September 2012 Gila River Indian Newspaper

Transcription

MORE GROUND
BREAKINGS
PAGE 10
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR
ST. ANTHONY’S MISSION p. 6
GILA RIVER INDIAN NEWS
SEPTEMBER 2012
WWW.GILARIVER.ORG/NEWS
VOL 15, NO. 9
SERVING ALL SEVEN DISTRICTS OF THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY
Ground breaking ceremony celebrates newest housing project in District 4
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Plans to construct a new
housing development have finally
come together for the people of
District 4. One cool, gray-cloudcovered morning earlier this
month, the people of D4 gathered
on a vacant plot of desert land off
State Route 587 to celebrate. With
the desert at his back, Melvin
Webb Sr. stood up and thanked
the community for honoring his
father’s memory by naming the
new D4 housing development
“George
Webb
Village.”
“Our
family’s
greatest
appreciation goes out to all
of those who have made this
project possible,” said Webb
Sr., George Webb’s youngest
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
and
last
surviving
son.
The George Webb Village
groundbreaking
ceremony
was held on Friday, Aug. 17.
A number of Webb family
members attended the event.
Construction will begin this
month on the west side of State
Route 587 near Goodyear Road.
The District 4 Service
Center arranged the ceremony
Continued on Page 8
Cooking Channel brings show to Indian Country
Host Eden Grinshpan learns Chumuth recipe for TV audiences
By Mikhail Sundust
Cher Thomas is a former Miss
Gila River (2004), former Miss
Indian ASU (2010) and a member
of Yelp.com’s Elite Squad four
years running. That last accolade
earned her a spot in an episode
of “Eden Eats”, a TV show
that visited the Salt River Pima
Maricopa Indian Community and
Gila River Indian Community
earlier this year to sample
authentic O’odham cuisine.
Eden Grinshpan, who has a
Grande Diplôme from Le Cordon
Bleu in London, England, is the
host of “Eden Eats” – a new show
on the Cooking Channel. “Eden
Eats” is a traveling show that
explores the hidden culinary hot
spots of American cities in search
of eclectic cuisine from around
the globe proving on a weekly
Inside The GRIN
Letters & Opinions.....Page 3
Culture & History........Page 6
Health & Wellness.....Page 7
Youth & Elder........Page 9
basis that, “you don’t need a
passport to taste the world.”
Recently, the show has
visited Austin, Texas; Nashville,
Tennessee; and Tampa, Florida.
In her “Phoenix, Arizona”
episode, Eden and her crew
made their way around the sunny
desert city meeting local chefs
and sampling dishes from far
away lands such as India, Poland,
Bosnia, Lebanon and Cambodia.
Eden ended her Phoenix
world tour with her new friend
Cher Thomas back in “Native”
America – on the Salt River and
Gila River Indian Reservations.
Thomas says that when the
show producers called her for the
first time, she was surprised and
thought it might be a prank. They
asked her to be their “Cultural
Liaison” for Native American
communities in the Arizona
GRIN Kids................Page 11
Education............Page 16-17
Action Sheets.....Page 18-19
Announcements &
Notices......................Page 21
Photo courtesy of Cooking Channel
From left: Cindy Washington, Cher Thomas and Eden Grinshpan on episode of “Eden Eats” on Cooking Channel.
valley. Show scouts found her
through Yelp.com, the popular
social networking and restaurant
review website. Thomas attained
high status on the website for
her honest, insightful, wellwritten and often humorous
reviews of local eateries.
“On Indian reservations,
food stands are very common and
offer homemade delicacies that
cannot be found in the city,” wrote
Continued on Page 5
A message from Miss
Gila River 2012-2013
Raeging Storm Miles
Page 9
PRESORTED STANDARD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sacaton, AZ
Permit No. 25
Ground breaking for the George Webb Village in District 4 on Aug. 17, 2012.
celebrating the community’s
newest housing project and
paying homage to its namesake.
According to Wilfred Brown,
Director of the GRIC Tribal
Projects Development / Building
Safety Division (TPD), the
anticipated completion date of the
neighborhood is September 2013.
Robert Johnson of the
Huhukam Heritage Center –
and George Webb’s grandson
– delivered a speech entitled
“Remembering
George
Webb.” He noted that, “George
Webb Village is located not
too far from where George
and Hattie Webb lived their
golden years and shared their
happy lives with their family.”
George Webb was born in
Gila Crossing in 1892. His Akimel
O’odham name was Buzzing
Feather. He was a rancher, a
farmer, a Gila River Indian
Community Associate Judge
and one of the first Gila River
Tribal Council Representatives.
Today he is best known for
his book “A Pima Remembers,”
which is in its tenth printing
with the University of Arizona
Press in Tucson and has reached
people across the United States.
In the book, Webb reflects
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Change Service Requested
‘George Webb Village’ dedicated to author
Tribal communities rally
around Sioux
elder
By Roberto A. Jackson
Tribal communities around
the country are condemning
the media’s coverage of Vern
Traversie, a tribal elder from the
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Traversie, who is a Cheyenne
River Sioux tribal member, is
suing the Rapid City Regional
Hospital (RCRH) for violations
of his patient rights and human
rights that occurred during his
stay at the hospital one year ago.
Before being released from
the hospital on Sept. 9, 2011,
a hospital staff member told
him to have his family look at
his abdomen and photograph
it as soon as he returned home.
At home on Sept. 10 a visiting
nurse, family members and
friends alerted the Lakota elder
that he had many questionable
wounds on his abdomen. These
markings resembled the Ku
Klux Klan symbol of “KKK.”
On July 16, 2012 Traversie
filed a civil suit in U.S. District
Court of South Dakota against the
hospital. Federal investigations
by the FBI and the United States
Department of Health and Human
Continued on Page 20
NFL
Season
Preview
2012 Page 14
Page 2
September 2012
September 2012
Governor
Gregory Mendoza
Lt. Governor
Stephen Roe Lewis
Community Council
Representatives
District #1
Arzie Hogg
Cynthia Antone
District #2
Jewel Whitman
District #3
Dale G. Enos
Myron Schurz
District #4
Barney B. Enos, Jr.
Jennifer Allison
Christopher Mendoza
Monica Antone
District #5
Brenda Robertson
Franklin Pablo, Sr.
Annette J. Stewart
Janice Stewart
District #6
Anthony Villareal, Sr.
Albert Pablo
Terrance B. Evans
District #7
Martha Miller
Robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer
Linda Andrews, Community
Council Secretary
Zuzette Kisto
[email protected]
CPAO Acting Director
(520)562-9851
Roberto A. Jackson
[email protected]
Managing Editor
(520)562-9719
Gina Goodman
[email protected]
GRIN Secretary II
(520)562-9715
Elderly Coordinator
thankful for teamwork
at Senior Summer
Bash
This year’s 5th Annual Senior
Summer Bash Chair Volleyball
and Games was a huge, huge
success. The event was held at
the Sacaton Wellness Center on
Friday, August 3. We had 32
Senior teams from all different
tribes and nations within the state
of Arizona, competing this year.
I would like to take this time to
express my sincere gratitude to
the following individuals and
groups who worked extra hard to
make this event the best it could
be for our seniors. Thank you
to Amber Childs, Fera Wapaha,
Ali Walkingbadger, Gila River
Tribal Rec. & Wellness Center
Staff, Talia Antone, Myrna Allen,
Ina Lyons, Sylvia Enos, GR
Communication & Public Affairs
Office, Dist. 2, 4, 6, Elderly
Coordinators, District 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Recreation Departments, Phillip
Morris, Vinnie Thomas, Kane
Marrietta, and The WIA Group.
The seniors’ lunch was graciously
donated by Dist. 3 councilmen
– Dale Enos & Myron Schurz,
Dist. 7 councilwoman Martha
Miller, Rodney Jackson and
Thobi Landscapers, Dist. 2, 3, 4,
5, 6 Elderly Kitchens, Salt River
Seniors, Gila River Casino and
Picnic Specialties. Thanks to
Joellen Kinnamon for making
this year’s gourd trophies. It was
a pleasure to work along side of
you and complete this goal. I am
already looking forward to next
year’s event and I hope that you
will be willing to step up again…
Positive teamwork! Handshakes
and Smiles for a job well done,
Tammy Histia
District 3 Elderly Coordinator
Mikhail Sundust
[email protected]
Community Newsperson
(520)562-9717
In Loving Memory
Joshua Jovanelly
[email protected]
(520)562-9715
12/28/67 - 8/13/12
Annie Gutierrez
[email protected]
Community Newsperson (WIA)
(520)562-9715
Write to:
Editor, GRIN
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Published letters or columns do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the
Editor or
Gila River Indian Community.
LETTERS POLICY: GRIN welcomes
letters and columns from readers. Letters should be limited to 200 words and
be in good taste. Material that could be
libelous or slanderous is not acceptable.
All letters or columns should be signed
with the writer’s true name, address and
telephone number in the event GRIN
may need to contact the writer. Only
the name of the writer will be printed in
the paper. Letters or columns without
a complete signature, name, address or
phone number will not be acceptable to
GRIN for publication. GRIN reserves
the right to edit submitted materials for
grammar, spelling and content.
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
(520)562-9715
www.gilariver.org/grin
www.gilariver.org/index.php/news
Material published in the Gila River Indian
News may not be reproduced in any form
without consent from the Gila River Indian
Community
Juan Slaton
Brother, Uncle,
Father, Friend
The Juan Family would
like to thank the following
D3 assistants for burial of our
brother Richard Juan on 8/18/12:
District 3 Service Center man
power, the District 2 community,
where our brother Richard grew
up in Olberg, Gila River Police
Department.
Richard took a big step into
the unknown as others do. It was
just yesterday I was talking to
him. I think of the football we
played at the old hospital. We
will miss him but I know that he
is close to our hearts with many
memories he left with us. It was
good to see everyone together and
all the help from the community.
Thank you much,
Juan Family
Page 3
LETTERS & OPINIONS
Matthew
Marley Lewis
March 27,1990August 21, 2011
It’s hard to believe that a
year has passed since you left
our lives and went to be with our
great Creator. Each and every
day we think about you and miss
you even more and we love you
so much. It’s hard to believe that
you are gone and always expect
you to walk in through the front
door and wanting something
to eat. Your sons Sidney and
Ian miss you the most. They
always talk about you and say
that you live in their hearts.
That’s a comfort for
them. They are so young but
understand that you have left
their lives. You would be so
proud with both of them going
to school and doing very well.
Ian couldn’t wait to go to
school and this year was his
time to start and they both take
you to school with them every
day. We had so many friends
and relatives help the family
during our loss that I would like
to thank them at this time. Uncle
Harold of Gospel Road, Courtney
Moyah, Ike and Poppy, Larry
Porter Jr., Tracey Thompson and
Jasmine Ortega, Father Ed (you
were a great inspiration to me)
Sylvester and Michelle OsifeChelle thank you for all your
help in coming and being with
us and cooking meals for us.
I also want to especially
thank the Gila River Tribal Court
and the Probation Department
for your generous help with the
donations, it was a great help. I
thank each and everyone of you.
I know I failed to mention
every one but you were a great help
and thank you very much. God
bless each and every one of you.
Again thank you and God
bless, Karen, Alfred, Christina
Moyah, Sidney and Ian Lewis,
brothers, sisters, cousins, Reyes
Family,
Rodriguez
Family.
CORRECTIONS
A correction on the “Right to
Vote” event held on July 14,
2012- The Gila River Indian
Community Voter Registration
Board was awarded the Frank
Harrison and Harry Austin Citizenship award sponsored by the
Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona
along with the Ft. McDowell
Indian Community, not NCAI.
Also, the 1928 Porter lawsuit
was also filed with Rudolph
Johnson.
The GRIN encourages comments and suggestions about
content that warrants correction
or clarification. To report an error call (520)562-9719 or
email [email protected]
In Loving Memory
those who stayed all night after
the wake preparing the meal;
the pallbearers and D-1 crew for
your help with digging the grave;
Paul Jr and Mark for preparing
the cross and script; Kevin and
Pancho for gathering the shugoi
(greasewood); Rodney and crew
for cleanup of the yard; thank you
friends & family from San Carlos
who came to the wake; all those
who brought food throughout
the preparation; everyone who
helped clean up after the feeding
06/01/63 Blackwater
– 08/12/12
Marvin
Jrand finally for all who expressed
06/01/63
– 08/12/12 In loving memory
of our words of encouragement and
son, brother, and uncle Marvin condolence to our families, we
you. uMarvin
is deeply
Blackwater,
We would
like
In loving Jr.
memory of our son, bthank
rother,and ncle Marvin Blackwater, J
missed
but
will
forever
be in our
to extend
our
sincere
thank
you
sincere thank you to all who assisted us during our time of grief and to all who assisted us during hearts. We ask our Creator to
final journey home. Thank you to Alan and the District 1 staff and cr
our time of grief and sorrow as continue to bless those who are
you Holy Family church and congregation. To our relatives and frien
we prepared for Marvin’s final grieving the loss of their loved
did, thome.
o everyone helped reparing the food for the grave digger
journey
Thank
you w
toith pones.
who s
tayed a
ll n
ight a
fter t
he w
ake reparing meal; Soplong
as wethe live,
theythe too pallbear
Alan and the District 1 staff and
shall
live
and
love
for
they
are
digging the your
grave; Paul Jr and Mark for preparing the cross aand scrip
crew
for all
assistance.
part ofand us,cas
wefor remember
Thank
Holy(greasewood); Family Church Rodney the you
shugoi rew cleanup them
of the yard;
~
Gates
of
Prayer
andCarlos congregation.
who came to Tothe our
wake; all those who brought food througho
&fJasper
Marrietta
relatives
helped and
clean friends,
up after thank
the feeding Carmelita
and finally or all w
ho expressed w
&
Bryce
youcondolence for everything
did, we thank you. Marvin is deeply missed b
to our you
families, Connie & Arzie Hogg and
to everyone who helped with
ask our Creator to continue to family
bless those who are grieving the loss o
preparing the food for the grave
Mary Cruz & family
diggers, the wake service and to
Marvin
In Loving
Memory
Blackwater, Jr.
So long as we live, they too shall live and love for they are a pa
Gates of Prayer
Letter from former GRIC Gov. Thomas White
Carmelita Bryce Dear Sir, & Jasper Marrietta &
– and
have been reinforced with a
During &the
candidate
century and a half of litigation and
Connie Arzie Hogg aforum
nd family heldMary in Casa
Grande
on July 26, treaties with the Native American
Cruz & family a question was asked of the three
candidates running for the District
3 County Supervisor seat. That
question was of particular interest
to me as a member and former
Governor of the Gila River Indian
Community. The question asked
of the candidates was what they
thought of the Ak-Chin Indian
Community’s proposal to convert
some land owned by the tribe into
trust status.
Candidate Steve Miller’s
answer was shocking and left me
wondering if he knows anything
at all about his Native American
neighbors. To say he opposes the
conversion of tribally owned land
to trust is no small thing but then to
continue on and say that he thinks
the county ought to take tribal
reservation land and arbitrarily
remove it from trust status is quite
another. The principles of tribal
sovereignty were established in the
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
and the Gadsden Purchase (1853)
Tribes of this country.
My people are neighbors and
residents of this county; we go to
your schools, buy products and
services in your businesses, work
in Pinal County businesses and
employ Pinal County residents. Mr.
Miller’s answer is not the response
of a good neighbor. Supervisor
David Snider’s answer to that
same question was thoughtful and
based on his eight years of work
and partnership with the Gila River
and Ak-Chin Indian Communities
as well as the Tohono O’odham
Nation.
I urge the voters of Pinal
County and District 3 to re-elect
Supervisor David Snider to the
Board of Supervisors. He listens
and, in my book, experience does
count.
Respectfully,
Thomas
White,
Former
Governor, Gila River Indian
Community
Happy 3rd Birthday Mia
Just want to wish you a very Happy Birthday. We love you very
much! Love Dad and Mom
September 2012
Page 4
(PCO = Per Capita Office)
Your Per Capita Corner
www.mygilariver.com/percapita
2012 Per Capita Schedule
Quarterly Deadline *
September 17
December 17
Payment Date
October 31 (Wed)
January 31, 2013 (Thurs)
* Next Quarterly deadline: for per capita applications, forms, and
updates (always 45 days prior to Payment Date).
There are many checks and payment earnings statements
that are returned to the PCO due to outdated addresses. So
please visit or call the Enrollment Department as soon as
possible to update your address.
Reminder
Every time you change your address, remember to complete
a new W-9 with the PCO.
Always keep your check stub/statements for verifications.
PCO does not do income verification.
Taxes
Please take special note that all per capita payments are
considered taxable income, even in cases when payment is
garnished. For tribal payments of $600 or more, there will be a
1099 IRS tax form sent to you by January 31st of the following
year. Please consult with your personal tax advisor regarding the
tax implications of per capita payments.
PER CAPITA TRUST ACCOUNTS – FOR YOUR CHILD
The per capita trust for your child is accessible for health,
education, and/or welfare funds.
Only two (2) early
disbursements per beneficiary are allowed per year.
WHAT CAN I SPEND IT ON?
Early distributions are limited to the uses identified below. In
addition to clothing (Welfare category):
Education: tutors, private tuition (includes cost of books &
tuition), academic summer school/camp, enrichment programs
(academic-based; includes school supplies and activities), and
computer purchases (for academic use only.)
Health: orthodontics, certified counseling services, glasses,
dental or medical emergencies, and special care-givers,
facilities, and/or equipment. There is no annual limit on health
requests. However, the amounts approved will be counted
towards the annual dollar maximum allowed.
WHAT ARE THE DOLLAR LIMITS? (Per calendar year)
Age Group Annual Maximum Clothing Limit *
1-6
$200 total
$100
7-13
$350 total
$200
14-21
$500 total
$300
* Approved clothing funds are deducted from the annual maximum.
To ensure you get your check or letter from Providence, make
sure the GRIC Enrollment Dept. has your child’s current address.
PROVIDENCE VISIT
Providence First Trust Company will have a representative at
the PCO on Friday, September 28 and Monday, October 1,
2012 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions and accept
trust distribution request forms.
Providence First Trust Company
(800) 350-0208 or (480) 282-8812.
Per Capita Office P.O. Box 338 Sacaton, AZ 85147
(520) 562-5222 or (866) 416-2618
New Staff Introductions for the GRIN
In order to better serve the
(GRIC), the Gila River Indian
News (GRIN) recently added
three key individuals to our
staff. They are excited to work
for our organization and to
cover GRIC stories for all of our
valued readers.
Mikhail Sundust was our
intern since May and was hired
Hola! My name is Andra
Gutierrez. I like to be called
Annie because it is not difficult
to pronounce, but if you can roll
your r’s then give Andra a try.
I am Akimel O’odham,
Tohono O’odham and Chicana. I
am the daughter of Valenda Catha
and the late Roberto Gutierrez
Sr. My grandparents are Donald
Catha and Claudette Lewis. My
mother’s family is from Vah-Ki,
District 5 and my father’s is from
San Fernando, Calif. I grew up in
both places my entire life and to
this day I still live in both. I have
three wonderful sisters named
Desiree, Nicole and Rosalinda
and two brothers; Roberto Jr.
and the late Kelvin Burnette.
I attended many schools
throughout my childhood and
Sacaton Middle School happens
to be the middle school I was
promoted from. I graduated from
Sherman Indian High School
in 2008. At Sherman, I was
involved with both the Tohono
O’odham and Pima Club. I was
also an honor student there and
I had the privilege of living in
the honor dorms which is pretty
cool because only a few are
selected. I’m currently starting
my third year at Central Arizona
College. I am very determined
to finish my CIS 120 course
My name is Josh Jovanelly
and I am the newest member of
the Gila River Indian News staff. I
recently moved to Chandler, Ariz.,
from California, where I had lived
since my birth in 1989. I grew up
in a tight-knit community called
Eagle Rock, a small town on the
northeast side of Los Angeles.
I am the fifth child of Mark
and Ronda Jovanelly. My three
brothers, two sisters and I ensured
that we grew up in a lively
household always full of activity.
I benefitted (and continue to
benefit) from having older siblings
who served as positive role
models when I was growing up.
I also gained valuable experience
being an older brother myself.
The Jovanelly family traces
its roots back to Italy. In the early
1900s, my great-grandparents
emigrated through Ellis Island,
New York, where the traditional
Italian spelling of their last
name — Giovannelli — was
Americanized (likely because
of a misinformed immigration
official). Eventually both my
mother and father’s families
ended up in Los Angeles.
I accepted a scholarship
to the University of Southern
California in 2007 where I
attended the Annenberg School
of Journalism and began my
training as a journalist. I worked
for four years on the Daily
Trojan, the school paper. During
this time, I did freelance work
for the Los Angeles Daily News
and contributed to the USC
Page 5
September 2012
as Community Person in August.
Along with Mr. Sundust,
we added Joshua Jovanelly,
a
journalism
grad
from
the University of Southern
California.
Joining this fine pair is
Annie Gutierrez, our intern
from Central Arizona College.
She is a full time student and a
contributor to her school paper
Annie Gutierrez
College Intern
by the end of this year so I can
receive my A.A. in Liberal
Arts. This year, I made it on the
Dean’s List at the college so Yay!
Alongside the GRIN, I
write for CAC’s newspaper, The
Cactus, which I enjoy very much.
After CAC, I plan to transfer
to a local university. There is
so much I want to do in my
life but there is very little time
to explore everything. I enjoy
writing, reading, learning and
interacting with people, so if you
see me out and about say “Hola!”
Joshua Jovanelly
sports magazine SC Playbook.
Through the wealth of
knowledge and resources at
USC as well as the experience
of working in the journalism
business, I graduated from USC
ready for the next challenge in my
life. Through my lifelong friend
Stephen Culver — a Gila River
Community Member and current
EMT for Gila River EMS — I heard
about the opening at this paper.
The kindness of Stephen’s
family and the friendliness of
my colleagues at GRIN have
already made me feel welcome
in my new home. I look forward
to working in this organization,
to meeting the challenges
that lie ahead and to serving
the Community as best I can.
as well as the GRIN.
Managing Editor Roberto
A. Jackson and Secretary II Gina
Goodman are very enthusiastic
to have these multi-talented
individuals as part of the staff.
Roberto, a community
member whose family is from
District 6, has been Managing
Editor since March 2012. He’s
been with the GRIN since
Hello Gila River, I am
Mikhail Sundust.
I was raised in Casa Grande,
Arizona by my mother, Barbara
Sundust, and father, Michael
Sundust. My family hails from
Districts 6 and 7. My paternal
grandparents are the late Eugene
Sundust (he was Pii Posh) and
Rose Sundust (née Shelde . . .
she was Akimel O’odham). My
maternal grandparents are Emil
(deceased) and Eleanor Nelson
(still kicking).
Outside of work, I enjoy
reading,
watching
movies,
running and learning new things.
I especially enjoy spending time
with my family; my brother
and his wife, Noah and Meagan
Sundust; and my baby niece
Anna. She’s so cute!
In May 2007, I graduated
from Casa Grande Union High
School. My college career began
that August.
On December 17, 2011,
I got my B.A. in Linguistics
Our staff is growing. Here is the latest information
on who is working for the Gila River Indian News.
January 2009.
Gina, Tohono O’odham, is
our longest tenured employee.
She has worked for the GRIN
since April 2008.
As always we encourage
our readers to pour forth their
suggestions to the GRIN. Your
input is valued with openness
and distinction.
- GRIN Staff
Mikhail Sundust
from the University of Arizona
with minors in Spanish and
American Indian Studies. I am
eternally grateful to the Gila
River Indian Community and
the Student Services Department
for financially supporting me
throughout my undergraduate
Roberto A. Jackson
Managing Editor
mix, toss and cook the traditional
O’odham bread – which looks
like a tortilla – on Washington’s
tractor-blade-turned-chumuthcooker and included a little
history lesson for viewers.
O’odham people have always
been farmers, cultivating a variety
of crops including cotton, squash,
corn and grains; chumuth made
from ground wheat is a traditional
part of the O’odham diet.
Eden wound down her day
of travel and eating at Thomas’s
house in the Gila River Indian
Community’s District 6. Thomas
and the “Co-op Village Pima
Basket Dancers” invited Eden
to participate in a traditional
O’odham
springtime
dance
(the show was shot in March).
Secretary II
years via the higher education
grant program. In the future, I
hope to take advantage of the
Higher Education Program again
to attain my Master’s Degree.
I started out with the
GRIN on April 2 of this year as
an intern with the Workforce
Investment Act program. During
this time, Roberto Jackson and
the Communication & Public
Affairs Office staff mentored me
in journalism, photography and
public relations.
On
August
13,
the
Community hired me full time as
a Community Newsperson. I love
writing and taking photos for the
Gila River Indian News. Every
day is a learning experience. I
enjoy meeting new people and
hearing their stories from around
the reservation. I look forward to
being a positive influence in the
Community during my time with
the GRIN.
I hope to see you around,
Mikhail Sundust
Gila River featured on Cooking Channel
Thomas in a recent Yelp post. “In
the Salt River Reservation, just
east of the city of Scottsdale, is The
Stand, which was named by the
community and frequent guests.”
In the show, Thomas and
Eden head over to The Stand on
the corner of “school and school”
(Indian School Road and Alma
School Road) on the Salt River
Indian Reservation. There, they
met owner Cindy Washington,
who Thomas has known for years.
Washington showed Eden
how she prepares her famous red
chili stew with beef and chilies
but maintained a fair deal of
mystery over her secret spice
recipe. While the stew cooked,
they move on to chumuth.
Thomas taught Eden how to
Gina Goodman
From Page 1
Thomas, who is now a student at
ASU, has been dancing with this
group since she was a teenager.
As the sun set over the Estrella
Mountains, Eden thanked Thomas
for her hospitality and continued
on her journey across America.
“Eden Eats: Phoenix” aired
for the first time on Friday,
Aug. 31 at 10:00pm eastern. It
is scheduled to re-air on Oct. 19
and 21. For more information
about the show and for recipes
from the exotic homelands
of the cooks Eden visited, go
to
www.cookingchanneltv.
com. You can read Cher
Thomas’s restaurant reviews
at
www.cherished.yelp.com.
Page 6
SPECIAL SERIES BY BILLY ALLEN
Huhugam Heritage Center
A'aga
Something to be told or talked about
Massacre on the Gila
Imagine running, jumping, swinging
a club in fighting for your survival in late
summer. Without water! On September 1,
1857, such a battle took place on O’otham
jeved. Inter-tribal conflicts between
Yuman-speaking Colorado River bands
led some to move upstream along the Gila
River. Eventually these bands settled in two
Piipash (Maricopa) villages at the west-end
of the Gila River Indian Community. The
move didn’t end the conflicts. A combined
force of Quechan, Cocopah, Mojave
and Yavapai came to battle the Piipash.
When the Piipash were attacked,
riders and runners spread the alarm
to Casa Blanca and eastward. Akimel
O’otham warriors responded. As the
warriors approached on horseback, it
looked as if a jegos had been unleashed.
The final battleground was between Pima
Butte (“M” Mountain) and the Gila River.
Antonio Azul was the young headman of
the Akimel O’otham, but stepped aside to
allow one more experienced to command.
Keeping the enemy away from the
water was a tactical maneuver. The Yuman
warriors were blocked in on three sides by
mounted forces. The north, east and south
floodplain had horsemen led by experienced
leaders: Candela, Cuchillo del Mundo and
Juan Chevereah. Hawk, the leader of the
Quechan, was not going to retreat westward.
Numbers differ on how many warriors
took part, ranging from 400 to 2000.
The San Diego and San Antonio mail
line had a contract to deliver mail between
these two cities. Maricopa Wells, just south
of “M” Mountain was the stagecoach relay
station. After breakfast, Isaiah Woods,
who was in charge of the stageline, saw
smoke to the northeast. He didn’t know the
Quechan force attacked the Piipash. Soon
an old Piipash appeared on horseback out
of the mesquite thicket coming towards the
stagecoach station. The Piipash asked the
whitemen for help, but none was given. It
would remain all-native conflict. When
Mr. Woods arrived in San Diego seven days
later, the battle was noted in the September
September 2012
CULTURE & HISTORY
12 edition of the San Diego Herald.
There are also native accounts of
this battle. Tcokut Na:k or Owl’s Ear was
a “keeper of the stick” visited by Frank
Russell in 1901-02. Tcokut Na:k’s account
was recorded only 44 years after the battle
and tells of only one Quechan survivor.
The Piipash also kept calendar sticks.
In 1929-30, Kutox told his version to
Leslie Spicer. Kutox was nine years old
in 1857, and remembered the battle.
“The Yuma came to Sacate to fight,”
began Kutox. Sacate was a Maricopa
village. Kutox’s version had no survivors.
In 1921, Joe Homer, Quechan,
was interviewed by Edward W.
Gifford. By Homer’s
account, the
Piipash focused their fury upon the
Quechan, letting other bands escape.
Homer said the Piipash allowed seven
survivors to return and tell of this battle.
A Mohave version recorded by Alfred
Kroeber in 1925 states survivors marched
eight days and 160 miles through the
desert in retreat to the Colorado River.
Michael Burns was a 70-year old
Yavapai interviewed by Mr. Gifford
in 1929-30. An incident interpreted as
a bad omen limited the participation
of the Yavapai. The few who did
participate made it back to their villages.
A Piipash elder said because
of the bodies strewn in the area, the
villagers did not want to be close to this
ground. The villages were relocated.
Historical records show at least 21
battles between the Quechan and Piipash
from 1832 to 1857. This last battle led to
the “Treaty of Peace” of 1863. The treaty
was bought to light in 1940 when the
daughter of Juan Jose, a Piipash sub-leader,
shared it with others. Today, the 5 Tribes
Peace Treaty of 1863 is a celebration of
life and harmony. If you visit this area,
please be respectful of the sacred ground.
Most of the information in this
article is taken from “Massacre on the
Gila. It was co-authored by Clifton
B. Kroeber and Bernard Fontana.
Vashai Gakithag Mashath
This month marks the beginning of fall with the occurrence of the Autumn Equinox.
We watch as the sun slowly starts to travel toward the south with each sunset. This
month the land starts to dry out from the heavy summer rains and most summer crops
are ready to be picked. The heavy summer rains this year have produced a second
cropping of vihog (mesquite bean pods), called a tho:mdag. This month we celebrate
Chikpantham Thash (Labor Day) and Ve:s na:nko ma:s O’otham Hemachkam ha-Thash
(American Indian Day). This month’s word match features some of the reptiles that
can be seen in our community on any given day. Community members should practice
caution when working in their yards or taking walks. The heavy rains this summer hav
produced tall brush and grass that can provide good cover for many types of snakes. We
encourage you to practice the O’otham names of the reptiles and use them every day.
Solutions on page 20
Fundraising efforts for St. Anthony’s Mission
By Regina Antone-Smith
Fund Raising Coordinator
Since the tragic destruction
of our church through arson, our
parishioners have been working
very hard donating their time,
supplies and income in efforts to
raise enough funds to rebuild the
church. The parishioners of St.
Anthony’s Mission in Sacaton,
Ariz. would like to ask the
community to actively participate
in the fundraising efforts taking
place every month in which to
rebuild the old historical church.
A few years ago, St.
Anthony’s Mission had to take a
loan out to build a multipurpose
building to hold church service in.
Although to many people it looks
like a warehouse and is hard to
identify as a church, to the people
who attend church services there
it is a building to share God’s
word through many weddings,
religious
classes,
meetings,
funerals, baptisms, and many
fundraising events. This building
brought joy to the parishioners
after the fire, so it is with great
pride and gratitude to the
parishioners to have paid this loan
off and now move forward in the
next phase of building a church.
In August, we had a steak
fry and bingo that I hope you
all attended and enjoyed. It was
a great turnout and we thank
the community and surrounding
communities who attended for
their support. We would like to
inform the community of the
following fundraising events:
September
30th:
On
Saturday at 11:30am – a
Breakfast
Burrito
sale.
October 20th: On Saturday
at 11:00am – our Fundraising
Bazaar. This is St. Anthony’s
biggest annual event, which
includes many arts & crafts
vendors, food, children’s games,
dancing and music entertainment,
raffles,
and
much
more.
November: A Thanksgiving
basket
worth
over
$100
will be raffled off for the
purchase of a $1.00 ticket.
December: The church will
be selling luminaires, 6 for $5.00.
January:
Bingo
and
50/50
cash
raffle.
So, as you can see, St.
Anthony’s is very busy in moving
forward in their goal of a new
church. With many prayers and
assistance from everyone, we
feel this can be accomplished.
This is an open invitation to all
that everyone is always welcome
to attend our fundraising events.
We look forward to seeing you
there. If you wish to support
our mission, we always accept
monetary donations, services
and prayers from anyone who
wishes to help in the rebuilding
of St. Anthony’s Indian Mission.
Please write us or send
donations to:
St. Anthony’s Church
P.O. Box 783
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Thank you and God bless
September 2012
Page 7
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health Resources Department Updates
Protecting Yourself and Loved Ones from Mosquito Bite(s)
within the Gila River Indian Community
By Laverne R. Dallas
Health Resources Department
As we move forward
through the season, everyone is
encouraged to continue to take
preventative measures to protect
themselves and their loved ones
from the West Nile virus (WNV),
a disease/ infection transmitted
to humans through the bite of
WNV infected mosquitoes. WNV
affects humans, horses, birds, and
other animals. The symptoms
of WNV may include: fever,
headache, swollen glands, muscle
aches, fatigue and sometimes
rash, stiff neck, muscle weakness
or paralysis, seizures, confusion
and/or disorientation.
Here is a list of preventative
steps that you can easily take:
• Eliminate standing water
where mosquitoes can breed.
• Check for items outside
your home such as: cans, bottles,
jars, buckets, old tires, boats, kid
pools, ceramic pots or any items
which can collect rain water and
dispose of or turn these items
upside down.
• Remove unused old tires
from your property.
• Change water in flower
vases, birdbaths, planters and
animal watering pans at least
twice a week.
• Repair leaky pipes
and outside faucets, and move
air conditioner drain hoses
frequently.
• Wear
lightweight
clothing that covers the arms and
legs such as: shoes & socks, long
pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Minimize
outside
activity at dusk and dawn, which
are peak hours for mosquito
activity.
• Use a mosquito repellent
with DEET, according to
instructions, when outdoors.
There is no treatment or
vaccine specific for human WNV
infection. Please contact your
health care provider immediately
if you experience a high grade
fever, stiff neck, muscle weakness
or paralysis, seizures, confusion
and/or disorientation.
Since the weather has
warmed up in April, the Gila
River
Indian
Community
Environmental Health Services
(EHS) in coordination with the
Community Health Education
program has been implementing
prevention activities throughout
GRIC which includes the
following:
• Information on West
Nile Virus and a Mosquito Borne
Illnesses brochure was included
in the packet handed out in the
Door-to-Door campaign by the
Community Health Education
program (March – June).
• Community
Health
Education program hand outs
on West Nile Virus & Mosquito
Borne Illnesses were distributed
throughout the Districts – health
information booths, health fairs,
health conferences and monthly
community events.
• Notifications to the
To Restaurant/Retail Food
Owners and Operators:
GRIC Ordinance GR-02-12: Food Code
By Laverne R. Dallas
Health Resources Department
On July 18, the Gila River Indian
Community (GRIC) adopted the 2009
FDA Model Food Code, Annex, and
Supplement. This Food Code replaces
the previously adopted 1962 FDA Food
Code and its subsequent amendments.
There are significant updates to the
standards within this Code, however many
of these standards have been previously
introduced to your establishment over
the previous five years during the course
of Environmental Health Service’s
(EHS) routine compliance inspection of
your food establishment.
Some notable changes which have
been made:
• Definitions: Many new definitions
are included within the Food
Code with additional definitions
specific to the GRIC detailed in
the Ordinance.
•
Facility:
Many
updates
have been made to plumbing and
structure requirements, mobile food
establishments, and others.
• Temperatures: Holding and
cooking temperatures have been updated.
• Cooking processes: Standards for
various cooking processes have been
included / updated.
• Foodborne Illnesses: Details on
foodborne illnesses and their risk factors
are included.
• Allergens: Details on food
allergens are included.
• Due process: Included within
the Code and Annex are standards and
guidelines for permitting, hold orders,
inspections, reporting and appeals.
• Training requirements: Included
in the 2009 FDA Food Code and
Supplement are training requirements
for the Person-in-charge (PIC).
• Home-based Food Vendors
(HBFV): Specific to the GRIC and
detailed in the Ordinance, properly
designated HBFVs are exempt from
these adopted standards and must
provide public notice stating such.
Our office understands that
significant time will be necessary to
fully implement this new Code. Our
office is committed to working hand in
hand with your establishment to assure
that all compliance and training concerns
are met and the risk of foodborne illness
is minimized. Our Sanitarians will also
be working closely with your designated
PIC during their regularly scheduled
compliance inspections.
Over the course of the next few
months, EHS will be sending additional
information to your establishment. These
mailings are important as they will
include a digital copy of the Ordinance
and adopted standards, permitting
applications, guidelines and educational
outreach on various topics included in
the new Code.
In addition, notices, forms and
outreach will be available on the GRIC
Government Informational webpage for
Tribal employees, the GRIC Newspaper,
and on MyGilaRiver.com. We ask
that you check back regularly as these
internet sites will be routinely updated.
An online version of the 2009 FDA
Food Code, Annex, and Supplement can
also be found at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/
FoodSafety/RetailFoodProtection/
FoodCode/FoodCode2009/
We look forward to working with all
of you during this time of transition.
District Services Centers of
scheduled fogging activities.
• 2,528 postcards on
WNV were sent to Community
members in the Bapchule and
Sacaton areas.
• Posters
have
been
posted at various public places
throughout the Community and
the GRIC Intranet.
During
routine
adult
mosquito surveillance GRIC’s
Environmental Health Services
will identify populations of
mosquitoes which exceed a
threshold and pose an elevated
health risk to the Community;
the EHS - Vector-borne Disease
Program will apply pesticide
in the form of a fine mist or fog
during evening or early morning
hours. Fogging can only be
conducted with calm winds and
no rain. There are approximately
200 locations throughout GRIC
which are routinely monitored
(example: flood basins, sewage
lagoons, etc.).
Please keep in mind that
introducing any chemical into the
environment poses some level of
risk, whether to the land, water
or to the residences within the
Community. Therefore, the risk of
contracting WNV must outweigh
the risk of utilizing pesticides.
This year for the state of
Arizona a total of 12 WNV human
cases have been reported. No
WNV cases have been reported in
GRIC this current year. However,
the EHS Laboratory has identified
WNV positive mosquitoes within
the Community.
REMEMBER: please take
every precautionary measure to
prevent WNV.
If you have any questions
or if you need to report an
area which may need to be
investigated, please contact the
GRIC Environmental Health
Services program @ (520)5625100.
Page 8
Governor’s Employee of the Month for June & July
September 2012
Brenalee Sakiestewa named
2nd Attendant at Miss Native
American USA Pageant
From left: Gov. Gregory Mendoza, Juan Martinez, Dave Thomas and Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis.
Governor’s Employee of Month, June 2012 Governor’s Employee of Month, July 2012
Juan Martinez
Dave Thomas
Juan Martinez, our June 2012 Governor’s
Employee of the Month, has served GRIC with
genuine passion and compassion for over 16
years within Tribal Social Services. As a Youth
Services Coordinator with RPY, he currently serves
Community children and youth who have experienced
much trauma, grief and losses in their young lives.
He comes to us from his father’s plantation in
Puerto Rico where, as a young boy, he learned early
on to work very hard. It is because of his rock-steady
beginnings that he brings the gifts of hard work,
integrity, enthusiasm, joy, commitment, passion and
humor to us all, the Gila River Indian Community.
Through his younger days, he was an avid and
outstanding baseball player. After college, he worked
in behavior health until he was hired by TSS as a CPS
worker in 1996. He was promoted to Child Sexual
Abuse Liaison, again to CPS Supervisor and then to
the Youth Services Coordinator position with RPY.
He shows his loyalty to GRIC by being early
to work, and not leaving until his two-page, daily
to-do list, is complete. He says goodnight by asking
his supervisor, “Do you need me to do anything
else before I leave?” In return, his supervisor
announces “If every employee had (his) work ethic
and passion, imagine what it’d be like, awesome!”
He is a hard worker but balances his work
life with family life. He loves his fiancé Gloriana
and takes his family to see relatives in Puerto Rico
every year. In the case of his daughter, Brianna,
he made sure to teach her to drive in the Phoenix
traffic so that she could attend college. And for his
daughter Jessica, he makes sure school needs are met.
This nominee has served our community well
and displays the qualities of someone we believe
to be an Employee of the Month. His staff holds
him in high esteem and his cheerful self is missed
when he is gone. We should all be proud to have
an employee who treats individuals and families
with the dignity and respect they deserve. He is a
dedicated worker who quietly goes about his work to
ensure children are in a safe and caring environment.
It is with great pride that we have
selected Juan Martinez to be the Governor’s
Employee of the Month for June 2012.
Dave Thomas began his journey green.
As Gilbert Sabori recalls, “he was greener then
the wonder of a green pasture”. With no sense
of what was expected of him as a laborer, he
learned and persevered, and did everything
in the skilled trades that one needs to know.
“Every time there is a new project, he’s all
business,” his crew recalls, “making sure that
it gets done quickly.” He’s worked on pretty
much all areas of the construction trade, his
specialty being in carpentry and electrical work.
“He is all about safety first!” His co-worker
called out. “And he makes sure that his job site and
crew members stay safe while out on the field. He
speaks up when he notices unsafe work practices.”
In his special way of communicating, he
does everything he can to please the Elders and
the members of the D6 Community. “Because
of his deep respect for the elders, they call
him first when putting in their work-orders.”
And because he is encouraged and supported
by his family, wife Andrea and beautiful
daughter Brianna, he is always eager to learn
and try new ways of improving his skills.
He’s extremely hard-working and dedicated to
his job and he is always at work and can be depended
on. This is why his journey with D-6 has brought
him from a laborer back in 2004 to a Custodial
Facilities Maintenance Worker in 2006 to his
current positions as a Building Maintenance Worker.
Without the understanding and excellent
work habits of his phenomenal crew, being our
top “go-to” guy and a wonderful role model to
those around him would not have been possible.
For all these reasons and those too numerous
to mention, it gives us, The Gila River Indian
Community, great pleasure in announcing the July
Governors Employee of the Month: David Thomas!
George Webb Village From Page 1
on life on the reservation and
traditional O’odham culture.
Webb’s legacy will carry
on in George Webb Village,
which will serve up to 81
families. TPD is working with
George Cairo Engineering, Inc.,
contractor
Pimmex/Blucor,
GRIC Public Works, GRIC
Land Use, Planning & Zoning,
and a number of other tribal
entities to complete the tribally
funded infrastructure project.
At the ground breaking,
Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis
read some passages aloud from
“A Pima Remembers.” He
commented on how the book has
influenced him personally as well
as the role it played in bringing
O’odham tribal history, culture
and character to the forefront
of American Indian Literature.
Pamela Pasquale thanked
Tribal Council, Tribal Projects
Development and everyone at the
ceremony. “This has been a long
time coming,” she said. Talks
on the project began in 2003.
Melissa
Sotomayor,
a
representative of the University
of Arizona Press, drove all the
way from Tucson to show the
Press’s respect for George Webb
and his family. His was one of
the first books ever published
by the U of A Press in 1959.
Johnson closed his speech by
commenting on his grandfather’s
character and how it shaped their
family and influenced our society:
“He valued formal education as a
way out of poverty and ignorance
and also understood that we should
remain rooted in our Himdag.”
As the clouds opened up
and the sun began to shine,
members of the Webb family
and those involved in the project
donned construction hard hats
and took up their shovels. All
at once and each smiling with
pride, they dug their spades into
the earth and broke ground on
the new George Webb Village.
Anthony “Thosh” Collins
Brenalee Sakiestewa, District 6, was named 2nd Attendant
at the Miss Native American USA Pageant on Aug. 25 at the
Tempe Center for the Arts. Sakiestewa was also named Miss
Congeniality.
“It was really something special,” she said.
According to Sakestewa all the contestants were very
supportive of each other. “We were just happy to be there
and we felt really connected at this one moment in our lives.”
Shaylin Shabi, Navajo, is Miss Native American USA
2012-2013 and Sage Honga, Hualapai/Navajo is 1st Attendant.
-GRIN Staff
3rd Year Anniversary for
Bernell F. Lewis Jr. “Possum”
4/18/91- 9/08/09
As we celebrate your
anniversary
on
Saturday,
September 8, 2012 at La
Familia, I will be happy to see
your family and friends from
Gila River and T. O Nation join
us once again. This day will also
be celebrated with your nephew
Flaviano’s surprise 7th birthday.
Flavi’s laughter sounds so
much like you Possum. We still
accidently call him your name.
Every year your favorite
chicken scratch bands still play
for your memorial: Native Creed,
P-Dub, and Group Familia.
The Memorial necklaces
were once again prepared by
Kristy Jose, Jaylene and Delaiah
Woods from north Komelik.
A huge thank you to our
family and friends for what they
will provide for this memorial:
food, punch, water, etc. Big
thanks to aunties Van, Dodi,
Kitt, and cousins Nita and Alex
Martinez. Also, brother Mykey
for their monetary donations.
Next year, 2013, will be our
final memorial. I say to everyone
from my family: “Possum’s
memory would not be kept
alive” if it was not for your
presence at these memorials.
Thank you all and God Bless.
We miss and love you Possum.
Rest in peace . . . Love Bernella,
Karen, and Mykey Lewis.
September 2012
YOUTH & ELDER
Page 9
Fun and games for elders A message from Miss Gila River
at Summer Bash
Andra Gutierrez/GRIN
Elders show good sportsmanship during the 5th Annual Chair Volleyball & Games.
By Annie Gutierrez
On Aug. 3, the elders stretched
their limbs and showed their game
face at the 5th Annual Summer Bash
Senior Chair Volleyball & Games.
Two hundred fifty pumped up seniors
in matching team shirts filled the District 3
Wellness Center for a day of fun and games.
This year’s bash is the first to include games
and the first to invite local Arizona tribes to
participate in the event. Elders competed in
two types of games: the adaptive and nonadaptive. The adaptive games accommodate
seniors
with
physical
limitations.
They played archery, Frisbee,
beanbag toss and newspaper crunch.
Although the weather was boiling
hot, it didn’t stop the elders from having
a good time. “I played archery and the
beanbag toss but I had to come inside, it
was too hot,” said Donna Lewis, District 5.
Thirty-two teams competed in a twobracket, single-elimination chair volleyball
tournament. Elders from the sidelines
cheered and laughed as they watched their
opponents play. “Some of them really get
into it and some elders are competitive,” said
Tammy Histia, District 3, elder coordinator.
Some of the older gentlemen balanced
on the back legs of their chairs reaching
the beach ball midair. Some of the women
hung on the edge of their seats, hands
in the air ready to make a serve. “It was
fun. I had fun,” said Lewis. Lewis plays
for the District 5 Judum volleyball team.
“Judum and the other District 5 team, the
Eagles, practice all the time,” he added.
The winning teams of the tournament
received a trophy gourd with a volleyball
painted in the center. In the individual
adaptive games, winners won Olympic-style
medals, donated by District 3 Recreation.
The District 5 Eagles won first place in
the chair volleyball tournament, followed
by Stowa A’an White Feathers from
Tohono O’odham, and Wa:k San Xavier.
The 5th Annual Summer Bash for
the elders wouldn’t be possible if it
weren’t for the numerous donations from
councilmen, tribal recreation, Rodney
Jackson and Thobi Construction and
Picnic Specialties, who donated 100
plus sandwiches to the event. In Histia’s
words, the event “was a great success.”
By Raeging Storm Miles
Miss Gila River 2012-2013
Skeg Tash! My name is Raeging
Storm Miles. I am 18 years old, and the
daughter of Ernest and late Gracie Miles. I
come from the village of Stotonic, District
4. This fall semester, I am attending
University of Arizona aspiring to get into
the College of Pharmacy here at the “U.”
I hope all community members are
having a safe, wonderful, and an insightful
year. For myself, I am definitely having
a great year. There are so many honors
I have been granted with this year. The
main privilege I have received is to serve
as an ambassador for the Gila River Indian
Community (all of you!) in so many ways,
whether it is events taking place on the
Gila River or, at another community.
There is a major event taking place
in which I ask for the Community’s
support as a whole, along with advice.
I will be representing the Gila River
Indian Community as a contestant for the
upcoming Miss Indian Arizona Pageant
in the next couple of months. The Miss
Indian Arizona Scholarship Program will
be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October
13 at the Chandler Center for the Arts in
Chandler, Ariz.
I know I have been absent in the
Community these past months, please
forgive me, but throughout the next month
I hope to be attending schools to speak to
the young ones. You older ones will be my
focus after I have aimed attention toward
the younger ones. Since my platform
is “higher education;” not many K-5th
graders will know what that is if I have
talked to them first.
By the time I hit 6th grade, I had
my faults and that is when I knew for
sure FOR A FACT, I would be attending
college. I wasn’t even in high school
yet, but that is when it hit me. I know
most of you are completing at least your
third week in school, I hope you are on
top of everything! What I mean: doing
your homework, asking questions if you
are unsure about a topic, and of course,
having some fun. For all our preschool,
kindergarten, and 1st grade Parents (je’e
& o’og), please, please, help your children
with their homework. They’ll be grateful
of it, and down, far down the road (where
I’m at today), they will be appreciative
for your support, help, and love that you
instilled into them to make them a greater
human being.
Me being new to college, coming
from Seton Catholic Preparatory High
School, it is not too bad. August 20th
was my first official day as a college
student and the only weird thing is that I
do not have class every day. It’s amazing.
Which gives me time to rest and do my
homework. I have a longer time period to
eat and even workout. For my high school
seniors, if you haven’t already, sign up for
the college SAT or ACT, start working on
college applications, as well as finding
other scholarships to sign up for. If you
have a Facebook, do not be ashamed to
ask questions either on the Miss Gila River
Facebook page or even, my own personal
Facebook page. This is what I’m here for,
I am here to help all of you in any way I
can!
Sapo’
Raeging Storm Miles
Miss Gila River 2012-2013
GRIC hosts ‘Four Tribes’ at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
Andra Gutierrez/GRIN
Tyler Owens, right, addresses tribal leadership during the Four Tribes meeting.
By Annie Gutierrez
The Gila River Indian Community
(GRIC), Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community (SRPMIC), the
Tohono O’odham Nation and the AkChin Indian Community gathered
at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and
Casino for a regular quarterly meeting.
The Four Tribes meeting, hosted by
Gila River, gathers tribal leaders, elders
and youth council members from Tohono
O’odham, Ak-Chin, SRPMIC, and GRIC
to discuss cultural issues, new projects
and updates from the four youth councils.
After the meeting was called to order,
Brenda Robertson opened the meeting with a
prayer. Governor Gregory Mendoza and the
Akimel O’odham/Pee Posh Youth Council
(AOPPYC) sang the morning star song.
Each tribe informed leaders about their
communities. Ak-Chin is in the process
of renovating some of its buildings, the
runway at the Ak-Chin Regional Airport,
and the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. Salt
River also plans to renovate and build
houses for different uses in Lehi D2.
New projects are in progress with
each tribe. Ak-Chin plans to build a new
movie theatre adjacent to the Ak-Chin
Harris Casino, and reopen the Ak-Chin
Community Vekol Market. Mendoza
updated the tribes on the new premium
outlet mall by the Sheraton Resort and the
new Vee Quiva Hotel and Casino. Both
projects are to be completed in the spring
and summer of 2013. The projects will
bring many construction and full/part time
employment to the community. “We are
always trying to find ways to diversify our
funding other than gaming,” said Mendoza.
Tohono
O’odham
Chairman
Ned Norris gave a brief update of the
Rosemont Copper project and asked
where the tribes stand in the process.
Salt River passed resolution to Rosemont
Copper. Ak-chin and Gila River are still
in the process of passing resolution.
On the agenda, former mayor Paul
Johnson and Joe Yuhas stood before
the four tribes and discussed the ballot
initiative. The initiative is for voters of
different political affiliations to choose their
candidate in a non-partisan election. The
two men asked the tribes for support of their
effort and financial assistance. Mendoza
responded saying “the concept sounds
good … for Gila River I will definitely take
this to our process to generate comments
from our council to make sure we’ve done
our analysis on this. I believe all the other
tribes will probably do the same as well.”
Last on the agenda, the four youth
councils updated the tribes on their
projects since the last meeting. They each
shared their experience at the 2012 Unity
and Gila River Youth Conference and the
National Building for Native Youth. “We
do see each other [four youth councils] a
lot. We have a really great relationship . .
. we always come together and we are all
equal. It’s great that we have that type of
relationship,” says Lisa Hendricks, 19, of
District 2 and president of the AOPPYC.
The young leaders also informed the
tribes of their upcoming events. For Gila
River, the youth are planning to take part
in the National Congress of American
Indians (NCAI) and they are also ready
to introduce new members to the council
in the upcoming inauguration this
October. The meeting ended with a lunch
and gift bags for the youth and adults.
The next Four Tribes meeting
will be hosted by Salt River PimaMaricopa
Indian
Community.
Page 10
Ribbon cutting and open house for homes in District 6
Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN
Maria Parada, right with scissors, cuts the ribbon to her new home in District 6.
In 1972 the average gallon of
gas cost 55 cents and the average
cost of a home was $27, 000. For
those that recall these sentimental
details of the early 1970s then
you might also remember a
neighborhood of rental units
constructed in the area adjacent
to 51st Avenue, Tashquinth Drive,
and Pecos Road. Fast forward
40 years and now District 6
has added 24 new houses to the
same area. “We’ve come a long
way,” said Jeff Jordan, project
manager GRIC Department of
Community Housing (DCH).
Department of Community
Housing commemorated the event
with an orientation for the tenants
followed by a ribbon cutting and
a review of the Residential Lease
Agreement and Policies. “You’ll
begin to see the turnaround,”
said Anthony Villareal Sr.,
District 6 council representative,
of the housing improvements.
The project was funded by
the Native American Housing
Assistance and Self Determination
Act of 1996 (NAHASDA).
The tenants gathered at
Sacaton Head Start gets new beginning
By Mikhail Sundust
The Sacaton Head Start
Program has been searching
for years to move into a new
building. The old Sacaton
elementary school that houses
them now is 50 years old, has
original Plexiglas windows that
you can no longer see through
and not near enough room to
handle the mass of children
trying to get their own head start
each year. A brand new District 3
Head Start Facility will fix that.
The
ceremonial
groundbreaking for the new
facility was held on Friday,
Aug. 24 on the corner of Seed
Farm Road and Cholla Avenue
in Sacaton. Currently, that lot is
nothing but dirt and one large,
lonely tree with the Boys &
Girls Club in the background.
A year or so from now that tree
will be the center of the new
Head Start Facility. Construction
on the new Head Start is
set to begin this September.
“It started with the parents,”
said Pat Foster, Director of Gila
River Head Start, “They felt that
their children needed a better
center than what we had here in
District 3.” Often times, parents
help lead classes and interact
with the children. “The families
are very important to Head Start
. . . they’re the ones who support
the school,” said Patrick Luther,
Sacaton Head Start Family
Advocate. Head Start holds regular
family meetings that keep the
parents informed and up to date.
Head Start is a federally
funded
program
for
preschool-age children of lowincome families that promotes
establishing solid educational
foundations
by
“enhancing
the District 6 Learning Center
on Aug. 17 for a continental
breakfast
before
Housing
Services
Supervisor
James
Cutter opened the orientation
portion
of
the
agenda.
Villareal
addressed
the
tenants followed by Albert Pablo,
District 6 council representative.
Pablo extended credit to
Tina Notah-Enas, GRIC Division
Manager/Acting DCH Director.
“Ms. Notah-Enas has done a
lot for the district,” said Pablo.
Following
the
council
representatives, Jordan described
the new homes to the tenants as
well as thanked other entities
such as Land Use Planning
and Zoning, Public Works,
Contracts and Finance.
“A
lot of thanks should go out to
them as well,” Jordan said.
Jordan said the houses have
tremendous upgrades compared
to the old units. The houses have
better smoke detection, ceiling
fans in every room, improved
insulation and solar window
screens to reduce energy costs.
Anthony
Herrera,
of
Amerind Risk Management,
did a presentation on insurance
and the Native American
Protection
Plan
(NAPP).
The orientation focused
September 2012
on safety and how to maintain
the quality of the homes.
Benedict Makil Jr., District
1 Block Watch coordinator, gave
a presentation on organizing
a neighborhood watch.
“It’s
our
responsibility,”
Makil
said, “to protect what is ours.”
Gila River Fire Department,
GRIC Animal Control and
Pest Control were also on
the
orientation’s
agenda.
The daylong event hit a
high note when everyone moved
from the Learning Center to West
Tashquinth Drive for the ribbon
cutting on one of the new homes.
Department
of
Community
Housing set up chairs, balloons,
a podium and a bright red
ribbon across the new house.
Maria Parada and her
family had the honor of cutting
the ribbon.
The Paradas
were selected as the tenants
to move in to that particular
house. “This is a dream that
finally came true,” Parada said.
Parada was excited for
her family and was overjoyed
about moving into a spacious
new home.
“We have so
much room now,” she said.
Similar to District 6,
25 new rentals units are on
schedule to open in District 7.
Community breaks ground on D5
multi-purpose building
Ground breaking for new Head Start on Aug. 24 in Sacaton.
their cognitive, social, and
emotional
development,”
according to its website.
Mario Molina, Director of
the Education Department, spoke
about the importance of the new
facility. “Head Start is crucial
[because] there are so many kids,”
he said, “The waiting list is huge
. . . we just don’t have enough
spots for them. A facility like this
is really going to help us out.”
Ginger Robinson is the
Administrative Assistant for the
Head Start Main Office. She
has been with the Education
Department for over 20 years
and Head Start since 2003. She
sees this project as the fulfillment
of past promises to education.
“Education is really becoming a
priority [in Gila River],” she said.
Gov. Mendoza spoke to that
point at the groundbreaking.
He said that after seeing the
condition of the current Sacaton
Head Start in a tour shortly
after taking office, he made it a
priority to get this project off the
ground. He said, “When it comes
to our children, they should be
given number one priority.”
He went on to say that this
groundbreaking “represents a
new beginning in that it will
be the first of a few Head Start
Centers that we hope to see
coming in the next few years.”
Head Starts in Districts 4, 5 and 6
may look forward to renovations
or new facilities in the near future.
For this project, Gila River
Indian Community Tribal Projects
Development (TPD) worked
with architect John Carr of DLR
Group to design the campus
around the tree, according to
Project Manager Garry Melton,
TPD. Rock Gap Engineering
is the General Contractor that
TPD chose to carry out the
construction of the facility.
The new building will
include taller classrooms, a multipurpose meeting area, kitchen
facilities, an infant nursing
room, an arts & crafts room and
adequate office space to house the
Head Start Administrative Staff.
“One of the best things about
this community is the way all
the families come together,” said
Director Foster. The forthcoming
Head Start structure will be good
for all the new students next
year and the staff is particularly
excited. Head Start employees
and supporters Luther, Robinson
and former councilman Rodney
Jackson, who emceed the
groundbreaking, are all former
students of the program and have
fond memories of when it was
just starting out in the 1960s.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Hudspeth
Official ground breaking of the new D5 multi-purpose facility.
By Annie Gutierrez
A summer breeze and a cloudy
sky started the morning of August
14, as Gila River members and
W.E O’Neil Construction broke
ground on the new multi-purpose
building in Vah-Ki, District 5.
Guests gathered at 6 a.m. on
the west field of Vah-Ki ballpark to
commence a project that has been
in the planning for quite a while.
The
groundbreaking
ceremony started with a welcome
and introduction from District
5 representative Franklin Pablo
Sr. followed by a blessing
from Annette Stewart, District
5
council
representative.
The development of the
building is, as Governor Gregory
Mendoza says “a long time
coming.” The District 5 service
center has been, at the time, part
of the capital projects, which is
a long-term investment project
paid under the community’s
budget. The project was finally
initiated back in 2006. Now,
it is in the building phase as
contractors start construction
this month. Laurie Enos, D5
coordinator, who has been with
the department seven years, gave
her appreciation saying, “We look
forward to the new facility. We
look forward to making things
go in a positive manner for the
district. We thank Governor and
Lt. Governor for making us a
priority and insuring that we get
our facility in a timely manner.”
W.E O’Neil construction,
established in 1925, has worked
with Gila River on past projects.
They also built the multi-purpose
building in District 1. In fact,
District 5’s building will have
the same layout as district one.
The new single story building
will be approximately 35,000
square feet and will include
administration space, kitchen
facilities, wellness/fitness area and
other amenities. The new addition
to the community will allow
opportunities for its members to
host meetings and socialize. Lt.
Governor Stephen Roe Lewis
expressed his thoughts on the
new addition, “This building is
more than a building . . . it is a
coming together, a strengthening
for this community to gather and
problem solve and discuss the
critical issues of this community.”
Governor Mendoza thanked
all the guests and employees for
attending the early ceremony as
we celebrate yet another milestone
in the community. The facility is
due for completion by July 2013.
September 2012
Page 11
Page 12
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Page 13
Page 14
September 2012
AFC East winner – New England Patriots
We don’t need Hank
Williams, Jr. to ask us if we are
ready for some football because
we’ve been ready since Eli
Manning’s déjà vu performance
against the New England
Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.
Two hundred fourteen days
separate the end of last season
to the kick off of the new regular
season. So put on your imitation
jersey, and look up new ways
to wrap bacon around another
meat because football is back.
Football made big headlines
over the offseason, but they were
not all pleasant. The Bountygate saga was as salacious as any
Spanish soap opera. You had
the NFL Commissioner Roger
Goodell doling out big-time
suspensions to those players,
coaches and personnel affiliated
with the bounty system employed
by the New Orleans Saints.
What about the around the
clock Peyton Manning watch?
How surreal was it to see him
meeting with the Arizona
Cardinals? That carousel spun
around for a couple of weeks until it
landed in John Elway’s back yard.
During the offseason the NFL
lost a legend when Hall of Fame
linebacker Junior Seau was found
dead of a self-inflicted gun shot
wound at his home in California.
And, by the way, a growing
list of former players is suing the
league for, “intentional tortious
misconduct, including fraud, and
intentional misrepresentation and
negligence,” according to the
master complaint against the NFL.
So much for an “off-season.”
Even though my picks
from last year were less
like Nostradamus and more
like Harold Camping, let’s
see if I can make up for it.
I’ve crunched the numbers
and evaluated every possible
aspect about all 32 NFL teams.
I’ve taken into account statistical
data and I even tested all the team’s
colors for the best feng shui. So
without any further delay here are
the GRIN’s infallible and absolute
picks for the new football season.
I wish I didn’t have to pick
these guys every year but I
just don’t see the other teams
in this division unseating the
AFC Champions. The Dolphins
invested a lot in rookie QB
Ryan Tannehill but Snowflake
the dolphin would have a better
chance taking the Fins to the
playoffs. Last year the Buffalo
Bills started out 5-2 but finished
1-8. Ruff Buff might make
some noise after revamping their
defense with sack master Mario
Williams rushing off the edge.
For some reason the New York
Jets have been in the news more
than the Super Bowl Champion
New York Giants. But all those
headlines won’t add up in the win
column and the Jets can “Tebow”
from home during the playoffs.
AFC North winner – Pittsburgh Steelers
The black and gold might
not reach last year’s 12-4 mark
but I still see them outclassing
the rest of the field. Baltimore
Ravens defensive wizard Terrell
Suggs blew out his Achilles while
the rest of their D gets a year
older. The Cincinnati Bengals
were a surprise playoff team last
year with rookies Andy Dalton
and A.J. Green making big
contributions. But they were 0-4
against the Steelers and Ravens,
and only one of their nine wins
came against an opponent with
a winning record. I think this
year they will be battling the
sophomore slump and take a step
back. The Cleveland Browns are
in this division on paper and that’s
about it. By the end of the year
the Dawg Pound will turn into
the Pound Puppies once again.
AFC West winner – San Diego
Chargers
This is one of the most
interesting divisions to break
down. No one ran away with
this division last year. Three of
the teams finished 8-8 and one
finished 7-9. Phillip Rivers had
a down year in 2011. He did
throw over 4,600 yards, but toss
in 20 interceptions and an 88.7
QB rating and you have an up
and down year for the former Pro
Bowl player. Ten of his 20 picks
occurred during a brutal sixgame losing streak in the middle
of the season. But they finished
the season 4-1 and had the same
record as the Denver Broncos. I
think Rivers bounces back into
form and he takes the Chargers to
another playoff berth, which saves
Norv Turner’s hide another year.
The Denver Broncos pulled
off a major coup by landing
Peyton Manning. As hard as
it is to imagine him in blue and
orange, you can bet that he will
give them the best chance to
make a run for the title since
John Elway and company won
back-to-back
Super
Bowls.
The Oakland Raiders and the
Kansas City Chiefs have a lot to
prove this year and I think they
will be in a good position to play
spoiler at the end of the season.
AFC South winner – Houston
Texans
This is Houston’s division to
lose, but health remains a factor.
Quarterback Matt Schaub went
down for the year in Week 10
and Andre Johnson is coming
off a surgery of his own. Arian
Foster will put up big numbers
and despite the loss of Mario
Williams I think the defense will
build off of last year’s turnaround.
The Tennessee Titans remain
the only legitimate threat to the
Texans while the Jacksonville
Jaguars and the Indianapolis
Colts will battle for last place.
However all eyes will be on Colts
QB Andrew Luck as he takes
his first snaps in what should
be a long and productive career.
Wild Card Teams – Denver
Broncos, Buffalo Bills
NFC East winner – New York
Giants
The boys in blue snuck into
the playoffs last year and once
again played their best football
on the way to another Super
Bowl victory. The Philadelphia
Eagles and Dallas Cowboys had
high hopes but their champagne
is still on ice. I don’t think the
Giants can pull off a run like
last year but they will outlast the
rest of the bunch. The Eagles
have the most room to improve
and I think they will challenge
the Giants late in the year. The
Cowboys had a good draft and
are looking to rebound from last
year’s late season meltdown.
The Washington Redskins are
starting a rookie at QB. Although
Robert Griffin III is no ordinary
rookie, it would be hard for him
to survive this tough division.
NFC North winner – Green
Bay Packers
Everything was going right
for the Green Bay Packers until
the playoffs started. The Giants
stunned the top-seeded Packers
spoiling, the Super Bowl dreams
of Cheese-heads everywhere.
If they are able to put 2011 to
bed then the Packers will be the
team to beat in the North behind
MVP Aaron Rodgers. One team
you can’t overlook though is the
Chicago Bears. They started
7-3 last year and the only thing
that could have kept them out of
the playoffs would have been a
monumental collapse and injuries
to key players.
Wait, that’s
exactly what happened. They
showed a lot of promise before
the injuries and they will right
the ship this year. The Detroit
Lions are too immature to take
the big leap forward and the
Minnesota Vikings are hoping
that Adrian Peterson recovers
from blowing out his knee.
NFC West winner – San Francisco 49ers
Are the San Francisco 49ers
going 13-3 again? No. Are they
still the team to beat? You bet.
They had a perfect opportunity
to get to the Super Bowl last year
until Kyle Williams fumbled
a crucial punt late in the NFC
Championship game. Arizona
State fans remember him doing
the same thing against U of A.
But they bring back their lightsout defense and a revamped
receiving corp.
However, a
tougher schedule will make their
ride to the playoffs a little bumpy.
The Seattle Seahawks will
improve from last year but not
by much. Jeff Fisher is the new
coach in St. Louis as the Rams
try to put it all together. I think
they are still a year away but they
might surprise some people. As
for the Arizona Cardinals, they
turned around what could have
been a disastrous season in 2011.
Defensive Coordinator Ray
Horton had the defense playing
with more confidence and it
showed on the field. But in the
NFL it’s all about the QB and the
Cardinals are still trying to find the
right guy. It is John Skelton for
now but I’m sure Kevin Kolb will
see some action. Hopefully there
are enough pieces on offense and
defense to give this season ticket
holder something to cheer for.
NFC South winner – Atlanta
Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are
contenders every year but now
it’s just a question of them getting
over the hump. They played
poorly in the NFC Wildcard Game
and have yet to win a playoff
game in the Mike Smith/Matt
Ryan era. The Georgia Dome is
going to be rocking this year as
the Dirty Birds win the South.
The New Orleans Saints went
from league darlings to league
villains and the commissioner
made sure they paid the price for
their bounty system. Coaches
and players were giving money to
players who hurt their opponents.
The Saints are crying foul but
no one is listening. Expect this
to be a down year for the Who
Dat Nation. Carolina Panthers
QB Cam Newton electrified
the league with the best rookie
season of any quarterback. He
is a one-man fantasy team and
it’s only a matter of time before
he turns around the whole team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
couldn’t have played worse last
year and I don’t see them raising
the “Jolly Roger” anytime soon.
Wild Card Teams – Chicago
Bears, Philadelphia Eagles
Champions – Houston Texans
If the Cardinals are unable
to fulfill my hopes for a dream
season then I think the Houston
Texans have all the pieces to win
the Super Bowl. The offense has
a set of triplets that will represent
the state of Texas like the trio
from Dallas in the 1990s. Wade
Smith will keep the defense
dialed up to another stellar
season. It won’t be easy but they
can bring home the hardware and
have a Texas-sized celebration.
September 2012
Page 15
O’odham with Alaskan Native ties is adopted into Wolf Clan of Metlakatla, AK
Photo Courtesy of Terrance H. Booth, Jr.
On August 10th, Terrance H. Booth, Jr. gets clan adoption into the
Wolf Clan.
By Terrance H. Booth, Sr.
Tsimshian Tribe
(SitNews)
Metlakatla,
Alaska - This month Metlakatla
celebrates its 125th anniversary
and emerging cultural traditions
are on the rise in this Alaska
Native community founded in
1887. The Tsimshians of Alaska
have been learning of their
Tsimshian culture by returning
to their original homeland and
learning songs and dances from
their relatives of northern British
Columbia.
What is needed
among the Tsimshian Nation
is maintaining our Tsimshian
way of life, our Sm’algyax (our
Tsimshian Language).
Terrance H. Booth, Jr., Greatgreat-grandson of Adolphus
Calvert, Neesh wil gum, of
the Wolf Clan, born in Port
Simpson, British Columbia has
been learning, experiencing, and
finding out about late relatives
especially on their clans and the
“house” that they belonged to.
Terrance H. Booth, Jr. studies
the true meeting of this adoption
and has busied the proper way
of putting his regalia together
that reflects his three cultures
within him being Tsimshian/
Pima/ Thono O’odham tribes. His
Pima/Tohono O’odham relatives
put together part of his regalia.
Pima women elders of Gila River
Indian Community gave him the
name Eagleboy and he carries
that proudly for it is highly
incorporated within his artwork.
Terrance had the privilege
of being in the presence of his
late grandfather, Ira C. Booth,
Tsimshian
historian,
tribal
judge, boat builder, builder,
and influential tribal member of
Metlakatla, Alaska. Ira C. Booth
was a great inspiration to his
grandson, telling many Tsimshian
stories, history and the great
leaders of the past of Metlakatla.
From his own relatives he gains
and learns much from the people
of Metlakatla. Terrance is an upand-coming young man. Thanks
to Sealaska Heritage Institute
both he and Kandi McGilton
of Metlakatla were hired to do
pictures of Southeast Alaska
Regalia that will displayed at
Sealaska Heritage Institute and
archived.
Terrance has been an artist
participant with the Heard
Museum in Phoenix, which
each March has an International
Native Art show last one had
over 600 Native artists.
It
is noted in his artwork he is
highly influenced by the three
cultures within him and noted the
Tsimshian influence. His return
to Metlakatla, Alaska his mentors
and a former Tsimshian Art
teacher, Mr. Jack Hudson who
was Tsimshian art instructor for
nearly 40 years in Annette Island
School District, this writer thinks
the only school district with a
Master Native Art Instructor.
Terrance now is collaborating
with his teacher/mentor to further
perfect Tsimshian Art. Terrance is
one of the Native Art Instructors
putting his training and artwork
to full use for future generation of
Tsimshian Artists.
This adoption has full cultural
meaning for his regalia from his
Pima side of the family. It all
started with family prayer and
four days of remembrance of his
Pima Relatives. He reflects on his
three cultures within him and this
clan adoption deeply roots him in
the Tsimshian cultural ways and
will make a marked impression
upon his traditional way of life,
especially being among other
noted Tsimshian Artists.
His exposure to other
Southeast Alaska Natives, namely
Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian will
even have more of an impact
upon the rich heritage of each
of these tribes. The adoption
into the Wolf Clan (Laxgibuu)
means to this family lies an
awakening of being among the
ancestors and reconnecting with
our ancestors of the Tsimshian.
To this writer and father it is
an acknowledgement giving
full remembrance to Tsimshian
relatives keeping the Tsimshian
traditions alive and maintaining
the clans of our ancestors. Along
with the adoption is the making
or acquiring the gifts to give
away as a remembrance that we
become keepers of our Tsimshian
traditions and keep our Tsimshian
ways alive.
Our family is proud family
of Terrance as he establishes
his rightful place among the
Tsimshian Peoples and keeps
alive his great-great-grandfather’s
Adolphus Calvert’s Clan alive.
His accomplishments will be
more noted as he gets completely
rooted into the Tsimshian
traditional ways of life.
His accomplishments:
◦
Artist – presenting
Tsimshian/Pima/Thono O’odham
artwork at two Heard Museum
Native Art shows.
◦ Showcasing his art at
the Cultural Center & Museum is
located Topawa, AZ.
◦ Art Work Featured on
Fine Art http://fineartamerica.
com/profiles/terrance-h-booth-jr.
html
◦ Pending
Publication
of “Sullivan Art Collection”
14th Edition, by Vicki and
Ron Sullivan, Art collectors of
Native Art work, Terrance traded
and bartered for Pueblo Zuni
Necklace and matching Earrings
(both of pieces will be gifted at
adoption celebration).
◦ Hired at Annette Island
School District as Native Graphic
Art Instructor for school year
2011-2012
◦ Winning
Tsimshian
Artist for Annette Island School
District
Elementary
School
by creating a new school logo
reflecting school is Tsimshian
school.
◦ Mentored under Mr.
Jack Hudson for many years
and now is collaborating with
his teacher/mentor on art pieces
making full use of his graphic arts
training.
Page 16
September 2012
EDUCATION
Tribal Education Department "Maschahamdud a Jeniktha"
CASA BLANCA COMMUNITY SCHOOL
IRA H. HAYES HIGH SCHOOL
Casa Blanca Community School Board
Revises School’s Corporate Charter, Sets
Elections
‘Choose greatness’ says former NFL star
Submitted by the Casa Blanca Community School Board
The new school year kicked
off this month with a visit to
Gila River schools from – well,
a kicker. Nick Lowery, retired
National Football League seventime All-Pro Kicker and Kansas
City Chiefs Hall of Famer, visited
Ira Hayes High School and Vechij
Himdag Mashchamakud on Aug.
14th to speak with students about
identity, character and persistence.
“Focus...Focus on what you
love doing,” said Lowery to a
room full of students at Ira Hayes
High School. Lowery wore his
famous #8 Kansas City Chiefs
jersey and tossed a football back
and forth with the kids. Don’t
worry about trying to be who
“they want you to be,” he said,
find who you are and be true to
that. “Choose greatness,” he said.
The football star told of
a Pro Bowl game in which he
kicked the game-winning field
goal but his success felt empty.
He said he was lonely because,
“I didn’t have my family with
me.” It is important to surround
yourself with positive influences,
Lowery told the students, and
to keep your family close.
Lowery is an experienced
In July 2011, the Community Council appointed the Education
Standing Committee to assume control of Casa Blanca Community
and sit as the School’s Interim Board of Trustees. Since then, ESC
has investigated various community concerns brought to ESC prior to
Council’s July 2011 action. ESC discovered that many of the issues
raised were unfounded, but in sitting as the CBCS Interim Board,
ESC has had the opportunity to work with administrative to hire and
retain highly qualified teachers, to improve financial management
and responsibility, and to address other administrative issues.
In tasking the ESC to sit as the CBCS Interim Board, the Community
Council directed the Board to revise the School’s Corporate Charter to
add a recall provision. The current version of the Charter contains
no such provision and, therefore, there is no mechanism by which
eligible Community voters can remove sitting Board members. The
Interim Board has worked diligently to revise the Charter. The Board
started by adding a recall provision – it allows voters in Districts 3,
4, and 5 (the School’s attendance Districts) to file a petition to recall
a Board member. The Tribal Elections Office will evaluate any such
petition and, where appropriate, set a recall election. Other changes
to the Charter are also being proposed, including the following:
•
•
•
•
•
Clarifying the attendance boundaries;
Adding language to strengthen the requirement that Board members have no felony convictions and have committed no offenses
involving children;
Strengthened language on Board members’ fiduciary duty to the
School and Community;
New language allowing Board members to be removed by the
rest of the Board for cause; and
New language strengthening sovereign immunity.
The Board has presented the Charter revisions to each
of the three Districts the School serves, and is seeking letters
of support before the Charter goes forward from ESC to the
Council for consideration. Anyone interested in seeing a draft of
the Revised Charter can contact the School at (520) 315-3489.
In finalizing a revised draft Corporate Charter for the
School, the Interim Board has nearly completed all its assigned
tasks. Accordingly, Board elections will be held for new Board
members. Elections are tentatively set for September 24, 2012
(updated information will be provided to the Districts soon). There
will be polling places in District 3, 4, and 5. More details will be
forthcoming, but anyone wishing to run for the Board, or needing
more information, should contact the School at the number above.
It has been ESC’s pleasure working with CBCS, its administration,
its teachers and staff, and, most of all, its students. We are proud to
announce that the student body made significant jumps in test scores
in all areas last year, and we expect that to continue. We thank the
Community for its support during our term as the Interim Board.
For further questions regarding the Revised Charter or
elections please feel free to contact Principal Eric James at
(520) 315-3489 or Terrance B. Evans at (520) 562-9720.
8th Annual Reservation Wide Teacher In-Service
‘Self-Reliance through Culture and Education’
Six lucky winners walked away with new iPads
at the Teacher In-Service. The iPads, won during the Final General Assembly, will be used for
educational purposes and to enhance the learning experience for GRIC students. The In-Service was held at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass
Resort & Spa and featured several informative
breakout sessions for school teachers and staff.
By Mikhail Sundust
Former NFL place kicker Nick Lowery gives a motivational speech to students at Ira H. Hayes High School.
motivational speaker and active
proponent of Native American
youth empowerment. He uses
his experiences with the NFL
to illustrate how one can rise
above life’s challenges. Lowery
was cut 11 times from eight
different NFL teams; despite
these setbacks he rose to become
the league’s most accurate kicker
and still holds the Chiefs’ record
for the most field goals ever.
Lowery is also a recipient of
the Byron White NFL Man of the
Year Award for his philanthropic
work. He has established and
been involved in numerous
youth programs, most notably
the Native Vision Youth Football
Camp and the Nation Building
for Native Youth program.
Lowery closed his dialogue
with the students by reminding
them that talent does not lead
to success. “Lot’s of the most
talented football players never
make the team . . . because they
give up.” Lowery gave away the
autographed football they had
been passing around with his
take-home message written on
it in bold, “NEVER give up.”
September 2012
EDUCATION
Tribal Education Department "Maschahamdud a Jeniktha"
Page 17
New era of drugs discussed at Sacaton Family Meeting
By Joshua Jovanelly
A few generations ago,
parents could feel secure if they
focused on keeping their kids
away from alcohol, tobacco
and
marijuana.
Nowadays,
these are just a few substances
in an ever-growing and evermore dangerous list of drugs
being used by teenagers.
“We are in a new era of
drugs,” said Stephanie Siete, who
on Aug. 30 spread awareness and
urged parental involvement at the
first Family Meeting of the school
year titled “Protecting Gila River
Youth: A Closer Look at Underage
Drinking and Drug Abuse.”
“Drugs today are nowhere near
what they were five years ago
or 20 years ago,” she added.
More than 50 parents and
children filled the Family Meeting
Room of Sacaton Elementary
School to hear Siete’s 90-minute
presentation on new drugs to be
wary of, including spice, bath
salts and prescription painkillers
like oxycodone. Spice, made up
of synthetic chemicals that mimic
THC — the active compound in
marijuana — is sold as incense,
Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN
Stephanie Siete during the first Family Meeting of the school year
at Sacaton Elementary on Aug. 30.
while bath salts are crystal-like
substances that have effects similar
to amphetamine and cocaine.
Siete
works
for
the
Day Treatment Center at
Community Bridges, Inc., a
statewide facility that offers
rehabilitation
and
outreach
education and has provided Gila
River school resource officers
with drug awareness training.
She stressed the importance
of spreading awareness about
drugs as early as possible.
“My goal is to prevent
what we treat,” she said.
“This information needs to
start in elementary school.
That is the prevention age.”
With a slideshow presentation
behind her, Siete encouraged
families to talk to their kids about
drugs and alcohol and reminded
parents that they are their child’s
most important role models. She
said parents should raise standards
and realize the powerful impact
they have on their children.
“It’s very important for you,
the adult, to be knowledgeable
about this stuff,” Siete told the
attendants. “I’m here talking
to your kids for one hour, but
you’re in their life for life.”
Henry
Jackson,
whose
6-year-old son attends Sacaton
Elementary, said he would
be taking the message home.
“It gives us more of an
outlook on what’s attainable
for our children,” Jackson said.
“It makes me more aware of
what to look out for, and what
to draw my kids away from.”
“It’s
scary,”
added
Jackson’s
wife,
Kristin.
Despite much of the focus
being on new drugs, Siete did
not want to give the impression
that alcohol prevention had
diminished in importance. In
Arizona, kids on average start
drinking six months after their
12th birthday. Of particular
concern
are
the
alcoholenergy drink combinations,
which mix caffeine and other
stimulants all in the same can.
“The problem is the
alcohol because it leads to
poor decisions,” Siete said.
“The goal is to push back that
first
drinking
experience.”
Donna
Morago,
whose
Sacaton Teacher Selected County Teacher of the Year
SacatonThe
Sacaton
Elementary
School District № 18 is
proud to announce that
Mrs. Leatrice Mannie,
a third grade teacher
at Sacaton Elementary
School, has been selected
as the 2012 Pinal County
Rural Teacher of the Year
by the Arizona Rural
Schools
Association.
Mannie grew up in
Ganado, Arizona on the
Navajo Nation where she
is an enrolled member.
When asked why she
became
a
teacher,
Mannie replied, “I chose
to become a teacher
because there is a great
need for highly qualified
Indian educators to serve
the American Indian
population. My mother is
also a teacher who in turn
inspired me to become
a teacher, as well”.
This school year
marks Mrs. Mannie’s 6th
year as a teacher and 4th
in the Sacaton School
District. She attributes
becoming a skilled
and effective teacher
to
the
phenomenal
mentor she had during
student teaching who
was a Rodel Exemplary
Teacher. Future plans
for Mannie include
pursuing a doctorate
in Educational Policy
and working at the
college level in helping
American Indian students
attain their degrees.
Mrs.
Mannie
holds
a
bachelor’s
degree in Elementary
Education from Arizona
State University and
a master’s degree in
Educational Leadership
from
Northern
Arizona
University.
Right: Mrs. Leatrice
Mannie, the 2012 Pinal
County Rural Teacher
of the Year and a Sacaton Elementary School
teacher, works oneon-one with a student
5-year-old granddaughter just
started at the elementary, agreed
that children getting exposed
to family members who are
alcoholics was a major problem.
“They see their family
members on it and it’s not
a good picture,” Morago
said. “It’s scary to see.”
Siete warned parents that
drug dealers are not providing
the most harmful drugs anymore.
These substances can be found
in the medicine cabinet or under
the sink, or can be purchased for
a cheap price at smoke shops.
“We are in a different time
of technology,” Siete said.
“Some of the most dangerous
highs are coming from houses.”
Boredom is the top reason
teenagers start using drugs. Siete
suggests that parents fill kids’
free time with activities their
kids are passionate about, like
sports or art classes, to prevent
them from filling that space
with dangerous alternatives.
“Drugs are a community
concern,” Siete said. “People
need to take off their blinders
and realize drugs affect everyone.
Congrats to a small community
doing something about it.”
Page 18
September 2012
Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, August 1, 2012
ACTION SHEET
Community Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton,
Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 562-9720; Fax
(520) 562-9729
CALL TO ORDER
The First Regular Monthly Meeting of the
Community Council held Wednesday, August
1, 2012, in the Community Council Chambers
at the Governance Center in Sacaton, Arizona
was called to order by presiding Chairman
Governor Gregory Mendoza at 9:05 a.m.
INVOCATION
Councilwoman Brenda Robertson
ROLL CALL
Sign-in Sheet Circulated
Executive Officers Present:
Governor Gregory Mendoza
Executive Officers Absent:
Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis
Council Members Present:
D1- Cynthia Antone, Arzie Hogg; D2-Jewel
Whitman; D3- Myron G. Schurz (9:15), Dale
G. Enos; D4-Monica Antone, Jennifer Allison,
Christopher Mendoza, Barney Enos, Jr.; D5-,
Annette J. Stewart, Janice F. Stewart, Brenda
Robertson, Franklin Pablo, Sr.; D6-Anthony
Villareal, Sr., Albert Pablo, Terrance B. Evans;
D7- Martha Miller
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVED AS AMENDED
PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS
1. Pinal County Republican Party
Presenter: Myron Brown, Jr.
Mr. Myron Brown, Jr. provided a brief biography and introduced each of the candidates:
Mr. Jonathan Paton, Mr. Frank Pratt, Mr. TJ
Shope, and Mr. Lando Voyles. Each of the
candidates provided a brief introduction and
overview of their platforms. Mr. Douglas Wolf
was not in attendance; Mr. Brown, Jr. provided
his brief biography. Various Council members
and Governor Gregory Mendoza expressed
their concerns and words of encouragement.
2. New Officer & Graffiti Abatement Unit
Presenter: Edward Alameda
Chief Edward Alameda provided a brief
overview of the program and introduced each
of the officers: Ms. Caroline Brown, Mr. Justin
Doucet, Mr. Jose Garibay, Mr. Andrew Spurgin,
Mr. Aaron Werner, and Graffiti Abatement
Team member Mr. Todd Tate. Various Council
members expressed their concerns and words
of encouragement.
[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA CALLED
FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAK
RECONVENED AT 10:54AM]
REPORTS
1. Off-Reservation Boarding Schools End of
the Year Report
Presenter: Christopher Banham
REPORT HEARD
2. Gila Crossing Community School Tribal
Allocation 2nd Quarter Report-Middle School
Campus Presenter: Jeff Williamson
REPORT HEARD
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR 2-HOUR
LUNCH BREAK
RECONVENED AT 2:06PM]
3. Water Code – Office of General Counsel
(OGC) Presenters: Jason Hauter & Office of
General Counsel
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. Health Resource FY11-12 Semi Annual
Report Presenter: Laverne Dallas
REPORT HEARD
5. Pee Posh Veterans Association-Third Quarter Report For FY 2011-2012
Presenter: Danny Jenkins
REPORT HEARD
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER
EXECUTIVE SESSION
6. Gaming Internal Audit –Third Quarter Report
April 1, 2012-June 30, 2012 (Executive Session) Presenter: Robert T. Russin
REPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
7. Gila River Gaming Commission-General
Report For Month of July 2012 (Executive Session) Presenter: Serena Joaquin
8. Gila River Gaming Enterprises, Inc. Monthly
Report June 2012 (Executive Session)
Presenters: John James, Kenneth Manuel &
Board of Directors
9. Monthly Financial Report For The Nine
Months Ended June 30, 2012 (Executive Session) Presenter: Robert Keller
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT
EXECUTIVE SESSION
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR A
10-MINUTE BREAK
RESOLUTIONS
*1. A Resolution Approving The Relinquishment Of Stephanie Loyola Chiago A.K.A.:
(Stephanie L. Rubio) From The Membership
Roll Of The Gila River Indian Community (LSC
forwards to Council with recommendation for
approval)
Presenters: Gwen Thomas & Enrollment
Department
APPROVED
*2. A Resolution Approving And Authorizing
Amendment No. 1 To The October 1, 2011
Agreement Between The Gila River Indian
Community And Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauter
&
Feld, LLP (G&MSC forwards to Council with
recommendation of approval)
Presenter: Linus Everling
Presenter: Linus Everling
APPROVED
3. A Resolution Approving And Authorizing An
Agreement Between The Gila River Indian
Community And The Center For Applied
Research,
Inc. For Fiscal Year 2012 (EDSC forwards to
Council with recommendation of approval;
NRSC
and G&MSC concurs)
Presenters: Ron Rosier, EPROW Negotiation
Team
APPROVED
4. A Resolution Rescinding GR-23-10 Which
Approved A Fifty (50) Year Homesite Assignment
Agreement, And Approving An Amended Fifty
Year
Homesite Assignment Agreement For Gordon
Reams, Located In District Six Of The Gila
River
Indian Reservation And Designated As Drawing No.
30612-0063 (NRSC forwards to Council with
recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Pamela Pasqual
APPROVED
5. A Resolution Amending The August 2011
Gila
River Indian Community Transportation Plan
And
Adopting The Updated Plan As The Community’s
2012 Long Range Transportation Plan (NRSC
approval, G&MSC concurs)
Presenter: Sasha Saliego
APPROVED
6. A Resolution Approving And Designating
9.6248
Acres, More Or Less, Of Reservation Land
Within
District Three Of The Gila River Indian Community
In Order To Expand, Operate And Maintain The
East Cemetery For The Purpose Of Providing
Additional Space For Ceremonial And Cultural
Activities As Shown In Drawing No. 303120145A
(NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for
approval, with corrections)
Presenter: Dante Nash
APPROVED
7. A Resolution Approving And Designating A
Parcel
Of Reservation Land Within District Four Of
The Gila
River Indian Community To The Department Of
Community Housing For The Purpose Of
Constructing, Maintaining And Operating A
New
Elderly Housing Complex As Shown In Drawing
No.30412.-0245B (NRSC forwards to Council
with
recommendation for approval, with correction)
APPROVED
8. A Resolution Authorizing The Office Of
Environmental Health Services Interim Authority To
Inspect And Permit On – Reservation Public
And
Semi-Public Swimming And Other Water
Recreation
Facilities (HSSC forwards to Council with
recommendation for approval, G&MSC
concurs)
Presenters: Tana Fitzpatrick & Laverne Dallas
APPROVED
9. A Resolution Approving The Removal Of
Leon E.
Manuel From The Gila River Indian Community
Membership Roll (LSC forwards to Council
with
Presenters: Gwendolyn Thomas & Enrollment
Department
APPROVED
10. A Resolution Approving The Relinquishment Of
Roland Soos A.K.A.: (Clarence Roland Soos)
From
The Membership Roll Of The Gila River Indian
Community (LSC forwards to Council with
Presenters: Gwendolyn Thomas & Enrollment
Department
APPROVED
11. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving An
Agreement Between Applied Forensic Solutions,
LLC And The Gila River Indian Community
(LSC
approval; G&MSC concurs)
Presenter: David White
APPROVED
12. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving
The
Termination Of Interests In The Per Capita
Trust
And Directing The Distribution Of Trust Assets
To
Certain Beneficiaries (G&MSC forward to
Community Council with recommendation of
approval)
Presenter: Robert Keller
APPROVED
13. A Resolution Approving And Amendment
To The
Fleet Management Services Section V. Vehicle
And
Equipment Acquisition And Disposal Procedure
Of
The Fleet Management Policies And Procedures As
Approved By Resolution GR-109-04 (G&MSC
forward to Community Council with recommendation
of approval)
Presenter: Henry Perales
APPROVED
14. A Resolution Approving And Authorizing
The
August 1, 2012 Agreement Between The Gila
River
Indian Community And Pietzsch, Bonnett &
Womack, P.A. (G&MSC forward to Community
Council with recommendation of approval)
Presenters: Employee Benefit Board Of
Trustees
APPROVED
15. A Resolution Approving The Capital
Projects
Budget For The Gila River Telecommunication,
Inc.,
For The Period October 1, 2012 Through
September
30, 2013 (G&MSC forward to Community
Council
with recommendation of approval)
APPROVED
ORDINANCES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1.
Confidential Press Release (LSC
forwards to Council with recommendation
to disseminate a Press Release through the
CPAO) Presenter: Chelsea Durkin
EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO AUTHORIZE THE DISSEMINATION OF A PRESS
RELEASE REGARDING THE
FORMER CHIEF OF POLICE MR. DEREK
ARNSON THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AND
TO FORWARD TO AZ POST A TERMINATION
REPORT; FURTHERMORE, THE GILA RIVER
INDIAN COMMUNITY
THROUGH THIS MOTION DOES NOT SUPPORT THE CURRENT CAMPAIGN OF MR.
DEREK ARNSON
NEW BUSINESS
1. Cross-Reservation Nuclear Waste Transportation (NRSC forwards to Council for discussion and action)
Presenter: Amy Mignella
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO PROCEED WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OUTLINED BY THE LAW OFFICE
2. Tribal Consultation with the US EPA Regarding Curis Resources (AZ), Inc./Florence
Copper Project (NRSC forwards to Council to
have the Council designate the Litigation Team
as the consultation body for the Community;
G&MSC concurs)
Presenter: Thomas Murphy
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DESIGNATE THE LITIGATION TEAM
3. Recommendation of Individuals to Serve
on the Department of the Interior Secretarial
Election Board (LSC forwards to Council with
the recommendation of the first option)
Presenter: Javier Ramos
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO APPROVE
AND ADOPT OPTION #1
4. Declare Vacancy on Gila River Sand &
Gravel Board of Directors
Presenter: Linda Andrews
DECLARED
5. Vacancies On The Litigation Team (G&MSC
forwards to Council with recommendation of
identifying one position as an LSC representative and the second position to be selected
and appointed by the Community Council)
Presenter: Thomas Murphy
DECLARED
APPOINTED COUNCILWOMAN JENNIFER
ALLISON – LEGISLATIVE STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBER
APPOINTED COUNCILWOMAN JANICE
STEWART
6. Tribal Allocation Quarterly Reports (Executive Session) (ESC forwards to Council;
G&MSC concurs)
Presenter: Mario Molina
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DECREASE THE TRIBAL ALLOCATIONS BY
15% TO VHM AND IRA HAYES
SCHOOL
[Addendum to Agenda]
7. Community Council Concerns – Re: Community Budget Process
Presenters: Community Council
ITEM DISCUSSED
MINUTES
1. May 2, 2012 Regular Meeting
APPROVED WITH CORRECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
>REQUEST FOR COUNCIL DISTRIBUTION
OF INFORMATION
>CONCERNS EXPRESSED REGARDING
MINUTES AND COUNCIL SECRETARY
EVALUATION
>EXECUTIVE/COUNCIL WORK SESSION
RESCHEDULED TO NEXT MONTH
>REQUESTS FOR COUNCIL CALENDAR
DISTRIBUTION
>REQUEST FOR DISTRIBUTION OF BUDGET CALENDAR
>TRIBAL TEACHERS’ IN-SERVICE FRIDAY,
AUGUST 10, 2012
ADJOURNMENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:23PM
* Denotes TABLED from previous meeting(s)
September 2012
Page 19
Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, August 15, 2012
ACTION SHEET
Community Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton,
Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 562-9720; Fax
(520) 562-9729
CALL TO ORDER
The Second Regular Monthly Meeting of the
Community Council held Wednesday August
15, 2012, in the Community Council Chambers
at the Governance Center in Sacaton, Arizona
was called to order by presiding Chairman
Governor Gregory Mendoza at 9:06 a.m.
INVOCATION
Provided by Councilwoman Monica Antone
ROLL CALL
Sign-In Sheet Circulated
Executive Officers Present:
Governor Gregory Mendoza
Executive Officers Absent:
Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis
Council Members Present:
D1-Cynthia Antone; D2-Jewel Whitman; D3Myron G. Schurz, Dale G. Enos; D4- Jennifer
Allison, Christopher Mendoza, Barney Enos,
Jr.; D5-Brenda Robertson (9:30), Franklin
Pablo, Sr.; D6-Anthony Villareal, Sr., Albert
Pablo, Terrance B. Evans (9:08); D7- Martha
Miller
Council Members Absent:
D1- Arzie Hogg; D5- Annette J. Stewart, Janice
F. Stewart
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVED AS AMENDED
PRESENTATIONS/INTRODUCTIONS
1. Brenalee Sakiestewa - Miss Native American USA Contestant
Presenter: Brenalee Sakiestewa
MS. BRENALEE SAKIESTEWA INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THE COUNCIL AND
PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HER
CANDIDACY PLATFORM. VARIOUS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND GOVERNOR GREGORY
MENDOZA PROVIDED WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND SUPPORT.
2. Life Saving Award To Cletus Thomas
Presenter: Thomas C. Knapp
TABLED
REPORTS
*1. Water Code – Office of General Counsel
(OGC)
Presenter: Jason Hauter & Office of General
Counsel
TABLED
2. Head Start Federal Review Follow-up
Report Presenter: Pat Foster
3. Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. 2Q2012
Update & Subsidiaries Gila River Asset
Management 2Q2012 Update, Alluvion
Communications 2Q2012 Update, Native
Technology Solutions, Inc. 2Q2012 Update
Presenters: Bruce Holdridge & GRTI Board
REPORT HEARD
4. FY12 Semi-Annual Tobacco Tax Report
Presenters: Richard Narcia & GRHC Board
REPORT HEARD
RECONVENED AT 11:23AM]
5. Educational Information – AHCCCS/ Other
Benefits
Presenters: Richard Narcia & Ginger Fligger
REPORT HEARD
6. Strong Heart Study Report
Presenters: Barbara Howard & Darren Calhoun
7. GRHC Dialysis Action Plan Update
Presenters: Richard Narcia & Amish Purohit
REPORT HEARD
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR 90-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK
8. Defense Services Office Report
Presenter: Cecilia Vaca
REPORT HEARD
9. Per Capita Trust Summary Report
REPORT HEARD
EXECUTIVE SESSION
10. Monthly Financial Activity Report (Executive Session)
11. ITCA Audit (Executive Session)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTIONS
1. A Resolution Approving Funding To The Gila
Crossing Community School To Provide Early
Literacy Pre-School Program To Three & Four
Year Olds In Joint & Equal Partnership With
First Things First Gila River Indian Community
Regional Partnership Council Grant Funding
(ESC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; G&MSC concurs)
APPROVED
2. A Resolution Granting A Utility Easement To
The
Salt River Agricultural Improvement And Power
District For The Purpose Of Accessing, Operating
and Maintaining A 12KV Electrical Distribution
Line
Within The Exterior Boundaries Of The Gila
River
Indian Reservation And More Specifically Upon
Community Trust Land In District 6 Of The Gila
River Indian Reservation And Described Within
Drawing No. 20609-0136-EA-01(NRSC
forwards to
the Council with recommendation for approval,
with
the correction)
Presenter: Rod Tuttle
APPROVED
3. A Resolution Amending GR-170-09 By
Recognizing And Approving A Boundary
Adjustment
For The Gila Crossing Community School
Totaling
11.9006 Acres Of Reservation Land Within
District
Six Of The Gila River Indian Community For
The
Operation And Maintenance Of The Gila
Crossing
Community School As Shown In Drawing No.
40612-0063B (NRSC forwards to the Council
with
recommendation for approval, with the
changes)
DISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
4. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving The
Memorandum Of Agreement Between Arizona
State
University School Of Social Work, Office Of
American Indian Projects And The Gila River
Indian
Community (H&SSC forwards to Council with
recommendation of approval, G&MSC concurs)
Presenter: David White
5. A Resolution Approving The Relinquishment
Of
Jason James Loretto From The Gila River
Indian
Community Membership Roll (LSC forwards to
Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Gwendolyn Thomas
6. A Resolution Approving The Grant Application To
The United States Department Of Health And
Human Services For A Low Income Home
Energy
Assistance Program For The Gila River Indian
Community (G&MSC motioned to forward to
Council
with recommendation of approval)
Presenter: Pamela Thompson
APPROVED
7. A Resolution Approving The New Gila River
Indian Community Travel Policy And Rescinding
The Travel Policy Authorized Under Resolution
GR215-02 (G&MSC motioned to forward the
revised
copy to Council with recommendation of approval)
APPROVED
8. A Resolution Modifying The Use And Distribution
Of Monies From The Gila River Indian Community
Water Settlement Fund For The Operations of
The
Gila River Indian Irrigation And Drainage
District
And For The Purchase Of Central Arizona
Project
water In Fiscal Year 2013 (G&MSC motioned
to
forward to Council with recommendation of
approval)
APPROVED
9. A Resolution Establishing A Capital Projects
Carry-Over Fund (G&MSC motioned to
forward to
APPROVED
10. A Resolution Approving Modification No. 30
To The Gila River Indian Community Capital
Projects Fund Budget (G&MSC motioned
forward
the recommendations that are going forward in
changes to the Capital Budget to forward to
the
Council)
APPROVED
11. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving A
Limited Waiver Of Sovereign Immunity For The
Caring House To Enter Into A Custody Agreement
With Charles Schwab Bank For An Employee
Retirement Plan (G&MSC motioned to forward
to
Presenter: Rebecca Hall
APPROVED
ORDINANCES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Off-Reservation Gaming Update (Executive Session) (G&MSC forwards to Council for
discussion and possible action)
Presenter: Scot Butler
ITEM HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION
2. Department Of Community Housing Narrative Report Through June 30, 2012 (G&MSC
forwards to Council)
Presenters: Tina Notah-Enas & Lori Francisco
MOTION MADE AND SECOND DIRECTING
THE COMMUNITY NOT TO AWARD ANY
CONTRACT THAT WILL PROFIT OR ENRICH
ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD A GRIC BUSINESS LICENSE
REVOKED OR SUSPENDED
3. Department of the Interior Secretarial
Election Board Appointments (LSC forwards
to Council, under Unfinished Business, the
recommendation to approve Option 1; recommending District Four Council RepresentativeMonica Antone and Option 2; Governor’s
choice of Council Representative)
Presenters: Legislative Standing Committee
COUNCILWOMAN MONICA ANTONE APPOINTED MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO
AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNOR GREGORY
MENDOZA TO APPOINT AN ADDITIONAL
COUNCIL MEMBER
GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA APPOINTED COUNCILWOMAN CYNTHIA
ANTONE
NEW BUSINESS
1. Gila Crossing Community School Request
Funding To Rent Two Modular Buildings for
Preschool Programs (ESC forwards to Council
with recommendation for approval, G&MSC
concurs)
APPROVED
2. Patient Care at the Caring House (H&SSC
forwards to Council as FYI)
Presenters: Health & Social Standing Committee
ITEM HEARD AS FYI
3. Request For Work Session With Community
Council Regarding Property & Supply Process
(G&MSC forward to Council to propose a work
session on September 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
with Property & Supply here at CCSO)
Presenter: Geneva Gooden
DISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
[ADDENDUM TO AGENDA]
4. Gila River Sand & Gravel Overpayment
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO APPROVE
OPTION #2 OF MEMORANDUM
5. District 4 Housing Advisory Committee Appointment
Presenter: Linda Andrews
SHARON LEWIS APPOINTED
MINUTES
1. June 6, 2012 - Regular
APPROVED
ANNOUNCEMENTS
>DINNER MEETING WITH SALT RIVER,
ROADRUNNER ROOM, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 AT 6:00PM
>THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012 AT 6:00 AM
D5 MULTI-PURPOSE GROUND BREAKING
>GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA PROVIDED A UPDATE OF THE STORM DAMAGE
IN DISTRICT 4
>PRAYERS REQUESTED FOR THE FAMILY
OF PRICILLA LEWIS-PRATT
ADJOURNMENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:54PM
* Denotes TABLED from previous meeting(s)
Children still in need of advocates
Submitted by CASA
What is a CASA? A CASA is a
Court Appointed Special Advocate.
We are volunteers who are male or
female of any age over 21. We come
from all walks of life. What we have
in common is the desire to make
a difference. We receive training,
submit paperwork, have a background
check done, and are sworn in by the
Gila River Indian Community Tribal
Courts. What we advocate for is a
child who is in the court system. We
are an additional set of eyes and ears
for the courts. We are the voice for
the child who has been a victim of
abuse or neglect. We talk to teachers,
counselors, doctors, caregivers, and
parents. We get to know the child. We
speak up and let the judge know how
the child is doing, what the child needs
and are asked to give our opinions.
What is it like to be a CASA?
It is a responsibility. It is giving of
your time to help another. It is the
hug of a child and the tug of your
arm leading you to see something
important. It is the trust the child
gives to you that pushes you further. It
is the disappointment and the sadness
in their eyes as they experience
confusion to their situation. It is a
sense of protection for the child. It
is the desire to make sure abuse and
neglect never touch this child again. It
is attending court and having the judge
look to you for additional information
in the case. It is getting input from
every source you can think of to make
sure you are recommending the best
and most informative information
to the court. It is boldly speaking up
using your voice and advocating for
what is in the best interest of a child.
It is an immeasurable, important and
fulfilling position to be in.
There are more children in the
court system than CASAs in Gila
River Indian Community. It is our
goal to have a CASA for each child.
If you would like more information
in joining us in making a difference,
please contact Irene Patino, Acting
CASA Coordinator at Irene.Patino@
gric.nsn.us.
Page 20
Sioux elder claims mistreatment
and hate crimes at S.D. hospital
Services (HHS) remain open.
Lakota Elders, Lastrealindians,
and the American Indian
Movement held the Vern
Traversie Justice Rally & March
in Rapid City, S.D. on May 21.
The controversy was played
out in the media and on the
internet. And much to Traversie’s
disappointment,
the
media
coverage has been misguided
and prejudiced according to
Kara Briggs, a former president
of
the
Native
American
Journalists
Association.
Pyramid
Communications,
where she works, is providing
pro
bono
communications
support
to
Traversie.
In recent months media
depictions
of
Traversie’s
competency
and
the
severity of his wounds have
gone from bad to worse.
In May MSNBC said that
neither Traversie, who is visually
impaired,
nor
investigators
could
see
the
wounds.
On May 23, Associated
Press reporter Kristi Eaton
compared
Traversie’s
supporters to, “those spotting
the Madonna in a water stain.”
The Long Beach Post
asserted that Traversie falsely
reported his hate crimes.
In the Los Angeles Times,
John M. Glionna also likened
Traversie’s scars to Virgin
Mary sightings on taco shells.
“The effect of this religious
September 2012
From Page 1
reference has been dehumanizing,
minimizing the real tragedy that
happened in terms of a Native
American man who has reason
to believe that he was the victim
of a hate crime,” Briggs said.
On Aug. 6 the South Dakota
attorney general’s office issued
a statement on Vern Traversie’s
case saying, “It was found that the
allegations of mistreatment were
not supported by the evidence.”
Cheyenne
River
Sioux
Tribe’s chairman Kevin Keckler
countered by saying, “Attorney
General [Marty] Jackley has no
business rendering conclusions
about our Tribal Government’s
law enforcement investigation.”
Briggs also released a
statement saying, “In fact,
neither the FBI nor HHS has
rendered any conclusions about
Mr. Traversie’s mistreatment.”
The Great Plains Tribal
Chairman’s
Association
issued a proclamation called,
“Support of Vern Traversie
and Request for Justice.” The
Facebook page, “Justice for
Vern,” has over 5,300 followers.
Vern Traversie is coping
with his health ailments while
awaiting the findings of the two
federal investigations, and the
beginning of his civil suit. “This
is tremendously taxing on him,
not only what happened at the
hospital but subsequently what
has happened in the media and
on the internet,” Briggs said.
Word Match Solutions from Page 6
‘10 Amendments’ training a success for HR Dept.
Pictured from left to right: JoAnn Bojorquez-Administrative Assistant/Board Secretary, April “superwoman” Childs-HR technician, Kevin Allen-Director of facilities, Phil Morris-Training
Specialist, Carrie Jackson-HR Technician, Richard WeschrobTraining Specialist, Amber Mix-HR Assistant, and Talia Antone-HR Summer Intern. Not pictured: Kim Dutcher-Division
Manager with the office of Community Managers, Lucinda
Rhodes-HR Director and TeriLynne Kisto-Asst. HR Director.
Submitted by Human
Resources Department
If it were not for the
same spirit of communication,
organization and cooperation
that our ancestors, the Akimel
O’otham showed the Pee
Posh so many years ago, the
GRIC Human Resources “10
Amendments” training would
not have been the success it was.
The “10 Amendments”
training included providing
information and a reading of
those amendments added to the
previous version of the Employee
Policies
and
Procedures
Reference Guide. During the
training, each participant received
a Policy Guide signature card, a
questionnaire form to complete
if any questions are needed to be
answered by Human Resources
and a training survey in which
responses indicate how much the
participant understood before the
training and how well they will
be able to use the information
received
in
the
training.
Under the direction of
our own HR Director Lucinda
Rhodes, session introductions
were performed by Kim Dutcher,
Division Manager and TeriLynne
Kisto, Assistant Human Resources
Director. The presenters for each
of the trainings 15 in Sacaton and
4 at the Wild Horse Pass location
switched off between Richard
Weschrob, Phil Morris, Amber
Mix, Carrie Jackson, April Childs
and Talia Antone. Altogether,
38 sessions (including make-up
sessions) have been scheduled
that begin on July 17 and will
be completed by August 18. It
encompassed almost 1,700 GRIC
line employees. Prior to this
training, almost 300 management
employees undertook 16 hours
of intense and exhausting policy
training focusing on various
aspects of the Employee Policies
and Procedures Reference Guide.
With the same spirit of
generosity, we, the management
and staff of the Gila River Indian
Community, give thanks and
recognition to the Sacaton Middle
School administration and in
particular, JoAnn Bojorquez,
Administrative Assistant/Board
Secretary, and Kevin Allen,
Director of Facilities, for their
hard work, organization and
kind involvement to help ensure
the training was successful.
September 2012
CIVIL SUMMONS
1. EULALIA MADRID
Civil Complaint Hearing
Case#: C-12-0036
Court Date: October 16, 2012
at 11:00 a.m. in Courtroom #4,
2ND FLOOR.
LOCATION OF COURT:
SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY
COURT
10,005 E. Osborn Road Bldg. 23
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR INVOICE PAYMENT TO
Carol Baptisto and/or Lynelle
Trujillo
COURT
Carol Baptisto Administrative
Clerk
OFFICE#: 480-362-6348
SRPMIC COURT
10,005 E. OSBORN RD.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ. 85256
EMAIL: [email protected]
CIVIL SUMMONS
JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS:
1.
GAIL BROWN
Review Hearing
Case#: J-10-0121/0122
Court Date: November 27, 2012
at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom #4,
2ND FLOOR.
LOCATION OF COURT:
COURT
ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICES
Page 21
BIA PIMA AGENCY: PUBLIC NOTICE
Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Transportation Easements
The Bureau of Indian Affairs
(BIA) Pima Agency (Agency)
is releasing a Public Notice
for a proposed Programmatic
Environmental
Assessment
(PEA) to evaluate the potential
impacts of approving easements
for transportation projects on the
(GRIC), Maricopa and Pinal
counties, Arizona. Preparation of
the PEA is intended to improve
the environmental review process
for transportation projects on the
GRIC.
The PEA would provide a
general baseline of environmental
resource data, impacts analysis,
and resource protection measures
on which future environmental
review for individual easements
may be tiered.
Subsequent transportation
easement applications would
be reviewed as individual
actions in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969. Tiered
NEPA
documentation
will
evaluate critical resources on an
application-specific basis prior to
an easement being approved.
Project Description
Numerous existing public
roads (paved, chip seal, and dirt)
on GRIC do not have recorded
easements.
Increased commercial and
residential development across
GRIC has increased the number
of
transportation
easement
applications for new construction
being submitted to the Pima
Agency. In addition, applications
for homesite locations may not
be processed by the Pima Agency
until legal access is demonstrated.
Therefore, this PEA is designed
to improve the process by which
transportation easements are
approved for (1) existing roads
with no recorded easement, (2)
access to homesite lease areas
(existing and proposed), and (3)
new road construction. GRIC
policy is to apply for multi-use
easements such that transportation
routes include space for utilities,
such as electricity, water, gas,
fiber optics, etc. Although the
term “transportation easement” is
used, the easements would truly
be multi-use.
Purpose and Need
Currently, in order for
BIA Pima Agency to approve
a
transportation
easement,
NEPA requirements must be
satisfied on a case-by-case basis.
The BIA proposes that future,
project-specific environmental
analyses
for
transportation
easements would tier off of the
analysis conducted in the PEA,
and thereby allow the project-
specific analyses to focus on the
critical, site-specific issues of
concern. The preparation of this
PEA would make the process
of granting an easement more
efficient for the applicant and the
BIA.
Public Comment Period
As part of the NEPA process,
you are invited to provide written
comments on this proposed
action. No public meetings are
currently planned. Please provide
written comments on the project
to the following individual within
30 days or by close of business on
October I, 2012:
Ms. Cecilia Martinez,
Superintendent
Bureau of Indian Affairs,
Pima Agency
P.O. Box 8, Sacaton, Arizona
85147
Telephone Number: (520)
562-3326; Fax: (520) 562-3543
Silver Spur Tobacco Emporium Joins the World Famous Rawhide Western Town
(Chandler, AZ) – Arizona’s largest
1880s Western-themed family entertainment
town is proud to announce our newest retail
venue to the family, The Silver Spur Tobacco
Emporium at Rawhide Western Town. The
Silver Spur Tobacco Emporium at Rawhide
is a one of a kind cowboy cigar and tobacco
shop which offers southwestern gifts, dia de
los meurtos art and folk art. Complete with
a cigar humidor, the Silver Spur Tobacco
Emporium is a man’s man retail venue,
making any trip to Rawhide Western Town
a truly Western experience. The Silver Spur
Tobacco Emporium features Rawhide’s very
own brand of cigar, Connecticut Shade,
discounted cigarettes, leather wallets, cigar
cases, knife selection from Morey’s knifes,
art by Rob Richards, and much, much more.
Make your trip to complete and visit
Rawhide’s Western attractions, which
include shows, rides, a petting zoo, four
other retail venues, four dining options,
an ice cream shop and much, much more.
Join us for dinner at the world-famous
Rawhide Steakhouse for Arizona’s style of
steak, or try Rawhide’s own beer on tap at
Belle’s Saloon. Rawhide can accommodate
corporate and meeting groups of any size,
offering seasonal and special packages to
meeting planners locally and internationally.
Page 22
September 2012
September 2012
Page 23
Gila River Telecommunications, Inc.
“Proudly serving the Gila River Indian Community since 1988”
Box 5015, 7065 West Allison Road, Chandler, Arizona 85226-5135
(520) 796-3333 • www.gilanet.net • fax (520)796-7534
Understanding GRTI Programs
GRTI offers these two programs that assist in making phone service affordable, here is some information
that will better help you understand the difference between the two programs.
Enhanced Lifeline
& Link-Up Program
Elderly Concession
Program
A Federal Program
A GRTI Program
Who is it for?
•
•
•
•
Anyoneovertheageof18
Accountmustbeintheirname
Incomeeligible
Anyonewhoparticipatesin1of10selectedfederal
programsandprovidesproof(Seelistbelow)
• Anypersonovertheageof55withan
activeGRTIphoneline
• Accountmustbeintheirname
• Mustprovideproofofage
What it does
• Enhanced Lifeline pays for your monthly basic
phone service charges, leaving a balance of 58¢,
fifty-eightcents
• Doesnotcoveranylongdistanceorcallingfeatures
• Link-upcanonlybeusedoncetopartiallypayfor
initialinstallationfees
• Elderly Concession pays for your
monthlybasicphoneservicecharges
• Does not cover any long distance or
callingfeatures
Can you be on
both programs
at once?
• Yes,ifyouqualifyforEnhancedLifelineandareover
theageof55
• Enhanced Lifeline will be applied to the account
first,thentheElderConcession
• Yes,ifyouqualifyforEnhancedLifeline
andareovertheageof55
• TheElderConcessionProgramwillpay
for the remaining 58¢ that Enhanced
Lifelinedoesnotcover
Do you need
to re-apply?
• Yes,youneedtorecertifyeveryyearin
July
• Yes,youneedtorecertifyeveryyearinJuly
___BureauofIndianAffairsGeneralAssistance
___FederalPublicHousingAssistance(FPHA)orSection8
Programs that qualify you
for Enhanced Lifeline
___FoodStamps
___HeadStart(incomeeligible)
___LowIncomeHomeEnergyAssistanceProgram(LIHEAP)
___Medicaid(AHCCCSforArizonaresidents)
Only one needed to qualify
___NationalSchoolLunchProgram’sfreelunchprogram
___SupplementalSecurityIncome(SSI)
___TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies(TANF)orTribalTANF
___Incomeatorbelow135%oftheFederalPovertyGuidelines
GRTI Closures For September
Just to make you aware these are the dates that we will
be closed in September, Don’t worry we will resume
normal Business hours the following day or in the case of
Native American Day the following Monday!
Thank You again for your continued support of GRTI!
Sept. 3 - Labor Day
Sept. 21 - Gila River’s
Native American Day
EXERCISE YOUR NATIVE RIGHT TO VOTE
Voter Registration Forms are available at your
District Service Center, the US Postal Service, Community Council Secretary’s
Office, or from your Voter Registration Board Representative
Note: If you registered after July 30,
2012 you are eligible to cast your
vote only in the general election
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES
GENERAL ELECTION
Registration Closes
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Early Voting Begins
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Last Day to Request an Early Ballot
Friday, October 26, 2012
General Election
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Voter Registration Board Members
District 1
District 2
District 3
Mary Blackwater, Joyce McAfee
Joella Pasquale, Dennis Pancott
Jane Johnson, Rebecca Kisto
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
Annette Tsosie, Daniel Nish
Bonnie Lyons, Joseph Stone
Joyce Lopez, Jackie Thomas
Theresa Donahue

September 2012 Gila River Indian Newspaper

Transcription

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