TED: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: COMMUNITY LEADERS TOUR THE STATE IN AN EFFORT TO RESTORE TRUST IN ELECTIONS.

ALSO TONIGHT: THE IMPACT OF BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION ON THOSE HIKING THE SOUTHERN END OF THE ARIZONA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

AND, A HISTORIAN OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDERLANDS CONSIDERS THE FOUNDING FATHERS - OF ARIZONA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ARIZONA HORIZON IS MADE POSSIBLE BY: TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

ELECTION EXPERTS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS RECENTLY TEAMED UP FOR A STATE-WIDE TOUR FOCUSED ON RESTORING "TRUST" IN ELECTIONS.

THE DISCUSSIONS ADDRESSED ISSUES RANGING FROM COMMON SENSE ELECTION REFORMS TO COMBATING MIS-INFORMATION.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME FORMER ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN MATT SALMON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS THE ARIZONA DEMOCRACY PROJECT.

GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION.

>> DEMOCRACY DEFENSE PROJECT.

TED: THERE WE GO.

>> IT IS A NATIONAL GROUP.

THERE ARE SEVERAL FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE THAT COMPRISE THE BOARD AND I AM ON THE BOARD ALONG WITH JANE BREWER AND COUPLE OF OTHERS FROM ARIZONA.

OUR ROLE PREDOMINANTLY HAS BEEN TO HELP EDUCATE VOTERS AS AS TO THE SECURITY OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM HERE IN ARIZONA AND THEY NEED TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PROCESS THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO GET OUT TO VOTE.

TED: YOU TEAMED UP WITH THE CANDIDATES OF DEMOCRACY LAB HERE.

BILL GATES HERE AT ASU AND THE FUTURE ARIZONA.

>> CORRECT.

TED: OK.

WAS IT A WHISTLE-STOP TOUR?

WHAT WAS IT ALL ABOUT?

>> A SERIES OF TOWN HALL MEETINGS ACROSS ARIZONA.

WE STARTED IN PHOENIX.

WE WENT TO TUCSON.

WE WENT TO FLAGSTAFF AND INVITING PEOPLE FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND LISTEN TO DIFFERENT EXPERTS AND PANELS ON WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON WITH ELECTIONS AND ELECTIONEERING IN ARIZONA AND I THINK IT WAS REALLY, REALLY WELL DONE.

I THINK 100% OF THE BATTLE IS EDUCATION.

WHEN PEOPLE LEARN WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN OUR POLLING PLACES AND OUR ELECTION SYSTEM, THEY FEEL A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE THAN BEFORE THEY CLAIM CAME AND LEARNED.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK, HOW ARE THESE ISSUES ADDRESSED?

IN A TOWN HALL FORUM, I MEAN, DO YOU KIND OF COMPRESS EVERYTHING INTO ONE?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> SO, SO, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PANELS, THAT PRESENT DIFFERENT SIDES OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ELECTIONS.

AND THEN, WE OPENED IT UP FOR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

TED: SO HOW DID TRUST IN ARIZONA ELECTIONS GET LOST?

YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK.

I HAVE BEEN HERE QUITE AWHILE.

THIS WAS NEVER, THIS WAS NEVER A THING AT ALL UNTIL IT WAS MAJOR THING?

>> IT IT AMAZES ME, HAVING BEEN IN THE POLITICAL SCENARIO IN ARIZONA FOR A GOOD PORTION OF MY LIFE.

IT IS VERY SHOCKING TO SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE QUESTIONING THE VORASE TY.

THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS IN.

WE HAVE PRIDED OURSELVES FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS ON THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE GLITCHES?

ISOLATED GLITCHES?

YEAH.

FROM TIME TO TIME.

BURR OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR.

AND REASONABLE AND AND EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS.

TED: SO IF SOMEONE SHOWED UP AT THE TOWN HALL AT THE FUNCTIONS AND SAYS ARIZONA ELECTIONS ARE SIMPLY NOT SAFE.

YOU SAY -- >> I SAY, WELL, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THE FACTS, AND YOU NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS ACTUALLY DONE EN OUR ELECTIONS AND HOW THEY ARE STATE LAWS REQUIRE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM BOTH PARTIES AT EACH ELECTION SITE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ELECTION PROCESS HAS BEEN IN THE WAY IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AND THE CHAIN OF, YOU KNOW, COLLECTION IS VERY RESECURE.

WE ALSO ALSO BEEN DOING EARLY VOTING SINCE THE EARLY 90'S WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WHAT SOEVER, AND, AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE SHARED WITH PEOPLE, WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING ON THE GROUND INSTEAD OF THE RUMORS OR THE FAKE STUFF THEY READ SOMETIMES ON THE INTERNET.

TED: ABOUT BUT YOU MENTIONED EDUCATION, HOW IMPORTANT EDUCATION IS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONVINCED AND WILL NOT HEAR OTHERWISE, THAT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ELECTIONS HERE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, NUMBER OF YEARS WERE ALL RIGGED.

IT IS ALL FAKE.

YOU ARE CANNOT TALK THEM OUT OF IT?

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING IS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE DOM THAT BELIEF ARE ALSO STRONG ROBUST PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE IN RULE OF LAW AND SO, A LOT OF TIMES WE TAKE THAT ANGLE.

TED: INESTING.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT OUR SYSTEM OF HAS SERVED WELL BY A GOOD STRONG RULE OF LAW AND, AND SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE LOSSESES THAT WERE FILED ON THE ASPECTS OF THE ELECTION, NOT ONE OF THEM SUCCEEDED.

NOT ONE.

OUT OF TEN IN ARIZONA, AND MULTIPLE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST WHAT?

50-0 NATIONWIDE.

THAT NONE OF THEM SUCCEEDED AND YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO, THERE HAVE TO BE FACTS, YOU KNOW.

I LOVE TOFF GO BACK TO A QUOTE BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE.

JOHN ADAMS SAID FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS.

TED: YES.

YES.

YOU ARE ENTITLED TO YOUR OWN OPINION BUT NOT YORE ON FACTS?

>> YEAH.

I LOVE IT.

AS PEOPLE LOOK AT THE FACT THEY WALK AWAY FEELING A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS.

TED: THE POLLING THAT CENTER OF FUTURE ARIZONA, BIG SUPPORT FOR EARLY VOTING, SUPPORT FOR ACCURACY OVER SPEED WHICH IS INTERESTING AND A SUPPORT FOR VOTING CENTERS AS OPPOSED TO TRADITIONAL PRECINCT VOTING.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY ELECTION DENY YEARS AS WAYS TO MANIPULATE AND WAYS TO PROMOTE FRAUD IN ELECTIONS.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY GO THROUGH, REMEMBER THE SHARPEES.

TED: YES.

>> THEN THE VOTING MACHINES ARE CONNECTED TO THE SPER GET.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER, THE FORMER COLLEAGUE OF MINE WENT IN TO LOOK AT THE ELECTIONS.

AND CAME OUT CLEARLY AND SAID THEY ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

END OF STORY.

SO, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF IT, IT SEEMS LIKE WALK A MOLE.

YOU PUT ONE LIE TO BED AND THREE OR FOUR OTHERS POP UP OVER HERE.

SO THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR USES TO DO IS ACTUALLY LAYOUT WHAT IS EXACTLY HAPPENING IN OUR ELECTIONS.

WHAT PROTECTIONS ARE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE, THAT CHEATING DOESN'T OCCUR, AND THAT THE CHAIN OF CUSTODY IS PROTECTED, THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE SAFE.

TED: SO LAST QUESTION, THEN, WHAT DID YOU TAKE PERSON ZY WHAT SHOULD WE ALL TAKE FROM THIS TOUR, FROM THIS DEMOCRACY DEFENSE PROJECT?

>> I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, WE HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THE IDEA, THAT THE TRANSFER OF POWER IS PEACEFUL.

AND THIS WE ACCEPT THE RESULTS AND MOVE ON.

TIME AND TIME AGAIN, AGAIN, AGAIN, I AM GOING TO GO BACK TO THIS.

THAT THE OPPOSITION HAS HAD THEIR DAY IN COURT TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND THEY HAVE NEVER COME UP WITH ONE OUNCE OF EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE CORRUPT EDUCATION, EXCUSE ME, CORRUPT ELECTION PROCESS.

TED: MATT SALMON AGAIN, ARIZONA DEFENSE PROJECT.

THANKS SO MUCH.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ TED: THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RECENTLY ORDERED THE CLOSURE OF THE SOUTHERN-MOST MILE OF THE ARIZONA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

THE MOVE IS TO MAKE WAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A BORDER WALL THROUGH THE AREA.

JOINING US NOW IS MATTHEW NELSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA TRAIL ASSOCIATION.

AND, EAMON HARRITY, WILDLIFE PROGRAM MANAGER OF SKY ISLAND ALLIANCE.

GOOD TO YOU HAVE BOTH HERE.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

THE ARIZONA SCENIC TRAIL, WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT IS THIS AMAZING RESOURCE, THAT IS IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.

IT IS 800-MILE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL THAT GOES TO THE ARIZONA-UTAH BORDER.

IT IS CONSIDERED THE LARGEST OUTDOOR SERVICE PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF ARIZONA BECAUSE OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, TENS OF THOUSANDS HAVE HELPED CONTRIBUTE TO MAINTENANCE, PROTECTION OF THE AMAZING TRAIL.

>> IT IS BASICALLY TIP TO TIP.

UTAH TO THE BORDER.

THE SOUTHERNMOST MILE IS -- DESCRIBE THE AREA DOWN THERE.

>> YEAH.

WITHIN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE UNIT.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE FIRST EUROPEANS ENTER WHAT IS PRESENT DAY ARIZONA, AND IT WAS SPECIFICALLY CHOSEN AS THE SOUTHERN OF THE ARIZONA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.

THE TAIL END OF THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE YOU HEADED TO THE GRASSLANDS OF SEN ANOTHER RAE, BY OH DIVERSE, QUIET, UNTIL RECENTLY.

TED: UNTIL RECENTLY.

THE GROUND IS BEING MOVED.

THE EARTH IS BLASTING.

WHAT IS GOING ON DOWN THERE.

>> IT IS A CO LASSAL CHANGING TO THE LANDSCAPE.

THEY ARE DYNAMITING THE NATIONAL PARKS ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO MAKE WAY, NOT JUST FOR ONE WALL, BUT FOR TWO PARALLEL 30-FOOTWALLS, WITH POST SPACE EVERY FOUR INCHES AND THEY WILL BE RUNNING THIS WALL THROUGH THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL.

TED: HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE TREADED?

HOW DID IT FACT THE TRAIL?

WHAT WAS THERE?

WHAT CAUNT DO ANY MORE?

>> YEAH.

MATT.

>> YEAH.

UP UNTIL RECENTLY.

THIS WAS A WILD AND REMOTE PART OF THE STATE.

YOU CAN WALK DOWN A SINGLE TRAIL AND SEE A TWO-STRAND BARNED WIRE FENCE LOOKING ACROSS MOUNTAINS, CANYONS , FOREST SHALL IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

RECENTLY A WALL IS BEING BUILD THERE.

A 30-FOOT TALL STEAL.

THERE 400-FOOT SECTION THAT WAS BUILD BACK IN 2020 AS SINGLE SECTION THAT IS BEING COMPLETED.

LOOK YOU SAID, NOW, TALKING ABOUT TWO PARALLEL ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO BUILD STEEL WALL THROUGH THE INCREDIBLE MOUNTAIN RANGE.

YOU NEED A LOT OF DYNAMITE TO MOVE EARTH TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

HIKERS CAN GET WITHIN A CERTAIN PART.

SOME IS PAVED DOWN THERE, TOO.

ISN'T THERE?

>> YEAH.

DIRT ROADS BUT A LOT OF BLASTING.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE HOMELAND SECURITY HAS TOLD THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IT IS OFF LIMITS AND MUST BE CLOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

THE TRAIL IS, EVENTUALLY CUT OFF FROM PUBLIC USE.

>> YOU ARE WITH THE SKY ISLAND ALLIANCE.

WHAT'S THE SKY ISLAND?

>> FANTASTIC QUESTION.

THERE ARE MOUNTAINS OF THE REG BEEN TO.

WE LIVE IN A DESERT LANDSCAPE WHERE WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE MESS SKEETS THAT ARE AROUND US.

IF WE LOOK UP ARE, SEE THE MASSIVE MOUNTAINS THAT ERUPT FROM THE DESERT AND REACH HIGH ELEVATIONS WHERE PINE TREES, ASPENS , OAKS CAN EXIST.

THE SKY ISLANDS EACH MOUNTAIN RANGE IS ISOLATED FROM ITS NEIGHBORING MOUNTAIN.

BY LOW DESERT.

SO IT FUNCTIONS LIKE AN ISLAND IN THE SEA, WHERE PLANTS AND ANIMALS EXIST AT THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS CANNOT ACCESS THE NEIGHBOR BECAUSE THEY ARE CUT OFF BY THE LAW HE IS ERT LANDSCAPE.

WHAT IT MEANS, ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE PLACES IN NORTH AMERICA.

BECAUSE THERE IS HABITATS FOR EVERYTHING.

EVERY MOUNTAIN SUTLEY DIFFERENT.

IT IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

HOW IS THE HABITAT BEING AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION DOWN THERE?

IT IS REMARKABLE AMOUNT OF LOSS.

THE BORDER WALL DESTROYED THE LOTS OF LAND, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CLEAR SO MUCH LAND TO PUT IN THE WALL, THEY HAVE TO MAKE ROADS.

IT STOPS MOVEMENT OF ANY ANIMAL LARGER THAN A HOUSE CAT.

I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT PIECE PARTICULARLY THIS TIME THAT IS IT USES A LOT OF WATER.

100,000 TO 700,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY, DURING CONSTRUCTION.

THAT IS EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT 1 TO 7,000 PER TA.

TED: AND AGAIN, FROM READING UP ON THIS, DHA DOESN'T HAVE A SPA SIVE K PLAN FOR IS.

IS THAT TRUE?

>> 100% TRUE.

YEAH.

THE INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SHARED HAS BEEN CHANGED.

THE MAP PUBLICLY AVAILABLE HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN FROM THE WEBSITE.

THE LAST TIME I MET WITH THEM OVER A ZOOM MEETING.

BREEZE TOLD THEY ADDED A SECONDARY WALL TO THE PLAN.

I KNOW FROM HAVING WORKED THERE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, ENGINEERING FEET LIKE UNANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS HAPPENING.

FIRST OF ALL.

HOW THE FEDS, HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT HAVE THEY BEEN TO GET INFORMATION FROM.

THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT IN TERMS OF THE RISK TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

KUDOS TO THEM FOR THAT.

HOWEVER WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN YET.

AND A TIMELINE.

HOW IT WILL IMPACT THE RESOURCES THAT ALL OF US HOLD DEAR.

CULTURAL RESOURCES.

NATURAL, QUIET, LANDSCAPES, WILDLIFE, SO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING.

IT IS IT WORTH?

IT IS IT WORTH IT TO BUILD A WALL THROUGH THE AREA THAT HAS NEVER NEEDED ONE BECAUSE OF THE NATURAL TOPOGRAPHY ACTING AS A BARRIER.

INTERESTING.

A BORDER MONUMENT, TOO.

NUMBER 102.

THAT IS THE LONGEST THERE.

OR NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.

>> NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOLKS TO TAKE FROM THIS?

OBVIOUSLY.

IT IS NOT GOING TO STOP.

ITH IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT IS HAPPENING NOW.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN DOWN THE WAY.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

WHATWHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS?

THISES THE SINGLE LARGEST PUBLIC FUNDED PROJECT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

IT IS A PROJECT THAT PEN FITS VERY FEW PEOPLE.

IT IS ALSO DONE WITH FULL IGNORING ALL LAWS AND REGULATION.

THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO WAVE ALL LAWS OR IGNORE ALL LAWS AND REGULATIONS CULTURAL AND HERT AME PROTECTION ACT.

THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD A WALL ACROSS THE CON MEN.

WE ARE TALKING TWO SPECIFIC MILES HERE BUT THEY ARE PLANNING TO BUILD ACROSS THE CONTINENT THAT WILL ALTER THE EVOLUTIONARY TRAJECTORY OF ENTIRE CONTINENT.

AND THEY ARE DOING THAT WITH ULTIMATE AND COMPLETE AUTHORITY.

>> REAL QUICKLY.

IF SOMEONE WANTS TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS.

WHERE DO THEY GO?

WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> REAPING OUT TO ELECTED LEADERS IMPRESSING UPON THEM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESOURCES.

THESE ARE SHARED RESOURCES.

REARE SUPPOSED TO BE STEWARDS.

RIGHT NOUR WE ARE SEEING LANDSCAPED TRANSFORMATION, WHAT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER TO BE DES RACIAL.

UNTIL THE SENATORS HEAR ABOUT IT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND MASS, I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO SIT ODDLY BY AND ACCEPT THE DESTRUCTION.

>> MATTHEW NELSON, THANKS BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

TED: AS AMERICANS CELEBRATE "AMERICA 250," THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE UNITED STATES SOME IN ARIZONA ARE QUESTIONING JUST WHO THE "TRUE" FOUNDING FATHERS ARE IN ARIZONA AND HOW THOSE FOUNDING FATHERS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED.

MAURICE CRANDALL JOINS US NOW HE'S AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT ASU.

HE IS ALSO A CITIZEN OF THE YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION OF OF THE YAVAPAI-APACHE NATION OF CAMP VERDE, ARIZONA.

>> THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

TED: WHEN I SAY THE PHRASE "FOUNDING FATHERSES" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WAS IN PHILADELPHIA FOR A HISTORY CONFERENCE.

AND THAT KIND OF QUESTION IS EASY.

YOU LOOK AROUND AND HISTORIC BUILDING EVERYWHERE, ESPECIALLY THE OLD PART OF TOWN, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S GRAVE, EVER WALKED BY IT.

IN A PLACE LIKE ARIZONA, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT 250 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING, WHAT FOUNDING FATHERS MEANS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF MAYBE THE JOKE ANSWER WOULD BE NOTHING IN ARIZONA.

BUT THE REALITY IS, UM, THOSE WERE IMPORTANT TIMES HERE IN ARIZONA AS WELL.

EVEN IF IT WAS NOT PART OF THE UNITED STATES, AND SO WE HAVE TO TURN OUR GAZE BACK TO WHEN A DIFFERENT POWER WAS NOMINALLY IN CHARGE IN ARIZONA, THAT WAS SPAIN.

TED: YES.

>> MAYBE THINK ABOUT, UM, SPANISH INDIVIDUALS, ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPANISH MILITARY, GOVERNMENT AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, INDIGENOUS FOUNDING FATHERS, AND SO WHEN WE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, EXPAND OUR GAZE A LITTLE BIT, WE COME UP WITH A DIFFERENT IDEA WHO HAVE THE FOUNDERS OF ARIZONA MAY BE?

S. TED: WHO WAS HERE AS FAR AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

WHO WAS HERE?

HOW MANY FOL BEES WERE THERE?

WAS IT STABLE?

WAS IT MIGRATION?

WHAT WAS GOING ON IN 1776 AROUND SNEER.

>> EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE NOW WAS HERE THEN.

THIS IS -- ARIZONA HAS BEEN INDIGENOUS HOMELAND SINCE TIME AND MEMORIAL, SINCE BEFORE RECORDED MEMORY.

AND SO WE HAD APACHE PEOPLE.

WE HAD YAVAPAI-APACHE, ALL OF THESE TRIBAL NATIONS WHO ARE HERE NOW WERE HERE AT THAT TIME.

AND THE VAST MAJORITY OF ARIZONA WAS INDIGENOUS TERRITORY.

THE SPANISH LINE OF SETTLEMENT DID NOT GO FURTHER NORTH THAN TUCSON.

IT ENDED AT TUCSON, SO YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

ONLY THE EXTREME SOUTH OF ARIZONA WAS IN OUTSIDE HANDS AND ONLY NOMINALLY SO EVEN THERE.

TED: WE THINK ABOUT DEMOCRACY A LOT WITH AMERICA 250.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY, REPRESENTATION, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

WHAT WAS HAPPENING THEN?

AND POST COLON WRIN, DID IT CHANGE?

TALK TO US?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YEAH.

DEMOCRACY, I THINK, HAS BEEN A TURN THAT HAS BEEN MONOPOLIZED.

WE THINK OF IT IN TERMS OF VOTING AND ELECTIONS AND THAT KIND OF A THING.

INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY HAS V BEEN DEMOCRATIC.

GOFF PERSON TOKING IS DONE THROUGH CONSENSUS.

TOWN COUNCILS OF COMMUNITY ELDERS AND STAKEHOLDER WITNESS ENDAMAGE US NOW COMMUNITIES GET TOGETHER AND DISCUSS ISSUES ONLY TAKE A DECISION WHEN CONSENSUS IS REACHED.

THAT IS DEMOCRATIC IN PRINCIPAL.

THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE CONTROLLED BY SPANISH AUTHORITIES MISSION COMMUNITIES PRIMARILY LOCATED BY SPANISH MISSIONS, THEY HAD SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT THAT WERE INSTITUTED THERE BY SPANIARDS THEY SAID YOU NEED TO HAVE A TOWN COUNCIL WITH ELECTED OFFICERS WITH WHAT IS CALLED, A GOVERNOR.

TED: YEAH.

YEAH.

A TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO THEY HAD, WHAT WE MIGHT CALL ELECTIONS OR A FORM OF ELECTION, ALTHOUGH, THE SPAN YARDS ALLOWED A PRETTY HIGH DEGREE OF ADAPTATION BY THE INDIGENOUS TOM ONLY COMMUNITIES SO OFTEN COMMUNITY LEADER WAS CHOOSE THE OFFICERS SO THEY WERE NOT ELECTIONS IN THE SENSE OF CASTING A BALLOT OR RAISING A HAND.

SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORMS OF DEMOCRACY EVEN IN THE LATE 18 CENTURY ARIZONA THAT WE THINK OF.

TED: THE CONCEPT OF CITIZENSHIP.

WHAT WASES THAT LIKE IN 1776?

WAS IT A COMPLEX KIND OF A THING?

WAS IT KIND OF BASIC?

YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

YOU WERE HERE.

YOU WERE THERE.

WE ARE NOT TOGETHER.

HOW DID THAT WORK?

>> YEAH.

I MAN, COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP.

WHAT WE CALL CITIZENSHIP WITHIN THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY.

YOU WERE A CITIZEN.

YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THAT COMMUNITY BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RELATIONS, WHO THE PARENTS WERE.

YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE CLAN TYPICALLY AND A FAMILY AND A LARGER, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY GROUP, BUT, BUT, WHEN SPAIN COMES IN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF CITIZENSHIP.

WHO BELONGS.

AND SOMETIMES THAT HAD TO DO WITH MILITARY SERVICE.

PEOPLE WHO SERVED IN SPIE SPANISH MILITARY WHO WERE CONSIDERED CITIZENS OF SPAIN THEN ALSO THE SUBJECT RELATIONSHIPS SO THE KING, BACK IN SPAIN, BACK IN MADRID HAD THE SUBJECTS IN THE MARKERS AND, AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE FOUND THEIR WAY INTO THAT RELATIONSHIP.

IN DIFFERENT WAYS, ULTIMATELY, SPAIN DECLARES INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CITIZENS OF SPAIN.

AND THEN, MEXICO CONTINUES THAT TRADITION.

BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT LAYERS.

ALSO TO BE A CITIZEN IN A PLACE LIKE ARIZONA WHICH IS THE FAR FLUNG NORTHERN FRONTIER OF THE SPANISH DOMINION.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THE SAME THING AS BEING A CITIZEN IN A PLACE LIKE MEXICO CITY OR MADRID OR BARCELONA.

TED: LAST QUESTION HERE.

I COULD TALK TO YOU ALL GA THIS.

IT IS FASCINATING STUFF.

FOR THOSE CELEBRATING 250 YEARS OF THE UNITED STATES, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO REMEMBER?

ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE OUT HERE?

>> ARIZONA WAS THE PLACE OF TURMOIL DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE 18th CENTURY.

AND, 1776 DOESN'T REALLY MEAN AS MUCH IN ARIZONA AS IT WOULD IN THE UNITED STATES.

TO THE EAST.

BUT THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

YOU KNOW?

THE CITY OF TUCSON IS ESTABLISHED RIGHT 1775.

BUT THERE ARE INDIGENOUS REVOLTS AGAINST SPANISH AUTHORITIES.

THERE'S THE YES SUE WITH IT EXPULSION WHERE SPAIN TEE SIDES IS IS NOT LOYAL AGES SPELLS THEM THEN THE MISSION AT YUMA IS DESTROYED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN 1701 SO THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

A LOT OF TURMOIL.

TED: YEAH.

THIS IS FASCINATING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I APPRECIATE.

>> THANK YOU.

JU BET.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> I LIKE TO THINK WE ARE UNIQUE IN THE WAY WE PRESENT INFORMATION, PUBLIC POLICY, SOMETIMES NEWS, THESE SORTS OF THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE