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Flags from Arizona's 22 federally recognized tribes displayed at the University of Arizona bookstore in November 2020.

Federal government to close Bureau of Indian Affairs' Western Regional Office, alarming tribes

General Services Administration plans to close the Bureau of Indian Affairs' Western Region Regional Office in Phoenix, raising tribal concerns over service disruptions for 53 tribes, including 20 in Arizona.
Many people rely on opioids to manage chronic pain.

Native communities in Arizona to receive $500,000 grant to combat opioid misuse

Grant will support prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts in tribal and urban Indian communities.
Pow Wow Dancer Series.

"Photographing with respect": How Tim H. Murphy creates unforgettable portraits of Indigenous dancers

Also on Arizona Spotlight: "Stories that Soar!" asks that we look for beauty beyond the screen; and an essay series "The Class of 2024" begins.
Red Butte in Coconino County, Wednesday, Aug. 30. Known as "Wii'i Gdwiisa," in Havasupai, the sacred grounds are protected under President Joe Biden's Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni- Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument.

Federal court dismisses lawsuit challenging Grand Canyon National Monument

Court dismisses lawsuit from state legislative republicans challenging former president Joe Biden's Grand Canyon National Monument designation, ruling lawmakers lacked standing.
President of Navajo Nation Dr. Buu Nygren in Window Rock, Ariz., on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024.

Navajo Nation President responds after concern tribal members could be detained by ICE

They fear racial profiling and a lack of adequate IDs could lead to confusion during possible raids.
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego questions Governor of South Dakota and nominee for Security of the Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Friday, Jan. 17, 2024.

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego presses DHS nominee Kristi Noem on border funding, tribal sovereignty, and deportations

Noem addresses immigration policies, tribal collaboration and deportation priorities in confirmation hearing.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly questions nominee for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2024.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly seeks commitment from EPA nominee to address legacy mines and PFAS issues in Arizona

Lee Zeldin agrees to support Kelly’s initiatives.
Members of the Pascua Yaqui tribal council break ground on their third casino alongside other local leaders on Monday, January 13, 2025 in Tucson, Arizona.

Pascua Yaqui Tribe breaks ground on culturally significant land for third casino

The new casino is expected to create upwards of 500 new jobs.
A series of turquoise signs along southbound U.S. 89 near Tuba City proclaims the Navajo Nation’s resiliency amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arizona tribes receive nearly $750k for climate adaptation plans

The funding comes from the Bureau of Indian Affairs' annual tribal community resilience awards program.

A New Legacy: Tucson considers renaming Columbus Park to honor Tohono O’odham educator

Danny Lopez spent over 30 years teaching the Tohono O'odham Nation's traditional way of life to its people and surrounding community.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes speaking with attendees at the 2023 Legislative Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Buzz: Catching up with Arizona AG Kris Mayes

Mayes talks about what happened in 2024 and what may come in 2025.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, in 2017.

Ruben Gallego becomes first Latino U.S. Senator from Arizona

Gallego will serve on the Banking, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, and the Energy and Natural Resources committees.
Baboquivari Peak, the most sacred site for the Tohono O'odham people, can be seen from many parts of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge.

Tohono O’odham Nation gains co-stewardship over sacred lands

The Tohono O’odham Nation and the Bureau of Land Management agree to co-steward the Baboquivari National Wilderness.
A Cholla High School student puts on a virtual reality headset on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.

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.
A canal carries Colorado River water to farmland near Poston, Arizona, owned and operated by the Colorado River Indian Tribes, a key player in Arizona's Drought Contingency Plan.

Hobbs signs largest tribal water rights agreement in US history

The settlement is contingent on Congressional approval.
Yazzie Family in Dennehotso, Ariz., on Wednesday, Aug. 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.

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