press release from AZ Democratic Party on Honoring Arizona’s Tribal Communities:
Over the last few days, we’ve been honoring Arizona’s Democratic heritage, sending along a few profiles each day of noteworthy figures in the history of our Arizona Democratic Party. However, Arizona’s history is much longer than 100 years. While it is important to learn about the men and women who brought Arizona into statehood, we want to especially encourage you to learn about the tribal communities who not only have deep history in Arizona, but who continue to make Arizona a great place to live every single day.
As we mark our centennial and honor our heritage, I ask you to join me and visit the links below and learn about the tribal communities who deserve special recognition not just for their contributions to our past, but for the important role they will play in our future.
Ak-Chin Indian Community
Cocopah Tribe
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Fort Mojave Tribe
Gila River Indian Community
Havasupai Tribe
Hopi Tribe
Hualapai Tribe
Kaibab-Paiute Tribe
Navajo Nation
Pascua Yaqui Tribe
Pueblo of Zuni
Quechan Tribe
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
San Carlos Apache Tribe
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe
Tohono O’odham Nation
Tonto Apache Tribe
White Mountain Apache Tribe
Yavapai-Apache Nation
Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe
Sincerely,
Luis Heredia
Executive Director, Arizona Democratic Party
I used to be a tribal staff attorney for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of AZ, so I know a bit about the 22 Native American tribes in Arizona. This message is part of the AZ Centennial of 100 years of statehood, but most of these tribes were here in this Southwest area before February 14, 1912.
At the AZ 100 and Counting event at Centennial Hall on Saturday February 11, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild spoke of when Arizona became a state in 1912, UA President Eugene Sander spoke of when the University of Arizona was founded in 1885, but UA Regent’s Professor of Linguistics Dr. Ofelia Zepeda spoke of how long her tribe– the Tohono O’odham had been here (thousands of years).