This September, the women of UAII traveled to Chandler, Arizona, for a weekend filled with crafts, storytelling, and building new connections.
On the first day, we visited the Gila River Indian Community Boys and Girls Club, toured the building, and learned about their programs for kids. UAII and BGC staff came together to talk about our hopes for the next generation and how we can help them succeed.
Then we visited the Gila River Heritage Center, where we made fry bread and paired it with red chili stew. We sat for lunch with the elders of the community, while they shared their stories and advice about being Native women. Then we toured the Heritage Museum, which included a lot of basketry and artwork from the Gila River Tribe. To end the night, we had dinner with Gila River Councilman Terrance Evans.
On the second day, we attended a beading workshop led by fashion designer Rebekah Jarvey. In this workshop, we beaded Good Luck pouches and learned about her journey as a fashion designer.
After that, we had dinner at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass to build more community and connection with the team. We had a talking circle and reflected on special moments from the retreat.
