Ak-Chin Indian Community celebrates Native American Recognition Day September 28

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Native American Recognition Day hosted by the Ak-Chin Indian Community happens Saturday, September 28. Come on out for a day filled with education and good times for all ages!

The celebration kicks off with a fun run/walk starting at the old fire station at 8 a.m. on Farrell Road, Maricopa, AZ. Sign up at 7:30 to participate. After the walk, head on over to Milton “Paul” Antone Memorial Park for cultural events. These include dance group performances, artist demonstrations, information booths, and food and arts and crafts vendors. Learn more about Native American dance, art, and traditions at this interactive event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Artists provide demonstrations of their work during Native American Recognition Day

Bring the whole family, including the little kids, who can enjoy a bouncy house and face painting. Watermelon eating contests will also be on tap to help cool everyone off.

With the theme, “Celebrating O’odham Language,” this year’s event emphasizes the importance of keeping O’odham language alive through future generations.

Ak-Chin Indian Community artist Joseph Smith provides a demonstration of his work during a previous Native American Recognition Day

For the first time ever, members of the Ak-Chin Indian Community achieved the first Arizona State certification of the O’odham language. A team will teach generations of members the language in a unique program through the Education Department, managed by Dr. Mario Molino. Joining him is Lusan Enos, language tech; Lerline Peters, language specialist; Felicia Vincent, language media tech; and Velacita Lopez, language coordinator. Congratulations to these individuals for gaining certification and continuing to teach the O’odham language, something to celebrate during Native American Recognition Days and all year long!

Him-Dak EcoMuseum staff

The Ak-Chin Indian Community hosts Native American Recognition Day annually on the last Saturday in September. The event focuses on sharing Native American culture and artwork with others from within and outside of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. The Ak-Chin Him-Dak EcoMuseum coordinates activities. For more information about the event, contact the museum, 520-568-1350.

Milton “Paul” Antone Park is located at 46851 W. Farrell Road in Maricopa. Don’t miss this opportunity for a great day of education and fun with the family!

Carolyn Sostrom

Carolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.