants in a centuries-old garden.