Indigenous Peoples Day

October 11, 2020

Phoenix Center for the Arts acknowledges that it resides on the land of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People. Land that was cultivated for centuries, and is stewarded today by the Akimel O’odham (Pima), Tohono O’odham, as well as the Pee Posh (Maricopa), who are the indigenous peoples of this land. We share our gratitude for the complex canal systems they engineered over 1000 years ago that enable us to live here in the Sonoran Desert today. We acknowledge the sovereignty of all Native Nations within the state of Arizona, and recognize our responsibility to honor Indigenous People, their culture, and their legacy as thriving contemporary communities by advocating for decolonized, inclusive, and diverse practices for all arts and culture institutions.

Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas, honors their history, and celebrates their culture. Visit the Indigenous Peoples Day Arizona website for more information about #IndigenousPeoplesDay and how to celebrate in Arizona.

Photograph of Daniel Ramirez, artist at the 2017 Phoenix Festival of the Arts. Daniel is a descendant of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, and his work has been shown in museums and arts shows throughout the country. Visit his website https://sites.google.com/site/danielramirezart/ to learn more about Daniel and his artwork.