THE 31ST ANNUAL INDIAN NATIONS & TRIBES LEGISLATIVE DAY
By Harrison J. Bahe
On January 14, 2026, the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations, in cooperation with representatives from the state’s Tribal Nations, facilitated Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day in the House of Representatives Hall at the state capitol. Members of the state legislature, the Governor, and other elected officials gathered to honor the history and culture of American Indian peoples and to recognize their lasting contributions to the prosperity and cultural diversity of the United States.
The day began with a Joint-Protocol Session, hosted this year by the House of Representatives, during which tribal leaders were granted floor privileges to join their legislative representatives. President Sandra Pattea and this humble reporter represented the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, seated alongside Representative John Kavanaugh, State Senator for District 3.
Welcome remarks were delivered by the Honorable Steve Montenegro, Speaker of the House, and the Honorable Warren Petersen, President of the Senate. The opening prayer was offered by Robert Stone of the Gila River Indian Community, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Tohono O’odham Women Veterans. The national anthem was then performed by an invited Indigenous marching band.
The Honorable Timothy Williams, Chairman of the Fort Mojave Tribe, and the Honorable Verlon Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, each delivered powerful remarks addressing the current state of the world and of Indian Country. One particularly memorable line resonated throughout the hall: “Leaders build bridges, not walls.” The final speaker, Dr. Laura Tohe of the Diné Nation, shared several of her poems, including a show-stealing piece centered on a sacred tortilla.
It was a good day to be Indigenous, as representatives from all 22 federally recognized tribes in Arizona gathered for the Joint-Protocol Session. The event sparked important dialogue between state officials and tribal leaders on issues of shared concern. The day served as an important reminder that Indigenous peoples are here, have played an essential role in the state’s success and well-being, and will continue to endure no matter the challenges faced as a people and as a nation.
