Arizona Indian Festival hosts all tribal event in Scottsdale

More than 700 attend Arizona Indian Festival, celebrating 22 tribes from around the state

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The annual Arizona Indian Festival during western week in the city of Scottsdale Feb. 1-9 included a fun-filled family event with no admission, located at the Scottsdale Civic Plaza.

Visitors had a chance to see representation from all 22 tribes of Arizona.

On Feb. 8, Old Town Scottsdale hosted the Western village, Hispanic village, Arizona Indian Festival and the Parada Del Sol Trail’s End Festival. Feb. 8 was the busiest day of the festival, with foot traffic up to 10,000.

Feb. 9 was less congested, but the event schedule was still packed with variety as it rotated traditional songs and dances every twenty minutes on the main stage.

This year, the 66th annual Scottsdale Parada Del Sol Parade was led by Grand Marshal Peter MacDonald Sr., a Navajo Code Talker from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona. MacDonald, the former chairman of the Navajo Nation, also spent time within the Navajo village during the Arizona Indian Festival to sign autographs and talk with visitors who stood in line to see him.

The Arizona Indian Festival is coordinated by Arizona American Indian Tourism Association (AAITA), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, along with a festival committee. It takes six months of planning to gather all Arizona tribal communities and businesses together.

AIF has been at the Scottsdale Civic Plaza since 2015. The venue is a great location with plenty of outdoor space to involve traditional dwellings, a dance performance area, food vendors, native arts and crafts and hospitality area.

Adjacent to all the festivities for Western Week in Old Town Scottsdale, the mayor of Scottsdale, W.J. “Jim” Lane, also made it appoint to attend the Arizona Indian Festival to express his appreciation to all those involved.

Traditional dance groups this year featured Talahytewa dance group from Hopi; Todi Neesh Zhee Singers, Navajo from Monument Valley; Deer Dancers from Pascua Yaqui; Ase S’Maav Bird Singers from CRIT; Dowa:Kwe Dance Group from Zuni; Burnette Crown Dancers from White Mountain Apache; Warrior Riders from White Mountain Apache; warrior dance by Cibecue Apache; Guardians of the Grand Canyon from Havasupai; Hwal’bay Gwaj’Gu:y from Hualapai; Traditional Bird Singers from SRPMIC; Gila River Basket Dancers; Ak-Chin Ba;Ban Keina Dance group; Sage Bond acoustic vocalist and contemporary artist Levi Platero.

A new element to the festival is the Arizona Native Edible Experience. On Feb. 8, the Scottsdale Museum of the West hosted approximately 280 people to be part of the chefs competition in preparing an edible experience to be remembered using native plants and local game.

“In their sponsorship, they included having the museum exhibits opened for guests and support in marketing the event to their membership and community. Through their support, we were able to engage new audiences sharing the rich cultural experiences of Indigenous Arizona,” explained Jeffrey Lazos Ferns, coordinator for Arizona Native Edible Experience.

The chefs were Twila Cassadore from San Carlos Apache, Renetto Mario Etsitty from the Navajo Nation, Andrew Humetewa from Ak-Chin and Brian Yazzie from the Navajo Nation. The winner of the chefs competition was Andrew Humetewa, who created an edible cuisine with rabbit and a touch of sweet sauce.

“In addition we engaged the San Carlos High School Culinary and Hospitality class. The Arizona Indian Festival was pleased to have these students assist the chefs,” Ferns said. “Their program involves assisting in community cultural events while they learn to work with tribal elders of their communities to enhance their culinary education.”

Arizona Indian Festival continues to grow each year with the help of sponsors, volunteers and all the Arizona tribal entities. Each year, visitors walk away enlightened, creating new friendships and learning more about their neighbor.

“Over 16,000 visitors this weekend. The venue has great room for expansion and the heart of tourism in Scottsdale, in conjunction with Western Week,” said Steve Geiogamah, city of Scottsdale Tourism development manager.

AAITA board members are all volunteers and are heavily involved in their communities to help promote and market travel and tourism destinations year round.

“I am very fortunate to have a good team who are so passionate about marketing Arizona native communities, to help increase business on our reservations is key to economic development,” said AAITA President Geri Hongeva-Camarillo (Navajo). “I have been a board member since 2008 and now the newly elected president of AAITA. I also want to thank all the tribal royalty who shared their talent and Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post 84 for their assistance.”

More information about the festival or to learn more about Arizona American Indian Tourism Association is available by visiting www.ArizonaIndianTourism.org.