Hendricks crowned as Miss Gila River 2013-14

Transcription

Hendricks crowned as Miss Gila River 2013-14
“ S e r v i n g a l l s eve n d i s t r i c t s o f t h e
G i l a R ive r I n d i a n C o m m u n i t y ”
B l a c k wa t e r
-
H a s h e n
Ke h k
-
G u
U
K i
april 2013
-
S a n t a n
-
C a s a
B l a n c a
-
Ko m a t ke
-
M a r i c o p a
www.gilariver.org/news
Vol. 16, No. 4
Owens will serve as 1st Attendant
Unity runners carrying staffs during the 18th Annual Unity Run.
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
The borders that separate
all O’otham people are fictional.
They are products of Old World
incursions and manifest destiny,
imaginary outlines called reservations that have at times unsewn
O’otham unity.
These borders have the power
to separate the Akimel O’otham
from the Tohono, the Ak-Chin
from the Salt River Pimas and
Maricopas, or the Hia-Ced
O’odham from the Mexican Pimas — only if the O’otham allow
them that power. For a week in
March, a group of O’otham young
Continued on Page 9
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Lisa Hohokimal Hendricks
– age 20, born to Jiivik Siiki and
Brenda Sekaquaptewa, originally
from the village of Hashañ Kehk
– is Miss Gila River 2013-14.
The Miss Gila River 201314 1st Attendant, is Tyler Rene
Owens – 18 years old, daughter
of Marc Owens and Chrissy Stevens, from Casa Blanca.
The Acacia Ballroom was
packed. Five hundred seats
weren’t enough. Gila River Indian
Community members and guests
from around Arizona filled the
Wild Horse Pass Hotel grand ballroom on March 9 to witness the
two courageous, young O’odham
women vie for the crown at the
50th Annual Miss Gila River Pageant. For Hendricks and Owens,
it was a night vivid with emotion
and blurred by adrenaline.
I caught up with the zealous
duo about a week and a half af-
Presorted
Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sacaton, AZ
Permit No. 25
Runners carry lessons back home
GRIC scholars
aiming high
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
From left: 1st Attendant Tyler Owens and Miss Gila River 2013-14
Lisa Hendricks following the Miss Gila River Pageant.
ter the pageant. On the other side
of the table, dressed in traditional
clothing, Hendricks and Owens
interact like sisters. And like sisters, they share several admirable
traits – ambition, intellect, bravery, a passion for their culture.
Mul-Chu-Tha fun for whole family
aton was honored as
the
Mul-Chu-Tha
Parade Grand Marshall. Her float led
the way down the
parade route Saturday morning. “Julie
always loved her
people,” wrote her
family in a statement, “especially the
young, and dedicated a large amount of
her time to community service volunteer efforts. She was
actively
involved
with the annual MulChu-Tha, where she
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
was a member of the
Crowds enjoy the rides and food at the annual Mul-Chu-Tha Fair & Rodeo.
fair board and assisted the Battle of the Bands for
youth recreation programs and has 18 years.”
By Mikhail Sundust
evolved into on of the largest tribGila River Indian News
The theme, “Embracing Our
al fairs in Arizona,” said the Mul- Himdak,” was realized most fitLast year, a jegos rolled into Chu-Tha Committee in a welcome
tingly during the course of the fair
town and stole the fair’s thunder. letter to Community members and
within the bounds of the “cultural
This year, the 51st Mul-Chu-Tha guests.
circle,” a special area set aside
proceeded at full tilt with a plethThe fair and rodeo kicked off for traditional singers, dancers,
ora of fun activities for the whole Friday, March 15 with a Jr. Rodeo,
weavers and artists. Here, people
family.
a frybread contest, Quad-Nation from the O’odham, Pee-Posh and
“Our Mul-Chu-Tha Fair and Team Roping and free carnival
Pasqua Yaqui tribes exchanged
Rodeo began fifty-one years ago rides.
cultural practices and traditions
as a fundraiser for the community
The late Julie Jackson of Sac-
IN the GRIN
Gila River Indian News
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Change Service Requested
Hendricks crowned as
Miss Gila River 2013-14
Jaime Jackson/CPAO
C o l o ny
GRIN Kids..................Page 11
Letters & Opinions.....Page 3 Education.............Page 16-17
Action Sheets......Page 18-19
Health & Wellness.....Page 7
Law & Order.............Page 20
Culture & History........Page 8
Announcements &
Youth & Elder..............Page 9 Notices.......................Page 22
Business
man takes
driving to
heart
Page 15
However, they differ on a number
of other things.
Pursuing tribal royalty, for
example, wasn’t a major concern
for Hendricks until last year at
the 2012 Miss Gila River Pag-
Continued on Page 6
through demonstrations and competitions. The circle transcended
language barriers when a special
delegation of O’odham leaders
from Mexico stopped by to compare and contrast language use
with Gila River O’odham language teachers.
Clear on the other side of the
fairgrounds another kind of cultural exchange was happening.
Thoka sticks whipped through the
air and feet kicked up dirt on the
Thoka grounds. Dozens of women
participated in the ancient game,
which resembles field hockey.
Thoka is only played in an eastwest direction and while there are
no specific rules or penalties, “all
women should have their traditional teachings of respect for one
another when playing this game,”
wrote District 4 Council Representative Jennifer Allison.
There was plenty more earth
moving going on in the Battle of
the Bands tent. The Battle is one
of the most highly anticipated
events of the annual fair. More
than a dozen bands compete each
year for cash and glory. This year,
the Papago Warriors took the top
prize over the favored D Faktion
Nyne, last year’s winner. Native
Creed and Lopez Band took second and third place, respectively.
Earth is Day
Everyday
April 22 2013
10 a.m-2 p.m.
Ira H.Hayes Memorial Park-Sacaton
Fo r a ny m o re i n fo r m at i o n p l e a s e c a l l :
D E PA R T M E N T O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L Q UA L I T Y
520.562.2234
Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN
Althea Walker credits AISES for
her success.
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
Althea Walker didn’t grow up
in the Gila River Indian Community. Neither did Victoria Humphreys.
Walker grew up on the Nez
Perce Indian Reservation in
norther Idaho, while Humphreys,
who was born in Phoenix, moved
28 times with her family until she
finally settled in Akron, Ohio.
Even though these young women don’t know each other, what
bind them are a common GRIC
heritage and an uncommon drive.
They are utilizing their Gila River
roots to advance the cause of Native Americans reaching greater
heights in the academic and professional world.
Walker, 26, is a senior at Arizona State University majoring
in environmental technology
management. She leads the ASU
chapter of the American Indian
Science and Engineering Society
(AISES), serving as the Region 3
student representative.
Also a senior, Humphreys, 22,
attends Kent State University and
is working toward a double major in applied and organizational
Continued on Page 16
DEQ Spreading
the Earth Day
message: Page 12
Sleep Apnea in Adults
Submitted
bmitted by Dr. Xuong Wilkinson
Chief Medical Officer
Sleep apnea, or holding your breath when you sleep, is a common sleep
disorder that causes an interruption of the sleep cycle and results in lack of
sufficient sleep. In the United States, there are millions of people that are
diagnosed with sleep apnea and many more that unknowingly have sleep
apnea. This condition has a great impact on the overall health of an individual.
When prolonged, it can leads to hypertension, poor control of diabetes,
daytime fatigue, poor concentration, weight gain, heart failure, and kidney
problems, to name a few. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive (the
most common), central, and complex.
The diagnosis of sleep apnea is based on a clinical diagnosis together with
sleep studies. Signs and symptoms of possible obstructive sleep apnea are
snoring, blocked nasal airway, daytime fatigue, lack of concentration,
depressed mood, thick neck, and narrow or shallow oral throat and airway. The
severity of this condition can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Based
on the severity from the result of the sleep study, the doctor may treat with an
assisted respiratory device, called CPAP. Life style modifications that can help
include weight loss, tobacco cessation, as well as avoiding sleep medications
and alcoholic beverages. In mild sleep apnea, the primary care doctor may
inquire on sleep hygiene, treat conditions that cause nasal blockage, elevate
the head of the bed, and suggest sleeping on your side instead of on your back.
The problem is that when patients do not sleep well, they ask for sleep
medications. Medications can worsen the problem. It is important for doctors
to educate patients on their condition.
For moderately and severely obstructive sleep apnea, a device called CPAP
(continuous positive airway pressure) may aid to reduce the lack of air to the
patient’s body during the time he or she is experiencing sleep apnea. The
machine’s fan blows continuous air into the airway between the mouth and
nose to the throat keeping it open, thus reducing low oxygen. Long- term lack
of oxygen causes multi-system stress, resulting in chronic medical conditions,
like those described above. Surgery is the last resort if mechanical aids do not
resolve the problem.
Central sleep apnea is less common and accounts for only five percent of all
sleep apnea. This condition occurs when the communication between the
brain and respiratory muscles is compromised. Causes include heart failure,
strokes, drugs like opioids, and idiopathic causes (no known causes). If central
sleep apnea is the diagnosis, improvement can be made by treatment of
underlying disease. If CSA (central sleep apnea) is detected during a sleep
study, the option to treat depends on whether there is hypoxia (low oxygen
levels) or clinical symptoms. If there are neither, periodic observation is a
reasonable option. CPAP, BiPAP (the assistance of natural breathing during
inhalation/exhalation), ASV (Adaptive Servo-Ventilation), enriching the body
with oxygen, and certain medications can be used to stimulate or regulate the
patient’s breathing pattern. There are no single drugs of choice to treat this
condition; therefore, before implementation of any medication, the causes of
central sleep apnea must be evaluated thoroughly to maximize the outcome.
In general, sleep apnea is a condition that leads to chronic levels of low
oxygen and can result in numerous long- term chronic medical conditions. If
you suspect you have or were told you have periodic and unusual breathing
patterns, it is important for you to seek your primary care physician to discuss
the possibility of having sleep apnea.
Job Opportunities at GRHC
A career at Gila River Health Care puts you in the center of one of the most
sophisticated and industry-leading health care systems in Native country. We
are recognized nationally for creating real value for our Native American
patients. If you are serious about joining a team of engaged professionals,
apply online at WWW.GRHC.ORG.
GRHC Building Services Department - HUD Red Flag Projects for 2012 and 2013
GRHC is growing to meet the Community’s health care needs. Construction is indicative of a vibrant organization and sends the positive economic
development message that we, indeed, are contributing to economic growth and the overall quality of life for the Gila River Indian Community.
GRHC's transition to the Patient-Centered Team Model has demanded a very rigorous “building” initiative, with some projects being funded
through HUD, and others designated within the GRHC Capital Improvement Plan funded by GRHC-generated revenues. Virtually all major projects
for GRHC were awarded to Native American firms. 2012 proved to be a year of growth with robust construction efforts across both campuses, with
many projects slated for completion in 2013. Below are listed the completed HUD Red Flag Projects for FY 2012.
PROJECT
STATUS
HHKMH Pharmacy Expansion additional Pharmacy work space,
break room, workstations, service
counters & patient seating
HHKMH Patient Registration
Windows Renovation
HHKMH Lab Department
Expansion
Benefits and Transportation Areas
HHKMH New Environmental
Services Workspace
Medical Records
Materials Management
Komatke Health Center
17487 South Healthcare Drive
Laveen, Az 85339
Phone: 520-550-6000
Fax: 520-550-6033
Accountability
SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION
Completed in 2012
Design/Construction Phase
began in 2012
Phase I Completed - 2012
Completed 2013
Phase II Completed - 2013
Initiated in 2012
Initiated in 2012
Completed in 2012
Completed in 2012
Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital
483 West Seed Farm Road
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Phone: 520-562-3321
Fax: 602-528-1240
Ak-Chin Health Clinic
48203 West Farrell Road
Maricopa, AZ 85239
Phone: 520-568-3881
Fax: 520-568-3884
Commitment
Patients & Families
Quality Self-Governance Trust
Culture
April 2013
Letter to Editor
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
Dear GRIN Editor,
Publisher and readers, We the
Native Americans incarcerated
here at the Santa Rita Unit, would
like you to know we rejoice and
give ceaseless thanks and praise
in deep gratitude. Revealing this
now so that we are equipped to
deal with these problems and
whatever is thrown at us. With
support from the communities we
form a team, an organized spiritual organism utterly different from
any secular and worldly organization. Native American Prisoners
are interdependent- mutually dependent on one another, we emphatically inspire the confidence
of faith to preserve in the direction
and oversight from within the Bureau of Prisons.
District #4
Once again, Thank you!
Your humble servant,
Jesse L. Chamberlain
District #5
A remembrance to the
late Popkoala dancers
and musicians
Barney B. Enos, Jr.
Jennifer Allison
Christopher Mendoza
Monica Antone
Brenda Robertson
Franklin Pablo, Sr.
Annette J. Stewart
Janice Stewart
Page 3
Letters & Opinions
Special Memories
A Special Memory for my
Father Bernell F. Lewis Sr. and
brother Possum. The day my
brother was born on April 18,
1991, my Dad was a very happy
and proud man. My brother never
left my Father’s side when it came
to traveling places. It saddens me
to say now again he is up there in
heaven next to his side. The 35
years my Dad was a part of my
life I learned many valuable lessons. Through his teachings I
would not be the person I am today. I valued his love for chicken
scratch music and to speak when
spoken to. I learn to help those in
need like he did for the 19 years
he was employed at P.I.M.C.
My aunties Van, Bigsie,and
Tootsie in my life give me a lot
of support for me and my family.
I just wish sometimes my Father
was still here to see my son sing
and dance his little heart out. So
to my Brother Possum Happy
Birthday to you and your Dear
Friend John Davis who share the
same birthdays!
I Miss you both dearly but I
know you’re in a better place ..
Rest In Peace
Love,
Bernella
Easter treat for Sacaton head start
District #6
Anthony Villareal, Sr.
Albert Pablo
Terrance B. Evans
District #7
Martha Miller
Robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer
Linda Andrews,
Community Council Secretary
Gila River Indian News
Zuzette Kisto
zuzette.kisto@gric.nsn.us
CPAO Director
(520) 562-9851
Roberto A. Jackson
roberto.jackson@gric.nsn.us
Managing Editor
(520) 562-9719
Gina Goodman
gina.goodman@gric.nsn.us
GRIN Secretary II
(520) 562-9715
Mikhail Sundust
mikhail.sundust@gric.nsn.us
Community Newsperson
(520) 562-9717
Joshua Jovanelly
joshua.jovanelly@gric.nsn.us
Community Newsperson
(520) 562-0001
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.
Gila River Indian Community
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
(520)562-9715
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
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
As my 7-year-old son
Flaviano prepared for this year’s
Mul chu tha Parade, he was so
excited counting the days as they
grew closer. When the day did
arrive my Mom was so concerned
for his feet hurting throughout the
parade route, that we had to go buy
sandals (which he never wore). He
enjoyed performing for the public
even towards the end when he
busted his lip from going down too
fast for the bills. He still continued
his performance! I am very
thankful for the huge support from
my Mom, Aunties Kitt and Carla
for helping with the decorations.
Also Suzie for the use of her truck
at the last minute. Also thanks to
cousin Wahlean for the help with
the popkola pictures of Frank
Greggario, Simon Makil and Gary
Davis. Flavianos performance
in the parade was dedicated
“In Remembrance to his great
grandfather the late Linus Makil
(popkoala musician), his brother
the late Augustine Makil Sr.
(popkoala musician), and Auggie’s
son the late Richard Makil (also a
popkoala dancer). Not to forget
Clifford “Moody” Lewis for his
talent in playing the guitar for the
dancers as well. Good Job Flavi!
CORRECTIONS
March 2013 Issue: Under a
photo, the caption should have
read, “Hayes’ famous climb up
Mt. Suribachi.”
The GRIN encourages comments and suggestions about
content that warrants correction or clarification. To report
an error call (520)562-9719 or
email GRIN@gric.nsn.us
The Easter Bunny hopped into the Sacaton Head Start on Tuesday, March 26 with
help from the elders of the District 3 Service Center, who provided homemade baskets and treats for the kids. The elders spent several hours over many days creating
and preparing the baskets using everyday materials, said D3SC Elderly Coordinator
Tammy Histia. They, their baskets and their fuzzy friend also visited the Sacaton Day
Care that Monday. Patrick Luther, a Sacaton Head Start Family Advocate, said the D3
elders volunteer with the little ones once or twice a month – sometimes they read to
them, sometimes they do arts and crafts, sometimes they tell traditional stories and
sometimes they spread holiday joy to all the girls and boys.
Page 4
Wild Horse Pass Substation Update:
The Wild Horse Pass substation has been
completed and will be energized by month
end. The substation will play an integral
role in the continued future development and
growth of the Wild Horse Pass area.
Washington Youth Tour
GRICUA recently had a replacement opening for our Washington
Youth Tour program.
We are happy to annouce that Brandy Eschief from District 3 has
been selected to participate in the program and represent the Community. Congratulations to Brandy!
Summer Internship Program
GRICUA will be expanding its summer internship program to
include College and High School students. Please see our notice in
this month’s GRIN.
Line Crew Training:
GRICUA’s Line Crew receives training at various times throughout the year. On this particular day, the line crew was practicing “hurt
man rescue techniques”.
Gila River Indian News
Why Does My Electric Bill Vary from Month
to Month?
Everyone’s lifestyle is different, so even neighbors in identical homes will have different energy
bills. But people expect to pay about the same each
month for their own electricity use. One factor to
consider is the number of days of service reflected
by the bill. This number can vary. So even if you
use the same amount of electricity every day, a bill
for 29 days of service followed by a bill for 31 days
would show an increase of nearly 7 percent. Look
closely at the number of days a bill covers and divide the total amount of the bill by that number of
days to get some idea of your daily electricity costs.
Typical causes of bill amount variation are
weather, vacations and lifestyles. In the Southwest
deserts, temperatures and weather conditions can be
extreme during certain times of the year. Electricity consumption varies as the outside temperature
changes significantly, even though the thermostat
April 2013
settings have stayed the same. When the outside
temperature rises or drops significantly, the heating
or cooling unit has to work harder to maintain the
same temperature inside your home.
Some people find a big surprise when their electric use does not significantly decrease when they
go on vacation. A house doesn’t know it is not occupied and will continue to use power even though
no one is home. So take steps to limit what is left on
when you go on vacation.
Many times when a customer’s historical use
has changed, lifestyle has changed. Adding an entertainment system, a spare refrigerator/freezer or a
fish tank all add to your electricity bill. House guests
mean greater electric consumption. Similarly, if you
have children leaving home, this can result in your
household using significantly less electricity. Keep
a log of purchases to help jog your memory when
you have an apparent energy mystery.
Reminders
GRICUA District Days 2013
GRICUA will be at the Public Health Resource Center (433 W Seedfarm Rd in Sacaton) on the
following days to accept payments from 10am to 3pm.
April 8, May 9, June 6, July 8, August 8, September 5, October 7
November 7, December 5
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
GRICUA is a member of Arizona Blue Stake. Please call 1-800-782-5348 to request an underground line locate of both GRICUA and SCIP on reservation facilities.
GRICUA welcomes your comments. You can email comments to gricuacomments@gricua.net.
You can also go to our website at www.gricua.net.
GRICUA’s Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Payments are accepted on-line and by phone both during our normal operating hours as well as
afterhours. If you have any questions regarding your statement or payment options please call during
normal business hours.
April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Community Updates
by
GRIN STAFF
Here are some monthly updates on
the on-going issues pertaining to
the Gila River Indian Community.
Page 5
Full effects of Violence Against Women Act might have to wait
The Violence Against Women
Act, which gives tribes power to
prosecute non-Native perpetrators of domestic violence, may
not take effect until 2015.
The reauthorization of VAWA
that was passed by Congress in
February and signed by President Barack Obama March 7 was
hailed as a victory for Native
American nations. But the full
effects of the law won’t be fully
implemented for two years. The
law comes with stipulations to
which tribal courts must adhere,
similar to those included in the
Tribal Law and Order Act.
For a tribal court to try a
non-Native accused of committing domestic violence in
Indian Country, the defendant
must have access to a licensed
defense attorney and the judge
must be law-trained and licensed
to practice by any jurisdiction.
GRIC has already been actively
working toward meeting these
requirements as part of the drive
to enhance tribal sentencing authority under TLOA.
If tribes want to implement
VAWA before 2015, they must
petition the U.S. Attorney General for approval.
At the March 12 Legislative
Standing Committee meeting,
Community Council representatives discussed issues that need
to be addressed so GRIC women can be fully protected under
VAWA. Under its current federal funding agreement, the Department of Rehabilitation and
Supervision is prohibited from
housing non-Indians. This would
have to be adjusted through a
legislative directive by Council.
Jury selection is another area to
address. Non-Natives who live in
the Community would need to be
available to serve as jurors when
a non-Native is the accused. Using non-Native GRIC employees
as jurors was also discussed.
Domestic violence affects Native American women at a disproportionate rate. They are 2.5
times more likely to be raped
or sexually assaulted than other
women in the U.S.
Domestic violence is consistently among the highest reported crimes each month in Gila
River. In September 2012, the
most recent month on record,
there were 88 reported offenses
of domestic violence, according
to police department data. Data
on how many offenses, if any,
were committed by non-Natives
was not available.
retary Cheryl Coppedge—to resign by Feb. 27. When they did
not, EDSC sent a recommendation for the board to be removed
at the next Community Council
meeting on March 6.
In the interim, Sun Valley
presented at district meetings in
D1, D3, D4 and D5 and rallied
support from some Community
members and when March 6
came, the vote to remove the Sun
Valley board was never held and
the issue was dispensed.
But business has still stalled
because under the 1980 resolution
the company cannot make lease
agreements without EDSC’s approval. A new amendment to Sun
Valley’s master lease with GRIC
would enhance Sun Valley’s authority to negotiate leases up to
five years. The amendment was
on the agenda of the March 27
EDSC meeting, but that meeting
was canceled because there was
no quorum. The next committee
meeting is April 10.
“We’re in limbo because the
lease on Firebird is going to expire before we even get to the
committee now,” Morago said.
The lease with Firebird ends
April 6.
Bondurant events scheduled
for April have been canceled
until further notice. Sun Valley cannot hold any races until
it buys safety equipment, and it
can’t get a loan to buy the equipment until it can sign leases with
tenants.
Once the smoke clears, Sun
Valley has major development
plans to complement the racing
infrastructure that already exists. It hopes to host at least 150
events a year. Future development projects potentially in the
works include a theme park, water park and a movie theater.
The Sun Valley Marina Corp.
charter was approved in 1970.
The property comprising Firebird and the surrounding area
was recently valued at $20 million, said Arthur Felder, a consultant to Sun Valley. Eightythree allotted landowners own
about one fourth of the land.
Council appoints Sun Valley board members for lifetime
terms. The master lease between
Sun Valley and GRIC expires in
2019.
Firebird races on hold
Officially, Firebird International Raceway saw its final
checkered flag March 30. But the
Sun Valley Marina Corp., a tribal
company that leases the raceway
and the surrounding land from
GRIC, fully intends to continue
operating the raceway—just as
soon as the company can break
out from an unforeseen pit stop.
When Sun Valley chose not to
extend its 30-year sublease with
Firebird president and owner
Charlie Allen because of unfavorable terms, Sun Valley’s board
of directors expected to maintain
continuity and financial productivity immediately by signing the
Bob Bondurant School of High
Performance Driving to a oneyear agreement. Bondurant had
already been operating as a sub-
tenant under Allen for 23 years
and with Allen out as a middleman, rent revenue going back to
the Community would increase
500 percent.
The ink was still drying on
the Bondurant deal when the
Sun Valley board was told it
was invalid. At a Feb. 14 special
meeting with the Economic Development Standing Committee,
which oversees many tribal business entities including Sun Valley, a 1980 resolution was cited
which canceled Sun Valley’s
authority to make leases for less
than a year without EDSC’s approval.
EDSC then called for the Sun
Valley board members—President Harlan Bohnee, Treasurer
Pamela Pratt Morago and Sec-
Governor’s February Employee of the
Month: Agatha Apkaw
Jessica Lopez/CPAO
From left: Gov. Gregory Mendoza, Employee of the Month Agatha
Apkaw and Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis.
Submitted by
Human Resources
Throughout time, many cultures from the east and from the
west have considered the care for
elders their greatest challenge as
well as their highest honor.
This is one person’s story.
Our February GEM Agatha
Apkaw has proven herself time
and time again that she cares
about her Community and the
people that live here.
As she wakes in the morning,
the only thing on her mind is getting to the service center early
where she can ensure the food
that is being prepared for the elderly is up to standard.
On more than one occasion,
she has gone above and beyond
by rolling up her sleeves, throwing on her Sun Devils apron and
assisting with that day’s food
preparation.
In those times of great need
and short staff, she is always
willing to take on the extra duties like dropping off the elder’s
meals herself, taking the elders
shopping, bringing elders to the
service center to pay utility bills
or even bring in documents if the
elder is homebound.
In addition, she has evolved
her position to add more movie
days, more shopping days and
more activities than ever before…all in the name of that
extra customer service for our
most vulnerable of Community
members.
Because money, and sometimes the lack of it, can be a top
priority for elders, Apkaw also
assists with completing applications to GRTI for discounted
phone services and helps them
switch from SCIP to GRICUA
for cheaper utility services.
In short, this wonderful person
is a respected and trusted advocate for the District Four Elders.
By taking the time to actually
talk to them, taking their health,
wellness and general wellbeing
to heart, and most importantly
listening to them, she has become an exemplary model for
D4 employees and for all employees across the districts.
For all of these phenomenal
customer service examples and
so much more, it is our honor to
present the February Governor’s
Employee of the month, Ms. Agatha Apkaw.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Research Interviewers: NORC, a social science
research center is seeking reliable, outgoing, persuasive
people to conduct in-person interviews within the homes
of residents in the Gila River Indian Community May –
September, 2013.
Must be able to work 20+ flexible hours per week,
including late evening and week-end hours. Car, good
driving record and telephone is required.
$13.41 per hour plus .56 cents per mile. Interviewers must gain the cooperation of the residents of sampled
households and maintain strict confidentiality standards.
Census experience a plus.
NORC is an affirmative action, equal opportunity
employer that values and actively seeks diversity in the
workforce.
TO APPLY: Visit our website: http://www.norc.org/
Careers/>Click on> Current Opportunities/>Under the
heading>Job Listings>Click on Field Operations>and
search for Field Interviewer-NAHSG – Gila River, AZ
(or call NORC Field Manager Patricia Maugherman toll
free at (800)994-2325)
Page 6
Gila River Indian News
District 5 youth selected as
ambassador for health
education and research
April 2013
From Page 1
Submitted By Jennifer
Attoncknie
Unified School District 497
Lawrence, Kansas
Shaye White, a Community
member from District 5, is a
student at Lawrence High School
in Lawrence, Kan. She was
one of a few students chosen to
serve as a Youth Ambassador for
the AIHREA (American Indian
Health Research and Education
Alliance), and CAICH (Center
for American Indian Community
Health) at the University
of Kansas Medical Center,
and the Center for American
Indian Studies at Johnson
County Community College.
While attending Lawrence
High School, Shaye is involved
in many activities. Although a
freshman, Shaye has ran varsity
crosscountry
and
received
her varsity letter. This spring,
Shaye will run track in the
800, 1600 and the 3200 meter
run. Shaye was placed on the
honor roll in past semesters, and
continues to fulfill obligations
as expected from any teenager.
Shaye’s duties as an AIHREA
youth ambassador are to attend
events like powwows, health
fairs, school activities such as a
basketball games while promoting
projects related to health and
wellness for AIHREA and CAICH
throughout northeastern Kansas.
During her spare time
Shaye serves as a member of
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Shaye White
Photo courtesy of Shay White
the “Called to Greatness Youth
Ministry” with the Morning Star
Church. She also attends and
participates in the surrounding
powwows as a jingle dress dancer.
In the future, Shaye plans to
run for the Miss Indian Youth of
Lawrence, which is held every year
in the fall. She continues to play
the flute for concerts such as the
marching and the pep gatherings.
Her family and friends are
confident that Shaye will serve as
an Ambassador with great pride,
dignity and gratification for not
only her family but for Native
Americans in the northeast region
of Kansas. If you would like
more information about Shaye
or the projects in which she will
be involved, please contact either
her parent, Kris White at 602626-0398 or ouroadrunner25@
yahoo.com; or Julia White
Bull at jwhitebull@kumc.edu
Lisa Hendricks sings Shuug U’uhig for her traditional talent at the Miss Gila River Pageant March 9.
Miss Gila River continued
eant. Hendricks grew up steeped
in O’odham culture, usually in
the form of family and community gatherings with traditional
singing and dancing. Growing up,
she said, “I noticed that a lot of
the youth were focusing on other
things that aren’t O’odham ways.”
This disappointed her and spurred
her to run for Miss Gila River. “I
would just like to use what helped
me remember our culture, which
was pretty much gatherings.”
Owens is the complete opposite. She decided to run for Miss
Gila River when she was about
seven or eight years old. The first
time she attended a pageant was in
2002. Seipe Flood was crowned.
She dedicated several months of
preparation to her attempt this
year. “It wouldn’t have been the
show [it was] if both of us hadn’t
started planning way ahead of
Teachings on government, culture and
history for high school students
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Alexander Pablo addresses Community Council at the Governance
Center with Cheyenne Jackson on the right. Pablo and Jackson
were elected as governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, for
the Close Up program.
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Nearly 30 high school students participated in the Gila River Indian Community Close Up
program this year. Michael Preston, Akimel O’odham / Pee Posh
Youth Council Coordinator, organized the annual event, which was
sponsored by the Youth Council.
The youth, many of whom
sacrificed precious spring break
hours, spent March 19 – 21 learning about GRIC’s government.
Close Up facilitator Devin Redbird of District 7 is the youngest community member to have
served on the Community Council and imparted first-hand knowledge to participants.
The Close Up program is
highly interactive. On the first
day, the program appointed a
mock council. The students also
elected a “Close Up Governor”
and lieutenant governor, Alexander Pablo and Cheyenne Jackson
respectively. Lessons on legislation and executive decisionmaking are based on true-to-life
scenarios using real-life financial
figures to stimulate critical thinking skills in students. Students
also engaged in a mock trial as
prosecutors, defendants and jury
members.
The Close Up program also
featured cultural components.
Gila River Health Care’s Ginger
Martin spoke to the young men
and women about Gila River’s
history and bifurcated cultural
composition on Tuesday and on
Thursday Joyce Hughes gave the
students a lesson in the O’odham
language.
time,” she said. She said the most
important thing to do in preparing
for the pageant is “trying to find
the people who are most supportive in your life, that’s what you
have to go with.” Both Hendricks
and Owens cite their fathers as being especially helpful and encouraging in preparing for the competition.
The events of the week leading up to the pageant passed unseen by the 600-plus audience
members in attendance that night.
For the young ladies running,
it was rigorous and exhausting
and time-consuming. There were
meetings and lessons and introductions and rehearsals, which
often continued well after sunset.
Rehearsal was a strange experience for Hendricks and Owens. Both contestants had singing
parts, Hendricks in her Traditional
Talent and Owens in her Contemporary Talent. The night of the
show, both contestants were confident and well prepared. Owens
got the crowd on their feet and
clapping with a medley of popular
songs, which included “No One”
by Alicia Keys, “Where Is The
Love” by the Black Eyed Peas and
“I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz.
Hendricks’s Contemporary
Talent combined poetry and photography. She recited a poem that
she wrote about her ancestral
lands while a slideshow of photos
she took around Gila River played
beside her.
The poem was born of her observances on the roads that cross
through Gila River. She said when
she drives, she tries to “picture
everything without the buildings.
‘What did it look like?’ And then,
hearing stories, then you know,
‘okay this is what it must have
looked like back in the day. So
that’s what helped me to see the
greater beauty in our Community,
[writing] that poem.” Hendricks
is working and attending Central
Arizona College part-time. She
plans to transfer to Arizona State
University, where she will study
public administration. Owens also
works part-time and is finishing
her senior year of high school and
plans to attend ASU next semester.
Both Hendricks and Owens
said being a part of the Akimel
O’odham / Pee Posh Youth Council helped them to be more comfortable with public speaking.
Hendricks said, “I definitely give
a lot of praise to Youth Council
because I learned so much. It has
just given me so many opportunities and it’s . . . really great.”
Miss Gila River is a symbol
of peace, prosperity and progress
for the Community. “Miss Gila
River,” said Owens, “is put into
the Community to show there
are strong women throughout our
Community and it’s an example
for all of them.”
Hendricks is already thinking
beyond the parade waves and ceremonial visits. The former Youth
Council President and one-time
Governor’s Assistant Intern is
geared up to show the world that
Gila River is, at its core, a hospitable and friendly place on political and economic levels.
Hendricks looks forward to
starting a cultural gathering with
singing and dancing. She wants
to create a Vechij Hemajkam Ha
Tash, or a Youth Day, to inspire
her peers and revitalize cultural
practices. She got the idea from
the Tohono O’odham Youth
Council, which hosts a similar
event each year.
The ladies agreed that it
helped a lot that they knew each
other going into the pageant.
Hendricks said, “We knew that,
regardless of who won, that we
would be there for each other.”
(Read more at gilariver.org.)
April 2013
Page 7
Health & Wellness
Addressing suicide through ASIST: A Gatekeeper Training
By Michael Rhinehart
Prevention Specialist,
Family Planning Department
Gila River Health Care/
Behavioral Health
Every day in Arizona, at least
eight people try to take their lives,
and every year nearly 3,000 individuals are hospitalized from attempted suicide; most are between
the ages of 15 and 19 years old.
Every year, more than 1,000 Arizona residents die by suicide. Suicide ranked as the eighth leading
cause of death for American Indians/Alaska Natives of all ages.
Suicide is ranked as the second
leading cause of death for American Indian/Alaska Natives for
those from age 10-34. Suicide rate
for American Indians/Alaska Natives is 10 times higher than the
overall U.S. rate.
The Gila River Prevention Coalition, in partnership with Gila
River Health Care Corporation,
is committed to addressing the
issue of suicide through various
prevention efforts. One effective
prevention strategy is gatekeeper
training. In suicide prevention, a
gatekeeper refers to someone who
is a ‘safety net’ for people who
may be feeling vulnerable. Gatekeepers can be parents, family
members, teachers, youth workers, or any Community member
who is willing to learn about the
warning signs of suicide and basic
suicide intervention skills.
An evidence based approach to
suicide prevention is a gatekeeper
training called ASIST (applied suicide intervention skills training).
This 2-day training is a hands-on,
interactive experience that helps
participants become ready, willing, and able to perform suicide
first aid intervention. Some core
beliefs of the asist model include
the following:
-Suicide is a community health
problem – everyone can help.
-Suicide can be prevented – it’s
possible to save lives.
Through role-play exercises,
video presentations, and dynamic
group discussions, the stigma of
suicide is reduced and common
misconceptions of suicide are discussed. A common myth is that
“talking about suicide may give
someone the idea.” The truth is
that bringing up the subject of suicide gives the person a sense of
relief; discussing it openly allows
the person the opportunity of sharing feelings and developing hope.
Through collaboration with
the Gila River Prevention Coalition and its many grant partners,
monthly ASIST trainings are offered, free to the community, so
that everyone can become gatekeepers for suicide prevention.
The goal of this workshop is that
participants will leave the training with a sense of hope that suicide can be prevented, and the
confidence needed to recognize
someone at risk for suicide and
to connect them to community resources.
For more information about
upcoming asist trainings, please
contact the Gila River Prevention
Program at (520) 562-3321x7031
some could be more harmful
than others. Make sure containers are not leaking and that they
are sealed tight. We want you and
your loved ones safe and to have
a better understanding of what
chemicals are and used around
your home, keeping track of what
is in and around your home is key
to keeping your home safe.
You can find more information on how to properly dispose
or recycle these items by contacting www.earth911.com or calling
the Gila River Indian Community
Department of Environmental
Quality at 520-562-2234. Also
any information regarding Bulk
Trash pickup in the Community
contact Gila River Indian Community Department of Public
Works at 520-562-3343.
Use caution around household hazards
Submitted by Chemical
Tribal Emergency Response
Commission (CTERC)
Chemical hazards are not
limited to industrial facilities.
Their are often dangerous chemicals in every home. They may be
found in and around your home
or work areas in the forms of pesticides, old lead car batteries, oil
and gasoline, or paints and solvents. They may be found under
the kitchen or bathroom sinks
in the form of cleansers or drain
openers, or stored elsewhere in
the home.
A leak or spill of these chemicals can pose a health hazard,
especially, if a lack of ventilation causes the level of chemical
fumes to rise to unhealthful levels. Remember that firefighters
and emergency responders have
to take special precautions and
wear protective equipment (respirators and eye protection) when
dealing with chemical fumes in
confined spaces. Your home or
work area is no different. Incompatible chemicals may also mix
together and create toxic fumes,
or even start a fire.
Take some time to determine what chemical hazards are
present in the home. Make sure
that they are out of the reach of
children, and that incompatible
chemicals are not stored next
to each other, you want to make
sure that you read the labels of
household chemicals being used,
Knock! Knock!
Who’s there?
Submitted by Soyet Antone
Community Educational Specialist
The Community Health Education program
is currently delivering blue bags of health information directly to community member’s homes
by way of conducting our door-to-door campaign,
which is one of our innovative approaches to increasing health awareness and health promotion
throughout Gila River Indian community. Each
bag contains seasonal and year round relevant
health information such as the following:
• Influenza Brochure
• West Nile Virus Brochure
• RMSF Brochure
• Diabetes 101 Brochure
• Diabetes Prevention Flyer & Resources
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus Flyer
• Asthma Flyer
• Program Calendar of Events
• Bed Bug Awareness Brochure
• Portion Control Flyer
• Smoking Flyer
• Importance of Water Flyer
• Nutrition Flyer
• Heart Care Awareness Flyer
• White Tepary Soup Recipe
• Other HRD Program Information
It is our hope these helpful health flyers
and brochures will increase your awareness and
knowledge of these health topics and help you
in making informed decisions to protect yourself
and your family from some of these preventable
health issues. In addition, we also distribute information on program services provided by other
Health Resource Department programs such as
the Genesis Diabetes Prevention program, Environmental Health Services, and Animal Control
program. Lastly, we encourage you to challenge
your mind and body by coming out to participate
in our health presentations and activities held in
each district throughout the year. Do it! Just for
the Health of It! If you would like more information you can contact the Community Health Education Program at our Sacaton office (520) 5625100 or Komatke office (520) 550-8000
Page 8
April 2013
Culture & History
SPECIAL SERIES BY BILLY ALLEN
A’AGA
SOMETHING TO BE TOLD OR
TALKED ABOUT
During my youth, two sports
ruled: basketball and baseball.
The baseball season usually
began with a Memorial Day
tournament. We sweated through
Fourth of July games, and the
season ended with a Labor Day
tournament. During blazing
afternoon heat, GRIC “boys of
summer” played on. Pete Rose
of the Cincinnati Reds spoke of
his love for the game, “I’d walk
through hell in a gasoline suit to
play baseball.” I wonder if he
could have hung with us rez boys
who dreamed of playing in the
majors, not realizing one of our
own – Burdette Morago – came
very close.
His father Bill was a brother to
Jay, Edith, Dallas, Peggy, Gwen
and Bruce Morago of Sacaton. As
a child, Burdette spent summers
in Sacaton, biking or walking
to the old Santan Day School
baseball field to find a game. At
the age of 13, he played shortstop
for the Ajo Braves, one of the
all-Native community teams. He
was a three-sport letterman for
Ajo High School, earning varsity
letters all four years along with
All-State honors in basketball and
baseball.
With $400 dollars in his
pocket, Burdette left to attend the
University of Arizona and become
part of Wildcat baseball lore. As a
member of the freshmen baseball
team, he watched the Wildcat
varsity finish second in the 1955
College World Series. For the
1956 campaign, Frank Sancet,
legendary U of A baseball coach
said, “Burdette Morago is the top
man at the present. He’s one of
the fastest pitchers we have.” But,
“You win some, you lose some.”
When he pitched against the
Wisconsin Badgers he gave up
a school-record 19 hits and lost
14 to 7. In his sophomore year,
Burdette was honored for his 8-2
pitching record and a 3.54 earned
run average. As a junior, the “Bird
Man” beat the Texas Longhorns 5
to 2, punching the Wildcats ticket
to the College World Series.
As a senior, Burdette burned
my beloved Sun Devils with
a shutout plus got two hits.
When regional playoffs were
played in Texas, Marty Hurd
(African American) Masumi
Ikeda (Japanese American) and
Burdette (O’otham and Crow,)
were not allowed to stay within
Austin city limits. They had to stay
in a motel outside of town, eat in
cafeterias before opening hours,
or were given boxed lunches to
eat away from the restaurant.
Burdette remembers there was
a separate seating section for
“dark skinned” spectators at the
ballpark. Later, Burdette pitched
the Wildcats to a win over
Oklahoma State University at the
College World Series, but 3 days
later the Wildcats came in second
once more when the Cowboys
rallied through the losing bracket.
(The Wildcats would win national
titles in 1976, 1980, 1986 and
2012.)
Willie
Stargell,
of
the
Pittsburgh Pirates once said,
“When they start the game, they
don’t yell, ‘Work Ball.’ They
say, ‘Play ball!’” And Birdie
could play! While pitching for
the Casa Grande Cotton Kings,
a semi-pro team, he got two or
their three wins in the National
Championship Baseball SemiPro Tournament in Wichita, Kan.
and was named an All-American
pitcher. This despite breaking
a bone in his pitching hand five
weeks earlier and having been
out of the cast only three weeks
before the tournament.
Kwi Hiosik Mashath
The name for this month means ‘mesquite tree flower month” and refers to the
hio’hosig (flowers) appearing on the kwi.
The trees we are most familiar with are
called Velvet Mesquite and the milga:n
name refers to the velvety texture of the
leaf underside. In days gone by, kwi have
been known to grow 30 to 50 feet in height
and several old stumps can still be found
that are several feet in diameter. Kwi is
the O’otham tree of life because it provides
food, construction material and wood that
was used to make many tools. There are
five stages of growth for the kwi that are
named in O’otham ñeo’ok. The first stage
called kwi i’ivakithag happened last month
with the appearance of the new buds. This
is closely followed by kwi hulkathaj, which
happens when the flower buds have formed
and are still green. The next stage of
growth is called kwi hiosig which is when
the flowers fully form on the kwi. After the
blossoms are pollinated by honey bees the
viohog (mesquite bean pods) form and is
bith ki:
kosin
u:s kusal
chu’i
chepa
kua’ag
vath’o
Burdette helped the Cotton
Kings win 10 straight Arizona
Championships. In January 1959,
Burdette signed a MLB contract
to pitch for the Boston Red Sox.
Two weeks later, he blew out
his knee and needed a year to
rehabilitate. On his return try out,
he was assigned to the minors. A
major league career wasn’t to be.
But like Pete Rose, his love for
the game continued. He was a key
member of the Sacaton Athletic
Club baseball teams. A baseball
highlight was the August Salt
1
called kwi viohog. For several weeks the
viohog grow from tender green pods to full
ripe maturity filled with sweet pulp, juices,
seeds and plant parts. When the viohog
reach maturity the O’otham call this stage
of growth viohog ba:kam meaning that the
viohog is ready to be harvested. Some trees
produce plain yellow to almost white bean
pods while others produce pods with reddish or purplish stripes. O’otham families
had their own areas staked out and often harvested from the same trees year after year.
After harvesting the viohog are taken home
and spread on a canvas or hard ground to
dry in the sun. After drying for several days
the viohog is stored away as a food source
for use throughout the year. Some families
will wait and let the viohog fall and ripen on
the ground before picking them up to take
home. For this month’s crossword puzzle
we look at the things that are made using
the kwi and the food it provides. See how
they fit together in the puzzle on the right.
cheth’thondag
olas ki:
vav’nadag
Burdette Morago circa 1950s during his baseball career. Photo
courtesy of Burdette Morago and originally credited to Hunter’s
from Alpine, Texas.
koli
ushap
viohog
4
5
-
River Indian Baseball tournament.
Native teams throughout the
southwest found out Burdette was
still a formidable pitcher.
Good natured Burdette resides
in Santan and his good health
allows him to follow all sports.
When you see him around the
rez, shake his hand, ask about
his Wildcats, and plan on hearing
something interesting.
Questions,
comments
or
mistakes can be emailed to the
author at hestasp5@gmail.com.
Solutions on page 12
2
3
’
7
’
6
-
8
9
-
10
’
’
11
’
12
-
Across
Down
1. Sandwich House
4. House/Ramada Rafter (horizontal support)
6. Mesquite Sap
8. Fence
10. House/Ramada Beam (upright support)
12. Storage House
2. Firewood
3. Mortar
5. Mesquite Flour
7. Wooden Spoon
9. Ramada
11. Round House
April 2013
Page 9
Youth & Elder
From Page 1
Unity Run binds runners together during journey
Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN
Jonah Ray (right), one of the Unity Run founders, leads runners during a stop in District 5.
and old chose instead to symbolically stitch these lands back together again by running proudly
across them.
The 18th annual weeklong
Unity Run kicked off March 17
in San Xavier, a village in the Tohono O’odham Nation, and ended
March 23 at S’vegium Tho’ag, or
Red Mountain, in Salt River. The
run encourages youth from all
tribes with O’otham ties to hold
on to traditional teachings that
are in danger of slipping away by
reminding them of ancient bonds
impervious to artificial borders.
“I would say the biggest
thing that binds us together is
our relationship,” said Jonah Ray
of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa
Indian Community, one of the
founders of the run. “We were all
one people at one time.”
The stated goal of the event is
to foster the unity of all O’otham
people, despite the geopolitical
separations that have come to divide them. Their himdag, or way
of life, refuses to acknowledge
these divisions.
The vehicle for this powerful message is long-distance running, an expert skill of O’otham
ancestors. The runners complete
the journey in a relay. Because
the distance across the reservations is long, runners step in for
one another at different intervals.
Resting runners travel in cars and
trucks until they are ready to go
on foot again.
As the group made stops in
villages of the four sister tribes,
they received meals and hospitality from their hosts. At the end
of the day, they set up camp and
gathered in a circle around the
campsite to listen to the teachings
of their respective host nation.
Each day is governed by
strict rules and procedures. Wakeup is at 4 a.m., when beds and
tents are rolled up and packed into
the vans for storage. Cell phones,
mp3 players, cameras or any other trappings of modern technology are not allowed. Respect to
the teachings, to the elders and to
each other is paramount.
Runners carry staffs, which,
according to Ray, become part
of their bearers during the journey. The various staffs represent
families, elders or veterans. Many
were adorned with eagle feathers.
“They’re like another person
and that’s the reason that we take
care of them,” Ray said. “They’ve
run this far, so now we have to
water them, feed them.”
Ray held a bunch of neatly
fanned eagle feathers, which carried significance similar to that of
the staffs. In O’otham tradition,
the eagle carries prayers to the
Creator and watches from high
above, as the Earth turns counter
clockwise. At each Unity Run
stop, the runners gathered in a circular procession, mimicking the
same counter-clockwise rotation.
When the group stopped at
the GRIC Elderly Center in District 5, Ray led the march as the
Unity runners encircled the front
parking lot. Two singers stood
in the middle, singing traditional
songs to the rhythm of rattling
gourds. More than 50 participants joined the circle, many of
them teenagers dressed in running
shorts and athletic shoes.
Before heading inside for
lunch, Ray directed those carrying staffs to lean them delicately
against the building, and placed
water bottles beneath them so
the staffs could also be replenished from the wearisome journey. Wearing dark sunglasses and
speaking behind a bushy gray
mustache, Ray spoke in unrushed,
soft tones about the Unity Run’s
goal of reconnecting the youth
with their culture.
“Our young people don’t
understand their tradition, their
culture, their language, their
songs, their stories,” Ray said.
“So what’s been happening, one
of these days they’re going to
throw a book in front of us and
say, ‘This is your language, this is
how you’re going to talk, all this.’
But what’s going to happen to our
stories, to our legends, our creation stories when we forget the
language?”
District 5 Councilmember
Brenda Robertson, a major proponent of language preservation,
was one of the elders to welcome
the runners. She said their actions
paid homage to an O’otham tradition.
“I was told by my parents,
long many years ago, that that’s
what our people did — they ran,”
Robertson said during lunch.
“They didn’t have horses, they
didn’t have wagons, they didn’t
have anything, so they had to just
run.”
Billy Allen, a retired teacher
who grew up nearby in D5, told
the young runners: “Just remember that you’re in the heart of
O’otham land.” Allen encouraged
the youth to grow from the challenge of the Unity Run and utilize
the lesson to persevere as their
lives move forward.
“Gain strength from this
thing…” Allen said. “Come Monday and the rest of your life, you
get up and you do things, especially when you don’t feel like it.”
After being recharged by
food and water, it would soon be
time for the runners to move on to
their next stop in District 4, and
eventually on to the completion of
the run a few days later.
But that was not the true end
of the journey. The spirit and lessons of the Unity Run are meant
to carry on.
“All this teaching takes place
so that they can remember,” Ray
said. “[They] carry that home
with them, and to their homes,
their schools, their community,
their churches, whatever. To keep
it going, because that’s who we
are as O’otham.”
D4 Elder remembers early days of Mul-Chu-Tha
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
The Mul-Chu-Tha Fair and
Rodeo is now a cornerstone event
of the Gila River Indian Community, one that Community members and surrounding neighbors
eagerly anticipate each spring.
It’s a big show now — a
three-day festival with rodeos,
barbeques, a battle of the bands,
a carnival and more. The 51st annual Mul-Chu-Tha that happened
in March used $160,000 of tribal
funding, according to Recreation
Coordinator Amber Childs.
But its beginnings are much
more humble. Around 1962, District 4 resident Velma Moreno —
then Velma Mix then — was part
of the original group that planned
what became known as the MulChu-Tha fair. Seeking perspective on the history of this great
Community tradition, I spoke to
Velma, 79, about her recollections of what took place more
than half a century ago.
The following is the history
of the Mul-Chu-Tha in Velma’s
words (our conversation has been
condensed and edited for clarity):
“I wrote everything down
on a paper yesterday, sitting here
trying to remember. That’s way
back, and I can’t rememright now is me,
ber everything…
Mary Blackwater
“We wanted to do
and Julia.
something for the youth
“We sent out
because the youth were
word that people
getting in trouble — not
could come by and
as bad as today, but they
tell us something
were.
that they might
“We had no money
like to see the fair
whatsoever, no help. But
named. My in-law,
we all went out and solican old man, he was
ited stores around us, and
probably in his 70s,
companies: the farms, the
he’s the one that
store at the time and Basaid, ‘Why don’t
sha’s and all those little
you guys just call
stores in Chandler. And we
it Mul-Chu-Tha?’
made it.
Do you know what
“We met, meetings
that means? Races,
after meetings and we did
many races. That’s
decide to have something
what some of the
like a little fair to try to
Pimas called the
raise money to try to build
Arizona State Fair,
a swimming pool. (FundMul-Chu-Tha. Being and insurance concause there were all
cerns prevented the group
kinds of races like
Courtesy of CPAO foot
from financing the pool,
races, horse
but Sacaton eventually Cover of one of the early Mul-Chu-Tha programs from and buggy races,
built one). But our hearts 1964.
and ostrich races.
tee: Sam Thomas was elected
were still there to do that.
“We had our
“I had one of my sons was a chairman; Jay Morago was the first fair at the ball field. It was
baby then and I had to take him to vice chair; Rogene Jackson and the Pima Central ball field then.
all the meetings because he was Julia Nasewytewa; Mitch Miles; That’s where we had our first
nursing. He was probably about Isabelle Alice; me; Mary Black- fair and it was a very good fair,
water; Beverly Jones; Frank it turned out real good. We had
six months old.
“These are the names of the Reed. Most of these people are people that had booths all around
people that were on the commit- gone. The only ones that are alive there. Then we had a queen con-
test. Wilma Thurman was our first
Miss Gila River. That’s where
Miss Gila River started. Then
we had a wood chopping contest,
both men and women, and a popover contest. We had horseshoe.
“We thought it would be nice
if we could keep it going. But
we had to experience what it’s
like and it was a lot of work. A
lot of work. Other people got in
and helped, even if they weren’t
on the committee, we encouraged
them to help. So we had good
help at that time, people donated
their time. They didn’t have to be
paid like they do now.
“I think we did it for, maybe
four years, then the tribe started
to help us or we asked for help.
The tribe has been doing it now
ever since.
“Everybody was very glad
that something like this went on.
There were a lot of people at that
ball field. Then they had the rodeos after that when the tribe took
over and some of the contests
also.
“I just go to the parade
[now]. It’s very different now. It’s
not like when we were running it.
“But it was a lot of fun. We
had a lot of fun doing it. I’m glad
it’s still here 51 years later.”
Page 10
Gila River Indian News
April 2013
April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Page 11
Page 12
Gila River Indian News
April 2013
GRIC DEQ spreading Earth Day Message
Earth is Day
Everyday
April 22 2013
10 a.m-2 p.m.
Ira H.Hayes Memorial Park-Sacaton
Fo r a ny m o re i n fo r m at i o n p l e a s e c a l l :
D E PA R T M E N T O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L Q UA L I T Y
520.562.2234
For a number of years, the Community’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has celebrated Earth Day to raise
public awareness about environmental issues locally, nationally
and globally. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day, and learn
what the various DEQ programs are doing to protect the Community’s resources. Help write many more victories and successes
into our history, and build a clean, healthy and safe environment
for generations to come!
Submitted by
Department of
Environmental Quality
(DEQ)
Each year, Earth Day­­—April
22—marks the anniversary of
what many consider the birth of
the modern environmental movement in 1970.
At the time, Americans were
pumping leaded gas into large
automobiles with V8 engines.
Industry belched out smoke and
sludge with little fear of legal
consequences or bad press, and
air pollution was commonly accepted as the smell of prosperity.
Although mainstream America
remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had
been set for change.
The idea for Earth Day came
to founder Gaylord Nelson, then a
U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the
1969 massive oil spill in Santa
Barbara, California. Inspired by
the student anti-war movement,
he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about
air and water pollution, it would
force environmental protection
onto the national political agenda.
As a result, on April 22, 20
million Americans took to the
streets, parks, and auditoriums
to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive
coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands
of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups
that had been fighting against oil
spills, polluting factories and
power plants, raw sewage, toxic
dumps, pesticides, freeways, the
loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized
they shared common values.
Earth Day 1970 achieved a
Baseball brought hope to internees
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Sacaton Middle School students and GRIC elders met with author Bill Staples and former internees
and baseball players Tets Furukawa, Masao Iriyama and Kenso Zenimura to talk about baseball and
life in the camps.
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Kenichi Zenimura was a
baseball prodigy. He never played
in the MLB but from the early
1900s to his death in 1968, Zeni
(as his teammates called him) became a revered player, manager
and scout and the leading figure
who made the classic American
pastime an international one.
In his 2011 biography,
“Kenichi Zenimura, Japanese
American Baseball Pioneer,” historian Bill Staples, Jr. recounts
with enthusiasm the details of Zenimura’s life and legacy. Zeni’s
story stretches from Hawaii to
California to Japan but the events
of Staples’s book focus on his
time as a detainee at the Japanese
Internment Camp within the Gila
River Indian Community.
After the Dec. 7, 1941 attack
on Pearl Harbor, the United States
government decided to move
thousands of American citizens of
Japanese descent into internment
camps in the west coast region.
Within months of being transferred to Gila River, detainees
built a baseball field and started
playing ball.
“Ultimately, these diamonds
were more than just a place to
play baseball,” writes Staples,
“they represented the hope of internees. ‘It was a great hardship
for everyone being in the camp
because nobody had anything,’
said Kiyoko Zenimura (wife of
Kenichi). ‘Building the ballpark
really saved us. It kept the spirits
of the people up and helped everyone to stay positive and not become angry and short tempered.’”
Zenimura built a championship-grade team at Gila River.
They competed against teams
across Arizona, and some from
out of state. On March 7, 1943,
the baseball field adjacent to the
Gila River camp’s Block 28 was
renamed Zenimura Field.
It has been 70 years since that
dedication. Earlier this month,
Zenimura’s son, Kenso Zenimura, and two other former camp
internees, Tets Furukawa and Masao Iriyama, threw the ceremonial
first pitch at the March 7 Oakland
Athletics-Seattle Mariners Cactus
League game at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
On March 15, the trio visited
the Gila River Indian Community.
They met Sacaton Middle School
students at the Huhugam Heritage
Center. Staples conducted a historical presentation and a Q&A
session with the former baseball
players.
rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and
Democrats, rich and poor, urban
and rural Americans. The first
Earth Day led to the creation of
the United States Environmental
Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
In 1990 Earth Day went
global, mobilizing 200 million
people in 141 countries, and lifting environmental issues onto the
world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave
a huge boost to recycling efforts
worldwide and helped pave the
way for the 1992 United Nations
Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It
also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the
Presidential Medal of Freedom
(1995) -- the highest honor given
to civilians in the United States -for his role as Earth Day founder.
The fight for a clean environment continues in a climate of increasing urgency, as the ravages
of climate change become more
evident every day.
GRIC Recycles
In 2011, GRIC began
offering residential recycling service to Districts 2
&3 as part of a pilot project
funded by a grant from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From May
2011 to January 2013, the
two districts have recycled
over 260,000 pounds (130
tons) of recyclable material.
On average, 13,000 pounds
of material is collected each
month. By the end of this
year the Department of Environmental Quality Recycling Program, working in
conjunction with the GRIC
Public Works Department,
anticipates expanding recycling services to all districts
within the Community.
CIVIL SUMMONS
1. HAILEY ENOS
Review Hearing
Case #:
J-11-0093/0094/0095/0096/0097
Court Date: May 10, 2013 at 9
a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
2. CHRIS ALLEN
Review Hearing
Case #:
J-11-0093/0094/0095/0096/0097
Court Date: May 10, 2013 at 9
a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
3. ANTHONY ALLEN SR.
Review Hearing
Case #:
J-11-0093/0094/0095/0096/0097
Court Date: May 10, 2013 at 9
a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
4. RILE HOWARD
Review Hearing
Case #:
J-11-0093/0094/0095/0096/0097
Court Date: May 10, 2013 at 9
a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
5. GAIL BROWN
Review Hearing
Case#:
J-10-0121/0122
Court Date: May 14, 2013 at 9
a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st floor.
HAILEY ENOS
GUARDIANSHIP HEARING
Case#: J-130016/0017/0018/0019/0020
Court Date: APRIL 26,2013
@9:00AM in Courtroom #2, 1st
floor
CHRIS ALLEN
GUARDIANSHIP HEARING
Case #: J-130016/0017/0018/0019/0020
Court Date: APRIL 26,2013
@9:00AM in Courtroom #2, 1st
floor
ANTHONY ALLEN
GUARDIANSHIP HEARING
Case#: J-130016/0017/0018/0019/0020
Court Date: APRIL 26,2013
@9:00AM in Courtroom #2, 1st
floor
RYLE HOWARD
GUARDIANSHIP HEARING
Case#: J-130016/0017/0018/0019/0020
Court Date: APRIL 26,2013
@9:00AM in Courtroom #2, 1st
floor
CONTACT:
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Community Court
10,005 E. Osborn Rd.
Building 23
Scottsdale, Arizona 85256
Phone: 480-362-6315
Crossword Puzzle Solutions from Page 8
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April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Page 13
Page 14
Gila River Indian News
April 2013
April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Page 15
Driver takes pride in his work
Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN
Bonaventure Pablo parlayed his
work experience into a thriving
business.
By Roberto A. Jackson
Gila River Indian News
Bonaventure Pablo walked
into Pima Leasing & Financing
Corp. in 2012 with a business plan
and 20 years experience in tow.
He had the connections to start
his business in non-emergency
medical transportation but needed
structure, financing and capital.
The non-emergency medical
transportation industry is, according to Pablo, “fast-paced,” and it
serves a critical need in the community. “The main goal is to get
the clients on time from home to
their appointment and also the return trip,” he said.
Pablo’s experience as a nonemergency driver goes back two
decades. He’s driven clients all
over Arizona and accumulated
knowledge of the business along
the way. “I was anxious to get
started,” said Pablo, District 2.
Pablo’s outlook on business
isn’t always about the proverbial
“bottom line.” Pablo sees the other side of the dispatch. Pablo does
his best to keep their focus on their
health so they don’t have to worry about a ride. “There’s a lot of
heart in this business,” Pablo said.
Pablo’s vision as an entrepreneur was simple: “My main goal
was to come back and start a business to help my people.”
Pima Leasing & Financing
Corp. Executive Director Stephen
Puhr was impressed by Pablo’s
expertise and genuine compassion. “Bonaventure takes an awful lot of pride in the work he
does,” said Puhr.
Pablo and his business partner Terrance Johns were working
with an outside company but felt
compelled to strike out on their
own. An advertisement in the
Gila River Indian News led them
to the Pima Leasing office near the
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino.
Pablo explained his goals
to Puhr. Then Puhr and his staff
outlined a plan for Pablo to obtain
a loan. “It was nothing but professionalism from their end,” said
Pablo of his first encounter with
Pima Leasing.
Pablo had the connections
with health care caseworkers and
clients but he needed his own vehicle and he needed to register as
a provider with the Arizona Health
Care Cost Containment System
(AHCCCS).
A non-emergency medical
transportation business requires
licenses and insurance that Pablo
was able to obtain with the help of
Pima Leasing.
After helping Pablo with his
business plan and other financial services, to Pablo’s surprise
the loan process went relatively
quick. Within a month and a half
Pablo and his partner secured a
two-year loan.
Pablo is one of many transportation providers for Gila River
Behavioral Health Services. He
provides transportation for clients
to Behavioral Health programs or
appointments. Transportation is
authorized by case managers for
counseling sessions, family support, group counseling, case planning meetings, child and family
team meetings and adult recovery
team meetings.
In order to request transportation, clients provide their information and the date and times of the
appointment to their case managers. They also include locations
and any other special requirements they need like wheelchairs.
The case manager then contacts the provider with the necessary information. In Pablo’s case,
he takes that information and processes it and sets up a dispatch
route.
Pablo estimates that he makes
approximately 30 trips a week
and now he can help his community doing the job he loves. “I
just needed the finances and Pima
Leasing was the answer to the
call,” said Pablo.
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Above: Delegates from O’odham villages in Mexico visit Gov.
Mendoza and Community members at the Huhugam Heritage
Center. Below: Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis greets the visitors
during the Mul-Chu-Tha parade.
Pimas de México
By GRIN Staff
Among the guests at MulChu-Tha parade was a special
group from south of the border.
As part of the Traditional Cultural
Exchange program, Gov. Gregory
Mendoza invited a group of 13
delegates from Mexican O’odham
villages to attend the Mul-ChuTha fair and parade. The group
included traditional dancers, musicians, and governors from various Mexican villages.
The delegation also toured
the Huhugam Heritage Center on
March 15 for a reception and language exchange session.
“The Community is happy
you’re here during the time of celebration [during] the Mul-ChuTha,” Mendoza said.
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
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Page 16
Gila River Indian News
April 2013
Tribal Education Department
“Maschahamdud a Jeniktha”
Gila River moves toward Common Core State Standards
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
In an effort to enhance the
level of K-12 education in America, 45 states, including Arizona,
will soon adopt new, more rigorous, educational standards. Making the transition to the Common
Core Standards is a major change
for students and educators alike.
“It’s a completely different
way of teaching,” said Leatrice
Manny in her third grade classroom at Sacaton Elementary
School. “It’s different in that,
the questioning is more openended.” For example, rather than
have the students memorize a
multiplication table, now when
she asks her students what five
times six is, she’ll tell a story
like, “You are planting a garden, there are five rows, in each
row you are planting six flowers. How many flowers are you
planting?” This gets the kids to
think more critically about the
mathematical operations that underlie the seemingly basic question.
The Common Core State
Standards Initiative is not a federal program; rather it is a stateled effort. Four years ago, the
National Governors Association
– in collaboration with the Council of Chief State School Officers
– decided to develop and pursue a common core of math and
English standards. As a result, a
number of states used the Common Core State Standards as the
new basis for their education
systems in their applications for
Race to the Top, a federal education-funding program.
Arizona has committed to
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Leatrice Manny converses with a group of her 3rd grade students
about a descriptive narrative they just read. The students work on
literacy comprehension through a compare and contrast exercise.
make the transition by the 201415 school year but many schools
and teachers, like Manny and
Budwill at Sacaton Elementary,
have already made headway implementing the new standards to
some degree. “The benefit of doing it early,” said Manny, “is the
third graders coming in next year
or the fourth graders coming in
next year . . . they’ll be a little
more prepared for it . . . because
it is definitely a huge shift.” It
also gives the instructors time to
adjust to the new method.
The Common Core Standards are designed around and
lay out guidelines for two main
subject
areas:
mathematics
and the English Language Arts
(ELA). The driving idea behind
them, however, is to increase
student literacy – here meaning,
“competence or knowledge in
a specified area” – in all fields
of study. Essentially, Common
Core endeavors to change how
teachers teach and how students
learn across the board.
For math and ELA, it may
be better to think of the Common Core Standards as “measurable goals.” Because literacy and
comprehension are pushed to
the top of the priority list – over
content, quantity and memorization – the standards (goals) may
be the same everywhere but the
curriculum (what is being studied, the in-class activities which
determine how a student reaches
those goals) is developed at the
district level, not the national or
state level.
Common Core does not set
new standards specific to science
or social studies but it does affect
how these classes will be taught.
For one thing, it opens doors to
a whole variety of possible new
topics in classes like history and
social studies.
Debora Norris, the Director
of Indian Education at the Arizona Department of Education,
and Common Core experts from
ADE met with tribal education
department leaders from several
Arizona tribes this March at the
Huhugam Heritage Center to
discuss Arizona’s Common Core
Standards (ACCS).
“One of the things we’re
committed to doing,” said Norris, “is looking at the unique educational needs of Native American students and their parents
and their communities.
“One of the challenges we
have,” she said, “is making sure
that, in this transition, we retain
and increase the use of Native
American content,” such as primary documents, like treaties
and constitutions, as well as
culturally significant elements
like traditional stories, geography and language. “All of these
things can have some tie to students’ daily experience as tribal
members.”
She said many “tribal education departments have already
developed curricula based off of
their own particular tribal histories or philosophies.” The challenge is to “realign it and make it
useful in the context of the Common Core Standards. Our history
is not going to change but the
way that we teach it is going to
change.”
The Gila River Indian
Community Tribal Education
Department is one of those departments currently developing a curriculum for Gila River
schools. When Mario Molina,
Gila River Indian Community
Department of Education Director, heard about Common Core
and the opportunities it offers,
he jumped on it. He envisions a
day when teachers and students
are using videos, the internet and
interactive media to learn about
O’odham and Pee Posh history,
tradition, culture and science.
“For instance,” he said,
“when they’re talking about
what the Egyptians were doing
in 300 B.C., can we give them
the equivalent of what was happening here in 300 B.C. with the
Huhugam? When we’re talking
about government, shouldn’t
we be talking about what we
have here in Gila River? When
we talk about geography, well
how did our map come to be?”
By making the lessons more relevant to GRIC students, GRIC
TED thinks the lessons will have
a deeper, longer-lasting impact.
So, why Common Core?
According to www.commoncoreworks.org, the Common
Core Standards set “consistent,
strong, clear benchmarks” that
were developed specifically
to make students college- and
career-ready “no matter the zipcode, language or race.” Furthermore, because the standards are
internationally
benchmarked,
students will be better prepared
to compete on a global level. Finally, because the new standards
are more universally accepted,
“even though local communities
will still design their own curriculum, with the same rules, everyone can compete on the same
[level],” and be more equally
represented in state-to-state
comparisons.
Some valuable resources to
learn more about Common Core
Standards and Arizona Common
Core Standards can be found at:
www.corestandards.org
www.azed.gov/commoncore
www.commoncore.org
perspective in the environment
and not degrading our resources
for future generations,” Mariella
said. “Althea will bring her insights and skills now to that role,
and that’s exactly what I was
hoping to help accomplish by
coming here to ASU.”
Walker applied for and accepted an internship at Mariella’s old
employer: Gila River DEQ. The
internship
involves
expanding
the Comm u n i t y ’s
recycling
program.
Meanw h i l e ,
H u m prheys is Jacob Byk/Daily Kent Stater
preparing Victoria Humphreys
for an internship on the other
side of the country. Humprheys
hopes the eight-week internship
will allow her to meet potential
future employers in Washington
D.C. that she can call up after she
graduates in December.
She and her mother, Stacey,
moved away from the Phoenix
area, but have returned multiple
times to visit family and turn
in paperwork at Student Services. Humphreys has utilized
the scholarship offered to Gila
River Community members to
cover her final three years at Kent
State, and she plans on continuing her education even further.
“I don’t know what I would do
without [the scholarship],” Humphreys said in a phone interview.
“My teachers constantly remind
me how stupid it would be if I
don’t take advantage of getting
a master’s degree and a doctorate when people would kill to be
in the shoes that I am, to be able
to have a scholarship like Gila
River’s to go to school.”
Humphreys plans on getting
some job experience, hopefully
in the D.C. area, before going to
graduate school. She is interested
in addressing issues that commonly affect Indian reservation
communities.
Stacey also took advantage
of the scholarship, proving that
it’s never too late to get a higher
education. She earned her degree
from Kent State in 2006.
From Page 1
Students make most of scholarship
communication. She is president
of the Native American Student
Association. She recently was
selected for a summer internship
through the Washington, D.C.
Internship for Native Students
(WINS).
Walker’s grandparents, Harlan
and Ruth Bohnee, live in Stotonic in District 4. She also has Nez
Perce and Hopi ancestry. Humprheys’ grandfather is Robert
Sanderson, who lives in Sacaton.
Growing up, Walker was more
familiar with her Nez Perce heritage but began feeling a pull to
reconnect with her Gila River
origins.
“I guess it’s about identity,”
Walker said. “I know who I am
as a Nez Perce Indian, but I guess
just trying to take it back to my
[Gila River] roots: who am I,
where I’m from. I don’t know
where I’m going unless I know
where I came from.”
Pursuing higher education and
strengthening her GRIC family
ties went hand in hand. She attended South Mountain Community College for two years before
transferring to ASU in 2011. She
now lives near her mother in Gil-
bert; she is able to see her grandparents on a weekly basis.
When she came to the GRIN
office for an interview, Walker
was friendly and professional.
Her face lit up when she discussed AISES, the organization
she credits with much of her success. AISES’s stated goal is to
increase the numbers of Native
American and Alaska Natives
in what are known as the STEM
fields (science, technology, engineering and math). Natives are
vastly underrepresented across
these fields.
AISES’s role is to foster interest in these subjects among Natives as well as to provide networking opportunities. Walker
certainly has benefitted. She
spent the summer of 2010 in
Beaverton, Ore., working for
the Center for Coastal Margin
Observation and Prediction after
meeting one of its representatives
at an AISES job fair.
As the AISES Region 3 representative, Walker is in charge of
all AISES chapters in the Four
Corner states. Her responsibilities on the ASU campus include
setting up speakers, planning
meetings and preparing for annual conferences — on top of the
schoolwork she needs to complete to graduate in the spring of
2014. Walker was named a Sequoyah Fellow, which makes her
a lifetime member of AISES and
requires a lifetime commitment
to the organization.
“What AISES portrays is that
our younger generations, when
they get into college, they should
be able to look up in their classroom or in the professional world
and see faces like theirs…”
Walker said. “We need more
Native American representation
in the STEM fields so that way
our younger generations can look
up and see our faces as Native
Americans and be inspired.”
Patricia Mariella, the director
of the American Indian Policy
Institute at ASU, has become
a mentor of Walker’s. Mariella
served as the executive director
at Gila River’s Department of Environmental Quality for 11 years
before taking the job at ASU in
2006. A major goal of hers is to
see students like Walker succeed.
“American Indian students and
professionals bring a long-term
April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Page 17
Tribal Education Department
“Maschahamdud a Jeniktha”
Excitement at Casa Blanca Career Day
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Officer Sandy Brown (left) with K-9 Officer Lex at Casa Blanca
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
What do you want to be when
you grow up?
When children are asked this
question, their answers are usually based on what their parents
do for a living or the limited
examples they see on TV. Casa
Blanca Community School wants
its students to see that the world
is brimming with all kinds of careers. The school sought to expose students to a wider world
of career opportunities by hosting its first-ever Career Day on
March 14.
Groups of students in Kindergarten through fourth grade rotated to a selection of 16 presenters, who talked about what their
jobs involve and what education
was needed to attain them. Presenters included public safety
representatives from Gila River
Fire and Police departments, Arizona Air National Guardsmen,
a pilot, a lawyer, a barber and a
veterinary assistant (as well as
two Gila River Indian News re-
porters).
“A lot of the kids here on the
reservation aren’t exposed to
anything other than what they
see in their immediate families
or teachers,” said Nancy Rollins, the gifted teacher at Casa
Blanca. “So we wanted them to
know that there’s a bigger world
out there and to get inspired by
some of that.”
Rollins, who organized the
event, saw the success career
day could have during her previous 10-year stint at Maricopa
Elementary. She said it was “natural” to bring it to Casa Blanca
and brought the idea up to Principal Eric James.
“Nancy was really inspired
to do this. She worked long and
hard on it and she did a phenomenal job,” said James, who also
served as one of the presenters
that day. “I’ve seen these on a
high school level, and it hasn’t
been this well orchestrated, so I
want to give her big, big kudos.”
James immediately saw the
value in prompting the young
students to start thinking about
career paths as early as possible.
“It’s getting their brains moving,” he said. “To have these
thoughts at first, second, third,
fourth grade — it’s awesome.”
Sgt. James Zarzyczny of the
Gila River Police Department
K-9 unit was perhaps the biggest
hit among the students. Zarzyczny brought his four dog teams,
made up of Belgian Malinois
and German shepherds, which
are trained to sniff out drugs and
track suspects who are on the
run.
“I’ve been doing this for 14
years,” Zarzyczny said. “Irregardless of their age, [students
are] always amazed by what the
dogs can do and how they’re
trained. And simply because
they’re dogs.”
He added: “I think that all
schools should do this type of
thing if they’re not already.”
James and Rollins were encouraged by the students’ excitement surrounding Career Day
and the level of their participation in the presentations. James
expects it to carry on as an annual event, with the added bonus
that it supports the new Common
Core standards and college readiness.
And the benefits for the kids
could be life changing.
“They need to be able to believe that they can make the difference,” Rollins said. “That they
can dream any dream they want
to dream, that they can go to be
whatever they want to be, and
hopefully after today they will
realize that there’s some really
good things out there that they
can do.”
Photo courtesy of Sacaton Middle School
Winning Sacaton Middle School students proudly hold up their
film festival award.
Sacaton Middle School
wins multiple awards
Submitted by Sacaton
Middle School
Sacaton Middle School students have been working on informational and instructional videos
to support Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports on their
campus. Groups of students randomly chose the subject and category, then wrote scripts, created
props, and acted in skits which
were video-taped and submitted
to Sacaton faculty, who voted after viewing all the entries. The
winning entry was Mr. Babcock’s
6th graders who acted out how to
“Be Safe on the Bus”. They will
receive a pizza party from Sacaton Middle School Student Council.
The video was then sent to
KOI
(Knowledge-OutcomesImpact), then submitted to a film
festival for the BET-C statewide
conference, to compete in the
video competition. Under the
supervision of Ms. Hoover and
Ms. Pauga, students did their own
creative work. Sacaton was the
only school entered in the video
contest which involved every student in the video project. This
was impressive to everyone in
attendance at the showing of the
videos.
In the “Instructional” category, Mr. Babcock’s 6th graders won an award. In the “Informational” category, the Sacaton
Middle School ‘Kick Off’ video
was recognized with an award.
Dakota Brown, Ms. M.J. Brown’s
son, did the filming and the video
editing of our kick-off video.
Sacaton received the Bronze
Award for excellent implementation of its first year of PBIS!
Teachers, students, paraprofessionals, and administrators
are all involved in improving the
school’s atmosphere of safety,
expectations for behavior, and
significantly improved student
achievement. These awards indicate that there is much to be proud
of!
Blackwater Students Shine in Science Fair
Submitted by Blackwater Community School
The annual Gila River Science Fair took place on Feb. 20 at Sacaton Middle
School. Blackwater students from grades 3 to 5 presented numerous individual science
fair project entries into categories including Earth Science, Life Science and Physical
Science. The school came away with 4 individual winners. The winners were Castor
Nish, Emilie Lopez, Nicholas Juan, and Chandler Watson. We also had one 4th grade
team project winner with team members Taylor Duran, Marnea Blackwater, Evelia
Acuna, and Cathauli Sanchez. Blackwater Community School also did well in the class
project categories with winners in Gwen Paul’s Pre K, and Science Teacher Mr. Fox’s
Kindergarten and 1st grade classes. Well done to all participants in this year’s annual
science fair.
Page 18
Gila River Indian News
April 2013
Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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, March 6,
2013, in the Community Council
Chambers at the Governance
Center in Sacaton, Arizona was
called to order by presiding
Chairman Lt. Governor Stephen
R. Lewis at 9:10 a.m.
INVOCATION
Provided by Councilwoman Annette J. Stewart
ROLL CALL
Sign-in Sheet Circulated
Executive Officers Present:
Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis
Executive Officers Absent:
Governor Gregory Mendoza
Council Members Present:
D1- Cynthia Antone, Arzie Hogg;
D2-Jewel Whitman; D3- Myron
G. Schurz; D4-Jennifer Allison,
Christopher Mendoza, Barney
Enos, Jr.; D5-Annette J. Stewart, Brenda Roberson; D6- Albert Pablo, Terrance B. Evans;
D7- Martha Miller (9:11)
Council Members Absent:
D3- Dale G. Enos; D4-Monica
Antone; D5-Janice F. Stewart,
Franklin Pablo, Sr.; D6-Anthony
Villareal, Sr.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVED AS AMENDED
[Addendum to Agenda]
INTRODUCTIONS
1. Miss Gila River and Pageant
Contestants Presenter: Victoria
Ayala
MS. VICTORIA AYALA INTRODUCED MISS GILA RIVER TALIA ANTONE AND THE PAGEANT CONTESTANTS. MISS
GILA RIVER AND EACH OF
THE CONTESTANTS PROVIDED BRIEF OVERVIEWS OF
THEIR BACKGROUNDS.
REPORTS
1.
Blackwater
Community
School Tribal Allocation 1st
Quarter Report
Presenters: Jacquelyn Power
REPORT HEARD
2. Casa Blanca Community
School Tribal Allocation 1st
Quarter Report
Presenters: Eric James
REPORT HEARD
3. Gila Crossing Community
School Preschool 1st Quarter
Report
Presenters: Jagdish Sharma,
Jeff Williamson
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
4. Ira H. Hayes High School Tribal Allocation 1st Quarter Report
Presenter: Wendy Ong
TABLED
5. Maricopa Village Christian
School Tribal Allocation 1st
Quarter Report
Presenter: Arnie Suntag
REPORT HEARD
6. Vechij Himdag Mashchamakud Alternative School Tribal Allocation 1st Quarter Report
Presenter: Kim Franklin
REPORT HEARD
7. Office Of Special Funding-FY
2012 Annual Report Presenter:
Cheryl Pablo
REPORT HEARD
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND
FOR A 10- MINUTE BREAK
RECONVENED AT 10:55AM]
8. Annual Federal Child Care
And Development Fund Report
Presenter: Melissa Madrid
REPORT HEARD
9. Lone Butte Development Corporation – Audit Exit Conference
Presenter: Bruce BleakmanREDW REPORT HEARD
10. Lone Butte Development
Corporation Fiscal Year 2013
Quarterly Report
Presenter: Esther Manuel
REPORT HEARD
11. 2013 Wild Horse Pass Development Annual Plan
Presenter: Dale Gutenson
REPORT HEARD
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
12. 4 Month Summary of Early
Childhood Special Services Activities FY13 (Executive Session) Presenter: Aurora Navarez
REPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION MOTION MADE
AND SECOND TO EXIT
EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
FOR A 1-HOUR LUNCH BREAK
RECONVENED AT 1:36PM
13. Gila River Police Department Assessment Summary Action Plan (Executive Session)
Presenter: John Oliveira
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
TO SUSPEND THE RULES
AND MOVE THIS ITEM TO
NEW BUSINESS #6
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
14. Gila River Gaming Enterprises, Inc. - Monthly Report January 2013 (Executive Session)
Presenters: John James, Board
Of Directors
REPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
15. Gila River Gaming Commission General Report January
And February 2013 (Executive
Session)
Presenter: Serena Joaquin,
Courtney Moyah
REPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
16. FY 2013 1st Quarter Treasurer’s Report (Executive Session)
Presenter: Robert G. Keller
REPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION
RESOLUTIONS
1. A Resolution Of Consent To
Grant A One-Time Event Liquor
License To The Boys & Girls
Club Of The East Valley For Use
At The Rawhide Western Town
& Steak house In Conjunction
With The Bon Vivant Fund-Raising Event To Be Held On March
24, 2013 (G&MSC forwards to
Council with recommendation of
approval)
Presenter: Chilo Figueroa
APPROVED
2. A Resolution Approving Arizona Department Of Liquor Licenses And Control Application For
Liquor License For The Blackwater Trading Post (G&MSC
forwards to Council with recommendation of approval; EDSC
concurs) Presenters: Perry
Riggs, Dale Gutenson
APPROVED
3. A Resolution Approving A
Memorandum Of Understanding Between NORC At The University Of Chicago And The Gila
River Indian Community To
Complete A Housing Assessment Within The Community
(G&MSC forwards to Council
with recommendation of approval) Presenter: Tina Notah-Enas
APPROVED
4. A Resolutions A Resolution
Approving The Department Of
Community Housing To Submit
An Indian Community Development Block Grant Application
(G&MSC forwards to Council
with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Tina Notah-Enas
APPROVED
5. A Resolution Designating And
Approving The Assignment Of
9.2950 Acres, More Or Less, Of
Reservation Land Within District Six Of The Gila River Indian
Community As Shown In Drawing No. 30612-0385In Order To
Operate And Maintain The Santa Cruz Cemetery For The Purpose Of Interring The Bodies Or
Remains Of Eligible Community
Members (NRSC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenter: Rod Tuttle
APPROVED
6. A Resolution Approving the
Attached Effluent Usage Agreement Between The Gila River
Indian Community Department
of Public Works And Lone Butte
Partnership (NRSC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenters: Ronald Rosier,
Steve Heeley, Nathan
Yeigh
DISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
ORDINANCES
1. The Gila River Indian Community Council
Hereby Enacts Revisions To Title 20 Of The Gila River Indian
Community Code By Amending
Article III, 20.106 (F), 20.107
(F), 20.108 (F); Article IV, 20.110
(D)(4),20.111 (D)(4); Article V,
20.114 (D)(4), 20.115 (D)(4);
Article VI, 20.117 (D)(3), 20.118
(D)(4) And Article VII 20.119 (D)
(3) To Allow For A Maximum
Building Height Of 45 Feet
Above Grade For All Non Residential, Public And Commercial
Buildings Within The Exterior
Boundaries Of The Reservation
Subject To And Contingent Upon
Gila River Fire Department And
Building Safety Approval (NRSC
forwards to Council with recommendation for approval, LSC
concurs)
Presenter: Rod Tuttle
APPROVED
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Code Of Conduct Compliance
Results
(G&MSC forwards to Community
Council with recommendation to
proceed with Chapter 5 removal
per the memo) Presenter: Linda
Andrews
MOTION MADE AND SECOND
TO REMOVE DUE TO LACK
OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE
CODE OF CONDUCT, THOSE
LISTED IN 2012 AND THE
COMMUNITY COUNCIL
SECRETARY’S OFFICE DIRECT THE REMAINING 2013
LISTEES TO BE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MARCH 26,
2013 TRAINING
NEW BUSINESS
1. Casa Blanca Community School Written Plan
SY2012/2013 (ESC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenter: Eric James
APPROVED
2. 2013 FCC Seeks Nominations
For Municipal And Tribal Representatives On the Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
(G&MSC motioned to forward
to Community Council with recommendation for approval to
appoint Councilman Dale Enos
District 3 Councilman)
Presenters: Government & Management Standing
Committee
COUNCILMAN DALE ENOS
APPOINTED
3. Declaration of Vacancy for
Gila River Gaming Enterprise,
Inc. Board of Directors
Presenters: Government & Management Standing Committee
ONE (1) UNEXPIRED TERM
DECLARED
4. Sun Valley Marina Corporation (EDSC forwards
Continued on next page, 19
April 2013
Gila River Indian News
Community Council Action Sheets
continued from page 18
OF WILLIAM R. RHODES &
LUCIUS KYYITAN AND TO DECLARE THE TWO (2) VACANto Council with recommendation CIES
[Addendum to Agenda]
to remove the
board; as recommended from 5. Confirmation of Planning &
Zoning Commission D6 Reprethe 2/14/13 meeting)
Presenters: Government & Man- sentative
Presenter: Linda Andrews
agement Standing Committee
MOTION MADE AND SECOND MOTION MADE AND SECTO DISPENSE MOTION MADE OND TO CONFIRM DANIELLE
AND SECOND TO FORMALLY SPRING
ACCEPT THE RESIGNATIONS 6. Gila River Police Department
Assessment Summary Action
Plan (Executive Session)
Presenter: John Oliveira
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC
SAFETY DIVISION MANGER
CELAYA AND ACTING CHIEF
ALAMEDA OF THE GILA RIVER POLICE DEPARTMENT TO
ENGAGE IN A WORK SESSION
WITH LEGISLATIVE STANDING COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS
THE ACTION PLAN SO AS TO
Page 19
COLLABORATE AND PROVIDE DIRECTION AND SUPPORT TO GILA RIVER POLICE
DEPARTMENT
MINUTES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT
2:47PM
* Denotes TABLED from previous meeting(s)
Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, March 20, 2013
ACTION SHEET
Community
Council;
PO
Box 2138; Sacaton, Arizona
85147; Phone (520) 5629720; Fax (520) 562-9729
CALL TO ORDER
The Second Regular Monthly Meeting of the Community Council held Wednesday
March 20, 2013, in the Community Council Chambers
at the Governance Center in
Sacaton, Arizona was called
to order by presiding Chairman Lt. Governor Stephen R.
Lewis at 9:06 a.m.
INVOCATION
Provided by Councilwoman
Cynthia Antone
ROLL CALL
Sign-In Sheet Circulated
Executive Officers Present:
Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis
Executive Officers Absent:
Governor Gregory Mendoza
Council Members Present:
D1-Cynthia Antone, Arzie
Hogg; D2-Jewel Whitman;
D3-Myron G. Schurz, Dale
G. Enos; D4-Monica Antone,
Jennifer Allison, Christopher
Mendoza, Barney Enos, Jr.;
D5- Annette J. Stewart, Janice F. Stewart, Brenda Roberson (9:29), Franklin Pablo,
Sr.; D6-Anthony Villareal, Sr.,
Albert Pablo, Terrance B. Evans; D7- Martha Miller
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVED AS AMENDED
INTRODUCTIONS
[Addendum to Agenda]
1. Miss Gila River and 1st Attendant
MISS GILA RIVER LISA HENDRICKS PROVIDED A BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF HER BACKGROUND. 1ST ATTENDANT
TYLER OWENS PROVIDED
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF
HER BACKGROUND.
2 1. 14th Annual Gila River
Close Up-Event Presenter:
Michael Preston
MR. MICHAEL PRESTON
AND MR. DEVIN REDBIRD
PROVIDED A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CLOSE-UP
PROGRAM. EACH OF THE
CLOSE-UP PARTICIPANTS
INTRODUCED
THEMSELVES.
REPORTS
*1. Gila Crossing Community
School Preschool 1st Quarter
Report
Presenters: Jagdish Sharma,
Jeff Williamson
REPORT HEARD
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR A 10-MINUTE
BREAK
RECONVENED AT 11:16AM]
*2. Ira H. Hayes High School
Tribal Allocation 1st Quarter Report Presenter: Wendy
Ong
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF
AGENDA
3. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Project Status As
Of March 7, 2013
Presenters: Mike Jacobs,
Robert G. Keller, Geneva
Gooden, Lorinda Roessal
REPORT HEARD
4. Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority-FY 2012
Audited Financials
Presenters: Adam Cavin,
Leonard Gold
REPORT HEARD
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPT AUDITED
FINANCIALS
5. Travel Report 1st Quarter
Fiscal Year 2013 Presenter:
Robert G. Keller
REPORT HEARD
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR A 90MINUTE LUNCH BREAK
RECONVENED AT 1:48PM]
6. Komatke Health Center
Update on Growth and Utilization of Services
Presenters: Richard Narcia,
Dr. Noel Habib
REPORT HEARD
7. Communication between
Tribal Social Services and
Gila River Health Care’s Behavioral Health Services
Presenters: Richard Narcia,
Steven Green
REPORT HEARD
8. Domestic Violence Shelter
Policies and Procedures
Presenter: Gary Quinn
REPORT HEARD
9. ADOT Passenger Rail Corridor Study
Presenter: Sasha Saliego
REPORT HEARD
10. Monthly Financial Report
Ending February 28, 2013
(Executive Session)
Presenters: Robert G. Keller,
Mike Jacobs
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPT
RESOLUTIONS
1. A Resolution Approving
And Ratifying An
Intergovernmental Agreement
Between Maricopa County
And The Gila River Indian
Community Establishing A
Cooperative Highway Improvement Program (G&MSC
forwards to Council with recommendation for approval;
NRSC concurs) Presenter:
Steven Johnson
APPROVED
2. A Resolution Approving Additional Revisions To
The 2010 Option And Lease
Agreement For Central
Arizona Project Water Between Apache Junction
Water Utilities Community Facilities District And The
Gila River Indian Community
(G&MSC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval; NRSC
concurs)
Presenters: Linus Everling,
Thomas Murphy
APPROVED
3. A Resolution Authorizing
The Gila River Indian Community Department Of Rehabilitation And Supervision
To Submit A Grant Application Within The U.S. Department Of Justice- Coordinated
Tribal Assistance Solicitation
(CTAS) For FY2013 Consolidated Grant Application For
Renovation And Maintenance
Of The Correctional Facility, Including A Commitment
For Continued Maintenance
Thereof (G&MSC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenter: Randy Tracy
DISPENSED AT APPROVAL
OF AGENDA
4. A Resolution Approving
And Authorizing An Agreement Between The Gila River
Indian
Community And Blue Stone
Strategy Group For Fiscal
Year 2013 (G&MSC forwards
to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Governor Gregory
Mendoza
TABLED
5. A Resolution Granting 2.03
Acres of Reservation Land In
District Two To The Gila River
Indian Community Utility Authority For The Purpose Of
Constructing,
Operating,
Managing And Maintaining
A Public Utility Easement As
Shown In Drawing No. 402130025A (NRSC forwards to
Council with
recommendation for approval)
Presenters: Dante Nash, Ron
Rosier
APPROVED
6. A Resolution Approving The
Petition For The Enrollment
Of Lenora Yucupicio Into The
Gila River Indian Community
(LSC forwards to Council with
recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO APPROVE
RESOLUTIONS #6 – #13
7. A Resolution Approving The
Petition For The Enrollment
Of Vestee Ellis Jones Into the
Gila River Indian Community
(LSC forwards to Council with
recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
8. A Resolution Approving
The Petition For The Enrollment Of Samuel Hart Kenton
Jr Into The Gila River Indian
Community (LSC forwards to
Council
with recommendation for apContinued on page 22
Page 20
April 2013
Law & Order
Proposed Legislation from Office of General Counsel
PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Children’s Code
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision to the Children’s Code. A copy
of the proposed revised ordinance in
its entirety is available for review at
all District Service Centers and the
Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered
at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
TITLE 7
CHILDREN’S CODE
CHAPTER 1. TITLE AND
GENERAL PROVISIONS
7.103. Definitions.
63. Serious Offense means an
act proscribed pursuant to Title Five
of the Community Code which, if
committed by an adult, would be a
crime punishable by more than 365
days detention.
CHAPTER 5. JUVENILE OFFENDER MATTERS
7.501. Matters Under Title Five
and Title Six of the Community Code.
A. Application of this section. A
minor between 8 and18 years of age
who commits an act which, if committed by an adult, would be a crime
pursuant to provisions of an ordinance or other law of the Community, shall be adjudicated as a juvenile offender pursuant to this section.
However, any offense charged in
Children’s Court shall be considered
a misdemeanor, even if only chargeable as a felony under Title Five of
the Community Code.
7.507. Disposition Hearing.
A. An order of disposition made
pursuant to this section shall remain
in force no longer than the maximum
period of detention an adult may receive for the same offense committed, but in no event shall the total
detention and probation order exceed
one year per juvenile offender proceeding, which includes all alleged
offenses within a juvenile offender
petition. When issuing an order of
disposition pursuant to this section,
the Children’s Court Judge shall
not consider any sentencing laws or
guidelines provided outside of this
Title.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Driving Under the Influence
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision
to the Traffic Code. A copy
of the proposed revised ordinance in
its entirety is available for review at
all District Service Centers and the
Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered
at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
7.509. Transferring Juvenile Offender Matters to Community Court.
A. Minors age 16 and over.
Upon motion by counsel for the
Community, the Children’s Court
shall automatically transfer jurisdiction of a minor’s juvenile offender
matter, which includes all alleged
offenses within a juvenile offender
petition, to the Community Court for
prosecution as an adult, if the minor
is alleged to have committed a serious offense on or after his 16th birthday, and if after a hearing, there is
probable cause to believe the minor
committed a serious offense. In such
matters, the Children’s Court Judge
shall not be required to comply with
Section 7.509.D., below.
B. Minors age 15 and under. Upon motion by counsel for the
Community, the court may transfer
jurisdiction of a minor’s juvenile
offender matter, which includes all
alleged offenses within a juvenile
offender petition, to the Community
Court for prosecution as an adult, if
the minor is alleged to have committed a serious offense between the
ages of 13 and 15 years, and if after
a hearing, there is probable cause to
believe the minor committed a serious offense.
C. For minors age 15 and under, the Children’s Court Judge shall
consider the following factors when
deciding whether to transfer a juvenile offender matter to Community
Court for prosecution as an adult:
1. The gravity of the offense, including the danger to the Community
posed by the minor;
2. The age of the minor;
3. The availability of programs
designed to treat the minor’s behavioral problems;
4. The nature of the minor’s prior Juvenile Offender record, if any,
including prior appearances before
the Children’s Court as an alleged
juvenile offender or status offender,
the nature of past treatment efforts
extended and the minor’s response to
such efforts; and
5. The view of the victim in the
offense.
D. For minors age 15 and under,
the Children’s Court may, at its discretion, order no additional documentation, or it may order the relevant department produce one or more of the
following documents with a deadline,
before deciding to transfer a juvenile
offender matter to Community Court:
1. A written psychological evaluation of the minor performed by a
psychiatrist or psychologist that includes at a minimum:
a. The nature of the minor’s
mental condition;
b. An assessment regarding the
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
TITLE 6 - TRAFFIC CODE
CHAPTER 6. DRIVING UNDER INFLUENCE OF INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES
6.601. Driving or Actual Physical Control While Under the Influence.
6.602. Extreme Driving Under
Influence or Actual Physical Control.
6.603. Aggravated Driving or
Actual Physical Control While Under
the Influence.
6.604. Permitted Use and Proof
of Prior Offenses.
6.605. Revocation of License.
6.606. Implied Consent.
6.607. Possession of Alcoholic
likelihood that the minor can be rehabilitated; and
c. Recommendations of appropriate treatment plan for the minor.
2. If the minor is ward of the
court, a written case history report
submitted by Tribal Social Services
to include:
a. A detailed narrative describing how the Community has intervened for the minor’s protection, and
the services provided; and
b. An assessment by the Probation Department, which discusses the
minor’s amenability and responses to
treatment.
3. Any additional documentation shall be provided to all interest
parties upon receipt.
E. In no instance, however,
shall the absence of a prior record
of a juvenile offense be determined
to outweigh the gravity of a serious
offense resulting in the death of another, serious physical injury of another or the taking or destruction of
property valued in excess of $5,000.
F. Procedure.
1. A motion to transfer shall be
filed by counsel for the Community
within 10 working days after filing a
juvenile offender petition in the matter.
2. A transfer hearing shall be
convened within 30 calendar days
following the filing of the motion to
transfer the juvenile offender matter to Community Court by counsel
for the Community. The Children’s
Court may continue the transfer hearing with good cause appearing.
3. Written notice of the transfer
hearing shall be given to the minor, his
counsel and parent(s) or guardian(s)
within seven calendar days of the filing of the motion to transfer; and copies of materials shall be provided to
the minor and his counsel.
4. Probable Cause to Transfer. At the transfer hearing, unless
the probable cause determination is
waived, the Children’s Court Judge
must determine from evidence presented whether there is probable
cause to believe the minor committed a serious offense. The probable
cause determination may be waived
by written waiver signed by the minor, his counsel and counsel for the
Community.
a. When a serious offense is alleged that is punishable as either a
felony or a misdemeanor under Title
Five Criminal Code of the Community Code there must be probable
cause that that the minor committed
a serious offense and either (1) one
aggravating factor listed below was
committed in addition to the offense;
or (2) an additional element is present
and charged in the felony offense that
is not present in the misdemeanor of-
Beverage in a Motor Vehicle.
6.601. Driving or Actual Physical Control While Under the Influence.
A. Definition. It is unlawful
for any person to drive or be in actual
physical control of any vehicle within
the Gila River Reservation if the person:
1. Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any controlled substance, marijuana, a vapor releasing
substance containing a toxic substance, or any combination thereof, if
the person is impaired to the slightest
degree, or
2. Has a blood or breath alcohol
concentration of or exceeding 0.08
(80 mg/dL) percent within two hours
of driving or being in actual physical
fense. Any alleged aggravating factor must be included on the juvenile
offender petition. The aggravating
factors include:
1. Causing or threatening serious physical injury;
2. Engaging in violent conduct
that indicates a serious danger to
Community;
3. Causing extensive property
damage;
4. Use or possession of deadly
weapon during and in relation to any
criminal offense;
5. The offender has a prior criminal history;
6. Accomplice(s) present;
7. Offender induced others to
commit crime/ringleader;
8. Offender induced minor to
commit crime or participate;
9. Offense was especially heinous/depraved;
10. Offense committed for financial gain;
11. Victim suffered physical,
emotional, or financial harm;
12. Death of unborn child resulted;
13. Offender was wearing
body armor;
14.Victim was elderly, disabled, or vulnerable;
15. Offender was a fiduciary,
or held a position of trust/authority
with respect to the victim;
16. The offense constituted a
hate crime;
17.Committed murder, negligent homicide, or manslaughter
while driving above .15 blood alcohol content;
18.Violence committed in
presence of child;
19.Committed in retaliation
for reporting criminal activity or testifying in a criminal proceeding;
20.Impersonating a law enforcement officer during offense;
21. Prior probation/revocation
history;
22. Offender committed this
offense while on probation/parole;
23. Juvenile history involving
the commission of criminal conduct
within five years of the instant offense;
24. Multiple victims;
25. Offender reasonably appears not to be conducive to supervision in a less restrictive setting;
26. Offender continued criminal activity subsequent to arrest;
27. Crime involved planning,
sophistication, or professionalism;
and
28. If a serious felony under
Title Five of the Community Code,
offender engaged in tying, binding,
or confining any victim.
b. During the probable cause
determination, the Children’s Court
Judge shall admit only such evidence
as is material to the question whether
control of a vehicle, and that alcohol
concentration results from alcohol
consumed either before or while driving or being in actual physical control
of the vehicle.
3. The fact that a person charged
with a violation of this Subsection is
entitled to lawfully use such intoxicating liquor, controlled substance,
or vapor-releasing substance containing a toxic substance is not a defense
against any charge of violating Section 6.601.A.1 or 6.601.A.2.
B. Presumptions. In any criminal prosecution for a violation of Section 6.601.A.1, relating to driving a
vehicle while under the influence of
intoxicating liquor, the amount of alcohol in the defendant’s blood, urine,
breath, or other bodily substance
shall give rise to the following pre-
probable cause exists that the minor
committed a serious offense, which
may include hearsay. Rules or objections calling for the exclusion of
evidence on the ground that it was
obtained unlawfully shall be inapplicable.
c. The court shall issue process
to secure the attendance of witnesses. All parties shall have the right
to cross-examine witnesses and to
review their previous written statements prior to such cross-examination. After the counsel for the Community and counsel for the minor
have presented their cases, the judge
shall determine and state for the record whether the Community’s case
establishes probable cause.
d. If it appears from the evidence
that there is not probable cause to believe that a serious offense has been
committed by the minor, the judge
shall deny the Community’s motion
to transfer.
5. In the event a motion to transfer the minor’s juvenile offender matter to Community Court is not granted, the Judge denying the transfer
shall be disqualified from presiding
over any subsequent hearings concerning the minor’s juvenile offender
matter.
6. If a Children’s Court Judge
transfers the juvenile offender matter
to Community Court for adult prosecution and the minor is in custody,
the Children’s Court Judge shall simultaneously issue an order placing the minor into the Department
of Rehabilitation and Supervision
Adult Division facility pending arraignment in Community Court. The
Judge shall include in the order that
the Department of Rehabilitation and
Supervision Adult Division facility
shall ensure that the minor is housed
separately by sight and sound from
adult inmates.
7. Once transferred to the Community Court for prosecution, the
provisions of this Title shall be without effect as to the disposition of a
matter, except for orders placing the
minor into the adult detention facility
and the minor’s testimony in a transfer hearing shall not be admissible in
a subsequent criminal proceeding in
Community Court.
8. After a minor is transferred to
Community Court for prosecution as
an adult, the Children’s Court shall
dismiss the juvenile offender matter
and terminate the jurisdiction of the
Children’s Court over the minor, the
matter shall be deemed to have never
arisen and the minor may so respond
in any inquiry into the matter.
9. In the event, that a minor’s
transfer is appealed, the Children’s
Court shall forward all court documents and orders regarding the matter to the Appellate Court for consideration.
sumption:
1. If there was at that time 0.05
(50 mg/dL) or less by weight of alcohol in the defendant’s blood, it shall
be presumed that the defendant was
not under the influence of intoxicating liquor.
2. If there was at that time in excess of 0.05 (50 mg/dL) but less than
0.08 (80 mg/dL) by weight of alcohol
in the defendant’s blood, such fact
shall not give rise to any presumption that the defendant was or was not
under the influence of intoxicating
liquor but such fact may be considered with other competent evidence
in determining the guilt or innocence
of the defendant.
April 2013
PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Judges Pro Tempore
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision to Title 4, Courts and Procedure,
Section 4.106. Judges Pro Tempore.
A copy of the proposed revised ordinance in its entirety is available for
review at all District Service Centers
and the Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be
considered at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting
at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Civil Code Amendment
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision
to Title 4, Courts and Procedure: Section 4.302. Applicable Law, Section
4.311. Evidence, and Section 4.310.
Dismissal of Actions. A copy of
the proposed revised ordinance in
its entirety is available for review at
all District Service Centers and the
Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered
at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
PROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Civil Contempt
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision to the Civil Code. A copy of
the proposed revised ordinance in
its entirety is available for review at
all District Service Centers and the
Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered
at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
8.1201.
CIVIL
CONPROPOSED LEGISLATION:
Criminal Code
The Gila River Indian Community Council is considering a revision
to the Criminal Code for enhanced
sentencing as provided for under the
Tribal Law and Order Act. A copy
of the proposed revised ordinance in
its entirety is available for review at
all District Service Centers and the
Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered
at the May 7, 2013 Legislative Standing Committee meeting at 1:00 p.m.
Community members may
Page 21
Gila River Indian News
B. Qualifications of Appointee:
Persons appointed as judge pro tempore shall be:
1. Appointees may be a sitting
judge of any other Indian Community
or tribe; or
2. A Community member whose
experience demonstrates a working
knowledge of the laws and ordinances of the Gila River Indian Community and knowledge of the functioning
of the Community Courts, including
the Children’s Court; or
3. An attorney in good standing
and licensed to practice law in the
State of Arizona whose experience
demonstrates knowledge of Indian
law.
C. Tribal Law and Order Act.
Persons appointed as judges pro tempore in cases in which defendants
are subject to enhanced sentences of
longer than one year under the Tribal
Law and Order Act of 2010 shall
have sufficient legal training to preside over criminal proceedings, and
be licensed to practice law by any jurisdiction in the United States.
D. Authority of Judges Pro Tempore. A judge pro tempore shall have
the same powers, privileges and duties as a Judge of the Community
Court or the Children’s Court and
shall be administered an oath of office. Any and all decisions, orders and
actions in cases heard before a judge
pro tempore shall be given the same
authority as those issued by a judge
of the Community Court or the Children’s Court.
E. Length of Appointment.
Judges pro tempore may be appoint-
ed for any such term as the Chief
Judge shall mandate, however no
such appointment shall last longer
than a period of twelve months. A
judge pro tempore may be reappointed for another appointment before
the expiration of the twelve-month
period if the Chief Judge deems reappointment is necessary pursuant to
section 4.106.A. judges pro tempore
are subject to the provisions regarding misconduct under Title 1 of the
GRIC Code.
F. Compensation. Judges pro
tempore shall be compensated at a
rate as determined by the Judicial
Department in consultation with the
Human Resources Department.
not covered by the laws, ordinances
or traditional customs and usages
of the Community, or by applicable
federal laws or regulations, the court
may look to the law of another tribal,
federal or state jurisdiction for guidance.
4.310. DISMISSAL OF ACTION.
A. An action may be dismissed by the plaintiff without order
of court by filing a notice of dismissal
at any time before the defendant responds to the action, either before
the court or in writing, or by filing a
stipulation of dismissal signed by all
parties who have appeared in the action. Unless otherwise stated in the
notice of dismissal or stipulation will
not prevent the later filing of the same
action.
B. Except as provided in Section 4.310.A, an action shall not be
dismissed by the plaintiff except
upon order of the court and upon such
terms and conditions as the court
chooses to impose.
C. For failure of the plaintiff
to prosecute or comply with these
rules or any order of the court, a defendant may move for dismissal of an
action or any claim against him.
D. Failure by a party or the
court to satisfy any timeframes established in the Community Code
will not be grounds for dismissal of
the action if the judge finds that the
delay is indispensable to the interests
of justice and enters a written order
detailing the reasons.
E. In any case where mental
health is an issue, including but not
limited to involuntary mental health
filings, the judge shall take into consideration whether dismissal would
be contrary to the advice of health
care professionals and if dismissed
shall enter a written order detailing
the reasons for dismissal. The appropriate remedy when detention occurs
beyond a statutory timeframe is to
consider release during the period of
improper detention and not dismissal.
TEMPT OF COURT.
A. A person, whether Indian
or non-Indian, commits the offense
of civil contempt of court if he knowingly and intentionally does any of
the following:
1. While in Court, engages in
conduct which is disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent conduct, tending to interrupt any criminal or civil
proceeding or which lessens the respect due to the Court’s authority;
2. Commits a breach of the
peace, boisterous conduct, or a violent disturbance in the presence of
the judge, or in the immediate vicinity of the court held by him, tending
to interrupt the due course of a trial or
other judicial proceeding;
3. Refuses to be sworn as a witness in any court proceeding;
4. Refuses to serve as a juror;
5. Fails without excuse to attend
a trial at which he has been chosen to
serve as a juror;
6. Fails to pay a fine or restitution that was ordered by the court.
a. The clerk of the court shall
notify the Office of the Prosecutor
and the sentencing court whenever a
defendant defaults in the payment of
a fine or restitution.
b. The court, on motion by the
prosecutor, or on the court’s own motion, may order the defendant to appear for a hearing to show cause why
the defendant’s default should not be
treated as contempt.
c. At the hearing, the prosecutor, the court and any person entitled
to restitution may examine the defendant under oath concerning the
defendant’s ability to pay the fine or
restitution.
d. If the court finds the defendant has shown sufficient cause for
not paying the fine or restitution,
despite sufficient good faith efforts
to obtain the monies, the court may
enter any reasonable order that would
assure compliance with the order to
pay, including ordering garnishment
of the defendant’s per capita payments if applicable.
e. If the court finds the defendant has not show sufficient cause for
not paying the fine or restitution, it
will be considered contempt has been
committed as provided in paragraph
C of this section. If a detention sentence is imposed, the sentence must
be commuted upon satisfaction of the
debt.
f. Any penalty ordered under
this section does not affect the obligation to pay any fines or restitution
previously ordered, including those
fines or restitution ordered in the underlying matter.
B. When contempt is committed in the immediate view and presence of a judge, the judge must make
an order reciting the facts as the facts
occurred, and that the person proceeded against is guilty of contempt,
and that the matter will be set for a
sentencing hearing.
C. When contempt is not committed in the immediate view and
presence of the judge it may not be
punished except after notice to the
defendant stating the facts and setting a hearing. The defendant shall
be given a reasonable time to prepare
his defense and shall be entitled to be
represented by counsel and to present witnesses. Any charge under this
offense must be established by clear
and convincing evidence. If the contempt charge is for disrespect to or
criticism of a judge, that judge shall
be disqualified from hearing the contempt charge.
D. The penalty for civil contempt of court shall a fine not to exceed $5,000.00.
comment on the proposed revised
ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Councilman
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
munity Court shall have criminal jurisdiction over any Indian who commits any offense in violation of the
Gila River Indian Community Code
(“code” or “GRIC code”), when the
offense occurs within the boundaries
of the Gila River Indian Reservation.
B. Nothing in this title shall
be construed as limiting the civil or
criminal power of the Community
over non-Indians other than the express limitations imposed by the law
of the United States.
_________________________
_______
HISTORY: GRIC Code §5.101
(2009).
5.102. INDIAN DEFINED.
Indian blood and maintains tribal or
federal government recognition as an
Indian. Tribal or federal government
recognition as an Indian can be established by considering the following
factors, in descending order of importance:
a. Tribal enrollment;
b. Government recognition formally and/or informally through receipt of assistance reserved only to
Indians;
c. Enjoyment of the benefits of
tribal affiliation; or
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
4.106. Judges Pro Tempore.
A. Authority to Appoint. The
Chief Judge of the Community Court
may appoint judges pro tempore to
preside over civil, criminal or juvenile cases before the Community
Court and the Children’s Court in
cases where the judges of the Community Court have been disqualified
from sitting on a case or when such
judge has disqualified him or herself,
or when necessary to facilitate the
administration of justice including
compliance with the Tribal Law and
Order Act of 2010.
Myron Schurz, the Chairperson of
the Legislative Standing Committee.
Written comments may also be sent
to: GRIC Law Office, Post Office
Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
4.302. APPLICABLE LAW.
In all civil cases the court shall
apply the Gila River Indian Community Constitution, laws and ordinances. The court may, but is not required
to, apply the traditional customs of
the Community if they are relevant
and not in conflict with the laws
and ordinances of the Community.
Where any doubt arises as to the customs and usages of the Community,
the court may request the advice of
those familiar with those customs and
usages. In deciding any matter that is
CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.101. CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
A. The Gila River Indian Com-
4.311. EVIDENCE.
Unless provided otherwise under Community law, for all civil matters, the court shall apply the Gila
River Rules of Evidence.
A. An Indian is any person
who is any of the following:
1. Is a member of, or is eligible
for membership in, a federally recognized Indian tribe;
2. Has ever been eligible for
membership in a federally recognized
Indian tribe;
3. Is an Alaskan Native and
member of a Regional Corporation
as defined in Section 7 of the Alaskan
Native Claims Settlement Act; or
4. Possesses some degree of
BIA PIMA AGENCY: PUBLIC NOTICE
Price Road Alignment Water Pipeline Environmental Assessment
The Gila River Indian Community (GRIC), Department of
Public Works, is proposing to
construct a new water pipeline
east of Price Road on 15.7 acres
of allotted land between Riggs
Road and Queen Creek Road in
Maricopa County, Arizona The
proposed action would include
the approval of a 10-foot wide
permanent easement and a 30foot wide temporary construction
easement by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA), Pima Agency, in
order to allow for the water pipeline construction.
Based on the February 2013
Price Road Alignment Water
Pipeline Environmental Assessment (EA), it has been determined that the Proposed Action
will not have a significant impact
on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an Environ-
mental Impact Statement is not
required. This is a public notice
of availability of a Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) and
Final EA for review. The FONSI
and the Final EA will be publicly
available for 30 days beginning
March 25, 2013, and ending April
23, 2013. To obtain a copy of the
FONSI and the Final EA, please
contact:
Cecilia Martinez
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pima
Agency
P.O. Box 8
Sacaton, Arizona 8514 7
Telephone Number:
520.562.3326
Fax: 520.562.3543
Please note this FONSI is a
finding on environmental effects
not a decision to proceed with an
action; therefore, it carmot be ap-
pealed. Title 25, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 2.7 requires a
30-day appeal period after the decision to proceed with the action
is made before the action may be
implemented. Appeal information
will be posted at Pima Agency
when the decision to proceed is
made.
Page 22
Announcements & Notices
Community Council Action Sheets
continued from page 19
proval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
9. A Resolution Approving
The Petition For The Enrollment Of Karen Louise Topel
Into The Gila
River Indian Community (LSC
forwards to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
10. A Resolution Approving
The Petition For The Enrollment Of Alicia Marie Ramirez
Into The Gila River Indian
Community (LSC forwards to
Council
with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
11. A Resolution Approving
The Petition For The Enroll-
ment Of Henry Florez Zepeda,
Jr., Into The Gila River Indian
Community (LSC forwards to
Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
12. A Resolution Approving
The Petition For The Enrollment Of Janelle Lynn Lewis
Into The Gila
River Indian Community (LSC
forwards to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLUTION #6
13. A Resolution Approving
the Relinquishment of Marie
Ellenette Seto aka Fleming
From The
Membership Roll Of The Gila
River Indian Community (LSC
forwards to Council with
recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Valerie Williams
APPROVED AT RESOLU-
TION #6
ORDINANCES
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Blackwater Trading Post
Construction
Financing
(G&MSC forwards to Council
for consideration with addition
information provided by Treasurer Keller)
Presenter: Dale Gutenson
MOTION MADE ANS SECOND TO SUPPORT THE FINANCIAL OPTION #2
[MOTION MADE AND SECOND FOR A 10-MINUTE
BREAK
RECONVENED AT 4:20PM]
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION
2. Zuni Tribe’s Proposed
Amendment To Gaming Device Operating Rights Transfer Agreements
(Executive Session) (G&MSC
forwards to Council for consideration)
Presenters: Linus Everling,
Eric Dahlstrom
GRICUA Announcements
Summer Student
Intern Program 2013
Customer Service
Representative - Part
Time
Summer College Student Intern.
The student will learn about
the tasks and responsibilities of
The Gila River Indian Commuthe people who provide electric
nity Utility Authority (GRICUA) The Gila River Indian Commuservice to the Community.
nity Utility Authority (GRICUA) OPPORTUNITY:
has an opportunity for Summer
has an opportunity for a CusStudent Interns to learn a little
• Student will work 40 hours per
tomer Service Representative
about how an electric utility
week, Monday through Friday
(CSR), Part-time. Position is in
operates. Four interns will be
• Pay will be $7.80 per hour
selected for individual two week the GRICUA Business Office in
(Arizona Minimum Wage)
Chandler, AZ.
internships.
• Program for student will be deOPPORTUNITY:
The students will rotate
veloped based on his/her major
• CSR will work 24 hours per
through various departments at
course of study – for example,
week, Wednesday, Thursday and
GRICUA, learning about the
a Business or Accounting major
Friday.
tasks and responsibilities of the
will work primarily with staff
• Pay will be $12.00 per hour.
people who provide electric
in that area; an Engineering
• CSR will gain skills in taking
service to the Community.
or technical major will work
customer payments, researching
OPPORTUNITY:
primarily in the Operations areas
discrepancies, and answering
• Students will work 40 hours
of GRICUA
telephone inquiries.
per week, Monday through Fri• Students will learn from
• CSR will fill in for other CSRs
day for a two week period.
experienced draftsmen, wareand may be moved to a full-time
• Pay will be $7.80 per hour
house & purchasing personnel,
position in the future.
(Arizona Minimum Wage)
meter technician, line workers,
• Students will learn from expe- REQUIREMENTS:
accountants, customer service
• Candidates must be at least 18
rienced draftsmen, warehouse
representatives and others disupervisor, meter technician, line years of age
rectly involved with the work in
• Candidate should have some ba- the utility
workers, accountants, customer
sic computer skills, such as word REQUIREMENTS:
service representatives and othprocessing and spreadsheets
ers directly involved with the
• Student must be at least 18
• Job description can be found
work in the utility
years of age and currently enon the GRICUA website – www. rolled as a full time student at an
REQUIREMENTS:
gricua.net/employment
• Students must be at least 16
accredited college or university.
• All candidates must complete
years of age
• Student should have some ba• Students should have some ba- the GRICUA Application for
sic computer skills, such as word
sic computer skills, such as word Employment which can be found processing and spreadsheets;
at http://www.gricua.net/employ- clear Arizona driver’s license
processing and spreadsheets
ment.html
• Students must complete the
• Students must complete the
• Candidate must pass a drug
GRICUA Application for EmGRICUA Application for Employment which can be found at screen and background check
ployment which can be found at
before employment
http://www.gricua.net/employhttp://www.gricua.net/employ• Return applications via e-mail
ment.html
ment.html
to GRICUAHR@GRICUA.NET; • Deadline for filing applications
• Students will be required to
by fax to 480-452-1429 or mail
pass a drug screen before emis May 17 at 4:00 p.m.
to GRICUA Human Resources
ployment
• Student will be required to pass
• Deadline for filing applications Dept. at 6640 W. Sundust Road,
a drug screen and background
Box 5091, Chandler, AZ 85226.
is May 17 at 4:00 p.m.
check prior to employment
• Return applications via e-mail
applications via e-mail
Summer College Stu- •toReturn
to GRICUAHR@GRICUA.
GRICUAHR@GRICUA.
NET; by fax to 480-452-1429
dent Intern Program NET; by fax to 480-452-1429
or mail to GRICUA Human
or mail to GRICUA Human
The Gila River Indian CommuResources Dept. at 6640 W. Sunnity Utility Authority (GRICUA) Resources Dept. at 6640 W. Sundust Road, Box 5091, Chandler,
has an opportunity for a full-time dust Road, Box 5091, Chandler,
AZ 85226.
AZ 85226.
April 2013
ITEM HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE
SESSION
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DIRECT THE LITIGATION TEAM TO ENGAGE
WITH
DISCUSSIONS AND CONDUCT BUSINESS WITH THE
ZUNI TRIBE
NEW BUSINESS
1. Declaration of Vacancy –
Community Council Secretary
Presenter: Linda Andrews
DECLARED
MINUTES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT
5:04PM
* Denotes TABLED from previous meeting(s)
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
Once again GRTI will be participating in the Five Tribes Treaty
of Peace Parade and afterwards you can see us at our booth!
As always we will have a survey along with awesome raffle
prizes! Be sure to make it out to the event and say hello!
Interested in finding out about GRTI’s low Internet rates
and computer purchase program?
Please attend our Informational Event at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort
Convention Center on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Call (520) 796-8843 to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!
Congratulations To Our
Mul-Chu-Tha Raffle Winner!
Vernice Jackson!
Enjoy the iPad Vernice!
Thank You all who stopped by the booth
to enter the raffle or just to say hello!
We Love seeing our customers!
150th
Annual
Five Tribes Treaty of Peace
C E L E B R A T I O N
April
12-14
A REMEMBRANCE OF THE HISTORIC TREATY THAT FIVE TRIBES MADE TO ENSURE
PEACE THROUGHOUT THE NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
• Elder Chair
Volleyball Tournament
• All-Nighter
Softball Tournament
• Competitive tournaments
and runs
• Parade
• Bird Dance Competition
• Food and craft vendors
• Fun activities for kids
• 2nd Annual Social Pow-Wow
• Food & craft vendors
• Little League Tournament
THIS IS A FREE ADMISSION, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WITH SOMETHING TO DO FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR THE TOURNAMENTS, THEY FILL UP FAST!
General information please call District 7 Recreation at (520) 430-4780
Gila River Indian Community’s District 7 Park
8035 S. 83rd Avenue, Laveen AZ 85339 (83rd Avenue, South of Baseline)
Gila River Indian Community, District Seven, Gila River Commissioners, and Event Committee & Volunteers shall not be
held responsible for bodily injury, or theft, or damages incurred during the Five Tribes Treaty of Peace Celebration.