University of Arizona to honor Colorado River Indian Tribes through Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative
U of A and community members are invited to ENR2 for a Sign Unveiling Ceremony honoring the Navajos of CRIT. The newly installed sign will feature Navajo Language. The ceremony will include gust speakers, cultural sharing, and refreshment!
Tucson, Ariz. — The University of Arizona Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement will commemorate the installation of four new building signs featuring Native American languages to honor the Colorado River Indian Tribes.
The tribes, known as collectively as CRIT, represent four distinct tribes: Chemehuevi, Hopi, Mohave and Navajo. Members of each tribe have selected phrases to be included on four building signs on the university's main campus.
Each installation will include an unveiling ceremony with featured speakers, cultural demonstrations, and celebratory activities. Events began at 9 a.m. at the Emil W. Haury Anthropology Building with recognition of the CRIT Chemehuevi Tribe followed by a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at the Environment and Natural Resources 2 building honoring the CRIT Navajo Tribe. Afternoon ceremonies will begin at 1 p.m. at the College of Agriculture, Life, and Environmental Sciences' Forbes Building with recognition of the CRIT Hopi Tribe followed by a 2:30 p.m. ceremony at the College of Education honoring the CRIT Mohave Tribe.
What: The University of Arizona Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement will install four new building signs featuring Native American languages to honor the four Colorado River Indian Tribes.
When: Ceremonies at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4
Where: o 9 a.m.: Emil W. Haury Anthropology Building, 1009 E. South Campus Drive
10:30 a.m.: Environment and Natural Resources 2 building, 1064 E. Lowell Street
1 p.m.: Forbes building, 1140 E. South Campus Drive
2:30 p.m.: Education building, 1430 E. Second Street
Parking: Paid public parking is available in nearby parking garages: The Tyndall Avenue Parking Garage, 880 E. Fourth Street, and the Sixth Street Parking Garage, 1201 E. Sixth Street.
RSVP to the ENR2 Sign Unveiling Ceremony
Those expected to give remarks include CRIT Chairwoman Amelia Flores; Levi Esquerra, special advisor to the provost for Native American affairs; and other tribal and university leaders.
"We truly appreciate being including in this historic initiative opportunity to heighten the visibility of CRIT's four languages on the designated permanent building signs on the U of A campus," Flores said.
The Native Languages Campus Sign Initiative is part of the university's broader efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive campus for Native American students, faculty, staff and visitors while honoring Native Nations. Each sign completed by this initiative is created in consultation with tribal leadership to ensure it reflects the language accurately, respectfully, and responsibly.
While this is an ongoing initiative, this is the first time the university will host a series of unveiling ceremonies recognizing four distinct tribal nations that make up the Colorado River Indian Tribes through individual language installations.
"We are thrilled to have CRIT's participation in this initiative and look forward to continued collaboration with them," said Levi Esquerra, special advisor to the provost for Native American affairs.
The public is invited to attend the ceremonies.
For additional information about the program, please contact tribalengagement@arizona.edu.
###
Media contacts:
Kyle Mittan
University Communications
520-955-7514
mittank@arizona.edu
Byron Tsabetsaye
Office of Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement
tribalengagement@arizona.edu