On February 8, the NFL hosted a pop-up retail launch event on traditional O’odham land called Origins: An NFL Collection, at the Showcase Room in Tempe, in partnership with four Arizona-based brands. Two of those brands are led by Indigenous creatives: Elias Jade Not Afraid (Apsáalooke Nation), who has a beadwork and accessories line, and […]
When Animal Planet contacted NAGI Foundation Executive Director Sheila Iyengar last year, she wasn’t sure if it was a real phone call or not. “[Animal Planet] let us know that they were interested in highlighting our organization and the work that we’re doing at the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community,” said Iyengar. “They asked us […]
While Super Bowl LVII was being played on traditional O’odham land in Glendale, Arizona, a planned protest by Arizona to Rally Against Native Mascots (AZ Rally), founded by Amanda Blackhorse (Diné), took place outside State Farm Stadium. The protest, which included some O’odham, called for the NFL Kansas City Chiefs, who were playing in—and ultimately […]
Six-time Native American Music Award–winning artist Cody Blackbird (Eastern Band Cherokee/Dakota) and other Indigenous performers were being filmed by ESPN for a Super Bowl segment in front of Gilbert Ortega Native American Galleries in Scottsdale on February 7 when they were confronted by business owner Gilbert Ortega Jr. The incident was captured on video by […]
On February 7, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) held a press conference with Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community leadership and other Arizona Native leaders at the SRPMIC Family Advocacy Center (FAC) to discuss the importance of the Native American Child Protection Act, legislation recently introduced by Rep. Gallego. Members of SRPMIC Council and some members […]
On January 20, a delegation led by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and First Lady Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren paid a visit to the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Buu Nygren, 35, was just sworn in as the youngest president of the Navajo Nation in history. Blackwater-Nygren served in the Arizona House of Representatives for District 7 […]
Thomas “Breeze” Marcus and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council Representative Jacob Butler represented the SRPMIC at the Land Stewardship from Indigenous Perspectives panel discussion held at the Tempe Center for the Arts on January 19. According to a press brief about the event, it focused on the lessons learned from traditions from the perspectives […]