The Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community will host a Native American convocation on May 2 for graduates of Maricopa County Community Colleges.

SRPMIC President Martin Harvier made the announcement on Wednesday, March 26, just weeks after the college district decided to cancel Native convocations to comply with orders handed down by the Trump administration.

“This action came quickly and without any consultation with any local tribe or other minority organization. Being that Scottsdale Community College is located in Salt River, and so many of our members receive their education from SCC, we knew we had to do something to address this issue,” Harvier said.

He shared that SRPMIC Council has agreed to host all 2025 Native American college district graduates because “honoring all Native American students for their accomplishment is the right thing to do.”

The announcement came in a social media video update to the Community after a meeting with leaders of the college district governing board.

In late February, with federal funding at risk, the college district started removing a variety of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives due to President Donald Trump’s executive orders set by the U.S. Department’s Office of Civil Rights. This included cancelling planned convocations, which are usually smaller events held to celebrate specific groups of students in addition to the large graduation ceremony. 

The college district is one of the largest in the country and oversees 10 community colleges, including SCC, which is located along Chaparral Road on the western edge of the Community. Most of the 10 colleges have some sort of Indigenous-led student club and at least three have a Native American student center, program or institute. Native students make up about 2% of the nearly 89,000 student population, according to the college district.

Maricopa County Community College thank SRPMIC

In the days following the announcement that SRPMIC will host the convocation, Arizona tribal leaders, MCCCD staff, and impacted families and their loved ones shared their utmost appreciation to the SRPMIC for stepping up.

On March 26, Lindsey Wilson, chief marketing and communications officer for MCCCD, provided a statement. 

“Maricopa Community Colleges is deeply grateful to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) for their leadership in making this celebration possible. Their commitment to honoring American Indian students across all tribes speaks to their unwavering dedication to education, cultural heritage, and student success. We are proud of our relationship with SRPMIC and remain steadfast in supporting American Indian students throughout their educational journeys.”

Since he took office, the Trump’s executive orders have called for the cancellation of many collegiate Native American clubs, committees and opportunities under the incorrect guise of being labeled as DEI. As graduation season approaches, it remains to be seen if those opportunities will return next school year. 

According to a March 26 interview published in the AZ Mirror, Mesa Community College faculty member Mona Scott Figueroa said she was “elated” when she learned that SRPMIC will host this year’s convocation. “They are coming through for all 10 colleges,” she said. 

On March 28, the SRPMIC issued a press release where President Harvier reiterated that hosting the graduation ceremony is the right thing to do. “While we are deeply disappointed by the cancellation of convocation ceremonies for minority students, we believe it is important to come together as a community to honor our graduates and their families.”

The 2025 Native American convocation ceremony will be held on May 2 at 6 p.m. at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. 

By hosting the Native American convocation this May, the SRPMIC have provided relief and support to all graduating Indigenous students enrolled in Maricopa County Community Colleges and their families during these uncertain times. 

Graduates who are Native American and will be graduating from a Maricopa Community College District school this semester can receive further information regarding the May 2 ceremony by emailing 2025convocation@srpmic-nsn.gov.  

O’odham Action News will continue to monitor this story.

RSVP Link: tinyurl.com/MCCAIC2025 

President Harvier video: https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=600726239622645