Project DreamCatcher Spring 2025 Cohort

Roberto Jackson

Communications & Public Affairs Office

Three Gila River Indian Community members graduated from Project DreamCatcher at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management in Downtown Phoenix on April 18. 

Oriana Apkaw, Amanda Mitchell and Cher Thomas represented the Community among a total of 26 in the 2025 Spring cohort who attended the graduation ceremony. 

Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis spoke at the graduation and congratulated the GRIC members on their achievement.  

The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation created Project DreamCatcher in partnership with Thunderbird School of Global Management to prepare Indigenous woman for entrepreneurship with a week-long business development program. 

“The faculty really created a structured environment for us to come together,” said Mitchell.  

Mitchell said she learned how to develop a business plan, which she will use to start a consulting business. 

Apkaw said she felt empowered by the women in the program.

“All the women have different ideas,” said Apkaw who is a certified farrier, which is a specialist in hoof care for horses.  

Thomas is also looking forward to using the tools she learned in DreamCatcher. 

“Now that I’m done with Project Dreamcatcher, my goal is to begin introducing O’odham basketry and cultural education as part my business’ offerings. I like to do workshops about shegoi tea and sewing classes,” she said. 

The ceremony started with flag bearers from all the tribes represented followed by the ASU Indigenous Land Acknowledgment.  

“I’m very proud of these three amazing women from the Gila River Indian Community,” said Gov. Lewis of the GRIC members in the cohort, which is the most GRIC has ever had in a single group.  

Other speakers also included Dr. Charla Griffy-Brown, Dean & Director General, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Candace Hamana, Director, ASU Tribal Relations, Faith Soto, Freeport-McMoran and Dr. Mary Sully De Luque.