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).