In 2022 the Arizona Commission on the Arts (ACA) enacted a formal Tribal Consultation Policy, to strengthen its services to the state’s 22 federally recognized tribes. The policy formalizes ACA’s compliance with Section 41-2051 of the Arizona Statutes, which requires all state agencies to “Develop and implement tribal consultation policies to guide the agency’s work and interaction with the tribal nations of this state.”

Key components of ACA’s policy and procedures include:

• Seeking and integrating input from tribes into the agency’s program development and decision-making processes before undertaking any action with the potential to affect a tribal community or its members
• Designating an ACA staff member to serve as a primary point of contact for tribal affairs and to lead implementation of the consultation policy

Hopi School quilters from Kykotsmovi, Arizona, crafted this quilt. They were selected to compete as semifinalists at the International Quilt Show. Photo by Linda Visnaw, published in The Hopi Tutuveni, courtesy of Arizona Commission on the Arts

• Demonstrating respect for tribal authority, self-governance and cultural practices
• Ensuring Native American representation on the agency’s grant panels and board of commissioners
• Ensuring that Native Americans are encouraged to apply for agency grant funds
• Setting relevant goals and performance measures

To inform this policy, in 2021 ACA conducted a historical analysis of its relationships with and grant funding to tribal cultural entities, Native-led and Native focused organizations, and Native artists. The analysis found that limited grants had been awarded in recent years. Among those Native organizations and artists receiving support, many were based in the Phoenix or Tucson metropolitan areas, rather than within tribal nations or in the rural regions of the state. To illuminate a positive path forward, the analysis indicated that a tribal consultation policy could help ACA develop and rebuild relationships with tribal cultural entities and Native artists and ensure that those relationships were held by multiple staff members. While acknowledging the important work of culture bearers occurring through the agency’s folk and traditional arts partnerships, the report cautioned against confining Native arts to a folk and traditional silo. It recommended a more comprehensive approach to integrating service to tribal nations across all agency functions.

Since 2022, ACA has used its tribal consultation policy as a catalyst to repair, rebuild and renew connections with tribal communities and arts practitioners. The agency completed these activities:

• Created a full-time tribal relations manager position
• Brought six new Native organizations into the agency’s applicant pool
• Increased agency investments in Native artists and organizations, reaching 17 grantees with $79,000 in awards in fiscal year 2023
• Facilitated access to private funding opportunities for Native organizations working on arts projects and capacity building

Dancers from the White Mountain Apache Tribe prepare to perform at the Arizona American Indian Festival, an inclusive intertribal event celebrating culture, arts, crafts and foods from Native nations. The festival is presented by the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association, an Arizona Commission on the Arts grantee. Photo courtesy of Arizona American Indian Tourism Association

• Recruited Native artists and administrators to participate in public input sessions to inform the design of new ACA grant programs, such as the Creative Capacity Grant, which provides general operating support to organizations
• Created a new Tribal Relations section of the ACA website to serve as a point of entry for Native artists and organizations seeking resources
• Conducted tribal relations training and facilitated introductions to Native constituents for multiple ACA program staffers, to develop a broad network of tribal connections across the agency
• Established a presence at the annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, the United National Indian Tribal Youth midyear conference and the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona’s Fall Symposium as public outreach strategies
• Developed cross-sector relationships, such as becoming a member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona
• Initiated outreach to multiple state agencies whose work affects tribes and tribal relations
• Welcomed the appointment of a new Native American commissioner appointed by the governor to serve on the ACA board
• Began a practice of transparent reporting on progress made and challenges encountered in working toward the agency’s tribal relations goals

For more information about Arizona’s tribal consultation practices, contact ACA Tribal Relations Manager Anna Needham, Red Lake Ojibwe.