NEWS RELEASE

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Matthew Benson
602-570-7493
mbenson@veridus.com

Dec. 20, 2025

Ak-Chin celebration interrupted Friday evening due to teen disturbance. Community Council pledges heightened security, urges parents to speak with children who plan to attend the event

The first evening of Ak-Chin Indian Community’s 17th annual Masik Tas celebration was interrupted Friday due to teens fighting and creating a disturbance in the carnival area. Ak-Chin Police responded and made multiple arrests. The carnival was closed around 10 p.m., about an hour earlier than was scheduled.

The 3-day Masik Tas celebration continues today and Sunday, and the Ak-Chin Community Council is pledging increased police presence and urging parents to speak with teens if they plan to attend. For Masik Tas attendees, please also report any suspicious or criminal activity to a law enforcement officer or event public safety official. After 10 p.m., an ongoing Community curfew requires that any teens under the age of 18 who are at the event be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

The Ak-Chin Community Council issued the following statement:

“Masik Tas is our annual ‘birthday’ as we celebrate Ak-Chin’s formal recognition as a Tribe. We encourage people to join us and welcome guests, but we must insist that attendees be respectful of our Community and other attendees. The Ak-Chin Indian Community is a sovereign nation governed by our own laws and procedures. We will strictly enforce these laws, as Ak-Chin Police did Friday evening with the arrest and citation of multiple teens who were fighting or engaging in disorderly conduct. There will be heightened police presence for the remainder of Masik Tas, today and Sunday. Additionally, we urge parents and families to speak with their teens in advance if they plan to attend Masik Tas. Let’s make sure the remainder of this celebration is focused on fun.”

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About Ak-Chin Indian Community:
The Ak-Chin Indian Community, located in northwestern Pinal County, has been inhabited by our ancestors since time immemorial. The original Reservation was established by presidential decree in 1912. There are approximately 1,100 Tribal members in the Community, primarily comprised of Akimel O’odham, Tohono O’odham and Hia-Ced O’odham members. Our Native American language is O’odham. Ak-Chin remains an agrarian-based community and features our Ak-Chin Farms, where barley, potatoes, alfalfa and corn are cultivated across 15,000 acres. The Ak-Chin Community has grown to offer multiple other amenities as well, including Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino & Resort, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, Ak-Chin Circle Entertainment Center, and more, which also makes us the largest employer in the area. We honor our past and are excited about our future. Information: www.ak-chin.nsn.us.