On July 12, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona held a luncheon at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC) to recognize the 76th anniversary of the Native right to vote in Arizona and the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, also known as the Snyder Act.

Because the event was hosted by the GRIC, Governor Stephen Roe Lewis gave the opening remarks, alongside Maria Dadgar, executive director at ITCA.

After everyone watched a video about the history of the Native vote in Arizona, the Chi’Chino Spirit O’odham dance group performed.

As attendees were finishing their lunch, a panel discussion moderated by Jay Tomkus, principal of Corvid Consulting, featured Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Robert Miguel, Tohono O’odham Nation Vice Chairwoman Carla Johnson, Governor Lewis and SRPMIC President Martin Harvier.

Harvier talked about prior voting initiatives and the importance of educating voters in the Community.

“I really didn’t think about voting until I started running for the office of vice-president of our Community,” Harvier told the audience. “Growing up, to be honest, I don’t remember my dad voting. Everything starts in your home.”

At the conclusion of the discussion, three awards were presented:

• The 2024 Frank Harrison and Harry Austin Voting Rights Essay Contest—Taylor Van Why (Tohono O’odham Nation)
• The “Honoring Our Past” Arizona Native Vote Youth Video Contest—Bobbie James (Navajo Nation, Deer Spring Clan)
• The Emerging Leader Award—SRPMIC Council member Mikah Carlos (Onk Akimel O’odham/Tohono O’odham/Piipaash)

“The person we’re recognizing today [is being honored for] the influence they bring to their community and the impact they have when it comes to raising the voice of the youth,” said Thomas Throssell, assistant director of the ITCA, about Carlos.

Carlos, who is the youngest SRPMIC member ever to be elected to Council, said that she was honored to receive the award.

“I couldn’t do this without the support of my Community,” said Carlos. “As tribal leaders, when we start working with youth and talk about the importance of youth, we always hope that at some point they will be at the table with us.”

Carlos continued, “I encourage you, when you are working with youth, when they eventually reach that point where they are at the table in these rooms with us, that you continue to encourage them, and that the encouragement doesn’t stop. And that you continue to support them. As long as we continue to do that, we’ll have our communities in good hands.”