The Flagstaff City Council humbly acknowledges the ancestral homelands of this area’s Indigenous nations and original stewards. These lands, still inhabited by Native descendants, border mountains sacred to Indigenous peoples. We honor them, their legacies, their traditions, and their continued contributions. We celebrate their past, present, and future generations who will forever know this place as home.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Approval of March 19, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.

Co-chair Mariah Zavala made a motion to approve the Minutes as is and Commissioner Mowana Lomaomvaya seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of April 03, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve Minutes as is or approve with amendments.

Commissioner Darrell Marks made a motion to approve the Minutes as is and seconded by Co-chair Mariah Zavala. The motion was approved unanimously.

Event Planning Update: Indigenous Code Talkers Celebration
Commissioner Zavala and the planning team will provide an overall update on what has occurred and what is still in queue to research and plan.

Commissioner Zavala gave an update on the planning thus far. During this discussion, it was the goal to dial in on the location of the event. After some discussion on other venues, the Market of Dreams was the most suggested due to affordability, partnerships, and location. It can hold up to 100 people and slightly more if standing. The timeframe of the event was also clarified.

Sponsors for breakfast and lunch are still out and hope to have answers shortly. As for the food, the burrito lady who has breakfast burritos with fresh tortillas will be asked if she is available to provide breakfast. Further information on her is needed. A suggestion for sack lunches for unsheltered relatives and a consideration of working with the Family Food Center, 50 sack lunches. The planning workgroup would like to get more suggestions on sponsorship of food. Coffee was added as an item needed for the menu. The City and other donors can provide whole fruits, drinks, and water.

The venue can be visited by those who would like to see how it might be set up for the event.

Speakers and cultural share updates or suggestions: Further work is needed to solidify the cultural share dance groups. Several names and ideas were suggested. One of the suggestions made was to highlight the Hopi Code Talkers this year. This may mean Hopi speakers, cultural share groups, Hopi ambassadors, etc. There was an agreement to move ahead with this suggestion with a deadline to have a completed agenda by July 21, so marketing can be provided in a timely manner. Information will be gathered and planning will move ahead.

SAVE THE DATE Samples
Commissioner Francis will provide samples for the "Save the Date" advertisement. The selected sample will be distributed for Indigenous Code Talkers Celebration.

Commissioner Francis provided a short update on ideas and needed information. She will have the samples soon. Further in the meeting, she was able to provide three "Save the Date" samples and one was chosen by the IC, which depicted code talker medals from various nations with the Hopi medal in the middle. This will be sent out as the first marketing piece.

Indigenous Commission Meeting on July 03, 2025
Staff Liaison Toehe will not be available on July 03, 2025. Requesting direction from the Commission regarding this meeting.

The meeting date of July 3rd falls a day before the 4th of July holiday and staff liaison will not be available on July 3rd. Due to this holiday, others may be away for personal reasons. The IC decided to move the meeting date to July 10, 2025, at 11:00 AM.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

The Rhetoric of Space - Northern Arizona University
English professor Taylor Thompson will provide a presentation on NAU’s Spring 2026 public humanities project. The Rhetoric of Space is where first-year students will research access and representation issues in Flagstaff and develop proposals in collaboration with local civic partners—including a request for potential support and guidance from the Indigenous Commission.

Professor Taylor Thompson provided a presentation on the Public Humanities Project: The Rhetoric of Space - Gender, Disability, and Body Inclusivity in Flagstaff. Professor Taylor included the following talking points and the proposed groups to be involved with the grant.

• Intro to the Project, Lovett Grant Funding, and Involved Parties
• The Curriculum & Timeline and Involved Parties
• Indigenous Commission's Role - Students choose an issue related to Indigenous representation or access in the Flagstaff Community; Students will reach out directly to the Commission; Meetings for further research or implement proposed solutions.
• Goals for Students, NAU, and the Community
• Other City partners: Heritage Preservation Commission, Beautification, Arts & Science Program, Open Spaces Commission, Sustainability Commission, Commission on Inclusion and Adaptive Living, and Commission on Diversity Awareness.
• Student goals, NAU goals, and community goals are to be developed.
• The Action Grant is meant to help fund costs associated with a community-partnered project.

Expand the City of Flagstaff (COF) Land Acknowledgment
A discussion to start the potential to expand the current COF land acknowledgment to other elements that provide life for humanity. Input from the Indigenous Commission would be critical.

Staff liaison Toehe provided a summary on the background of this topic. The Director of the Sustainability Division attended a conference, and she spoke of how she was so moved by the Water Acknowledgment she heard there. A discussion was provided on how and if the Flagstaff City Council Land Acknowledgment could be enhanced with water as an addition. An important point was determined that acknowledgment was needed for all the elements that give life on earth. Why not acknowledge the earth, water, air, and fire - there is a need for all these elements to be in our lives for all to live.

A meeting was scheduled between key staff members (staff liaisons) to see if this would be a feasible route to take. There was a very good discussion among the liaisons. Staff liaisons were from Sustainability, Water, CODA, Indigenous Commissions, and the Fire Department. The group decided that this is a good idea and will contact their commissioners at their next meeting to ask for participation to provide future planning and input. A meeting will be set to convene the commissioners for input.

This information is being brought to the IC, so there can be one or two volunteers to serve in this workgroup. Commissioners Hoskie and Cudeii volunteered. Commissioner Marks will be an alternate.

Future Recommendations To Work On
Commission discussion on topics of interest or concerns to work on in the future. Commissioners to commit and lead some of these recommendations.

• Question: How can we get general information on what the city is doing to people? There is some news on Flag scanner and Facebook, but not always reliable. Social media have too much political "stuff". Something to think about.
• The Police Department Indigenous Advisory Board should share out information once they are all seated and meetings start to occur.
• Have some reports from other Commissions on the work they are doing, i.e. like CODA and the City logo input that was provided. Another one would be Open Spaces and Picture Canyon results.
• Use of the Indigenous Community Cultural Center and what that looks like. There is an event on Saturday. Identifying a non-profit to work with the City regarding fundraising and programming.
• Have a community gathering outside celebratory events to gather information on what they would like to see happen or share topics they care about.
• A spring event, a Pow Wow? Funding was requested, waiting for Council approval of the budget.

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TO/FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS, STAFF, AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEM REQUESTS

None at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

Co-chair Darren Lance adjourned the meeting at 2:20 PM.