Tribal Affairs

Our Girl Scouts-Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) Tribal Affairs Team is dedicated to ensuring that Girl Scouting is accessible to all girls in tribal communities, while also supporting our Native American Girl Scouts, families, volunteers and partners.

GSACPC serves 19 of the 22 tribal communities within our jurisdiction, including the Navajo Nation which extends into Utah and New Mexico.

Our Tribal Affairs Team

Our council has a long history of working with tribal communities in Arizona, dating back to the 1930s. Our Tribal Affairs Team is committed to making Girl Scouts accessible to all girls in tribal communities and supporting our Native American Girl Scouts, families, volunteers, and partners. Our priorities include:

Increasing the visibility of our council in urban and rural tribal communities.
Building strong partnerships and fostering trust within our tribal communities.
Equipping current volunteers with training and essential resources.
Adding culturally-relevant programs for our Girl Scouts.

Annual Native American Programs toggle arrow

Our Tribal Affairs Team hosts programs for girls each year to foster sisterhood among our Girl Scouts. These events include:

GSACPC Council’s Own Native American Heritage Month Patch
Navajo/ Hopi Outdoors event
Navajo Nation STEM Camp during the summer
Native American Gathering during the summer
Native American Heritage Month Celebration in November

Our Tribal Affairs Team Can Help toggle arrow

Our Tribal Affairs Team is here to support Indigenous families with registering their Girl Scouts and assist new members in ordering their first-year uniform, which is free for all new girls. We can also help find a troop or sign up as an Independent Girl Member (IGM). For adult volunteers, we help in starting troops and provide in-person training to guide them through their journey. Additionally, our team organizes annual events and programs in both tribal communities and Phoenix, AZ. We’re dedicated to supporting our Girl Scouts in tribal communities across Arizona at every step.

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Did you know we have over a dozen troops across the Navajo Nation and Hopi Lands? This year, we have more than 260 Girl Scouts and 120 adult volunteers, and the numbers continue to grow!

We have two support staff members dedicated to supporting the Navajo Nation and Hopi Land communities:

Jerri Thomas – Community Engagement Manager
Althea James – Part-Time Recruitment Specialist

Additionally, GSACPC operates two staff-led Centers, which host monthly troop meetings where Girl Scouts provide programming, badge work, and activities. These Centers are located at:

Hopi Center – Second Mesa Day School
Kayenta Center – Debbie Braff Elementary

For more info, please contact Jerri Thomas jthomas@girlscoutsaz.org / (928) 207-5716.

Tribal Map toggle arrow

Click here to view the Tribal Map of Arizona GSACPC Jurisdiction.

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Meet the Tribal Affairs Staff

Trudy Pekala toggle arrow

Director, Community Engagement-Tribal Affairs

tpekala@girlscoutsaz.org / 480-826-7516

Mafi Pamaka toggle arrow

Community Engagement Manager

mpamaka@girlscoutsaz.org / 480-828-2737

Supports Girl Scouting in Tribal communities across Phoenix and throughout Arizona.

Jerri Thomas toggle arrow

Community Engagement Manager

jthomas@girlscoutsaz.org / (928) 207-5716

Navajo Nation
Hopi Lands
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Althea James toggle arrow

PT Recruitment Specialist

ajames@girlscoutsaz.org / 602-856-7100

Navajo Nation
Hopi Lands
San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Join our Native American Outreach Committee

Contact Trudy Pekala for more information: tpekala@girlscoutsaz.org / 480-826-7516.

To increase awareness of Girl Scouts amongst Native American girls and tribal communities in our council jurisdiction.

Land Acknowledgment for Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) respectfully acknowledges that our camps and offices are located on the ancestral lands of Indigenous peoples who have called this land home since time immemorial. We honor and give thanks to the original caretakers of these lands. We honor our Native American Girl Scouts, volunteers, families, and communities that we serve.