PHOENIX, Ariz. – Television news producer Patty Talahongva declares herself an urban Indian since she was born in Denver, Colo., after her family accepted relocation in the 1950s.
And, although she retains strong ties to her Hopi culture and family who remained on the reservation, she counts herself among the estimated 55,000 Native Americans who live in Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous area.
Talahongva presided over Urban Indian Summit III as Phoenix area urban Indians met at Arizona State University West May 9to discuss progress in forming a community development corporation.
Keynote speaker was former Idaho Attorney General Larry Echohawk, the first Indian to be elected to a statewide office. The Pawnee said that because of his family’s experiences with forced relocation, Indian boarding schools and family members’ alcohol abuse, “we had no expectations that we would ever go anywhere.”
However, all six Echohawk children graduated from college and three are attorneys.
Echohawk said he enjoyed a personal visit with the President of the United States after his historic win. “With a name like Echohawk, I wouldn’t be mistaken as Irish.”
Echohawk said the coalition “gives an opportunity for people to network.” Developing strong economies is the major issue in Indian communities, he said. “When people have jobs, a lot of social problems fall by the wayside.”
The coalition’s non-profit development arm is designed to consolidate local resources and talent in an effort to build a strong economy and provide enhanced social services to the urban Indian community.
“This is not a turf issue,” said Phoenix Indian Center Director Leland Leonard, a Navajo. “We’re learning how to build the bridge” to interagency cooperation.
The coalition was formed in 1997 by a consortium of social service agencies to coordinate services for Phoenix’s Native Americans who like those in other cities, suffer from high unemployment and underemployment, poverty, lack of affordable health care and other social ills.
The first summit in 1998 identified community needs.
American Indian Chamber of Commerce President Tina Culleeny, the summit’s co-chairwoman, said last year study committees were organized to cover five areas: economic development and housing; education; health; cultural heritage, and family empowerment.
This year’s summit focused attention on the community development corporation. Five agencies will share responsibility for its activities: the center, Native American Community Health Center, Native American Connections Inc., Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona and the Affiliation of Arizona Indian Centers.
Connections, which gained experience with large projects after its successful bid to initiate an affordable housing program, may take the lead in the day-to-day operations, said Loren Tapahe, publisher of Arizona Native Scene.
Culleeny said the coalition plans to consider asking the city of Phoenix to form an urban Indian commission similar to one in Tucson. Next on the agenda will be organizing at the grass-roots level, she said.
More important than jobs and social services, however, is the sense of community the coalition offers Indians who live far from their ancestral homes.
“We’re no different than the reservation people,” Leonard said. “We have many strengths. Our community’s going strong and its members are still active.”
Lack of jobs and housing options on tribal lands, the need for specialized health care not available in rural areas, and the federal relocation policy of the 1950s have all contributed to the movement of Indians into cities, Leonard said. However, many Natives find themselves adrift once they get here. His agency offers assistance to those who have trouble coping with urban life.