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The 42nd Annual NAC Parade

Saturday, October 10th, 2026

Thank you for joining us!

Introducing our 42nd Annual NAC Parade Winners!

Thank you to all our amazing participants for sharing your unique talents, creativity, and voices, and helping bring an incredible celebration of Native American culture & heritage to our community.

Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Parade Winners!

 PERFORMANCE

1st — Ballet Arizona Native American Hoop Dancers

2nd — Tucson Indian Center-Royalty

3rd — White Mountain Apache Tribal Royalty

SCHOOLS

1st — Tsehootsooi Primary Learning Center

2nd — Phoenix Elementary School District-Indian Education Program (Our Voices, Our Future)

3rd — ASU American Indian Social Work Association 

NONPROFIT

1st — NAC Patina Wellness Center & Patina Mountain Preserve

2nd — Phoenix Indian Center-Young Elders & FIRE Youth Council

3rd — Girl Scouts-Tribal Affairs Team & Indigenous Troops (Girl's Voices Shaping Tomorrow)

COMMERCIAL

1st — Yideeskaadi Hozhooji Center-Axiom Care

2nd — Via Linda Behavioral Hospital

3rd — N8IV Real Estate Circle 

 

Thank YOU for joining us!

Native American Connections would like to recognize the skill, honor, and excellence of all our winning entries and participating partners. Thank you for joining us for this incredible celebration of Native American culture & heritage.

Meet Our 42nd Annual NAC Parade EMCEEs!

Sr. Director of Live Presentation NBA/WNBA & Nike N7 Official DJ

Shawn Martinez

Shawn Martinez grew up in Fort Defiance, Arizona, in the Navajo Nation and is an enrolled member of the Diné/Navajo Tribe. An athletic standout from Window Rock High School, Martinez continued his basketball journey at Fort Lewis College. He received his bachelor's degree in communications and fine arts and launched an entertainment career under the stage alias DJ Tribal Touch.

In his 23 season NBA career he continues to make an impact through various Native American initiatives. He spent 12 years with the Denver Nuggets and six years with the Detroit Pistons before joining the Suns, Mercury and Valley Suns. Beyond basketball, Martinez regularly mentors Native youth and shares his indigenous roots and career journey at various events across the country. As one of Nike N7's Official DJ's, he has performed coast to coast in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS, NLL, AFL & the NCAA at some of sports and entertainment's biggest events.

In November 2023, Martinez was presented with the Arizona American Indian Excellence in Leadership “Man of the Year” Award by the Phoenix Indian Center for his commitment to uplifting and serving the community.  Shawn also received the 2023-2024 NBA Values of the Game Award presented to him by the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, which recognizes an individual who embodies the NBA’s mission of inspiring and connecting people through the game of basketball.

Learn More about Shawn
Founder & CEO of Indigenous Community Collaborative

Melody Lewis

Melody Lewis is a member of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe. She was born and raised in Mohave Valley, AZ. Upon completion from University of Arizona, Melody entered into employment as a Human Service Worker. She remained in Human Services for three years and transitioned into Workforce Development. For the past ten years she has remained in the industry implementing an array of workforce and education initiatives as a consultant. Current initiatives fall within the areas of Maricopa County Community College District, Local School Districts, Employers, and Nonprofits across Arizona, California and Nevada.

She regularly volunteers for Indigenous Community Based Nonprofits and often participates to showcase education and employment trends, such as workplace skills development, supervisor competency builders, and employer-driven career pathway systems.

Melody is driven by a strong desire to help create a vision to find educational and career opportunities for students, individuals seeking personal growth, communities, and employers. Her passion for this work is accomplished through the development of strong working relationships and creating collaborative solutions for future generations.

Learn More about Melody

Meet Our 42nd Annual NAC Parade Grand Marhsal!

Parade Grand Marshall

Sunny Dooley

Sunny Dooley is this year’s Grand Marshal! A proud Diné storyteller, educator, and community leader, Sunny is known for her work in cultural storytelling, building intertribal relationships, and uplifting Indigenous knowledge systems.

Through her work, she honors the power of voice, connection, and passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Her commitment to sharing stories and lived experiences beautifully reflects this year’s theme, “Voices That Shape Tomorrow.” Please join us in celebrating and welcoming our Grand Marshal, Sunny Dooley!

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Download Map

Official NARD & Parade Day Map!

Join us on Saturday, October 10th, 2026 for Native American Recognition Days! Featuring the 42nd Annual NAC Parade, Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center Open House, as well as free events held by NATIVE HEALTH and the Phoenix Indian Center, we're so excited to join with our community in celebration of Native American culture and heritage. See you on 10/10!

NARD & Parade Day Details

The 42nd Annual Native American Connections Parade
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Patina Wellness Center (3rd St & Virginia Ave) to Steele Indian School Park (3rd St & Indian School Rd)

The PISVC Open House & Indigenous Art Show
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Steele Indian School Park - 300 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ

NATIVE HEALTH Open House & Health Fair
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
4041 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012

Phoenix Indian Center Gourd Dance & Social Powwow
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Steele Indian School Park

Our Parade Theme

Voices That Shape Tomorrow

This year's theme, "Voices That Shape Tomorrow," celebrates storytelling, creativity, leadership, and lived experiences as forces that shape our communities and future generations. We invite tribal communities, organizations, schools, businesses, cultural groups, youth programs, and community partners to bring this theme to life through floats, walking groups, cultural presentations, and community participation.
Calling All Indigenous Artists

PISVC Open House & Indigenous Art Show

This year's PISVC Open House will feature an Indigenous Art Show celebrating Native creativity, expression, and storytelling. Art submissions open NOW!

Deadline extended: submit by Sept. 15th, 2026!
Recognizing Young Indigenous Leaders in Our Community

Youth Leadership Award

Submit your work to display at our Indigenous Art Show, and you'll be considered to receive this year's Youth Leadership Award, available for young artists 18 – 24 years old. 
Sponsor The Annual NAC Parade & PISVC Open House

Support 40+ years of Indigenous Celebration!

Your organization can take advantage of two sponsorship opportunities now available for the 42nd Annual NAC Parade, one of our community’s most visible and celebrated cultural events of the year!

Get Exclusive Perks When You Sponsor Our Events

Our Amazing Sponsors

Please join us in thanking our generous and ever-encouraging sponsors, whose support makes our events possible.

 


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