State representatives sponsor bill to expand boundaries of Casa

Transcription

State representatives sponsor bill to expand boundaries of Casa
“ 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
AUGUST 16, 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. 12
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
The Casa Grande Ruins National Monument park,
which houses the famous “Great
House” (or Sivan Vahki, as the
O’odham call it), is set to expand
its boundaries if a new House of
Representatives bill passes later
this year.
The proposed legislation,
the “Casa Grande Ruins National
Monument Boundary Modifi-
cation Act of 2013” bill (H.R.
2497), is a bi-partisan effort
sponsored by Arizona Reps. Ann
Kirkpatrick, Paul Gosar, Ed Pastor and Raúl Grijalva.
If successful, the bill will
nearly double the 473-acre,
Coolidge-area park by adding
another 413 acres of adjacent and
nearby plots of land that have
been proven to hold archaeological significance.
The purpose of the land grab
Gila River
Business Owners
nominate
contractor for
‘40 Under 40’
Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN
Carlos Muñoz, owner of Pimmex General Contracting, was recently awarded the contract for the
George Webb Housing Division. He was nominated for the ‘40 under 40 Award’ by the Gila River Business Owners Association.
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
Carlos Muñoz, owner of
Pimmex General Contracting,
has built the promise of his
company right into its name.
The name represents a
combo of Pima and Mexican
— Muñoz’s ethnic background
— and with it a commitment
to employ minority workers to
do contracting for neighborhood communities, especially
in the Gila River Indian Community, where Muñoz grew up
in District 5. Since the company
was started in 2008 it has consistently grown, taking on more
and more jobs both inside and
outside Indian Country.
IN the GRIN
The early success of Pimmex has warranted some due
recognition for the 29-year-old
Muñoz. He was recently nominated for the National Center
for American Indian Enterprise
Development’s 40 Under 40
Awards, awarded to budding
Native American entrepreneurs.
According to the NCAIED
website, the award “highlights
40 emerging American Indian
leaders under 40 years of age
who have demonstrated leadership, initiative and dedication
to achieve impressive and significant contributions in their
businesses, communities and to
Indian Country.”
The Gila River Business
Education.....................Page 8
Community Updates..Page 5 Announcements/Notices Page 9
Health & Wellness.....Page 7 Action Sheets............Page 10
Owners Association submitted the nomination on Muñoz’s
behalf. The application process
is open until Sept. 2. Winners
will be announced at the 38th
Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards, which will be held
at Wild Horse Pass Hotel in October.
“I was actually very surprised, but it’s hard for me to
praise myself,” Muñoz said. “I
just go out and I do work that
feels right.”
The most rewarding part of
operating Pimmex has been being able to give back to his community, Muñoz said. Since being awarded its first Community
Continued on Page 3
EPA rates Loop
202 DEIS very
low, Pg. 5
Continued on Page 5
Presorted
Standard
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sacaton, AZ
Permit No. 25
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Sivan Vahki, or the Casa Grande Ruins, is a place of great cultural
significance for the O’odham people and stands as a testament to
their history and the memory of the departed Huhugam.
Barnaby Lewis, an officer of Gila
River’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office.
In the 2010 letter of support,
GRIC claimed “cultural affiliation” to the area “on geographical, archaeological, linguistic,
oral tradition and historical evidence. [We] identify Sivan Vahki
(AKA the Casa Grande Ruins) as
a Traditional Cultural Property
that holds great religious and cul-
Gila River Indian News
P.O. Box 459
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Change Service Requested
State representatives sponsor bill to expand
boundaries of Casa Grande Ruins Monument
is the protection of archaeological
and cultural resources.
“Our mission here at Casa
Grande Ruins is to preserve the
resources and then educate the
public about those resources,”
said Park Superintendent Karl
Cordova. He said their aim is “to
share those stories of what we
think was happening here 1,000
year ago. And these land parcels
help us understand the land better
and to tell that story just a little
bit better.”
H.R. 2497 is not the first incarnation of a proposed expansion
to the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. In 2010, Rep.
Kirkpatrick tried to pass a similar
bill, which the Gila River Indian
Community backed in an official
memorandum dated April 2010:
“The Gila River Indian Community highly supports federal legislation to modify the boundary of
the Casa Grande Ruins National
Monument.”
In addition to their archaeological properties, these lands
hold important cultural meaning
for the O’odham people.
“It is our ancestral land,” said
C o l o ny
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
A Gila River delegation attended Pres. Barack Obama’s visit to
Desert Vista High School in Ahwatukee on Aug. 6.
Obama visits Phoenix,
touts housing in speech
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Nearly 700 high school seniors packed the gymnasium floor
and hundreds of Arizonans lined
the stands. Everyone faced the
red, white and predominantly blue
stage on the north wall and the
crowd erupted at the first glimpse
of Pres. Barack Obama, who visited the Ahwatukee high school
Aug. 6 to address the nation on the
topic of housing in America.
Representing the Gila River
Indian Community at the speech
was Gov. Gregory Mendoza; Lt.
Gov. Stephen Lewis; Community
Council Reps. Carolyn Williams,
Jennifer Allison, Monica Antone and Devin Redbird; Akimel
O’odham / Pee-Posh Youth Council President Kyle Flores and Miss
Gila River, Lisa Hohokimal Hendricks.
Obama spoke to the at-capacity Desert Vista High School auditorium about the American Dream
and how owning a home “is the
ultimate evidence that here in
America, hard work pays off, that
responsibility is rewarded.”
Housing plays a key role in
the larger economic recovery effort, Obama said. The president
recited a string of statistics high-
lighting the recent upturn in the
U.S. economy: “Home prices are
rising at the fastest pace in seven
years. Sales are up nearly 50 percent. Construction is up nearly
75 percent. New foreclosures are
down by nearly two-thirds.”
But the recovery isn’t done
yet, he said, and he went on to outline his plan to find, as illustrated
in the title of his address, “A Better
Bargain for the Middle Class” in
regards to housing and home ownership, “which is the most tangible
cornerstone that lies at the heart of
the American Dream, at the heart
of middle-class life.”
Part of his plan includes making it possible for homeowners to
refinance their mortgages at today’s rates, which are lower than
in recent years and to make it easier for new buyers to get their first
home loans.
Hendricks, a college student,
who recently purchased her first
vehicle, said the speech was “interesting” and helped her realize
some of the complexities of making large purchases like a house or
car. As a young person, she said,
she doesn’t want to get cheated
out of someday buying a house
in a stable market and making it a
home.
New Council
H.O.P.E.
Secretary, Pg. 10 group, Page 11
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all documentation will be provided and collected.
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No Physician referral needed, talk to a DCP
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staff member today.
Your
cooperation will ensure that GRHC is serving individuals that are
eligible
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for health
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Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital
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1162
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If the
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Jovina
Matus, Patient������������������
Registration Manager, at 520-562-3321 extension
1287. P. NarciaKomatke Health Center
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Richard
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Thank
you for your time and understanding.
Please call or stop by the Pediatric
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Department to make an appointment with
your child‛s Primary Care Provider soon!!!
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Margaret: 520-562-3321
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ext. 1233
For best care, School, Boarding
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School and Head Start PEs or Routine
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Laveen,
Arizona 85339
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Sacaton,
Arizona 85147
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Phone:
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Fax:
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West Farrell Road
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Phone:
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7/1/2013 4:33:10 PM
8/12/2013 4:01:30 PM
Gila River Indian News
August 16, 2013
Page 3
Elderly Nutrition Program
The Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) serves a hot meal Monday—Friday
to eligible participants that meet the recommended daily allowance
(RDA), and special diet needs. The goal is to increase or maintain the
diet of elder individuals to ensure that 1/3 of their dietary needs are
met.
The program serves District 1-7 within the Gila River Indian Community.
Eligibility Requirements
Governor
Gregory Mendoza
Lt. Governor
Stephen Roe Lewis
• Meals provided to any person 55 and over and/or to a spouse under
age 55 living in the same household.
• Meals provided to handicapped or dis-abled program participants
under are 60 who live in congregate housing facilities occupied
primarily by the elderly.
Community Council
Representatives
District #1
• Meals provided at home to persons who have demonstrated a need
to be home-bound.
Arzie Hogg
Cynthia Antone
District #2
Meal Referral:
District #3
Referrals can be made by a family member, family friend or health care
professional. Referrals are submitted to ENP where it is reviewed for
eligibility. The participant and district coordinator is then notified of
ap-proval or disapproval.
Carol Schurz
Dale G. Enos
Carolyn Williams
District #4
Barney B. Enos, Jr.
Jennifer Allison
Norman Wellington
Monica Antone
District #5
Robert Stone
Franklin Pablo, Sr.
Annette J. Stewart
Janice Stewart
170 W. Pima Street
P.O. Box 956
Sacaton, AZ 85147
Phone: 520-562-9696
Fax: 520-562-9697
E-mail:: Elaine.Patrick@gric.nsn.us
District #6
Anthony Villareal, Sr.
Albert Pablo
Terrance B. Evans
District #7
Devin Redbird
Robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer
Jacqueline Thomas,
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) 562-9718
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
Young business owner spearheading success
Continued from Page 1
contract in 2010, Pimmex has
done work on homes throughout
GRIC, including the installation
of air conditioning units and
electrical upgrades. The company’s biggest contract to date is
the George Webb Housing Subdivision infrastructure in D4.
The project, which is 99 percent
complete, included building all
the foundations of a neighborhood from scratch, such as the
streets, sewers, electrical wiring
and pavement.
The home-building contract
for the subdivision has not been
awarded but Muñoz insists that
Pimmex will be making a bid.
Michael Preston, president
of the Gila River Business Owners Association, spoke highly
of Muñoz’s work and said the
young business owner is clearly
deserving of the nomination.
“He knows whatever work he
does is going to reflect on him
permanently,” Preston said. “He
knows what it means when you
build something for your own
people.”
Pimmex has 22 employees,
about half of which are minori-
ties. Six are Native American,
Muñoz said, including one from
Gila River. In addition to GRIC,
they have completed work in
Chandler, Phoenix, Tolleson
and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.
The company is even expanding out of state. It was recently awarded a contract to
remodel 20 homes for the Comanche Nation in Oklahoma
and is also in negotiations for a
contract in San Diego.
But Muñoz gets the biggest
joy out of what he can give back
locally. His company has sponsored numerous Community
events and done work free of
charge for Community elders.
“The community outreach for
me is the biggest thing,” Muñoz
said. “To give back to my community is the accomplishment.”
Muñoz has two children,
ages 11 and 8, and a supportive fiancée. They live in Queen
Creek. He earned his Bachelor’s
of Science in Business Management from a program affiliated
with Arizona State University.
Page 4
Local hip-hop talent pursuing avenues to stardom
Brown. Starting
with his freshman year in high
school, Brown,
26, has four
self-produced albums or “street
releases” to his
credit. He has
more
material
locked inside of
him but now he is
Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN
looking
to take a
Joey Brown, AKA G.I. Joe, has been a featured
big career move.
artists on many local hip-hop shows.
“What I’m really
By Roberto A. Jackson
trying to do right now is chase a
Gila River Indian News
record deal,” said Brown.
Brown has been active on the
For Joey Brown, hip-hop is
local hip-hop scene to bring the
a universal art form. He’s taken
G.I. Joe experience to a wider authe break beats and musical interdience.
ludes and used them to express the
Brown’s manager Anthony
highs and lows of a young man
Stevens credits a May 11 perforfrom District 5 trying to survive
mance at Big Fish Pub in Tempe
in a crazy world. With the microas a springboard to more opporphone in his hand he is known as
tunities. “His performance that
G.I. Joe., not the “Real American
night turned a lot of heads and
Hero,” but an authentic and downstarted getting him noticed,” said
to-earth hip-hop artist whose realStevens.
istic accounts of life in Gila River
Since then he returned to the
has started to turn heads among
Big Fish Pub on Aug. 3, he’s colother local rappers.
laborated with hip-hop crews from
“You can always make it
San Xavier and he is also gearing
without giving up and giving in
up for a big show on Aug. 18 at
to weakness,” said Brown. His
Joe’s Grotto in Phoenix. “Right
over-arching lyrical message is
now, we’re just trying to continue
about relating to people with evthat road, that momentum,” said
eryday problems. He raps with
Stevens.
an elevated consciousness that
Brown is a father of two
speaks to the talent that sprang up
young girls and currently works
in the young man back in 1999.
for Gila River Health Care.
“Hip-hop became my outlet,” said
Gila River Indian News
August 16, 2013
August 16, 2013
Gila River Indian News
Community Updates
by
GRIN STAFF
Here are some regular updates on
the on-going issues pertaining to
the Gila River Indian Community.
Page 5
EPA calls Loop 202 DEIS ‘inadequate,’ says agencies should coordinate more with GRIC
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency analyzed the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement
for the proposed South Mountain Freeway and rated the study
with the agency’s lowest possible
mark, echoing many of the concerns of Gila River environmental
groups and freeway opponents.
Like a teacher marking up a
student’s wayward first draft in
red ink, the EPA identified what
it sees as numerous deficiencies
in the DEIS, rating it a Category
3 on its three-point system, citing
“inadequate information.” In a letter addressed to Karla Petty of the
Federal Highway Administration
dated July 23 — a day before the
public comment period deadline
— the EPA said the DEIS “does
not provide the information needed to assess the potential significance of the air quality impacts of
the proposed action.”
The letter also urges the Ari-
zona Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway
Administration to continue to coordinate with GRIC to avoid impacts to South Mountain, a sacred
site to the Community.
Noting how divisive the freeway issue has been within the
tribe, the letter says: “While we
understand that there may never
be one alignment route fully supported by the entire tribal community and government, we encourage ADOT and FHWA to continue
to work closely with GRIC to reduce impacts to sacred sites and
traditional cultural properties to
the greatest extent possible.”
Pointedly, the EPA faults the
draft study for not specifically
disclosing the expected changes
in air quality in and around the
area of the proposed eight-lane,
roughly 22-mile freeway. The
project aims to extend the Loop
202 from the Santan interchange
Ground breaking held for District 2 Multi-Purpose building
Photo Courtesy District 2
The ground breaking ceremony for the District 2 Hashan Kehk
Multi-Purpose building took place on July 26 at 6 a.m. Joseph
Enos and Tim Terry conducted the blessing. The Hashan Kehk
Basket Dancers performed prior to the ground breaking. In attendance were Gov. Gregory Mendoza, Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis,
District 2 Council Representative Carol Schurz, GRIC Departments, staff, contractors, Miss Gila River and other Community
members. District 2 is hoping for an August 2014 completion
date.
Bill seeks to add over 400 acres of
land to Casa Grande monument
Continued from Page 1
tural significance.”
One of the land segments the
National Parks Service hopes to
absorb is the 196-acre so called
“Adamsville site,” which is currently owned by the state of Arizona. It lies approximately four
miles east of Coolidge and the
Casa Grande Ruins along State
Route 287.
At first glance, the site looks
like an uninteresting patch of
desert with a large mound of dirt
but underneath, it has been found
to possess significant archaeological artifacts.
The site contains a prehistoric platform mound and ancient ball court indicating that it
was an area of high occupation.
A platform mound is a section of
raised land that was most likely
used for ritual ceremonies but
also served as a focal point for
community meeting areas like a
town plaza.
A report released by the
THPO regarding another platform mound location says, “Platform mounds played an essential
role in the social integration and
functioning of prehistoric communities… In addition to being
rare, platform mounds play a
central role in the creation story
of the Akimel O’odham.”
The Casa Grande Ruins was
set aside as the first federal archeological reserve in 1892.
This would be the first time any
change has been made to the
boundaries of the monument
park. The bill is currently being
considered by the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and
Environmental Regulation.
at Pecos Road along the border of
GRIC and reconnect to the I-10 at
56th Avenue. “Instead,” the letter says, “the DEIS presented an
estimated value of emissions that
combines the impact of the new
freeway alignment with emissions
from the adjacent, and existing,
I-10 freeway. This methodology
does not provide the information
needed to disclose, analyze and
potentially mitigate the actual
emissions anticipated from a new
highway segment.”
Without detailed information
about how the freeway would affect the areas immediately surrounding it, GRIC would not be
able to make informed decisions
about future land use or health
impacts for areas that border the
proposed freeway, the EPA letter
continues.
In addition, the EPA says the
study still needs to address questions about whether the proposed
freeway meets the requirements
of the Clean Air Act and disclose potential “hotspots” where
particulate matter may exceed
10 microns in diameter (known
as PM10). It further calls for the
study team to conduct a “robust
air toxics risk assessment.”
The DEIS, which cost approximately $22 million to put
together over 12 years, is silent on
these issues.
“They’re simply recommendations from the EPA,” said
Timothy Tait, assistant communication director for ADOT. “We’re
evaluating those comments and
we’ll incorporate what we think
is appropriate into the final document.”
The EPA recommends the
ADOT along with the Federal
Highway Administration distribute this information in a Supplemental DEIS for public comment,
offering to review the supplemen-
tal studies and provide feedback
before they are published. Presumably this would be released
before the Final EIS, which is expected sometime in 2014.
EPA is required to analyze
and grade any environmental impact statement that involves federal funding. Will ADOT consider
releasing a Supplemental DEIS?
“That hasn’t been determined
yet,” Tait said.
Other EPA criticisms of the
DEIS include its use of pre-recession population growth projections and an absence of complete
traffic information. Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment
joined a coalition of community
groups that criticized the DEIS for
many of the same issues.
To receive a Category 3
mark, a proposed project must be
deemed to “not adequately [assess] potentially significant environmental impacts of the action.”
Page 6
August 16, 2013
Gila River Indian News
“Blowing down barriers one note at a time”
A new exhibit honoring Akimel O’otham jazz musician
Russell Moore. The exhibit will feature his trombone
and music.
Opening Event:
Thursday, September 19, 2013
6pm – 9pm
Join us for a night of celebration!
For more info contact:
Huhugam Heritage Center
4759 N. Maricopa Rd. Chandler, AZ 85226
(520) 796-3500
August 16, 2013
Page 7
Health & Wellness
Sports Banquet held in D1
Photo Courtesy of the Beeliners
Beeliners make NABI debut
Jessica Lopez/CPAO
Tribal Recreation held the 1st Annual GRIC Tribal Recreation Sports Banquet,
The Beeliner Girls basketball team entered for the first time into the Native American which was held on Aug. 9 at the District 1 Multi-Purpose Building.
Basketball Invitational Tournament (NABI) in July. We would like to thank friends and
family for making a donation for the girls to participate. A big ‘thank you’ to District
One Recreation for the use of your building for the team practices. The Beeliners
consisted of girls from District 1 to 5. After pool play, they played one game in the Silver Bracket. Thank you to the parents and grandparents for encouraging the girls to
keep playing, running and preparing for NABI. The team coaches were Eddie Lucero,
District 4, and Ronald Paul, District 3.
2013 All Native Men’s Basketball
Tournament
Gila River Wellness Center Celebrates National Kids Day in Sacaton
Twelve kids came out early on Sunday, August 04, 2013 to
take part in the 4th Annual Gila River Youth Fitness Run. Ages
ranged from 17 years to toddler walkers. Each individual participated in their race category from .5 to 3 miles. This event
is a part of the Wellness Center Summer Youth Program for
youth our mission is to prevent childhood obesity in our community.
Thank you for our volunteers- Parents-Guardian, Gila River Police, Gila River Animal Control who assisted to making
this event a safe for all our participants.
B. Villanueva
6 yrs & Under
1st Place Female
Time:10:30:00
.5 Mile
T. Lyons
6 yrs & Under
2nd Place Male
Time: 13:10:00
.5 Mile
J.. Villanueva
6 yrs & Under
1st Place Male
Time: 11:51:00
.5 Mile
D. Olivar
10-12 yrs
1st Place Male
Time: 18:50:00
1.5 Mile
NOT PICTURED
L. Montoya
6 yrs & Under
2nd Place Female
Time:11:45:00
.5 Mile
A. Quiyo
7-9 yrs
1st Place Female
Time: 23:50:00
1 Mile
A. Casoose
13-17 yrs
1st Place Male
Time: 23:50:00
5k
C. Casoose
13-17 yrs
2nd Place Male
Time: 25:09:00
5k
T. Reed
13-17 yrs
3rd Place Male
Time: 26:52:00
5k
Aryel Preston– Quiyo
7-9 yrs
2nd Place Female
Time: 27:45:00
+++++++++++
Lilliyn Allison
7-9 yrs
3rd Place Female
Time: 27:46:00
C. Kisto
13-17 yrs
1st Place Female
Time: 35:24:00
5k
The Brandon G. Enos Educational Foundation is proud to announce the results of the
2013 All Native Men’s Basketball Tournament. Held at the Sacaton Boys and Girls Club
Gymnasium on August 9-10, 2013.
Championship:
Lost Reds (Fort McDowell)
2nd Place:Komatke Kings
3rd Place:Blue Devils
Most Valuable Player:
#30 – Roman
Lost Reds
All Tournament Team:
1.
#25 – Thomas
Komatke Kings
2.
#23 – Thomas
Lost Reds
3.
#23 – Jackie
Komatke Kings
4.
#30 – Andrew
Blue Devils
5.
#15 – Pete
Mixed Tribes
We would like to thank the sponsors of our tournament, Gila River Indian Community
Utility Authority, Gila River Telecommunications Inc., Gila River Sand and Gravel, Gila
River Farms and Henry Brown Automotive Group, Glenn Jones Ford, Lincoln LLLP.
K&S Sports Promotions, Inc., Minkus Advertising Special ties. Thanks to all of the
teams for their participation, all of those who came to watch the tournament and all of
the volunteers.
Page 8
Tribal Education Department
“Maschahamdud a Jeniktha”
Tribal Ed. hosts reservation
wide teacher in-service
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Jacob Moore (Arizona Board of
Education) thanked the GRIC
educators for their dedication
at the 9th Annual Reservationwide Teacher In-Service.
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
The 9th Annual ReservationWide Teacher In-Service was a
hit.
“It seems like it’s highly
organized,” said Gila Crossing Community School teacher
Richard Smith, who remarked
that the Tribal Education Department “took it up a notch” this
year. “People are participating…
and the presenters…had high energy and seem like they believe
in what they’re doing, and that
makes a big difference to me.”
Gov. Gregory Mendoza
opened the in-service, which gave
students a day off Aug. 9. “This
year, I challenge you to ‘Elevate
Education,’” he said, quoting the
theme of the conference.
“My goal for the Community
is to build self-reliant, responsible
Community members,” he said,
and, reiterating his number one
priority as Governor, “Education
is our pathway to self-reliance.”
Jacob Moore, a member of
the Arizona State Board of Education and Tribal Relations Coordinator with Arizona State University, gave the keynote address.
“As tribal governments begin to
establish economic rehabilitation
and follow the goals of self-governance,” he said, “gone should
be the days of using education as
a tool to assimilate our children
into the main stream.” Rather, he
said, education should be “a tool
to make our tribal nations stronger.”
Although it’s not a mandatory training, over 450 educators
participated in the event.
The in-service offered over
a dozens work sessions on a
broad range of topics in education. They included: “Challenging Classroom Behaviors” led by
TED’s Gale Rawson, GRHC’s
“Understanding Mental Health
Challenges for Adolescents” presented by Michael Rhinehart and
Jaime Arthur, “Suicide Prevention
Using QPR (Questions, Persuade,
Refer)” taught by Sania Sobo and
“The Contribution of Ceremony
Regarding the Akimel O’odham
World View” led by TED’s Dallas
DeLowe.
TED Director Mario Molina
led a session called “Culture and
Language Development for Core
Subjects,” in which he discussed
the potential use of the new Common Core Standards to teach subjects through a lens of O’odham
culture, tradition, geography and
history.
Usually a teacher in-service
is organized by and provided for
a single school district. What’s
unique about the GRIC In-Service
is it pulls educators from schools
in multiple districts and school
types (charter, private, public, parochial, etc.) into one large meeting, the common denominator
being that each school associates
directly with the Gila River Indian
Community Tribal Education Department.
“Because we’re not a school
district, we don’t see each other
but once a year,” said Molina.
He emphasized that the
GRIC In-Service provides a valuable networking experience for
Gila River teachers and school
staff members from a variety of
backgrounds. “We’ve opened up
those doors and it’s a community
feeling now. We’re all in this together,” said Molina.
The in-service was held at the
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort.
August 16, 2013
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Ira Hayes H.S. freshman Gabriel Miguel recorded an intro segment
for CBS-5 meteorologist Jason Kadah, which aired Aug. 10.
CBS-5 meteorologist presents
at Ira Hayes High School
By Mikhail Sundust
Gila River Indian News
Students at Ira Hayes High
School got a special presentation
from a local news channel Aug. 7.
Jason Kadah, a meteorologist for CBS-5 News in Phoenix,
stopped by the school to show the
students what he does on a day-today basis and what it takes to be a
TV weatherman.
“It’s really about your ability
to present in front of people,” he
said. Science, math and reading
are all important elements of being
a good meteorologist, “but confidence is key. Don’t be afraid to get
up and talk in front of a group.”
Kadah has been a meteorologist for 15 years; three of those
have been with CBS-5 News in
Phoenix. He talked to the students
about the differences between
high and low-pressure systems,
what a cold front is and what a
jet stream does. He also demonstrated how tornadoes are formed
and explained why hurricanes are
a necessary part of the earth’s ecosystem.
After his presentation, he
turned on his camera and handed
the students the microphone bearing the CBS logo. A handful of the
teens and one staff member volunteered to give a weather report
that Kadah used on his newscast
Saturday, Aug. 10. You can watch
a video of the broadcast at KPHO.
com; search “Ira Hayes.”
Ira Hayes freshman Gabriel
Miguel recorded an intro for the
news channel, which Kadah used
to introduce his weather forecast
segment on Saturday.
Kadah noted on-air that he
learned something from his visit to
the Gila River Indian Community,
that the O’odham word for “haboob” is “jegos.”
August 16, 2013
Page 9
Announcements & Notices
Special guests visit Sacaton Library
Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN
From Left: Eloy Library Director Rus Ketcham, Eloy City Councilwoman Belinda Akes and Ira H. Hayes Librarian Ramona Tecumseh at the Ira H. Hayes Memorial Library on Aug. 9 in Sacaton. Ketcham and Akes, who is also the Eloy Executive Chamber
of Commerce, were invited by Gov. Gregory Mendoza to visit
Sacaton. “I got some great ideas to take back,” said Akes of her
visit with Tecumseh. “I love seeing this library,” said Ketcham.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Pima Agency
Gila River Indian Community
Environmental Assessment for a Telecommunications Lease at Estrella Mountain
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Pima
Agency is releasing a Public Notice for
a proposed Environmental Assessment (
EA) to evaluate the potential impacts of
Antenna Sites, Inc. (ASI) entering into
a new telecommunications lease with
Pima Leasing and Financing Corporation
(PLFC) for facilities located on Hayes
Peak in the Sierra Estella Mountain
Range (Estrella Mountain) in the vicinity of Komatke, Arizona. ASI has leased
the facilities from the Gila River Indian
Community (Community)since the 1970s
through the renewal of several 5-year
leases. ASI owns and maintains the facilities which are operated by tenants who
sublease the facilities from ASI.
The National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) requires federal agencies to address the potential environmental consequences of proposed actions as well as
solicit comments from local, state, and
federal agencies, Indian tribes, and interested members of the public during their
decision-making process.
Because BIA is a federal agency, an EA is
required to comply with NEPA. The EA
will address any potential impacts resulting from development of the project.
Project Description
PLFC was established in 2010 to oversee
the leasing of tribal land on behalf of the
Community, including Hayes Peak. There
are three communications towers supporting microwave dishes and two-way
radio antennas, transmitters and battery
banks, propane generators, small wind
turbines, solar generating panels, an on
ground power line easement, and existing
helipads located on Hayes Peak whose
lease has expired.
No access roads serve the peak and access
is possible only by helicopter or by hiking
in to the site. This project would establish
a new lease with an option for the facilities on the peak.
Purpose and Need
The most recent lease for the telecommunication facilities expired in February 20
I 3. Due to the cultural significance of Estrella Mountain, the BIA is requiring that
an EA be completed for the new lease.
The EA will provide an environmental
review of the site, present the project, and
disclose associated environmental consequences that may result from operations
and maintenance of the facilities on the
peak.
Public Comment Period
As part of the NEPA process, you are invited to provide written comments on the
proposed action. All comments received
become part of the public record associated with this action.
Accordingly, your comments (including
name and address) will be available for
review by any person that wishes to view
the record. At your request we will withhold your name and address to the extent
allowed by Freedom of Information Act or
any other law.
Please submit any written comments you
may have within 30 days or by August 16,
2013 to the following individual by mail
or fax:
Cecilia Martinez, Superintendent
Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pima Agency
P.O. Box 8
Sacaton. Arizona 8514 7
Telephone Number: (520) 562-3326
Fax: (520) 562-3543
Public Notification
IN THE COURT OF THE GILA RIVER
INDIAN COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTIES OF PINAL AND MARICOPA IN
THE STATE OF ARIZONA
IN THE MATTER OF: J. M.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT PETITIONERS a Petition for the Termination
of Parental Rights of James Molina.
AN ANSWER/RESPONSE HEARING
HAS BEEN SET BY THE SACATON
CHILDREN’S COURT TO CONSIDER
THE PETITIONS:
DATE: Thursday, August 6, 2013
TIME: 10:00 a.m.,
LOCATION: Sacaton Children’s Court,
721 West Seed Farm Road, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.
NOTICE: You have a right to appear as a
party in this proceeding. The failure of a
parent to appear at the Initial Hearing, the
Pretrial Conference, the Status Conference
or the Termination Adjudication Hearing
may result in an adjudication terminating
the parent-child relationship of that parent.
A COPY OF THE PETITION TO TERMINATE AND PETITION TO ADOPT
may be obtained from the Clerk of the
Children’s Court at 721 West Seed Farm
Road in Sacaton, Arizona 85147 or from
Petitioner’s Attorney at the Rothstein Law
Firm, 80 East Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe,
AZ 85281, Phone 480-921-9296.
Public Notification
KEVIN MERCADO
Review Hearing
Case #: J-08-1004/1005
Court Date: November 18, 2013 at 9 a.m.
in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
FAILURE TO APPEAR CAN AFFECT
YOUR RIGHTS
Jurisdiction: Salt River Pima Maricopa
Indian Community Court
Address: 10005 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Contact: (480) 362-6315
Heather Jefferies
Court Clerk
480-362-2721
heather.jefferies@srpmic-nsn.gov
Public Notification
1. GAIL BROWN, Permanency Hearing Case J-10-0121/0122 Court Date:
September 10 2013 at 1 p.m. in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.
FAILURE TO APPEAR CAN AFFECT
YOUR RIGHTS
Jurisdiction: Salt River Pima Maricopa
Indian Community Court
Address: 10005 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256
Contact: (480) 362-6315
Public Notification
IN THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY COURT
STATE OF ARIZONA
JULIE HILL,
Plaintiff/Petitioner,
vs.
LEONARD MCINTOSH,
Defendant/Respondent.
TO: Leonard Mcintosh
Post Office Box 1168
Bapchule, Arizona 85147
CASE Number: CV-2013-0098
CIVIL SUMMONS
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, that
a civil action has been filed against you
in the Gila River Indian Community
Court.
YOU shall respond at an ANSWER/
RESPONSE HEARING regarding this
matter on the following date and time at
the place set forth below:
Sacaton Community Court
721 West Seed Farm Road
Sacaton, Arizona 85147
(520)562-9860
DATE: Monday, September 09,2013
Time: 11:00 AM
YOU may respond in writing. However,
even if you do so, your presence at the
Answer/Response Hearing is still required. If a written answer or response
is made, it shall be filed and served before the date of the hearing, unless the
time is extended by order of the Court.
If you fail to appear and defend, judgment by default will be entered against
you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition.
Page 10
August 16, 2013
Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013
ACTION SHEET
Community Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton, Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 5629720; Fax (520) 562-9729
CALL TO ORDER
The First Regular Monthly Meeting of the
Community Council held Wednesday,
August 7, 2013, in the Community Council
Chambers at the Governance Center in
Sacaton, Arizona was called to order by
presiding Chairman Governor Gregory
Mendoza at 9:11 a.m.
INVOCATION
Provided by Councilwoman Annette
Stewart
ROLL CALL
Sign-in Sheet Circulated
Executive Officers Present:
Governor Gregory Mendoza
Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis
Council Members Present:
D1- Cynthia Antone, Arzie Hogg; D2-Carol
Schurz; D3-Dale G. Enos (9:15), Carolyn
Williams; D4- Monica Antone, Jennifer
Allison, Barney Enos, Jr. (9:45), Norman
Wellington; D5-Annette J. Stewart, Franklin Pablo, Sr., Robert Stone; D6-Albert
Pablo (9:11), Anthony Villareal, Sr. (9:14),
Terrance B. Evans; D7- Devin Redbird
(2:00)
Council Members Absent:
D5- Janice F. Stewart
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
APPROVED AS AMENDED
OATH OF OFFICE CEREMONY
1. Jacqueline Thomas, Council Secretary
Presenter: Chief Judge Anthony Hill
CHIEF JUDGE ANTHONY HILL DELIVERED THE OATH OF OFFICE TO MS.
JACQUELINE THOMAS
(15-minute reception to follow in the lobby)
[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA
CALLED FOR A 15-MINUTE BREAK
RECONVENED AT 9:41AM]
REPORTS
1. Blackwater Community School Tribal
Allocation 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Presenter: Jacquelyn Power
REPORT HEARD
2. Vechij Himdag Mashhchamakud Tribal
Allocation 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Presenter: Lillian K. Franklin
REPORT HEARD
3. Gila Crossing Community School Tribal
Allocation 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Presenter: Jeff Williamson
REPORT HEARD
4. St. Peters Indian Mission School Tribal
Allocation 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Presenter: S. Martha Carpenter
REPORT HEARD
5. Ira H. Hayes High School Tribal Allocation 3rd Quarter Progress Report
Presenter: Fred Ringlero
REPORT HEARD
6. Gila River Health Care FY13 SemiAnnual Tobacco Tax Report
Presenter: Bonita Lyons
REPORT HEARD
7. Gila River Health Care Annual Report
Addendum
Presenter: Bonita Lyons
REPORT HEARD
8. Huhugam Heritage Center Russell
Moore Exhibit Event
Presenters: Holy Metz, Reylynne Williams
REPORT HEARD
9. CEOT Completion Status Report July
2013
Presenter: Dale Gutenson
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO
TABLE
RESOLUTIONS
*1. A Resolution Approving And Authorizing Amendment No. 1 To The October 1,
2012 Agreement Between The Gila River
Indian Community And Towers Watson
Delaware, Inc. (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenters: Treasurer Robert G. Keller,
Sharon Harvier-Lewis
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO
DISPENSE
2. A Resolution Rescinding GR-19-01
Which Approved A Fifty (50) Year Homesite Assignment Agreement For Derwin
Stevens, And Approving A Continuation
Of The Fifty Year Homesite Assignment
Agreement For Joseph Stevens,
Located In District Four Of The Gila River
Indian Reservation And Designated As
Drawing No.30413-0315 (NRSC forwards
Thomas introduced as
new Council Secretary
Mikhail Sundust/GRIN
Jacqueline Thomas (District 7) was sworn in as the new Community Council Secretary at the regular Council Meeting Wednesday, August 7. Thomas brings with
her more than 18 years of experience working at a private law firm in Phoenix and
a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from Arizona State
University. “I’m looking forward to the challenges and learning about the operations of the Council,” she said of her new, appointed position. She hopes to leave
her mark “streamlining” CCSO’s operations by implementing more updated technologies.
to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Pamela Pasqual
APPROVED
3. A Resolution Approving The Assignment Of Business Lease BL00090772
From LDR-Zenith Maricopa Pavilions LLC,
To Maricopa-Zenith L.L.C.; Approving
The Settlement Agreement And Mutual
Release Between The Gila River
Indian Community And Maricopa-Zenith,
L.L.C.; And Approving The Assignment
Of Business Lease Number BL00090772
From Maricopa-Zenith L.L.C. To Pima
Leasing & Financing Corporation LLC
(NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; EDSC concurs
Including completed material)
Presenters: Ron Rosier, Linus Everling,
Denten Robinson
APPROVED
4. A Resolution Approving The Third
Amendment And Fourth Amendment To
Business Lease BL00102007 A Lease
Between Certain Allotted Landowners Of
Land And Within The Gila River Indian
Community, The Gila River Indian Community, And Pecos & 40TH St.-Zenith,
LLC, And Approving a Substitute Lease
(NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; EDSC concurs
Including completed material)
Presenters: Ron Rosier, Linus Everling,
Denten Robinson
APPROVED
5. A Resolution Approving A Mutual Aid
Agreement Between The Gila River Indian
Community And The Arizona Department
Of Public Safety (LSC forwards to Council
with recommendation for approval)
Presenters: Edward Alameda, Nada
Celaya, Michael Carter
APPROVED
6. A Resolution Authorizing the Casino
Expansion Owner’s Team To Undertake
Additional Capital Projects Related to the
Vee Quiva Hotel And Casino And Other
Gaming Related Projects (EDSC forwards
to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenters: Ron Rosier, Dale Gutenson,
Treasurer Robert Keller
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ORDINANCES
1. The Gila River Indian Community
Council Hereby Amends Title 17, Chapter
5 Of The Gila River Indian Community
Code, “Adult Protective Services,” To Add
A Definition Of The Term “Adult” As Section 17.501(A)(7) (LSC forwards to Council
with recommendation for approval)
Presenters: Thomas Murphy, Rebecca
Hall
APPROVED
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Appointment of Gila River Sand &
Gravel Board of Directors Two (2)
Presenters: Reviewing Committee
GORDON DOMINGO AND JEWEL WHITMAN
APPOINTED
2. Appointment of Gila River Health Care
Corporation Board of Directors One (1)
Presenters: Reviewing Committee
MYRON SCHURZ APPOINTED
3. Appointment of Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority Board of Directors
One (1)
Presenters: Reviewing Committee
ALTHEA WALKER APPOINTED
4. Gila Crossing Community School
Update 60-day Review (ESC forwards to
Council under Unfinished Business)
Presenter: Jeff Williamson
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPT AS FYI
5. El Paso Gas Team Vacancy (CRSC
forwards to Council with recommendation
to appointed Carol Schurz) Presenter:
Monica Antone
COUNCILWOMAN CAROL SCHURZ
APPOINTED
6. Sacaton Peak Gila River Indian Community And Central Arizona College
License Agreement – Draft
(EDSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Elizabeth Antone
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS
1. St. Peters Indian Mission School Tribal
Allocation Written Plan SY2013/2014
(ESC forwards to Council
with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: S. Martha Carpenter
APPROVED
2. Blackwater Community School Tribal Allocation Written Plan SY2013/2014 (ESC
forwards to Council with recommendation
for approval)
Presenter: Jacquelyn Power
DISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
3. Vechij Himdag Mashhchamakud
Alternative School Inc. Tribal Allocation
Written Plan SY2013/2014 (ESC forwards
to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Lillian K. Franklin
APPROVED
4. Sacaton Middle School Tribal Allocation
Written Plan SY2013/2014 (ESC forwards
to Council with recommendation for approval)
Presenter: Philip Bonds
APPROVED
5. School Construction for the Gila River
Indian Community’s Grant Schools (ESC
forwards to Council)
Presenter: Mario Molina
TABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA
6. Four Tribes Meeting Delegation Authorization Presenters: Community Council
MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO
AUTHORIZE COMMUNITY COUNCIL TO
TRAVEL TO THE FOUR TRIBES MEETING AUGUST 16, 2013
THROUGH AUGUST 18, 2013
MINUTES
ANNOUNCEMENTS
>SPECIAL EDUCATION STANDING
COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 8,
2013, 9:00AM, TRIBAL EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT
>AS FYI COUNCILWOMAN CAROL SCHURZ AND COUNCILWOMAN CYNTHIA
ANTONE INTERVIEWED BY FOX NEWS
>THANKS EXPRESSED TO THOSE
THAT ATTENDED PRESIDENT OBAMA’S
SPEECH
>THANKS EXPRESSED TO COUNCILMAN REDBIRD AND COUNCILWOMAN
WILLIAMS FOR ATTENDING IGA MEETING IN SEDONA
>NEXT IGA MEETING SEPTEMBER 20,
2013 AT VEE QUIVA HOTEL & CASINO
ADJOURNMENT
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 2:22PM
* Denotes TABLED from previous
meeting(s)
August 16, 2013
Gila River Indian News
Page 11
Group hopes to change attitudes toward gay community
Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN
Members of Helping O’odham Pursue Equality are seeking to expand understanding and acceptance of the GLBTQ community.
By Joshua Jovanelly
Gila River Indian News
Neila Banketewa is a lesbian
and she’s proud of it.
On Aug. 7, she was preparing
to attend a meeting that night for
Helping O’odham Pursue Equality, or H.O.P.E., a gay advocacy
and support group in the Gila
River Indian Community. Banketewa posted a reminder about
the meeting on her personal Facebook page, encouraging her gay
friends and straight supporters to
come get involved in the budding
organization.
“Keep that [expletive] to
yourself if you’re proud of what
you’re about,” one male commenter responded.
Banketewa read the comment aloud later that night to
the 17 people in attendance at
the District 2 Service Center for
H.O.P.E.’s monthly meeting. Hateful outbursts against the GLBTQ
— short for gay, lesbian, bisexual,
transgender and questioning —
community are all too common.
The online comment was both an
example of the attitude H.O.P.E.
wants to eradicate in GRIC as well
as motivation for solidarity among
an often-marginalized group of
Community members.
“It just pushes us harder to
make sure that we get established,
make sure that our plans are in
stone,” Banketewa said.
Although it was established
in September 2010, H.O.P.E. has
picked up a ton of momentum in
the last six months and is working toward becoming a formally
recognized, Council-sanctioned
Community organization. The
group’s mission statement reads:
“We are dedicated to promoting
positive support and educational
awareness for the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning O’odham/ Pee Posh community members of the Gila River
Indian Community.”
H.O.P.E. has already made
history by becoming the first-ever
GLBTQ entry in this past year’s
Mul-Chu-Tha parade, which
founder and chairperson Keith
Kisto called “a very empowering
and emotional moment for us”
because it was like their “coming out” to the Community. Kisto
said the Community on the whole
was “very welcoming.”
The group also participated
in the Casa Grande March for
Equality, where the response was
more mixed.
“We had people cussing at
us, flipping us off, giving us a
piece of their mind,” Kisto said.
“But aside from that we had a lot
of good feedback as well, people
cheering us on, honking, giving
us thumbs up.”
More exposure opportunities occurred at the Phoenix Gay
Pride Parade in April and at the
Gila River Youth Conference in
July, where H.O.P.E. shared an
informational booth with GRHC
Behavioral Health, which runs a
youth GLBTQ support organization known as L.O.V.E., Letting
Others Value Equality. All of
these activities were firsts for a
gay organization from Gila River.
National attitudes and acceptance toward the gay community
have evolved rapidly over the last
few decades, and continue to do
so. In June, the U.S. Supreme
Court struck down a federal law
that defined marriage as between
a man and a woman. Thirteen
states and the District of Columbia currently allow gays to legally
marry.
But locally, the story can be
much different. H.O.P.E. members say GRIC lags behind offreservation communities in accepting the GLBTQ lifestyle. At
the meeting, some members said
they often found greater acceptance outside the Community,
such as when they went off reservation for high school. H.O.P.E.
concedes that things are continuing to improve — and have improved plenty since when some of
the older members were growing
up — but there are many negative
attitudes still out there that it intends to confront.
Iann Austin, H.O.P.E.’s secretary, says he realizes some people object to homosexuality on
religious or moral grounds. He’s
not trying to change people’s beliefs, but rather to build a bridge
to understanding.
“It sounds really cliché but
we’re your brothers and your
sisters and your aunts and your
uncles and your cousins and your
kids,” Austin said. “So I think
that’s one big thing — we’re connecting people.”
Those connections have
prompted straight supporters to
the join group. Yet even those that
simply support the gay cause are
not always immune to abuse.
“With supporters like myself,
we get made fun of,” Justin Enos
said. People questioned whether
he was gay after he attended his
first meeting. “I said, ‘No, I’m
here to support my friends because they supported me. I’m going to their meetings and they’re
going to always be my friends,’”
Enos said.
H.O.P.E.’s meeting locations
rotate among the seven districts
— they have yet to hit D5 and
D7 — and they continue to gain
popularity through outreach on
Facebook and other social media
sites. Of the 17 people attending
the August meeting, five were
there for the first time.
“I’m glad you guys are all
here. And come back, bring some
more people,” said co-chair Angela Santos, who joined earlier in
the year.
Before a closing prayer, the
meetings wrap up with an open
discussion where members can
talk about common challenges,
vent frustrations or seek out advice. Members shared varying
coming out experiences — some
were hated or shunned by family, others openly accepted — or
struggles they’ve faced helping
friends who were contemplating
suicide.
Erik Kisto, H.O.P.E.’s treasurer and Keith’s brother, had
advice for people victimized by
teasing. “Don’t take it to heart,”
Erik said. “Because yeah words
hurt, but those people that say
those words, they’re hurting inside.”
There was plenty of optimism shared as well, as the acceptance of the gay rights movement continue to make strides
that would have been considered
impossible just a few years ago.
“Right now I’m more free,”
Banketewa said. “I can hold my
girlfriend’s hand in public, I can
kiss her in public and anything I
want to do that a man and woman
can do in public, I can do with
her. And I feel better.”
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MUSTERING IN
TH
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SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
FREE ADMISSION, FAMILY
FRIENDLY EVENT
GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY’S DISTRICT 7 PARK | 8035 S. 83RD AVENUE, LAVEEN AZ 85339
(83RD AVENUE, SOUTH OF BASELINE) | GENERAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (520) 430-4780
- 5K RUN, FAMILY FUN WALK
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