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).

Geronimo, courtesy of AHM

Check out this ongoing exhibit at the Arizona History Museum (AHM)!

Geronimo! Leadership, Perseverance, Independence Discover the man behind the legend in this visual biography of the mythic Apache warrior. Highlights of the exhibit include the rifle Geronimo surrendered to Indian Agent John Clum and the famous C.S. Fly photographs of peace negotiations between Geronimo and General George Crook. Support for this exhibit was provided by the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Fort Sill Chiricahua-Warm Springs Apache Tribe, and members of the Historical Arms Society of Tucson.

Here’s the museum’s link to more photos of the Geronimo exhibit (click here), which I visited today. The exhibit begins with a history of the Apache conflict with other Indian tribes, Mexicans in Sonora, and American settlers. Geronimo’s biography is included (1823 – 1909), with displays of his field glasses and the aforementioned rifle, and large poster photos by C.S. Fly of him and his warriors. There is also information on the Apache tribes and reservation life on the San Carlos Reservation. Of note is that Geronimo was a prisoner of war from 1886 to his death in 1909, and he is buried in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was 86 when he died of pneumonia.

Kids all over America used to yell “Geronimo!” when they jumped off something (like a diving platform into a pool), indicating courage — we even did this in rural Hawaii, way out in the Pacific Ocean. We didn’t know who Geronimo was, except that he was a Indian (Native American) chief, somewhere in the Southwest desert. This exhibit will help both adults and children understand who this famous Apache chief was.

For more information on Geronimo in wikipedia, click here.

Arizona History Museum, 949 E 2nd St., Tucson, Arizona (just west of Park Ave. and the U of A). Telephone: 520-628-5774. Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday, 10 to 4 p.m. Admission:
$5 general, $4 ages 12 to 18 & seniors 60 +, free ages 11 and younger. Validated parking is available in the large parking garage near Euclid Avenue on E. 2nd St. to the west of the museum. Free on the first Saturday of the month.