Arizona Unscripted
Episode 19: Arizona Unscripted — Jamescita Peshlakai: Rural & Tribal Arizona
Arizona Unscripted - Jamescita Peshlakai - Voices from Arizona's Rural & Tribal Communities Welcome to Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else. In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Kathryn and Jim for a fascinating conversation with Jamescita Peshlakai , a Navajo Nation member, Persian Gulf War veteran, former Arizona legislator, and candidate for the Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 6. Stretching across roughly a third of Arizona, Legislative District 6 encompasses some of the state's most spectacular landscapes and diverse communities — including the Grand Canyon, portions of the Colorado River, Monument Valley, the White Mountains, and several tribal nations. Jamescita shares what she's hearing as she travels this vast district and talks with the people who call it home. The conversation explores the rising cost of living, housing, access to healthcare, transportation, water, infrastructure, and the extraordinary distances rural Arizonans may travel for everyday necessities. Jamescita also provides a firsthand perspective on life in tribal communities, including challenges involving housing, federal land requirements, access to reliable mail and street addresses, voting, technology, and basic infrastructure. The discussion also turns to one of Arizona's most precious resources — water — and the importance of conservation and long-term planning as communities across the state confront increasing demands on limited supplies. Jamescita also shares some remarkable Arizona history, including her work establishing Navajo Code Talkers Day as an official Arizona state holiday and the broader history of Native American veterans, voting rights, and tribal communities in the state. It's an Arizona Unscripted conversation that goes beyond the headlines to hear directly about life in some of Arizona's most beautiful, remote, and often overlooked communities — and the people working to make their voices heard. Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one story at a time.
