Native American Community Events in Tempe, AZ

Celebrating Indigenous Excellence by Uplifting Matriarchs, Indigenous-Owned Business and Entrepreneurs Belong To Where You Are The Matriarch Mixer ladies are excited to announce our 3rd Annual Native American Heritage Month event hosted by Matriarch Mixer on November 9th ! We proudly present Danny Upshaw, our featured video artist, as he creates Unheard Harmony's Storytelling Experience. This gathering has been curated to celebrate Native American Heritage Month by uplifting our and paying Homage to our powerful Matriarchs, Native Business and Indigenous Entrepreneurship! Join us for our NAHM event powered by Matriarch Mixer. All relatives and friends welcomed. The Matriarch Mixer is part of Indigenous Community Collaborative’s mission to advance economic opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs by creating spaces for connection, collaboration, and community building. Each mixer is co-hosted with fellow sisters and business owners Turquoise Devereaux (@indigenousskye), Mikenzi Dupree (@stillshelives), Jillian Waln (Konekted Media), Katherine Jacobs, Roshan Spottsville (@photographybyroshan) and Carol Deed (@genrations4change). The evening is about celebrating the brilliance of Matriarchs today while honoring the cultural and generational foundations that make this excellence possible. Highlights Matriarchs of the Valley Awards presented by Desert Diamond Casino – Honoring Indigenous women whose impact continues to shape our communities. Indigenous Comedy Show - Wolfe Brown and Jameson David Lopez, two local Native comedians, will bring us medicine of laughter. Auntie Bingo Night - Matriarch Mixer will host Indigenous Slang with a chance to win prizes! Storytelling with Unheard Harmony - A video production of storytelling to uplift the theme of Belong to Where You Are Flash Tattoos with Desert Bloom Tattoo featuring Missy Mahan and Antonio Chee Local and Indigenous Business Popups - Typewriter Poet Ayling D, Parc Phx Photobooth with free photo, and more to be announced! Curated Beverage Menu by William Ludington MC by Hud Oberly of Smile Indigenous and Here's To You! Music by DJ This JustIn THEME: Indigenous Excellence - Dress for an upscale evening. Indigenous Fashion Attire, biggest and baddest earrings, Rock your Custom Hat, or anything from your community that you define as Indigenous Excellence. 🎟 Ticket Descriptions - 100% of the Funds go to Matriarch Fund to support their business, professional and community needs. Community – $10 For elders, college students, and Indigenous community members. Includes small bites from Alita, 1 drink ticket, and a welcome gift. General Admission – $30 Covers the true cost of hosting this event. Includes small bites from Alita, 1 drink ticket, and a welcome gift. Champion – $50 Covers your admission plus makes a contribution that directly supports community access and future programming. Includes small bites from Alita, 1 drink ticket, a welcome gift, and designated seating Community Partners: Kell Duncan with The Churchill, Jon Canyon of Canyon Connects, and Martin Guerrero of Guerrero Consulting. SPONSORS: This event was made possible by our amazing sponsors! Our Community Sponsor for the event is SRP and Wellpoint Our Uplift Sponsor Desert Diamond Casino and support from Enterprise Bank. Please note that photographs and footage will be taken throughout this event. Indigenous Community Collaborative LLC and event affiliates for marketing and publicity in our publications, on our website and in social media.

Turning Points Magazine represents a transformative initiative rooted in the Tempe, Arizona campus community at Arizona State University. Born from genuine conversations with Indigenous students who expressed feelings of loneliness, invisibility, and disconnection, this student organization emerged as a tangible response to real community needs. Developed by Drs. Bryan McKinley Jones Brayboy (Lumbee) and Amanda R. Tachine (Diné), the magazine reflects a commitment to centering Native student voices and experiences within higher education. What distinguishes Turning Points is its foundational principle: created by and for Indigenous college students. This approach ensures that every aspect of the publication—from conceptualization through distribution—honors and amplifies the authentic perspectives of Native students themselves. The magazine serves as more than just informational content; it functions as a source of affirmation, reminding Indigenous students that they are not alone in their unique journeys and that they genuinely belong within the university. Distributed throughout Arizona State University's Indigenous student population and to tribal leadership nationwide, Turning Points Magazine has become a vital resource within Native higher education circles. The publication's recognition through multiple National Native Media Awards demonstrates the quality and impact of student-led journalism that centers Indigenous narratives. Operating from the Center for Indian Education's location in Discovery Hall on the Tempe campus, this student organization continues to build community, foster connection, and provide practical guidance for Native students pursuing their academic goals. Turning Points exemplifies how institutional support combined with student leadership can create meaningful, culturally relevant resources that sustain and celebrate Indigenous presence in higher education.

Housed in Discovery Hall on Arizona State University's Tempe campus, the American Indian Graduate Student Association represents a community of Indigenous scholars dedicated to advancing Native voices in higher education. This student organization brings together graduate students who share a commitment to centering Indigenous experiences, protecting tribal sovereignty, and promoting self-determination across American Indian nations. The association is rooted in the university's American Indian Studies program, which has championed Indigenous-led education and research since its establishment in 2002. The organization serves as a gathering place for students pursuing degrees in Indigenous rights and social justice, tribal leadership and governance, and Indigenous education. Members are part of a legacy of scholars and faculty who have studied critical topics including U.S. Indian law, colonization and decolonization, and nation-building strategies designed to strengthen Native communities. The association provides peer support, networking, and collaborative opportunities for graduate students navigating advanced study while maintaining connection to their Indigenous identities and communities. Beyond academics, the American Indian Graduate Student Association in Tempe, Arizona connects members with practical experience through internships and partnerships with tribal governments, non-profit organizations, and community institutions. Students gain access to the Labriola National American Indian Data Center, an Indigenous-led library featuring archives and resources essential to community-centered research. The association embodies a commitment to grounded knowledge, traditional perspectives, and the collective goal of uplifting Native nations and creating more equitable societies through education, leadership development, and sustained community engagement.

The Iota Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega at Arizona State University in Tempe represents a vital community of Native American women committed to preserving Indigenous traditions while advancing academic and professional success. As part of the country's first historically American Indian sorority, established by the Four Winds in 1994, the Iota Chapter carries forward a legacy of sisterhood grounded in tribal heritage and cultural celebration. Members represent diverse tribal nations, creating a united circle of Indigenous women who support one another through the college experience and beyond. Founded on the principle "My Sister As Myself," Alpha Pi Omega's Iota Chapter in Tempe, Arizona embodies a deep commitment to mutual support and collective empowerment. The sorority's mission centers on creating a strong sisterhood that serves as a foundation for personal growth, balanced living, and community service. Each member strives for continuous self-renewal through education while honoring the spiritual and cultural traditions of Native peoples. The organization actively addresses critical issues affecting Native communities, ensuring that sisters remain engaged with their tribes and broader Indigenous causes. The Iota Chapter cultivates meaningful relationships among Native college women at ASU, fostering an environment where members can celebrate their heritage, develop leadership skills, and contribute to their communities. Sisters benefit from connections with a national network spanning over 900 women across multiple universities and geographic regions. Through shared ceremonies, cultural practices, and community initiatives, the chapter strengthens bonds of sisterhood while honoring the vision of its founders and the countless women who have carried this important work forward since 1994.