The holiday spirit is taking root in Arizona, with a towering Ponderosa pine from the San Carlos Apache Tribe gracing the State Capitol this Christmas. Chairman Terry Rambler presented the 40-foot tall tree—trimmed down to 20 to fit the Capitol Rotunda—to Governor Katie Hobbs, in what's becoming a symbol of goodwill and cultural heritage between the state and the tribe.
"Central to the way of life for Apaches is striving for a state of Gozhǫǫ, or a harmony with the natural world," Chairman Rambler reportedly said. Governor Hobbs expressed her gratitude, noting the importance of continued collaboration with Tribal nations and celebrating Arizona's diverse cultures, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
The tree's selection and harvest involved a collaboration between the tribe and the DFFM. Ponderosa pines are distinguished by their long needles, usually growing in bundles of two or three, and are a common fixture throughout the higher elevations of the western United States—and particularly iconic in Arizona. Ahead of the forthcoming lighting ceremony, scheduled for December 2, the DFFM delivered and set up the tree at the Capitol where it will be on display for the public.
