Inter Tribal Sports Kicks Off Golf Season at Golden Era Golf Course

March 15, 2026 — Gilman Hot Springs — Inter Tribal Sports (ITS) hosted its golf camp and opening day at the Golden Era Golf Course on March 15, welcoming 150 children and their parents for a day of fun, learning, and community connection.

Participants represented a wide range of tribes, including Verona, La Jolla, Mesa Grande, Rincon, Pala, Pauma, Pechanga, San Pasqual, Soboba, Morongo, Santa Isabel, and Viejas. Overall, ITS serves over 2,000 youth from 26 tribes and organizations across the region.

Building Strong Communities Through Sports and Culture
The mission of Inter Tribal Sports is to unify tribal youth and communities through structured athletic programs while providing essential resources and fostering growth in culture, leadership, and wellness. ITS combines athletic opportunities with values education, supporting the cultural, physical, mental, and spiritual development of youth.

Through fun and positive activities, ITS promotes self-esteem, respect, acceptance, and sportsmanship, while developing athletic skills and forming lasting friendships. All programs are volunteer-driven, non-profit, and open to tribal youth, guided by dedicated role models in a structured and safe environment.

ITS offers a wide array of sports activities, including flag football, basketball, softball, soccer, all-star travel basketball, cheerleading, cross country, golf, volleyball, and soft lacrosse. In addition, ITS provides enriching programs such as cultural gatherings, sports camps, group outings, wellness classes, and leadership activities.

Organizational Leadership
Inter Tribal Sports is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of educators, youth program coordinators, recreation professionals, and other committed community members—most of whom also hold positions within their respective tribes or tribal consortiums. The board oversees ITS’s direction, including fund allocation, capital projects, policy formation, and communication with participating Tribal Governments.

The current ITS President is Steve Lopez from Soboba, who also serves as Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation at Soboba.

Nike Partnership and the Seven Generations Philosophy
One of ITS’s key sponsors is Nike, which embraces the Indigenous Seven Generations philosophy. Golf participants received Nike-supplied golf shirts featuring the N7 logo, reflecting the organization’s focus on the long-term wellbeing of Native youth.

The Seven Generations philosophy emphasizes making decisions today with consideration for their impact on the next seven generations. Its three pillars include:

1. Learn from the past seven generations

• Honor ancestors and traditional knowledge.

• Make choices that safeguard people, culture, and the environment.

• Ensure the health of land, water, language, and traditions for future descendants.

This principle guides ITS’s work in areas such as environmental stewardship, tribal governance, sustainable development, cultural preservation, and youth education and leadership.

About Inter Tribal Sports
Inter Tribal Sports is a non-profit organization committed to strengthening tribal communities by providing athletic and cultural programs that empower youth, cultivate leadership, and promote holistic wellbeing.