Two major events serve as watershed moments in the history of Fort McDowell. The first took place back in the late 60s, when a proposed dam would have flooded about half of the reservation neighboring Fountain Hills. The people of Fort McDowell fought against the Orme Dam for a decade and eventually came out victorious.

The second event may not have taken quite as long to play out, but its impact was far-reaching; affecting not just Fort McDowell, but all of Arizona to boot.

Back in 1992, the people of Fort McDowell found yet another reason to take a stand, stepping in when federal agents were called in to remove slot machines from the casino. This came following a disagreement over the limits of tribal gaming operations. Like with the Orme Dam, the people of Fort McDowell (and eventually supporters from all over the state and beyond) felt that their rights were being denied. They gathered peacefully to halt what they considered an injustice and, eventually, their actions helped lead to new gaming pacts that survive to this day.

As part of that original demonstration, hundreds of individuals marched from Fort McDowell to the State Capital in honor of what has now become known as Sovereignty Day. This Friday, May 25, the march from the Fort McDowell Recreation Center to the WeKoPa Resort will be quite a bit shorter than that original hike, but it serves as a strong reminder of the events that unfolded 25 years ago, when a group of people stood in opposition of injustice.

Their actions resulted in legitimate, positive changes and, if that’s not worth celebrating, we’re not sure what is.

To take part, drop by the recreation center for the march scheduled to begin at around 7 a.m. Once the procession reaches WeKoPa, the festivities will continue until midday.