Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff in Action
Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff in Action
Ciera Tsosie
The Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff (ICF) held its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM, focusing on board elections, meeting logistics, and ongoing advocacy surrounding the San Francisco Peaks and Snowbowl.
Snowbowl and San Francisco Peaks Discussion
Meetings center on Arizona Snowbowl and its continued use of reclaimed waste water on the San Francisco Peaks. Community members emphasize the need to center Indigenous worldviews in advocacy efforts as tribal members push for preserving the natural landscape that has sustained our ancestors for centuries. A training was scheduled for February 4th, aimed towards educating non-Indigenous allies and promoting engagement in environmental sustainability. The Defend the Peaks Coalition is seeking new members to participate in efforts to raise awareness regarding reclaimed water use and its effects on the sacred lands.
Coalition Efforts and Community Outreach
Outreach tools such as the Land Defenders podcast, coalition email lists, and biweekly zoom meetings are designed to promote engagement in Indigenous communities. There are plans to discuss development of a coalition website, organization of future public events, and rally events or visible demonstrations. Critiques are paired with proposed solutions and deemed important when communicating with the public. Especially regarding issues with Snowbowl’s request to renew its permit seven years early with ICF.
Looking Forward
The Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff continues to address the impacts tied to the Snowbowl issue, discussion about collaboration opportunities, event planning, and serving as a space for education, advocacy and action. centering Indigenous voices while building broader community understanding and support.
Saturday’s Event with NACA
Native Americans for Community Action held a prayer vigil at Buffalo Park Saturday, January 24th, inviting Flagstaff’s residents and town hall staff to join. They opened with a protection prayer, providing offerings and traditional drumming.
Honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP)
This section is dedicated to our Indigenous relatives whose lives were taken or remain missing, many of whom never received the attention, protection or justice they deserved. We honor Antonette Cayedito, Emily Pike, Challista Colelay and Maleeka Boone as their stories have highlighted an ongoing crisis on our reservations rooted in systemic violence, jurisdictional failures, and the marginalization of our people. FHS Native American Club is committed to resisting silence, advocating for those that cannot stand alone, and strengthening community care to fight against injustices.
Do You Know What a Turquoise Alert Is?
For those who don’t know what a Turquoise Alert is, it was established to honor Emily Pike under the name “Emily’s Law” in May of 2025 and works similarly to the Amber Alert system but a different criterion is met before one is issued. It will be activated if a person in the state of Arizona under the age of 65 goes missing under suspicious circumstances or is deemed to be in danger, and local law enforcement has used all local resources to locate them without success. Notifications of these alerts should be available regionally through the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alert, ADOT messaging system boards and other official Arizona websites that display alerts.