Councilmember Doreen Garlid is Tempe’s first Native American representative elected to office. Garlid’s great-grandfather was a Navajo Code Talker during World War II who helped communicate with officers around the world in combat.
Now, she joins Tempe to celebrate Native American Heritage Month, a nationally recognized time to explore the history and culture of the Indigenous communities from each state.
During the Tempe City Council meeting on Nov. 5, Garlid read the proclamation aloud while accompanied by members of Arizona’s tribes and the Working to Empower Ancestral Vision and Equity program, better known as WEAVE, with city staff.
“The city of Tempe is dedicated to uplifting and amplifying Indigenous voices in our city, acknowledging that the work of healing and decolonization is ongoing, and encourages the citizens of Tempe to understand and recognize Native American heritage as we move forward towards a more inclusive and equitable future,” Garlid read from the proclamation.
Arizona is home to more than 350,000 people who identify as American Indian or Alaskan Native and 22 federally recognized Native Nations, the largest being the Navajo Nation, which has more than 400,000 registered members nationwide, according to the Census Bureau.
The Navajo Nation is more than 9,000 square miles and is the namesake for the northern Arizona county.
November marks a historic month for the community as Michigan, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and more elected tribal members to Congress or state seats, with Deb Haaland becoming the country’s first Native American governor in her election in New Mexico.
Navajo Nation also elected Crystalyne Curley, the first woman president in the community’s history.
“We recognize that this is our first Native American group and the members who started our organization here in the city of Tempe to recognize members of all indigenous communities and their allies,” Garlid said following the proclamation.
Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).
Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.
Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.
Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.
Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.
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