Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement

08/28/2026

We are excited to announce the fall line-up of Native American Heritage Games! Heritage games bring visibility to Native American communities, athletes, and cultures. We invite the Wildcat community to join us, support our student-athletes and be part of these moments of recognition throughout the season.

Save these dates and be on the lookout for individual gameday flyers with additional details for each event including exclusive giveaways!

08/27/2026

September 4th is almost here! We’re looking forward to celebrating the four languages of the Colorado River Indian Tribes with four sign unveiling ceremonies across the University of Arizona campus.

Swipe through for the details for each ceremony, and please RSVP if you plan to attend. Whether you make it to one or all four, we’d be happy to have you there.

08/19/2026

NAATE joined leaders from the University of Arizona, Gila River Indian Community, Gila River Health Care, and elected officials to celebrate the announcement of the nation’s first MD-granting medical school branch located in a tribal community.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine and Gila River Health Care entered a new partnership to address a healthcare workforce crisis. The partnership will generate physicians who will train and serve the tribal community through an accelerated program starting in 2027.

NAATE is proud to witness and support this meaningful collaboration between the University of Arizona and Gila River Indian Community.

Read more here: https://news.arizona.edu/news/u-and-gila-river-health-care-entity-gila-river-indian-community-launch-nations-first-md?utm_campaign=Native+American+Advancement+%26+Tribal+Engagement&utm_content=NAATE+was+honored+to+join&utm_medium=social&utm_publication=20260819&utm_source=facebook

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

08/17/2026

Chairman Garbiel Lopez of the Ak-Chin Indian Community provided a blessing for the Physician Assistant Program at the School of Health Professions. Chairman Lopez spoke with the inaugural class and offered words of encouragement as they begin their journey in the program. Miss Native UA Laylalanai Gocobachi shared an introduction and provided further insight of the university's land acknowledgement statement.

Dr. Sherron Cook, Assistant Clinical Professor of Physician Assistant Program, worked in collaboration with NAATE to coordinate the blessing. We are grateful for Chairman Lopez, Dr. Cook, and Laylalanai for the time and generosity they dedicated to the orientation.

08/17/2026

NAATE participated in the Southern Arizona Tribal Community Connections event in the San Xavier District of the Tohono O'odham Nation. We always enjoy the opportunity to visit tribal communities, connect with people, and engage with partners and organizations who serve the community. The event theme, "Meeting Our People Where They Are," tied everything together nicely.

We send out gratitude to everyone who helped organize and bring this event together, and to everyone who stopped by our table to connect with us!

08/15/2026

Please join us at the College of Education Building for a Sign Unveiling Ceremony honoring the Mohave of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). This special event will celebrate the inclusion of Mohave Language on the College of Education Sign, with guest speakers, cultural sharing, and an official unveiling of the newly installed sign.

📍 College of Education
📅 September 4, 2026
🕒 2:30pm

This is the final event in a series of four that will feature CRIT through the Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative. Additional announcements to come.

🔗 RSVP at https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WDcX8Vb86mgm6W
Questions? Contact: [email protected]

08/14/2026

Please join us at the College of Education Building for a Sign Unveiling Ceremony honoring the Mohave of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). This special event will celebrate the inclusion of Mohave Language on the College of Education Sign, with guest speakers, cultural sharing, and an official unveiling of the newly installed sign.

📍 College of Education
📅 September 4, 2026
🕒 2:30pm

This is the final event in a series of four that will feature CRIT through the Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative. Additional announcements to come.

🔗 RSVP at https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WDcX8Vb86mgm6W
Questions? Contact: [email protected]

08/13/2026

You are invited to a Sign Unveiling Ceremony at the Forbes Building honoring the Hopi of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). This historic event will celebrate the inclusion of Hopi Language on the Forbes Building Sign with guest speakers, cultural sharing, and an official unveil of a newly installed sign.

📍 Forbes Building
📅 September 4, 2026
🕒 1:00pm

This event is the third in a series of four that will feature CRIT through the Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative. Additional announcements to come.

🔗 RSVP at https://uarizona.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9LC16s35G8vGThc
Questions? Contact: [email protected]