The University of Arizona put the Colorado River Indian Tribes and their culture in the spotlight Sept. 5, honoring CRIT during the Wildcats’ Native American Heritage football game against Northern Arizona University.
The recognition went well beyond the game, with members of CRIT’s Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo communities participating in cultural activities throughout the day.
Festivities began at Bear Down Field, where representatives of CRIT’s tribes shared cultural performances with Wildcat fans and visitors during the Bear Down Bash.
CRIT representatives also participated in the Wildcat Walk, Arizona Football’s traditional pregame arrival. CRIT royalty and tribal leadership were invited to greet the Wildcats’ head coach as part of a gift exchange before the team entered the stadium.
The recognition continued after kickoff at Casino Del Sol Stadium, where representatives of all four tribes were recognized on the field during the second quarter.
For Levi Esquerra, the University of Arizona’s senior vice president for Native American Advancement and Tribal Engagement, the event was part of a larger effort to build awareness and understanding of Arizona’s Tribal Nations.
The university began recognizing tribes at football games about four years ago, Esquerra said, using the visibility of Arizona Athletics to introduce fans to Native communities and their cultures.
“I think my job is to really create awareness of our tribes,” Esquerra said. “I’m thrilled to have CRIT in the house and that we’re able to do that.”
Esquerra said CRIT’s unique structure is not always well understood because CRIT itself is a Tribal Nation made up of four distinct tribes.
The Native American Heritage Game provided a high-profile opportunity to help tell that story.
Arizona Athletics designated the Northern Arizona contest as its Native American Heritage Game, with cultural programming surrounding the football game from the afternoon through the evening.
The event also reflected the University of Arizona’s broader effort to strengthen relationships with Arizona’s sovereign Tribal Nations and give Native cultures greater visibility on campus and beyond.
For CRIT, the recognition meant more than an announcement during a football game. Tribal representatives performed for fans, participated in one of Arizona Football’s signature traditions and took the field before thousands of spectators.
It gave the university and CRIT an opportunity to introduce a large audience to the four distinct peoples who together make up the Colorado River Indian Tribes.