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Hi there —

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, and in Arizona, this recognition carries special weight.

Long before Arizona became a state — before it was even a territory — indigenous communities thrived here since time immemorial. Indigenous peoples engineered sophisticated irrigation systems in what's now the Phoenix metro area, canals so advanced they became the foundation for our modern water infrastructure. The Ancestral Puebloans, Sinagua, and Mogollon peoples built thriving communities across the land we call home today.

Our state is proudly home to 22 federally recognized tribes representing over 296,000 people. More than a quarter of our state's land area is tribal land, including the Navajo Nation — the largest in the United States — and the Tohono O'odham Nation, the third largest.

Arizona's Indigenous peoples actively shape our state's identity, economy, and culture right now.

The Hopi, O'odham, Apache, Yavapai, Paiute, Pascua Yaqui, and so many others maintain their languages, traditions, and sovereignty despite centuries of forced assimilation, displacement, and systemic attempts to erase their existence. Their resilience defines Arizona's character as much as the desert landscape.

Today, these communities face real challenges — from inadequate water infrastructure and economic opportunity, to healthcare disparities that the COVID-19 pandemic made painfully clear. In the Navajo Nation alone, 36% of residents live below the poverty line, and 35% lack running water.

These aren't acceptable conditions for anyone in 2025.

Recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day means committing to — and advocating for — tribal sovereignty, supporting Indigenous-led solutions to infrastructure gaps, and ensuring Arizona's first peoples have a voice in decisions affecting their communities and our shared future. That includes making sure Arizona elects leaders that advocate for native communities — both on and off tribal lands.

This is what progress looks like: truth-telling, solidarity, and ensuring that Arizona works for everyone who calls it home.

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day.
— Arizona Democratic Party

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Arizona Democratic Party
PO Box 36123
Phoenix, AZ 85067-6123
United States
[email protected] [[email protected]]
PAID FOR BY THE ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE'S COMMITTEE. GREG FREEMAN, TREASURER. WWW.AZDEM.ORG
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