Tribal community will hold its own cultural convocation for graduates after MCCCD events canceled

After the Maricopa County Community College District cancelled its cultural graduation ceremonies, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community plans to hold its own convocation for Native American graduates.

A spokesperson for the district previously said the decision to cancel cultural convocations came after the U.S. Department of Education threatened to withhold funding from institutions practicing DEI policies.

Events for Indian Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans were also among those eliminated by district officials.

Tribal president Martin Harvier said the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community chose to hold their own ceremony because honoring Native American students for their accomplishment is the “right thing to do.”

“I just believe as tribal communities, we just need to make sure our voices are heard that we do not agree with those orders that have been given," he said.

He was also featured in a video announcing the news of the ceremony.

“Being that Scottsdale Community College is located in Salt River and so many of our members received their education from SCC, we knew we had to do something to address this issue," he said.

In a statement to KJZZ, a spokesperson for the district said it is grateful to the community for making the celebration possible and remains proud of its relationship with the tribes.

KJZZ is licensed to the Maricopa County Community College District.