Flags representing Arizona’s 22 federally-recognized Native American tribes are now on display in the governor’s office after being removed from Department of Veterans Affairs’ facilities.
The Trump administration issued new rules last week limiting which flags can be flown on Department of Veterans Affairs property, which resulted in the removal of tribal flags at the Carl T. Hayden Medical Center in Phoenix.
The decision was widely criticized by tribal leaders across the state.
The department handed those flags over to the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, which has now given them to Gov. Katie Hobbs.
“The Community is grateful that we had the opportunity to receive the tribal flags and to have them for the short time and we are thankful Governor Hobbs has agreed to take the flags to display them at the Arizona Capitol, a more prominent and appropriate place for them to be located,” Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community President Martin Harvier said in a statement.
The governor’s office announced Tuesday that the flags are now on display in her offices at the Arizona Capitol.
In a statement, Hobbs said the state is proud of veterans from the state’s tribal communities.
“We should be recognizing their service, not disrespecting their heritage. It’s my honor to display these flags at the Executive Tower, and I am grateful to all the Tribal leaders who have entrusted me with this responsibility,” she said. “I will always support our Veterans, and vow to keep these flags safe until they can be returned to their rightful place at the VA hospital.”
Leaders from many of the state’s tribal governments praised the move and also called on the federal government to allow the flags to be returned to the Carl T. Hayden Medical Center.
“In recognition of the critical contributions Native Americans have made to the United States through military service, we feel the decision to remove Tribal flags from public display at the Phoenix VA hospital should be rescinded,” said Fort Mojave Indian Tribe Vice Chairman Shan Lewis, who is president of the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona.
Lewis, a U.S. Army veteran, said in a statement that displaying the flags at the VA hospital “was a symbol of honor and appreciation for generations of Native American veterans who served on behalf of this country.”
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