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Indigenous Affairs

Follow AZPM for current coverage on Arizona's indigenous community and tribal governments. Video News
NEWS

Cholla High School students experience Native art through virtual reality

Students, through the use of virtual reality sets, listened to three different stories from Navajo artists.
December 6, 2024

Hobbs signs largest tribal water rights agreement in US history

The settlement is contingent on Congressional approval.
November 20, 2024

Tucson weighs renaming Christopher Columbus Park amid push to honor Tohono O’odham leader

The public comment period closes on November 25th.
November 20, 2024

Biden visits Indian Country and apologizes for the 'sin' of a 150-year boarding school policy

It was a moment of both contrition and frustration as the president sought to recognize one of the “most horrific chapters” in the national story.
October 25, 2024

Navajo leader calls for tribal vice president's resignation amid political upheaval

The tribe has been mired by political upheaval that began earlier this year when the vice president outlined allegations of intimidation and sexual harassment within the administration.
October 15, 2024

Native voters could swing Arizona

Both parties are ramping up efforts to court Native American voters in the final stretch to Election Day.
October 14, 2024

Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated with an eye on the election

The holiday comes about three weeks before Election Day. Events will be geared toward Native voter mobilization and outreach amid renewed recognition of the power of their votes.
October 14, 2024

Broken Promises, Contaminated Waters: Uranium mining on the Navajo Nation

An investigation reveals the deadly health toll of uranium mining on Navajo land, where contaminated water and broken promises have left generations fighting for survival.
October 9, 2024

San Carlos Apache asks U.S. Supreme Court to take Oak Flat case

The tribe is appealing the ruling of the Arizona Supreme Court.
October 3, 2024

Uranium Mining in the Grand Canyon Region: Tribal Sovereignty vs. Nuclear Energy in the Climate Crisis

Uranium mining and nuclear energy may be affecting Arizona's tribal nations, posing threats to the region's water resources and the environmental and cultural heritage connected to them.
October 2, 2024

The Buzz: Ensuring Accuracy in Ballots and Information

As election day draws near, we turn our attention to efforts to get information out to voters.
September 27, 2024

House subcommittee considers bill to redesignate Chiricahua National Monument as a national park

Tribal leaders and local officials weigh in on the potential economic benefit and cultural impact
September 18, 2024

Federal judge denies tribal nations’ bid to join Grand Canyon Nation Monument lawsuit

A judge denied Arizona Tribal Nations’ request to intervene in a lawsuit over the Grand Canyon National Monument, stating their interests are represented by the U.S. government.
September 11, 2024

Havasu Falls closed indefinitely after deadly flash flood

Havasupai Tribe and emergency teams assessing damage.
August 28, 2024

Lithium drilling project temporarily blocked on sacred tribal lands in Arizona

The case is among the latest legal fights to pit Native American tribes and environmentalists against President Joe Biden’s administration.
August 21, 2024

Discovering dynamic history in "Coronado: The New Evidence".

Also on Arizona Spotlight: Simon Donovan shares a story about a beloved dog named Betty.
August 14, 2024

Arizona tribe wants feds to replace electrical transmission line after a 21-hour power outage

Tribal officials say the transmission line fails routinely and leaves residents and businesses without power — sometimes for days.
August 13, 2024

Hobbs revives infrastructure bank for rural and tribal projects after 10-year hiatus

The Greater Arizona Development Authority expects to finance between $50 to $100 million within the next year. 
August 12, 2024

Back to school: San Xavier del Bac Mission School reopens after two-year hiatus

Historic catholic school welcomes young learners back to campus with renewed spirit and community support
August 5, 2024

Rep. Grijalva Proposes Great Bend of the Gila National Monument

The bill would protect nearly 400,000 acres of tribal land from future mining projects.
August 5, 2024

The Buzz: How the largest Indian water rights settlement in U.S. history aims to rectify historic wrongs

From nation building to water infrastructure, The Buzz explores the path towards water equity and one tribe's dream for true sovereignty.
August 2, 2024

Navajo Nation President stops truck carrying uranium across tribal lands

The uranium ore was being transported to Utah, where the only fully-licensed and operating conventional uranium mill in the United States is.
July 30, 2024

Interior Dept. concludes 3-year probe of Indian boarding schools

The report concludes a three-year investigation that saw, for the first time, the federal government accepting responsibility for its role in creating the system, which included more than 400 schools across 37 states.
July 30, 2024

Tribal leaders advocate for historic water rights settlement in DC

Navajo and Hopi leaders urged Congress to pass a bill addressing their water crisis, proposing a $1.75 billion pipeline to bring Colorado River water to their communities.
July 25, 2024
VIDEO

Making Arizona: Tohono O’odham Water

The video presents a short history of land and water on the San Xavier District on the Tohono O’odham nation, highlighting the importance of the collective action taken by tribal members to return farming to the district.
October 9, 2024

Artist Maria Arvayo

Pascua Yaqui artist draws inspiration from the Sonoran Desert landscape.
November 15, 2023

Navajo Weavers

Sisters Barbara Teller Ornelas and Lynda Teller Pete are 5th-generation master Navajo weavers
November 7, 2023

Museum of Northern Arizona

Founded in 1928, the Museum of Northern Arizona protects and preserves the natural and cultural heritage of northern Arizona through research, collections, conservation, and education.
November 2, 2023

Navajo Silversmiths

Navajo Silversmith Alex Beeshligaii seeks to preserve his artform by passing Diné traditions and language on to his children.
October 24, 2023

Note of Life: Gertie and the T.O. Boyz

As the only female band leader on the Tohono O'odham reservation, Gertie Lopez is a is a celebrated musician who has been a force in Tucson’s music community for decades.
September 20, 2023

An Endangered Language

With the majority of Indigenous tribal languages in the United States in critical danger of dying out, what does it take to keep them from becoming extinct.
April 29, 2022

We Are the Water Missing Home

Indigenous communities fight against border wall construction near a sacred Sonoran Desert spring. (10:06)
April 25, 2021
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