Sedona, AZ — In honor of Native American Heritage Month, which will be observed throughout November, The Sedona Women (TSW) are proud to present a program to honor the Verde Valley Native American community with Thomasene Cardona, Camp Verde Yavapai Nation member and advocate, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Community Library Sedona, where TSW programs are scheduled monthly every second Thursday from September through May from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
Thomasene is the visionary force behind the newly launched Yavapai Land and Cultural Collective project, a community-led initiative dedicated to restoring and strengthening traditional Yavapai food systems. Passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices, Thomasene has worked in grassroots initiatives to create spaces of belonging and empowerment.
The Yavapai Land and Cultural Collective project is about more than food — it’s about reconnection. Reconnecting with ancestral knowledge, cultural identity, and the land that sustains us. By rebuilding traditional foodways, the program will give the community resilience and support ecological sustainability for future generations.
The early development of this initiative was made possible through the Northern Arizona University Maxwell Lutz Award, which honors outstanding community-driven projects. This award provided the essential seed funding and encouragement to move the vision from concept to action, ensuring a strong and sustainable foundation.
This November 13th program is open to the public, at the Community Library Sedona, 3250 White Bear Road in West Sedona. A meet-and-greet will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by the program and Q&A at 10 a.m. To learn more about The Sedona Women or to become a member, visit thesedonawomen.com or contact thesedonawomen@gmail.com.
The Sedona Women are dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact on the community by providing opportunities for women to build relationships, to learn about the community, to support community needs, and to enhance the natural beauty and distinctive character of Sedona. TSW is an apolitical 501(c)(3) organization that respects the diversity of its members and the inclusivity of our community.