Tribal leaders from across the state converged on the University of Arizona this week to participate in the fifth annual Tribal Leaders Summit. Hosted by the Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, the event engages campus officials to explore collaborative opportunities and strengthen the bond between the U of A and Native communities.

"Tribal nations provide our university with so many opportunities to collaborate, but every tribe is different, with different traditions and goals," said Levi Esquerra, special advisor for Native American advancement and tribal engagement. "It's important for the university to be mindful of those differences as we assist the tribes in reaching their goals, and I see this summit as a great opportunity for us to listen, learn and implement what we learn in order to collaborate together."

This year's summit began with a dinner prepared by Diné chef Justin Pioche from Fruitland, New Mexico. He is a 2023 James Beard finalist and winner of the "Indigenous Inspiration" episode of the Food Network show, "Chopped." 

"It is important to show how beautiful our Native foods can be, and to pass that knowledge on to future generations," Pioche said. "My mother, sister and I like to say that we're taking a step back to learn about our old ways, in order to launch ourselves forward with a voice and a purpose." 

Strengthening community ties

U of A administration, led by Provost Patricia Prelock, met with tribal leaders Tuesday morning to discuss how the university can better serve Native communities. In addition to the provost and the Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, tribal leaders met with the representatives from Student Success Center, Arizona Online, College of Humanities, College of Engineering, College of Fine Arts, College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, Eller College of Management and the Office of Responsible Artificial Intelligence.

"The Tribal Leaders Summit was designed to build a cohesive and strong partnership between the University of Arizona and tribal leadership, which is so important to this institution," Prelock said. "This gathering is a building block for collaboration that will not only make a difference for our students, our faculty and our community, but that honors and respects tribal sovereignty."

During a two hour-long meet-and-great session, tribal leaders remained at their respective tables while university administrators and staff moved about the room, giving everyone a chance to meet and learn from one another.

The discussion covered a variety of topics, from the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence to supporting lifelong learners and the value of artistic expression in Native communities.

"Art is your identity, it's who you are, but Native Americans don't always recognize that," said Amelia Flores, chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. "Because we are dealing with so many social issues, people cannot always fully be themselves. It is important that we have mentors who can see that artistic gift and direct us along the path."

Flores discussed her point of view with Chad Herzog, associate vice president of Arizona Arts Live; Tyler Meier, executive director of the Poetry Center; Todd Tubutis, director of the Center for Creative Photography; and Willa Ahlschwede, curator for academic and community engagement for the University of Arizona Museum of Art, who shared how the university's fine arts enterprise can inspire, work with and guide Native artists.

Elsewhere, staff from the Student Success Center discussed supporting students with a variety of life and academic experiences with Richelle Montoya, vice president; and Roy Tracy, statistician and demographer, both of the Navajo Nation.

"We want to support our whole undergraduate student body – as well as specific populations – by connecting them to resources, removing barriers and creating a streamlined pathway through college" said Christine Salvesen, chief retention officer. "Our goal is for students to feel comfortable and succeed, and learning from tribal knowledge will better guide our policies and services."

Supporting 'the super generation'

The event also featured David Z. Bean, chairman of the Indian Gaming Association, who shared legislative updates and advice, and complimented the group for their collaborative energy.

"I want to go home and tell our tribal leaders about the work you're doing here, because this partnership is beautiful," Bean said. "You are creating a pathway for our kids to higher education. In addition to the gaming space, we need engineers, doctors, lawyers, accountants and regulators in order to expand the tribal organizations that we have. We have to lift up our kids and push them toward education."

Joaquin Martinez, alumnus of the College of Engineering and founder of Mariposa Energy Consulting, closed the summit with a keynote address. He shared the tools he developed as a first-generation professional navigating international business. Martinez distilled his experiences into "The Super Generation," a book that adapts his life lessons to the story of the monarch butterfly.

"There is something in their evolution called the super generation that is bigger, stronger and more well equipped for the journey that lays ahead – and I think there is a lot we can learn from nature," he said. "The monarch butterfly represents a blueprint for how first-generation professionals can develop themselves. Much like the caterpillar and larvae consume milkweed, first-generation professionals consume knowledge, gather skills and meet people until they transform and grow."

Echoing Bean, Martinez implored summit attendees to share their knowledge and experiences with future generations, in order to open previously closed doors "until there are no more first-generation professionals."

"That is the blueprint for our super generation of the butterfly," Martinez said.