The bird songs and dances filled the hearts of many with joy out in Lehi, also known by the people as “God’s Country,” for the 2026 springtime Piipaash Matasheevm. 

Held on April 3 and 4 this year, the two-day springtime celebration is widely considered to be one of the biggest events held in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. 

The April celebration was the ninth annual Piipaash Matasheevm, which has been put together by collaborative efforts between the Piipaash Matasheevm Committee (PMC), SRPMIC Council, Community departments, volunteers, enterprises and more. 

Just like in previous Matasheevms, the emcees for the celebration were Pacer Reina, Tyrone Emerson, Jeremiah Shaw and Garfield Nish. 

The celebration began with Friday morning’s sunrise blessing by Nish. Later that day, the Piipaash Matasheevm Community Veterans presented the colors. The night continued with dinner, the tiny tot special presented by the Miss Salt River Committee, and of course, bird songs and dances underneath the moonlight. 

On Saturday, Nish again performed the early-morning sunrise blessing before the Young River People’s Council–sponsored walk began. Thankfully, Mother Earth provided a fresh blanket of clouds, so the scorching heat took a backseat throughout both days. 

Later in the afternoon, Reina made sure to say a few special words about an individual who is crucial to the Lehi district as well as to the Matasheevms, Garnet Gates. 

“I just wanted to mention Mr. Garnet Gates, who is a longtime pillar of this Community,” said Reina. “He has always been there to say, ‘Hey, we need more here in the Lehi district’ or anything else we need. [He] and his family have always been those types of people to speak up.” 

Gates did not attend this year’s Matasheevm, as he was not feeling well. Reina asked for continued blessings for Gates and his family. Reina also made sure to mention Gates’ U.S. Marine Corps service and the time he served in Vietnam. “He is a big part of this and helps put it all together. He has always been a part of this Community,” said Reina. 

Gates received a rousing round of applause from the people. 

Later, the honors continued as the PMC announced the official 2026 Piipaash Matasheevm Elder Honorees, Alfretta Antone and Danny Harvier. 

Alfretta Antone

“Good afternoon, God’s Country,” began Cecila “Tweety” Antone. “She [Alfretta Antone] has been gone close to 15 years; just [her] being remembered, it’s very humbling,” she said. “She was raised in Salt River, right there on Center Street. Part of the original house is still there today. She grew up O’odham. She cooked, cleaned and did a lot. She told me she could chop wood just as good as her brothers,” she said with a smile. 

Later, Council member David Antone also shared a few words. “I just really want to thank everybody for this honor,” he began. “The gratitude that I feel about this Community honoring my mother is just as Tweety said, very humbling. At least for me, my brothers and my sisters, she always taught us to be strong in life and to have the courage to face life,” he said. 

He added, “She would always talk about this Community, her Community. She would say, ‘The people come first.’ That was her motto she lived by.”

Council member Antone finished his speech by sharing a story about how one day, many years ago, his mother asked him to build her a pedestal. 

“So, I built her one,” he said. “When I finished, she put a headstone on it. On the headstone, she honored her youngest brother, Herman Clement Juan. He was a Marine. On that headstone, it said his name and where he died. He died at Iwo Jima. She would talk about him. I never got to know him because he died before I was born. That’s how she felt about not only her brother, but the veterans and the Community. I want to thank her for instilling all the ideas and how we think about our Community. We are somebody. I’m proud of not only her, but of this Community and everyone here today. Thank you.”

Danny Harvier

For his elder honoring, Danny Harvier’s granddaughter Darice Norris spoke on behalf of the family while Danny was surrounded by his relatives. 

“My grandpa has been an inspiration to all of us. I think the reason I’m a workaholic is because of him. I watched him struggle to go to work when I was little. He did what he had to do to get to work. He’d ride his bike from Highland Avenue all the way to Talking Stick, where he used to work. He retired in 2005, the year I graduated. We had a big celebration at the Catholic church,” she recalled. 

She described how her grandfather would always volunteer his time to the church. “He’d be up there offering the blood of Christ, helping with the collection and more. We would also travel with him all the time; we went to so many places. The main big one he took us to was to the canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha. We went to Rome; that was cool,” she said. 

St. Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized on Oct. 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI and is the first-ever Native American saint. 

Following the honoring of the two elders, Reina thanked the elders and their families. “I remember hearing both of their names growing up,” he said. “It’s a very good thing to hear as a family how the elders inspired them. That’s what I’ve been told growing up, that’s the best work you will ever do in your life, is in between the walls of your home as you learn to take care of and help raise your families.”

Veterans Recognition

Additional honorees were announced during the springtime Piipaash Matasheevm as the committee selected four Community veterans for the Veterans Recognition program. 

“Every year for this event, the PMC sits back and thinks of all the veterans who have served. They really deliberate to make sure not only the elders, but also the veterans, are recognized for their contributions not only to this country, but to this Community,” said Council member Deanna Scabby. 

Richard French (Marines), Phillip Largo (Army), Ben Wood Jr. (Navy) and Tsosie Wood (Marines) were honored this year for their service to their country and Community. 

Each recipient was presented with a special commemorative plaque which detailed the honoree’s military branch of service, compliments of the PMC. 

Tom Largo Sr. was the designated representative for the Largo family. “I want to thank the committee on behalf of the family for honoring Phillip Dean Largo. Phillip was born to Anthony and Sarah Valenzuela-Largo on Sept. 28, 1923. Phillip joined the Navy Reserve. He was 18 when he entered the service. He was 20 when he lost his life.”

Suzy French represented the French family. Sadly, during her speech, she revealed that the Veterans Administration has her father Richard’s information listed incorrectly, therefore not much information is in the VA database. 

“I know he joined when he was 17; when talking to my brothers and sisters, we learned he served for four years,” she said. She later revealed that on his headstone, his first and middle names are reversed, thus providing a bit of reasoning as to why her father is not in the VA database. 

“He taught us a lot. How to behave and how to be good people. Unfortunately, he had cancer, so he died at 55 on Cinco de Mayo. It’s been 38 years now.”

French was overcome with emotion during her speech and received support and hugs from nearby loved ones. 

Ben Wood Jr.’s son, Forest, spoke on behalf of his father. “My father served in the U.S. Navy. One thing I think about when I think about him is service. He served his country, God and Community, being a police officer, chief of police and ending his career as chief judge in the Community. I thank the Committee for honoring him, the other veterans and the elders. Thank you very much.”

Surrounded by his family, Tsosie Wood thanked the PMC for his special recognition. “We grew up on McDowell (Road), in front of the golf course. That’s why my brothers are so good at golf,” said Wood with a grin. 

He continued, “It was 1983. I was going to Westwood (High School) and not going to class. I think you call that ‘ditching,’” he said, grinning. “I was 17; my parents had to sign me in to enlist. My mom started crying. My dad was all, ‘Take him. He needs to do something.’”

While serving his country in the Marines, Wood saw the world, including a tour stop in Okinawa, Japan. He also was stationed in Saudi Arabia and served in operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield with “Pacer Reina, Lynn Andrews and a couple more people from the Community,” Wood said. 

Wood revealed that, at the time, “We were originally supposed to go to Turkey for an operation, but that’s when Iraq decided to invade Kuwait. So, since we were ready to go, we were the first ones on a plane heading to Saudi Arabia,” he recalled. 

“I want to thank the Committee for honoring us, my dad and Phillip (Largo). It’s a great honor. Thank you.”

Performers

The two-day Matasheevm celebration also featured a who’s who of legendary bird singers, dancers, royalty and more. 

Singers Angel Ortiz, Aarick Mack, Jeff Thomas, Alonso Pesado, Ral Christman, Lynwood Vest, Preston Arrow-Weed, Faron Owland many more rounded out the entertainment schedule.

“All the way from Salt Lake City, it’s Jeff Thomas,” announced emcee Jeremiah Shaw, who also spent time singing during the Matasheevm. “Welcome home, brother,” said Shaw to Thomas moments after he finished his first song. 

Welcome home, indeed. The springtime Piipaash Matasheevm remains a crucial cultural focal point for many here in the Community. The multi-day celebration invites members and their loved ones to bask in the songs and dances of the Piipaash, honoring those who came before them and the traditions they passed down. 

Photos by Zoe Hernandez