Tribal Nations and Arizona’s Transportation Future

Tribal Nations hold a deep, historic and cultural connection to the lands of Arizona. With 28% of the state’s land base belonging to Tribal Nations, and nearly 1,500 miles of the State Highway System traversing Tribal lands, it is essential that Tribal priorities are integrated into development of a shared statewide vision for the future of transportation.

Our Commitment to Listening

Next Move Arizona is dedicated to gathering Tribal insights and feedback to shape our shared transportation future. We prioritize listening and collaboration through two primary paths of engagement:

Formal Consultation: One-on-one sessions between Tribal government designated staff and ADOT representatives.
Listening Tour Sessions: Participation in collaborative community events held throughout the state.

Our Consultation Process

ADOT has formally invited each of the 22 Federally recognized Tribes in Arizona, along with eight non-resident Tribes with ancestral interests in Arizona lands, to engage in this statewide initiative. In close coordination with the ADOT Tribal Relations Team, ADOT is committed to an ongoing dialogue that respects the unique preferences of each Nation.

Flexible and Tailored Engagement

We recognize and value the uniqueness of each Tribe. Consultation meetings are customized to fit your Tribe's specific needs and can be structured in the following ways:

Choose between in-person, virtual, Nation-specific or joint sessions with other Tribes.
Meetings can involve one or multiple departments and can be held as a single session or a series of dialogues.
Scheduling is entirely flexible and does not need to align with the broader Next Move Arizona Listening Tour calendar.

The Goal of Consultation

Facilitated by ADOT consultant, Misty Klann, with the support of the ADOT Tribal Relations Team, these sessions are designed to:

Listen to your unique perspectives, concerns and transportation priorities.
Review the current 5-year transportation program specifically for your Tribal area.
Collaborate on the best ways to engage your community members.

You can contact Misty Klann by emailing Misty.Klann@bluecornconsulting.com or calling (480) 570-8881.

Tribal Consultations to Date

Chemehuevi Indian Tribe
Colorado River Indian Tribes
Gila River Indian Community
Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians
Pueblo of Zuni
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Tribal Consultation Themes

Early Consultation, Coordination and Training: Tribal representatives highlighted the value of early involvement in transportation planning along with consistent communication and clear coordination with ADOT. To foster coordination and consistent communication, it is essential that ADOT staff are pre-equipped with both foundational Tribal relations training and area-specific expertise.

Roadway Safety: Roadway safety was consistently emphasized including concerns related to narrow corridors, limited shoulders, high speeds, truck traffic and pedestrian conditions.

Cultural and Resource Protection: Protecting cultural resources, sacred sites, and Tribal lands was identified as a key priority in transportation planning and project delivery. Tribal partners emphasized that water protection and stewardship are critical priorities, citing water scarcity as a fundamental threat to both cultural heritage and community resilience.

Community Mobility and Access: Transportation plays an important role in connecting Tribal communities to jobs, healthcare, education, and essential services including safer local roads, pedestrian and multi-use paths and transit options.

Transportation and Economic Opportunity: Transportation investments support tourism, business development, and broader economic opportunities in Tribal communities.

On December 3-4, 2025, ADOT Director Jennifer Toth hosted two dedicated Tribal information sessions to introduce Next Move Arizona. These sessions provided a roadmap of ADOT’s goals and highlighted how Tribal input serves as the cornerstone of a successful statewide vision.

During these meetings, leadership shared the initiative's structure and sought direct guidance from Tribal representatives to schedule formal consultations and on how to best approach community engagement. These sessions were designed as a resource for each Nation to determine its own level of involvement and define the scope of its formal consultation process.

In addition to formal consultations, Tribal leaders, staff and their partners are encouraged to attend our Listening Tour events. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to connect with local neighbors, share insights on regional transportation priorities and hear about the needs of the surrounding communities.

Event Details:

In-person, informal discussions focused on regional stakeholders.
Led by ADOT with the support of the project’s stakeholder outreach consultant lead, Kristin Darr of Central Creative.
Events are being held regularly across the state.
To register, please reach out to Kristin Darr and if you would like to learn more about upcoming events, or to suggest scheduling an event, in your region.

Tribal Representation to Date

Transportation Experts Focus Group Flagstaff – Navajo Division of Transportation
WACOG Listening Tour presentation - Hualapai Tribe Planning and Economic Development Department
Safford Listening Session – San Carlos Apache Tribe Police Department
County Supervisor Meeting – Navajo County District 1 Supervisor

If you would like to schedule a formal consultation session or participate in an upcoming Listening Tour event, please contact the following:

Consultant Tribal Outreach Lead: Misty Klann, Bluecorn Consulting, LLC.
- Email: Misty.Klann@bluecornconsulting.com
- Phone: (480) 570-8881
ADOT Tribal Relations Team Contacts:
- Dezbah Hatathli, Native Nations Ambassador for Infrastructure Development: dhatathli@azdot.gov
- Rebecca Clarke Robinaugh, Environmental Planning Tribal Liaison: rcrobinaugh@azdot.gov
- Don Sneed, Planning Program Manager & Southern Region Tribal Liaison: dsneed@azdot.gov
- Paula Brown, Planning Program Manager & Northern Region Tribal Liaison: pbrown@azdot.gov
- Alicia Urquidez, Right of Way Acquisition Agent: aurquidez@azdot.gov
Project Contact:
- Email: nextmoveaz@azdot.gov

ADOT and the project team are continuing to host stakeholder Listening Sessions and scheduling formal one-on-one Tribal consultations. Throughout Next Move Arizona, we are also dedicated to reaching Tribal community members and Native American citizens living throughout Arizona.

To ensure broad participation, we will share engagement opportunities, such as interactive surveys, through Tribal-owned media, including newsletters, community bulletins, and social media channels. We also look forward to connecting in person at upcoming community events.

Earth Days
- Gila River Indian Community – March 27, 2026
- Salt River Indian Community – April 25, 2026