Events covered in this blog post include Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, Whittier Elementary School visit, Alchesay High School Visit, Recharge 2026, and Languages of the Four Directions.
2026 Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
On Wednesday, January 14, the Labriola Center tabled with the Navajo Nation Library at 2026 Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day. This gathering is organized by the State of Arizona’s Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations. Our participation was part of a larger ASU Native delegation that highlighted Native serving programs at ASU, which consisted of the Office of Government & Community Engagement, Construction in Indian Country, Office of American Indian Projects and Indigenous Career Futures and Kyl Center for Water Policy. Over 1,000 people attended this daylong event, which began with a resource fair on the Capitol lawn that showcased over 70 exhibitors. The Labriola team promoted our collection, research and engagement services and resources.
In addition to tabling, Labriola was also supporting a larger effort from our Arizona Tribal Librarian colleagues, specifically the Navajo Nation Tribal Library, to help make visible the role libraries play in supporting Tribal communities, and to highlight the need to create Arizona state funding for their libraries. For context, our Tribal librarian colleagues are seeking a support system similar to how the State of New Mexico supports their public and Tribal libraries (see NM program here). According to Unite Books, 17 out of 22 Arizona tribes fall under "Book Deserts." Book deserts can also mean lack of access to new books. According to Donovon Pete, Director of the Navajo Nation Library, some books in their library system are 40 years old. Having a funding system like New Mexico state for new books is important for Arizona Tribal libraries not only because access to books nurtures learning and development, but because there is a mammoth amount of old books that contain misinformation about Indigenous peoples. For these reasons, the Labriola Center purchased a table to not only amplify our work with attendees of this gathering at the state capital but to also support Tribal Librarians like Donovan Pete to best advocate for Indigenous library services across Arizona.
Throughout the tabling event, both Labriola and Navajo Nation Tribal Library staff informed the community of the importance of libraries and underscored how libraries support cultural resiliency. Labriola Director Alex Soto also attended the Joint Arizona House/Senate Protocol Session which included remarks from Speaker of the House Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen. Chairman Timothy Williams of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and Chairman Verlon Jose of the Tohono O’odham Nation delivered keynote addresses that focused on the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships between the state and Tribes. The session concluded with a poetry reading by the newly appointed state poet laureate, Dr. Laura Tohe (Diné). Lastly, Alex Soto and Vina Begay attended the Office of Indian Education’s Indian Education Advisory Council meeting in the afternoon to advocate for the importance of libraries in Indian Education.
To learn more about the event, check out Indian Country Today’s write-up on the event.
Whittier School Tour and Visit with Office of American Indian Initiatives
Friday, January 16, 2026
In partnership with the Office of American Indian Initiatives, the Labriola Center hosted around 30 students from Whittier Elementary School at Hayden Library, 236 and 204. After a tour of American Indian Student Support Services and the Labriola Center, students had the opportunity to play on a turntable with records and make buttons using their tribal nation's seal and ASU Makerspace's button maker and button making supplies.
Alchesay High School Visits the Labriola Center
Wednesday, January 28
In Hayden Library, 236 Library Aides Mafi Pamaka and Talia Porras participated in a panel discussion with the Office of American Indian Initiatives for Alchesay High School's visit to ASU Tempe. After a presentation by Sr. Program Coordinator Eric Hardy, Alchesay High School students visited the Labriola Center and had the opportunity to meet Librarian and Director Alex Soto and play on the turntable.
Recharge 2026 with Office of American Indian Initiatives
Friday, January 30, 2026
In partnership with the Office of American Indian Initiatives, the Labriola Center hosted 40-55 students from 7th-12th grade. Assistant Librarian and Archivist Vina Begay led an archive workshop with the students using language books (Hopi, Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, and White Mountain Apache) from the Arizona Reading Room collection and books on American Indian treaties regarding land, language preservation, and memoirs from the Labriola Center's circulating special collections.
Languages of the Four Directions with Chris Hoshnic
Friday, January 30, 2026
At the Labriola Center Reading Room in Fletcher Library, Chris Hoshnic (Dine') led a creative writing workshop as part of a series called the "Language of the Four Directions." Hoshnic has a background in film and uses visual documentation of words to move across the page and create shapes and images. For this workshop, Hoshnic focused on "ekphrasis" poetry, which is described as " a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the 'action' of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning" (Poetry Foundation). Hoshnic reviewed some examples of ekphrasis poetry, including Anne Sexton's poem inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night painting.
-Written by Yitazba Largo-Anderson