On May 12, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation near Fountain Hills will host a celebration of its 31st Sovereignty Day, a milestone anniversary commemorating one of the most significant days in Fort McDowell’s history. To do.
Following a continental breakfast and colored display at the Fort McDowell Old Casino Bingo Hall Memorial Statue, veterans will travel from the Fort McDowell Old Casino Bingo Hall parking lot to Fort McDowell on a 4-mile walk starting around 7:15 AM. lead the memorial march. Parks & Recreation Center.
The historically significant highlight of this morning’s event emulates the 1992 protest march from the Fort McDowell Casino to the Arizona State Capitol, where seniors, infants and children unable to complete the four-mile trek For the rest, ride a hay wagon provided by Fort McDowell Adventures. The walk is followed by informative programs, luncheons and entertainment at Recreation Center Ramada.
Thirty years ago, 25 to 50 federal agents and marshals raided the Fort McDowell gaming center. They confiscated over 100 tribe members, community members, casino employees and casino guests and blocked the only road before leaving with his 349 slots his machines. A three-week non-violent standoff that followed culminated in the signing of an agreement with tribes in Arizona, paving the way for the Indian Games statewide.
“Each year at this time, we honor our parents, grandparents, friends and other members of our tribe who bravely and peacefully seek to attack our tribal sovereignty and self-determination. We thwarted the efforts of officials.” McDowell Yavapai Nation.
“Their passion, dedication and steadfast belief in protecting what is rightfully ours has shaped not only our tribal councils and members, but the entire Arizona gaming landscape. It is a very proud day for our people and we would like to thank everyone involved for their dedication and hard work in making this annual event so meaningful and memorable.”
Since that fateful event in 1992, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has continued to thrive, give back to the community and celebrate its rich heritage.
In October 2020, this resilient, progressive and inclusive spirit will be demonstrated by the opening of We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, a state-of-the-art dining and entertainment facility that sets a new standard for gaming in the Valley it was done. Since then, the AAA four-diamond property has added his WKP sportsbook powered by Betfred, new restaurants and other offerings designed to attract both new and returning customers.
The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation is a Native American tribe of 889 people based in the upper Sonoran Desert of central Arizona. Located near the Fountain Hills northeast of Phoenix in Maricopa County, the 40-square-mile reservation is home to the once nomadic Yavapai, who hunted and foraged in vast areas of Arizona’s desert lowlands. A small portion of the tribe’s ancestral territory, the mountainous Mogollon Rim Country.
The tribe operates a variety of successful businesses including We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, We-Ko-Pa Golf Club, Fort McDowell Adventures, Eagle View RV Resort, Baja Gas, Yavapai Materials and Tribal Farm.
