Carlos Salcedo/Arizona Republic

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz shares stories about celebrating Thanksgiving.

KJZZ is partnering with the Arizona Republic to bring you the Arizona Storytellers series. We record the live events and share them with you on the radio. In Phoenix, the storytellers share stories about our community or the life events that have shaped them.

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is Native American and identifies, in part, as Hopi.

When she was in 2nd grade, she was excited to be in her class’s Thanksgiving play as Little White Dove. Cocotzin Ruiz’s teacher said she would make her costume, which turned out to be a pillowcase with holes cut into it. Cocotzin Ruiz was embarrassed and wished she had been able to represent her family’s heritage properly in the play.

So when Cocotzin Ruiz’s daughter brought her a note from her teacher about their Colonial Days celebration, she was skeptical.

Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz is a chef living in Phoenix.

The next storytelling event is March 29, 2017, at Changing Hands Bookstore in Phoenix.

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