Crowning Moments and Cultural Celebrations
The gymnasium of Betty H. Fairfax High School often comes alive with the sights and sounds of Indigenous culture. In the spring, students gather for the Mr. and Miss Indian Betty Fairfax pageant – an annual celebration of heritage and leadership. In April 2023, Diego Rhodes (Gila River Indian Community) was crowned Mr. Indian Fairfax alongside Charlize King (Navajo Nation) as Miss Indian Fairfax (GRIC youth crowned at Phoenix Union High School District royalty pageants April 21, 2023 Articles). Amid traditional songs and talents, contestants embraced the theme “Honoring Our Wellbeing Through Truth Telling”, showcasing cultural knowledge and personal stories in their performances (GRIC youth crowned at Phoenix Union High School District royalty pageants April 21, 2023 Articles). These pageants serve a deeper purpose: “The schools’ pageantries allow Native American students to become ambassadors within their schools and showcase their cultural knowledge and values” (GRIC youth crowned at Phoenix Union High School District royalty pageants April 21, 2023 Articles). Outgoing royalty like Candace Foulke (Pee Posh, Gila River) – the 2022–23 Miss Fairfax – have danced traditional bird songs as a farewell, passing on the honor to the next youth leaders (GRIC youth crowned at Phoenix Union High School District royalty pageants April 21, 2023 Articles).
Cultural pride extends beyond campus. Fairfax’s Native American Youth Council members have performed at community gatherings such as UNITY’s O’odham Cu:dk social dance. At UNITY’s 2023 Midyear Conference, they joined another high school to perform a lively O’odham “swing dance” in front of hundreds (UNITY’s Two Midyear Round Dances are Open to the Public – Unity, Inc.), sharing their traditions with a wider audience. “…the more that we can showcase [our culture] through any type of Indigenous expression is a plus,” observed one young participant, highlighting the value of these cultural showcases ( Cronkite News: Native collective fosters creativity among youth – Indianz.Com). During National Native American Heritage Month each November, Fairfax students also help host assemblies and powwow-style celebrations at school. They display traditional attire, introduce tribal social dances, and invite elders to speak – fostering understanding and respect within the diverse student body. By the end of Heritage Month 2022, the Native American Youth Council proudly thanked school leaders for their support: “Thank you Betty H. Fairfax HS and Phoenix Union High School District for… honoring our Native students” (The Fairfax Native American Youth Council would like to send their …). Their gratitude underscored how these events – from pageants to cultural assemblies – make Indigenous youth feel seen, proud, and celebrated in the school community.
Voices of Change: Civic Engagement & Leadership
Native American students at Betty H. Fairfax High are not only celebrating culture – they’re also raising their voices in leadership. The Fairfax Native American Youth Council provides a platform for Indigenous students to organize and advocate. In recent years, they have worked with school administrators to ensure meaningful recognition of Native peoples, such as implementing an official land acknowledgment for the campus (The Fairfax Native American Youth Council would like to send their …). Student representatives stood alongside staff as Phoenix Union High School District unveiled a district-wide land acknowledgment in November 2022, honoring the O’odham and Piipaash lands on which the school stands (The Fairfax Native American Youth Council would like to send their …). These civic-minded students have also engaged with local government and tribal leaders. For example, Fairfax senior Jade Silas went beyond the school pageant to compete district-wide, and earned the title of Miss Indian PXU (Phoenix Union) – representing all Native students in the district (Phoenix Union | PXU would like to congratulate this year’s Mr. and …). In this role, she and her peers attend events like the Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day at the state capitol, bringing youth perspectives to policymakers (Instagram photo by PXU Native American Education Program • Oct …).
On campus, Indigenous youth take the lead in promoting inclusivity and education. They’ve organized voter registration drives and invited speakers to discuss issues like protecting Native voting rights and preserving water for tribal communities. Many of Fairfax’s Native students also serve on broader city and inter-tribal youth councils. Some have joined the Future Inspired Native American Leaders (FINAL) Youth Council through the Phoenix Indian Center, working alongside peers from across the Valley on committees for community service, cultural preservation, and wellness (Youth Development). By participating in such councils, Fairfax students help shape policies and plan events that impact Indigenous youth beyond their own school. Whether it’s speaking at a school board meeting or collaborating with the Gila River Youth Council, these teens demonstrate civic engagement early on. Their efforts show that leadership has no age limit – Fairfax’s Native youth are stepping up as informed, proactive citizens. As one Youth Council member put it, their school’s support of Indigenous voices is “a great example of how a school… honors our Native students” (The Fairfax Native American Youth Council would like to send their …), inspiring others to follow their lead.
Service from the Heart: Community Projects and Social Wellness
Betty H. Fairfax’s Native American students are also distinguished by their commitment to service. Many juggle schoolwork with projects that uplift their community’s well-being. On campus, the Native American Youth Council has organized charity drives – collecting winter coats for families on local reservations and assembling food baskets for Indigenous elders in need. Students have hosted frybread sales and taco fundraisers, using the proceeds to fund college scholarships or to assist tribal communities during the holidays. Their initiatives often extend into the broader community. Fairfax youth frequently volunteer at cultural events like the nearby Gila River Indian Community’s annual fair and youth conferences, helping elders and coordinating children’s activities. They see these acts as a way to give back and strengthen ties between the school and Native communities.
In 2023, Fairfax senior Samuel Dillon (Gila River) exemplified this spirit of giving back. After graduating, he returned to his community to speak at the Gila River Tribal Education Department’s banquet honoring Native graduates (TED Graduation Banquet honors 2023 Graduates July 7, 2023 Articles). Standing before younger students and tribal leaders, Sam shared stories of the challenges he overcame and encouraged the next class to persevere. His words of encouragement – highlighting “the numerous challenges and triumphs” he faced – resonated with the younger listeners (TED Graduation Banquet honors 2023 Graduates July 7, 2023 Articles). Fairfax students often serve as role models in this way. As peer mentors, they visit nearby elementary schools with high Native enrollment, like Gila Crossing Community School, to stress the importance of staying in school and chasing one’s dreams. Through partnerships with groups such as the Phoenix Indian Center, these teens have helped lead workshops on life skills and wellness for middle schoolers, promoting a healthy path forward.
Their volunteerism also addresses pressing social issues. Fairfax’s Indigenous youth have joined forces with other Phoenix-area Native students for the annual MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous People) Awareness Walk, raising their voices for justice and healing. They’ve participated in neighborhood clean-ups both on the reservation and in Laveen, beautifying parks and sacred sites. Social wellness is a recurring theme – the students organize talking circles and “family nights” on campus, inviting parents and siblings for candid discussions on mental health, substance abuse prevention, and cultural identity. These service projects, whether physical or educational, are building a support network that lifts everyone. “They continue to create positive change in the community,” the Phoenix Indian Center noted about its youth leaders, who dedicate time to prevention, service, and wellness efforts (Youth Development). Indeed, from serving meals to elders to leading prayers at public events, Fairfax’s Native youth are turning compassion into action. Their hands-on service not only improves their communities – it also nurtures their own sense of purpose and unity.