By Angela Askey, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Central Arizona College (CAC) will host their annual Native American Heritage Month celebrations at both the Maricopa and Signal Peak campuses. These events acknowledge the important contributions of our tribal communities and honor their diverse cultures, traditions and histories.
The first annual Maricopa Campus Native American Heritage Month Celebration will be held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 17945 N. Regent Dr, Maricopa, AZ 85138. The program begins at 1 p.m. in the library (B-Building, room 101) with a welcome and light refreshments.
At 1:30 p.m., Dr. Laura Tohe, a poet, writer, librettist and scholar of Indigenous American Literature will deliver the keynote address. Talking circles led by Dr. Ruth Butler will follow at 2:30 p.m.
On Monday, November 16, 2026, the celebration will continue with the fifth annual Signal Peak Campus “Walk the Land” event at 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ 85128. Check-in begins at 10:30 a.m. at the outdoor patio of the I Building.
The program will begin at 11 a.m. with a welcome, reading of the Land Acknowledgement and a blessing. Participants will then explore Walk the Land Exhibits and participate in an Indigenous Culinary Exploration featuring Denella Belin of Nella’s Innovative Kreations and Jerald Tso of Nature’s Kitchen Catering.
The event will conclude with a culturally inspired lunch and keynote address by Ginger Sunbird Martin, prominent Native American cultural consultant, court-certified expert and owner of Sunbird Enterprises. Martin belongs to the Pima (Akimel O’odham) people of the Gila River Indian Community.
These events are free and open to all students, employees and community members.
Additional local and national resources and activities are available on the CAC Native American Heritage website.
