Two weeks ago, Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis imposed a 7 p.m. curfew on juveniles due to a recent rise in crime across the almost 600-square-mile reservation.
Although that curfew was originally supposed to end March 9, the tribe still canceled a marquee event that was scheduled for this week. The curfew has since been extended to March 31.
The Mul-Chu-Tha Fair and Rodeo is an annual gathering dating back to 1962, but it’s been called off, citing unspecified safety concerns. This celebration is considered to be one of the largest tribal fairs in Indian Country.
The multiday attraction hasn’t been postponed since 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while more than 21,000 visitors attended last year’s festivities in the tribal capital of Sacaton.
Lately, the tribe, located south of Phoenix, has seen an uptick in violence, prompting a public safety emergency declaration in February.
Similar action was taken last June, after 23-year-old Gila River deputy Joshua Briese was fatally shot and another officer wounded while responding to a disturbance in the community of Santan.
In response, the tribe imposed a temporary ban on dances.
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