2024 Tribal Self-Governance Conference held at Wild Horse Pass

Emma Hughes
Gila River Indian News

The 2024 Tribal Self-Governance Conference, hosted by the Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium (SGCETC), was held April 15-18 at the Gila River Resorts & Casinos—Wild Horse Pass.

The SGCETC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) consortium of tribal nations that have elected to use self-governance to deliver programs and services for their citizens and communities, assisting them in achieving their own goals. It seeks to ensure that Congress, the administration, fellow tribal nations, and all other interested parties accurately communicate and understand the tenets and purpose of self-governance.

The conference, which featured tribal leaders, tribal officials, federal partners, and those who work closely with tribal communities, was a platform for discussions, presentations, informative workshops, and networking opportunities.

Key discussions featured Indian Health Service, Department of Interior, and Department of Transportation leadership and focused on Tribal Self-Governance Q&A with tribal leaders from Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, New Zealand, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Oneida Nation, Wichita and Affiliated Tribes; Native Vote and Self-Governance updates while sessions focused on Tribal experiences negotiating with various agencies, self-governance for finance professionals, planning for transition of healthcare programs to self-governance, 

Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis provided a welcome to attendees followed by a discussion with tribal and state leaders: Buu Nygren, President for the Navajo Nation, Katie Hobbs, Governor for Arizona, and Robert Miguel, Chairman for the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The discussion centered around water policy for the future, specifically addressing the on-going drought and the inclusion of tribes when it comes to water issues, coming together to create water policy for the future.

“This Conference is just one of many steps we are taking to collaborate with Indigenous communities,” said Hobbs. “We’ve made so much progress over the last year, but I realize there’s still work to do. I look forward to continued partnership with Tribal leaders as we build an Arizona where everyone can thrive.”

GRIC representation also included Gila River Police Department’s Chief of Police, Jesse Crabtree, who joined a panel discussion on tackling substance abuse in Indian Country from the law enforcement perspective; Gila River Broadcasting Corp. who was featured as part of the ‘digital storytelling room,’ sharing their work as the first low-powered television station operating in Indian Country; Tohono O’odham Young Voices Podcast, featuring GRIC member Napolean Marrietta, who has been working with the podcast that focuses on and produces tribal topics and stories concerning tribal communities in Southern Arizona.