Tribal Nations and Partners Discuss Health Solutions and Challenges at Annual Symposium
Molina Healthcare and community-led planning committee drives fourth year of Indigenous health programming.
MARICOPA, Arizona (October 20, 2026) – Molina Healthcare of Arizona (“Molina”) and its partners from many of the state’s tribal nations convened the 4th Annual Tribal Health Symposium, bringing together tribal and non-tribal healthcare providers, tribal leaders, and community partners to advance culturally responsive care for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Attendance at the event has grown each year, with representatives from 11 of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribal nations, as well as representatives affiliated with 10 tribal nations from across the county.
The planning committee included representatives from tribal health programs, Urban Indian Health Programs, nonprofit organizations, and state programs serving AI/AN communities. Together, they built a day of programming grounded in cultural humility, community voice, and lived experience.
“This symposium was built from the beginning on the belief that community voice must lead, and every year that belief is confirmed,” said Cassandra Peña, tribal program manager, Molina Healthcare of Arizona. “This gathering is proof that when care is rooted in culture, connection, and lived experience, communities grow stronger together.”
The planning committee developed sessions covering Tribal 638 programs and sovereignty, Indigenous veteran health and VA benefits, as well as cultural movement and mindfulness through an Indigenous lens. The event also covered youth cultural arts through the Akimel Youth Murals program, food sovereignty through the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s Centered Spirit Program, holistic patient care through Native Health, and family healing for Native children impacted by parental incarceration. The day closed with a Four Directions Sharing Circle.
During the symposium, the community honored two individuals for their contributions to tribal health. Memory Dawn Long Chase, domestic violence response director at the Southwest Indigenous Women’s Coalition and an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, received the Tribal Health Excellence Award in recognition of her 14 years of advocacy for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking in AI/AN communities. She currently sits on the Board of Directors at the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence. She also serves as a member of the 2025-2026 American Indian College Fund Student Ambassador Cohort while pursuing a master’s in public administration at Arizona State University.
“It is a true honor to be recognized in this way,” said Memory Dawn Long Chase at the Symposium. “The health and well-being of my people, of every Indigenous and tribal community, is my priority.”
Teri De La Cruz, injury prevention specialist for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, received the Tribal Health Champion Award in recognition of her work reducing unintentional injuries across the Ak-Chin Indian Community and Pinal County through education in child passenger safety, safe sleep, and fall prevention. Since entering the field of injury prevention in 2017, she has become a certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor and now chairs the Arizona Department of Transportation Strategic Highway Safety Plan Tribal Emphasis Area Team. She also serves on the Child Fatality Review Board of Pinal County, the First Things First Committee, and Safe Kids of Arizona.
“It is a passion of mine to promote safety in the tribal community. But it’s not just me, it’s a team of everybody to share the passion for safety,” said Teri De La Cruz at the Symposium.
Launched in 2023 following a comprehensive community needs assessment with tribal health partners, the Tribal Health Symposium grows each year as a direct reflection of the communities it serves. The symposium continues to stand as a trusted space for shared learning, relationship-building, and collective action, and the planning committee looks forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.
“At Molina Healthcare, we believe every person, family, and community deserves access to high-quality healthcare, and for Native communities that means care grounded in culture, respect, and genuine partnership,” said Minnie Andrade, plan president, Molina Healthcare of Arizona. “We are proud to stand alongside these communities and to watch this symposium grow stronger each year.”
Organizations interested in joining the planning committee for the 2027 5th Annual Tribal Health Symposium may reach out directly to Molina Healthcare to learn how to participate. Healthcare providers, community organizations, and tribal health partners interested in learning more about Molina Healthcare of Arizona’s tribal health programs and initiatives are encouraged to visit www.molinahealthcare.com.
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About Molina Healthcare of Arizona
Molina Healthcare of Arizona, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid and Medicare programs in Arizona. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Arizona, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.