AUGUST 2, 2013 WWW.GILARIVER.ORG/NEWS VOL. 16, NO. 11

Gila R

iver Indian New

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IN the GRIN

Community Updates..Page 5Community Updates..Page 5Health & Wellness.....Page 7

Education.....................Page 8

Action Sheets............Page 10Announcements/Notices Page 9

Culture & History.........Page 7

“Serving al l seven dis tr ic ts of the

Gila River Indian Community”

B l a c k w a t e r - H a s h e n K e h k - G u U K i - S a n t a n - C a s a B l a n c a - K o m a t k e - M a r i c o p a C o l o n y

Letters & Opinions......Page 3

NABI teams roll into the Valley, turn heads

“How many other thoughts and insights are locked up inside young minds? What more can be learned from youth, from each other?”

Long before he attained the top position in the Gila River In-dian Community, a young, spir-ited man named Greg Mendoza asked these questions in an article he submitted to the Gila River Indian News in 1987. Mendoza had just helped organize the fi rst-ever Gila River Youth Conference, held that summer at the Sacaton

Career Center. Up to that point, many young people felt they had no voice in the Community and no platform upon which to address the problems they faced every day.

The answers to Mendoza’s questions could be seen July 26 and 27 in the vibrant, buzzing at-mosphere of the 25th Annual Gila River Indian Community Youth Conference held at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Hotel in Chan-dler.

Riding the theme “Let Our Voice Be Heard,” young leaders from Gila River and visiting tribes displayed a taste of what they are capable of contributing. The con-

ference is completely youth-run and organized, and includes work-shops on cultural and contempo-rary issues, elections for Youth Council’s future open seats and social dances.

Current members of the Akimel O’odham/Pee-Posh Youth Council kicked off the confer-ence by entering the ballroom in a procession and engaging the audi-ence in a traditional song, led by former Youth Council member Antonio Davis. Youngsters, who had been bussed in from each district, later broke into caucuses to nominate and vote for their fu-ture representatives, who will be sworn in in October. Workshops included titles such as “Move it or Lose It,” “Money 101 – A Crash Course in Money Management,” and “Do You Know Your ABCs for Health?”

Tim Terry, who served as the MC of the inaugural Youth Con-ference, spoke to the crowd of kids, encouraging them to live by the conference’s theme but with a caveat: “What I want to remind you of is this: appropriateness to that voice,” Terry said. “When something is being done wrong to you and you feel you need to voice your opinion, say it. But say it in the right way.”

For the conference to operate

with complete youth autonomy, Jeri Brunoe, of Brunoe Training and Consulting, is brought in to train young volunteers who want to serve as facilitators during the conference. Brunoe met Mendoza and other early youth leaders in the late ‘80s at a training seminar in Utah and has been part of the Youth Conference nearly every year since.

Brunoe does consulting work across the country and in Canada and Mexico with other youth lead-ership organizations. Everywhere she goes, she reminds people that Gila River is the standard. “I say and share everywhere I go — this is the model youth council,” she said. “If you want to know what a good working youth council is, come to Gila River.”

Youth Council President Kyle Flores, who turns 19 on Monday, refl ected on what makes the con-ference so successful. “It’s a youth conference for the youth, by the youth,” Flores said. “So I think when that happens the youth are more receptive to what they learn.”

Flores, a fi rst-year student at Chandler-Gilbert Community College who wants to study po-litical science, laughed when it was pointed out that the Youth

Youth movement continues at annual conference

Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN

The 25th Annual Gila River Indian Community Youth Conference opened with a procession and traditional songs sung by the youth.

By Joshua JovanellyGila River Indian News

Continued on Page 10

As the deadline to submit public comment on the proposed South Mountain freeway drew to a close July 24, a group of Gila River Indian Community mem-bers who oppose the freeway took part in two press conferences to address what they deem injustices and defi ciencies in ADOT’s draft environmental impact statement.

The Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment joined a col-lection of anti-freeway groups at the offi ces of the Howard Shanker Law Firm on July 24 to submit a conglomerate of comments point-ing out aspects of the DEIS that they say includes errors, omis-sions and faulty data. The fol-lowing week, GRACE members spoke outside the Arizona Depart-ment of Transportation’s Phoenix offi ce after serving the department with a federal Title VI civil rights complaint. The proposed freeway, if built, would blast through 31 acres of South Mountain, a site sa-cred to the O’odham people.

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits federal funds from

GRACE sub-mits DEIS com-ments on pro-posed freeway

Lori Riddle, director and co-founder of GRACE, a local en-vironmental group, joined other anti-freeway groups to submit comments regarding the DEIS.

Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN

By Joshua JovanellyGila River Indian News

Continued on Page 5

The Native American Basket-ball Invitational hit the hardwood again in Phoenix for the 11th an-nual tournament. It is the largest all-Native American tournament in North America. “It’s not any-body else’s tournament, it’s a Na-tive American tournament,” said Angelo Johnson, NABI Director.

Sixty-four teams on both the boys and girls side of the ledger played games from July 18-21, giving the tournament a little touch of “March Madness” and many bracket busters along the way. “Any team can take that Gold Division championship,” Johnson said.

Alaska, from Scammon Bay, Alaska, and Lady Magic, a Na-vajo team from Arizona, won the boys and girls Gold Divisions, re-spectively. Yakama Nation, from Washington, and NM Spears, a Navajo team from New Mexico, won the Silver Divisions.

Five teams represented Gila River this year. Gila River and the Komatke Kingz played for the boys and Gila River, Southern

Hoops and the Komatke Queenz played for the girls. After pool play, all the GRIC teams were placed in the Silver Division bracket. The Gila River boys team won two games in the brack-et but fell to Team Yaqui. South-ern Hoops and Komatke Queenz both scored wins in the Silver Division as well but exited after the second round. The Komatke Kingz and the Gila River girls team both played solid but suf-fered fi rst round defeats.

“I would like to thank all the parents,” said Gila River boys coach Rudy Flores.

Southern Hoops coach Ron-ald Platerio, an offi cer with the Gila River Police Department, said that despite some close over-time losses his team is in good shape for the future. “We’re pret-ty solid right now for next year and the following year.”

Komatke Kingz assistant coach Jason Jones said it was good to see the local team go up against the elite Native American squads. “It’s more exposure for them and playing against the best Native teams in the country, that’s where good ball is at,” he said.

Gila River girls team coach Stan Pratt is looking for more young ladies to suit up for Gila River. He said that meeting other

coaches and players from around the country was a great experi-ence for him and his team.

By Roberto A. JacksonGila River Indian News

Mikhail Sundust/GRIN

Komatke Kingz player Jackie Hutton Jr. drives for a lay up against the Tohono O’odham team at North High School on July 18.

Award-winning student, Page 8

Per Capita Corner, Page 4

Box 5015, 7065 West Allison Road, Chandler, Arizona 85226-5135 (520) 796-3333 • www.gilanet.net • fax (520)796-7534

Gila River Telecommunications, Inc.“Proudly serving the Gila River Indian Community since 1988”

In this months ad we will be continuing with our malware education series. Last month we learned that there are different types of malware, one of the most common types of malware is a virus.

VirusesTo be a considered a virus it must be able to self- replicate and spread copies of itself, which can even be modified copies. A virus inserts itself into a program and becomes a part of that program. It can spread and leave infection from one computer to another.

What do viruses do?Viruses can range from causing minor annoying effects, can damage

data or software, or even cause (DoS) denial-of-service attacks.

How did I get a virus? Almost all viruses are attached to an executable file, this means a virus can exist on a system but will not be active or spread until a user runs or opens the malicious file or program. When the user opens the file or program the viral code is executed as well. Usually the host program or system will continue to function after it is infected. Sometimes a virus will overwrite other programs with copies of themselves, which will destroy the program altogether.

How do viruses spread?Viruses spread when software or

documents they are attached to are transferred from one computer to another using a network, disk, file sharing, or in infected emails attachments.

HELP! My system is infected!If you think your computer is infected with a virus call GRTI and we will gladly assist you with your questions.

Currently, GRTI is only accepting computer repairs or virus removal for those computers purchased through GRTI’s Computer Purchase Program.

Other computer owners please contact your dealer for computer repairs or virus removal.

Back to School with grti!GRTI’S Computer Purchase Program will help start the school year off right!

GRTI Computer Purchase ProgramFor $20 a month, you can own a refurbished computer! A great computer for beginners and households that have never had a computer before. After 12 months, the computer is yours!

Does it work well? GRTI’s computer technican’s perform a maintenance check inside and out, on every computer before GRTI sends it out to you. GRTI comes to your home and installs the computer to make sure it is running correctly.

Included is a 1 year warranty from date of install.

What about Software? GRTI pre-installs software so you don’t have to. Every computer comes bundled with:

• Microsoft Security Essentials Anti-virus - Protects your new computer from viruses, malware, spyware, and malicious software, Easy to use and always on.

• Libre Office - A FREE Office Suite installed on your new computer, similar to other office suites on the market.

To sign up for a new computer contact GRTI today! For more info call 520-796-3333

August 2, 2013 Page 3

Robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer Jacqueline Thomas,

Community Council Secretary

Material published in the Gila River Indian News may not be reproduced in any form

without consent from the Gila River Indian Community

LETTERS POLICY: GRIN welcomes letters and columns from readers. Let-ters 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.

Write to: Editor, GRINP.O. Box 459

Sacaton, AZ 85147Published letters or columns do not neces-

sarily refl ect the opinion of theEditor or

Gila River Indian Community.

Joshua Jovanellyjoshua.jovanelly@gric.nsn.us

Community Newsperson(520) 562-9718

Roberto A. Jacksonroberto.jackson@gric.nsn.us

Managing Editor(520) 562-9719

Zuzette Kistozuzette.kisto@gric.nsn.us

CPAO Director(520) 562-9851

Gina Goodmangina.goodman@gric.nsn.us

GRIN Secretary II(520) 562-9715

Gila River Indian CommunityP.O. Box 459

Sacaton, AZ 85147(520)562-9715

www.gilariver.org/index.php/news

GovernorGregory Mendoza

Gila River Indian News

Mikhail Sundustmikhail.sundust@gric.nsn.us

Community Newsperson(520) 562-9717

District #1Arzie Hogg

Cynthia Antone

District #2Carol Schurz

District #3Dale G. Enos

Carolyn Williams

District #4Barney B. Enos, Jr.

Jennifer AllisonNorman Wellington

Monica Antone

District #5Robert Stone

Franklin Pablo, Sr.Annette J. Stewart

Janice Stewart

District #6Anthony Villareal, Sr.

Albert PabloTerrance B. Evans

District #7Devin Redbird

Community Council Representatives

Lt. GovernorStephen Roe Lewis

Letters & Opinions

It has been six months since we lost our daughter. It’s been very hard and painful going through the feelings every day, every night.

She was so smart, beautiful and kind. She always liked to laugh and was funny. She loved to bake and also loved to be with her grandmother. Always. Grandma was everything to her, Doreen Whitman.

But we carry her in our hearts and our feelings every day, every hour. There are so many people we have to thank for everything and just being here with us in the time of need. Thank you to District Six Com-munity Center, District Four, Lower Santan Presbyterian Chapel and Robin Fohrenkam for the blessing, also my neigh-bors. Thank you Victoria for the traditional banner and her aun-tie Harrietta Sabori George for lending out her home to feed the diggers. Pam and Leno for the signs for directions, thank you and the people that brought food and fl owers and all her friends and relatives. Thanks Cecilia Pablo. There are a lot of people to thank.

From Yvonne and Do-mingo, Raven and Daniel, the Apkaw family and the Moffet family.

In Memory of Kendra Susan Quintero

4/19/2000-1/22/2013 In Loving Memory Of

Sylvia M. (Lewis) Gaytan

July26, 1942- August 17, 2012

It doesn’t seem like a whole year has passed since you’ve been gone. It still doesn’t seem possible and it’s still hard to believe at times. We know that your safe and that you are in heaven with Mom, Dad, Rick, Tony and all the other relatives that have gone on already; we know that you are happy. This is not only a memorial for your 1 year death anniversary but also for your birthday. They were so close together. You will be forever in our minds and hearts.

We love & miss you!

Terri Lewis-Enos, Daniel Lewis, Phyllis Osife, Gloria Ramirez, Kathleen Espinoza, Justin Pedro, David Gaytan and our families; Genoveva “Girlie” Barrera, Mary Barrera-Angeles, Lisa Barrera-Hernandez, Delton Lewis and

numerous grandchildren

In Loving Memory of Sylvia M. (Lewis) GaytanJuly 26, 1942 - August 17, 2012

It doesn’t seem like a whole year has passed since you’ve been gone. It still doesn’t seem pos-sible and it’s still hard to believe at times. We know that your safe and that you are in heaven with Mom, Dad, Rick, Tony and all the other relatives that have gone on already; we know that you are happy. This is not only a memo-rial for your 1 year death anniver-sary but also for your birthday.

They were so close together. You will be forever in our minds and hearts. We love & miss you!

Terri Lewis-Enos, Dan-iel Lewis, Phyllis Osife, Gloria Ramirez, Kathleen Espinoza, Jus-tin Pedro, David Gaytan and our families; Genoveva “Girlie” Bar-rera, Mary Barrera-Angeles, Lisa Barrera-Hernandez, Delton Lewis and numerous grandchildren

Gila River Indian News August 2, 2013Page 4

Per Capita Corner

www.mygilariver.com/percapita

2013 Per Capita Schedule

Quarterly Deadline Payment Date September 16 (Mon) - 45 days October 31 (Thurs) December 16 (Mon) - 45 days January 31, 2014 (Fri)

The next deadline for per capita applications, forms, and updates is always 45 days before the payment date. Submittals are handled by two separate offices, as follows:

PCO submittals (we do not accept faxed documents): - Payment Method Change forms – Used to change your preferred

payment method and will take effect for the upcoming payment if submitted by the deadline.

- Power of Attorney for Per Capita Distribution forms – Used to assign permission to a person, to handle your per capita business. This form must be submitted by the Quarterly Deadline (45 days prior to payment date) in order to use it for the respective payment. The POA remains valid for 1 year from the date of notary.

- Enrollment Office submittals - Address Update form – Used to update a new address. A W-9

form must also be submitted to PCO with each address update. - Tribal ID card – Used to show your enrollment number when

dealing with the PCO and other Tribal entities. - Other Tribal enrollment changes as defined by the Enrollment

Office.

DIRECT DEPOSIT & PAY CARD INFO If your checking or savings account is closed, please notify the PCO by selecting another payment method or account number using the Payment Method Change form. The form must be returned to the PCO by September 16 for the next payment (October 31). If you should lose your Chase pay card or need account information, call the Chase Card Service Center at 866-795-3890. The number is also listed on the back of your pay card.

A CHECK STUB IS AN EARNINGS STATEMENT A check stub/earning statement is provided for every per capita payment no matter the payment method used (direct deposit or check). Keep your statements/check stubs for verifying your income with income based programs such as tribal EDQLP, State AHCCCS, Federal SSI, etc. PCO policy does not allow staff to fax or provide income verification on your behalf. You may however, come into the PCO in person and request copies. ADDRESS UPDATES As always, please maintain a current address for you and your children at the GRIC Enrollment department.

Per Capita Office P.O. Box 338 Sacaton, AZ 85147 (520) 562-5222 or (866) 416-2618

PER CAPITA TRUST ACCOUNTS

RECEIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO PROVIDENCE For any distribution from the per capita trust, you must turn in your original receipts within 60 days from the date of the check to Providence First Trust Co. This is to ensure that the disbursed funds are used for the purposes listed on the request form. If receipts are not submitted, your child’s account will be placed on hold and you will need to contact Providence for clear the hold status. Thus, keep your receipts and turn them in immediately after making purchases so your child can continue to benefit from his/her trust. NEXT TRUST DEADLINE The next deadline turn in request forms for an early trust distribution is September 30, 2013. The payment will then be sent out on October 15. The same deadline applies for requests to terminate your minor trust (must include a copy of your high school diploma or GED certificate). Please note that representative from Providence First Trust will be available to answer questions and assist with requests on September 27 and 30 (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.).

Providence First Trust Company 7501 E. McCormick Pkwy, C101 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (800) 350-0208 or (480) 282-8812

(PCO is Per Capita) Office)

Gila River Indian NewsAugust 2, 2013 Page 5

COMMUNITY UPDATESHere are some regular updates on the on-going issues pertaining to the Gila River Indian Community.BY GRIN STAFF

When a summer monsoon storm ripped through the Wild Horse Pass area of the Gila River Indian Community earlier this month, it forced the Rawhide West-ern Town and Steakhouse to shut down operations prematurely. But now that the thunderclouds have rolled away, the popular old-West entertainment destination is pick-ing itself up by the bootstraps and dusting off for the fall and winter seasons.

Rawhide was scheduled to close down at the beginning of Au-gust for regular maintenance, staff training and updates, said General Manager Robert Hinkle, but the storm moved that date up to July 15.

Hinkle is relatively new to Rawhide – he previously worked with Disney – as is a majority of the management team, “and within 60 days they started showing profit like Rawhide has never seen,” said Alia Maisonet, Marketing Director for WHP. Less than a month later, the storm hit.

Rawhide is known for its fan-tastic cowboy cuisine and by los-ing two weeks from the calendar, all of that food could have gone to waste. Rather than toss it all, the Wild Horse Pass Development Au-thority Board decided to host a free

dinner for Community members in which the tribal entity divested a two weeks worth of its savory stock of braised corn, baked beans, barbecue chicken, baby back ribs, jalapeño cheddar mashed potatoes and prime rib. And that was just the appetizer course joked WHPDA Chairman Barney B. Enos, Jr.

The July 23 feast also featured The AzTex Band, who plays Friday nights at Lone Butte Casino. Mai-sonet said Rawhide plans to donate a supply of food to local shelters.

No one at Rawhide was in-jured during the microburst al-though Rawhide did report that one employee, Cindy Carver, was trapped in an administrative build-ing during the storm.

Damage estimates for repairs could reach a million dollars, most-ly because the storm’s 60 mile per hour winds stripped the vinyl side paneling from the 50,000-square foot pavilion. But, Hinkle stressed, all of the buildings in the Rawhide Town are structurally sound and that most repairs are cosmetic in nature. It’s only made to look old, added Maisonet, “but that’s just a façade. We need to make sure it’s secure.”

The team at Rawhide is al-ready working on re-constructing the town. The popular desert des-tination opens again Labor Day weekend.

By Mikhail SundustGila River Indian News

Rawhide holds feast fol-lowing storm damage

Mikhail Sundust/GRINRawhide Western Town and Steakhouse served up a complimen-tary feast following a heavy monsoon storm.

The “Keep the Promise Act” bill recently passed through the House Committee on Natural Resources July 24 and now seeks approval by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill works to enforce the promise implied in the Prop 202 campaign to cap In-dian gaming in the Phoenix metro area by restricting additional casinos in the Phoenix metro area.

The bi-partisan backed bill includes support from Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ1), Ed Pas-tor (D-AZ7), David Schwiekert (R-AZ6) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ4). Congressmen Trent Franks (R-AZ8) is the primary sponsor of the bill. Franks introduced a similar bill last year, which passed the House but was never considered by the Senate.

‘Keep the Promise Act’ bill passes House Committee on Natural Resources

Seven from the Gila River Fire Department joined the more than 45 firefighters at an Arizona Diamond-backs home game against the Colorado Rockies July 5 in a pre-game ceremony to honor the 19 fallen ser-vicemen who perished in the Yarnell Hill fire June 30. Robert Jackson, a member of the newly established GRFD Honor Guard, said, “It was an honor to be there.” The ceremony included a 19-second moment of silence. Honor guards from fire departments around the state posted colors for the game while bagpipes sang Amazing Grace to the memory of the Prescott firefighters. “Once they started playing those bag-pipes … it kind of hit those heartstrings,” Jackson recalled. The D-backs played the game in black jerseys with Arizona across the chest and the number 19 over the heart. From left: Honey Jones, Levi Jones, Brian Jones, Jubal Brosseau, Phillip Morgan, Robert Jackson, Johnny Rodriguez.

GRFD Honor Guard on hand to honor Yarnell 19

being spent on any project that discriminates against a certain class of people. GRACE alleges that the South Mountain freeway would do just that because of the “devastating cultural, spiritual and health im-pacts on tribal members that would unacceptably and illegally violate the civil rights of tribal members,” according to a statement released by the group.

The complaint states that ADOT knowingly de-signed the freeway to run through a known sacred site and failed to study the “disparate health, envi-ronmental, and economic impacts on the tribe and tribal members who already experience higher rates of diabetes and asthma that would be exacerbated if the South Mountain Loop 202 were constructed.”

Many of GRACE’s complaints are echoed in the group comment submitted to ADOT via the Shanker Law Firm. The 318-page document brings GRACE together with groups such as Gila River Environmental Youth, Protect Arizona Resources and Children, Don’t Waste Arizona and the Foothills Community Association, among others.

“The other thing we stand on is the Commu-nity’s right to have our cultural beliefs in the Com-munity upheld…” said Lori Riddle, director and co-

founder of GRACE. “It impedes upon our religious beliefs to actively participate in religious activities on or around the mountain.”

The group complaint includes analysis by ex-perts who say they have dissected the DEIS and found major flaws, such as basing much of the population projections on 2005 census data and the lack of plans in the case of hazardous material spills. “What we have here is a systematic fraud, in my opinion,” said Steven Brittle, president of Don’t Waste Arizona.

Shanker is an attorney with expertise in envi-ronmental and American Indian law. He has repre-sented a group of tribes that included the Navajo Na-tion in a fight against using reclaimed wastewater to make snow on the San Francisco Peaks, arguing the case before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Shanker said this freeway dilemma could likely end in a lawsuit after ADOT’s public review process — a Final EIS and a Record of Decision should oc-cur next year — is complete. “But we want to make sure that we cover as many bases as possible so that down the road we’ll have exhausted our administra-tive remedies on each of these issues,” Shanker said.

Dusten Brown is not giv-ing up on his daughter.

Last month, the North Car-olina Supreme Court ruled that custody of Veronica Brown, the ‘baby girl’ in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, would be transferred from her biological father to the adoptive parents Matt and Melanie Capobianco.

Following the July 17 decision, Brown filed an ap-peal requesting a hold on the transfer and for the court to consider possible adoption by someone other than the Capo-biancos, particularly someone

in Brown’s family such as his parents or his wife.

The South Carolina rul-ing came after a 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 declared that the In-dian Child Welfare Act did not apply to this case since Brown waived his parental rights.

The Supreme Court deci-sion reversed an initial rul-ing by the South Carolina Supreme Court, which ruled in Brown’s favor nearly two years ago and pulled Veronica from the Capobiancos to live with her father in Oklahoma

where she’s been for the past 19 months. Veronica will turn four in September.

Brown’s application for appeal asks that the court re-consider the best interests of “Baby Veronica” regarding the fate of her guardianship and take into consideration the current condition of the child, pointing to her familial envi-ronment for the past year and a half. The application was filed with Chief Justice John Rob-erts who is expected to make a decision – on his own or with his colleagues – in the near fu-

ture.Alongside Brown’s ap-

peal, the Native American Rights Fund filed a complaint on July 31 in the United States District Court in South Caro-lina “to protect the civil rights of Veronica Brown, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation who has been denied due process in the South Carolina courts,” said the National Congress of American Indians in a press release.

The complaint was filed on Veronica’s behalf and says the latest ruling forces her to

move families again without regard for her “present cir-cumstances, psychological and emotional well-being and fu-ture impact.”

The litigation asks the family courts in South Caroli-na to reconsider the girl’s best interests as an Indian child un-der ICWA and in light of her circumstances, stating that “such an interest justifies at a minimum a plenary hearing on her current status, her relation-ships with others and her genu-ine need for stability.”

Dusten Brown, father of ‘baby Veronica,’ still fighting for custody

Continued from Page 1

Deadline for public comments on DEIS ended July 24

Photo Courtesy Robert Jackson

August 2, 2013Page 6 Gila River Indian News

August 2, 2013 Page 7Health & Wellness

What to bring:

Resume  39 month Clean Motor Vehicle Record (no older than 30day) 

 For more information, please call the Gila River Health Care Human Resources Department at 520‐562‐3321 ext. 1342 or visit www.grhc.org 

JJJooobbb FFFaaaiiirrrRRReeecccrrruuuiiitttiiinnngggMMMeeedddiiicccaaalllVVVaaannnDDDrrriiivvveeerrrsss  

Thursday, August 15, 20134:00p.m. ‐ 8:00p.m.  Komatke Health Center Main Lobby 14787 South Health Care Drive Laveen, Arizona 85336 

Interviews will be conducted on‐site to fill 16 vacancies for all GRHC  Campuses   

Culture & History

The name for this month refers to the time of year when farmers and gardeners can plant one last short season crop before the sum-mer growing season is over. Gar-dener’s plan their planting so the crops will mature before the possi-bility of an early frost in late fall or early winter. This month we will focus on s-e’esigtham ha chich-kpanakud (farmer’s hand tools). In an earlier article we introduced 12 hand tools commonly used on the farm and in the gardens. Now we will focus on what we do with some of the hand tools. With the gi:k (shovel) we vakth (dig a hole). We would be told by our

father “Him ko vakth amai!” “Go dig a hole over there!” With the hukshanakud, (rake) we ‘i hukshu (to rake up into a pile). We would be told, “Him ko ‘i hukshom heg ha:hag!” “Go rake up the leaves!” A hukshoma is a pile of leaves or rubbish. With the kavnol (gar-den hoe) we sikwan (to chop with hoe). We say “Van tho sikwanam heg shai!” “I’m going to chop that weed!” This month’s match will focus on a few action words that are common for certain hand tools. When you are out working in your gardens think about these words, learn them and use them as you work.

Shopol Es’big Mashath – Short Planting Month Match the garden tool with the action word

 

Sikwan  

 

Uskwua  

 

Vakth  

 

Vupda  

 

‘I hukshu  

 

Shoñvin  

 

Hik’chuth  

 

‘I neichkua  

Match the garden tool with the action word

 

Sikwan  

 

Uskwua  

 

Vakth  

 

Vupda  

 

‘I hukshu  

 

Shoñvin  

 

Hik’chuth  

 

‘I neichkua  

Match the garden tool with the action word

 

Sikwan  

 

Uskwua  

 

Vakth  

 

Vupda  

 

‘I hukshu  

 

Shoñvin  

 

Hik’chuth  

 

‘I neichkua  

Solutions on page 8

August 2, 2013Page 8

Tribal Education Department“Maschahamdud a Jeniktha”

Award-winning student focuses on education

When you work as hard as Christen Tave, it’s just a matter of time before the awards start piling up.

Tave, 21, a Gila River Indian Community member and a nursing student at Arizona State, was mak-ing her way back to her car from the Tribal Education awards dinner in July as a new recipient of the Gov-ernor’s Scholar Award, awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence. Tave, who carried a 3.8 grade point average in the spring semester, shined in a competitive nursing program that carries only 60 students.

But that wasn’t the only good news Tave received that night. When she got to the car and checked her phone, she was greeted by a barrage of congratulatory text mes-sages from her sisters at the Alpha Pi Omega sorority, the country’s oldest Native American Greek letter orga-nization. Tave had been named the Honeycomb of the Year, given out to the sorority’s most outstanding new initiate.

The double dose of accolades was enough to leave Tave feeling light-headed. “I found out about both of them in one night. So I was on a high for a while,” Tave said.

Tave sits inside a Starbucks on Mill Avenue and 5th Street, a few

By Joshua JovanellyGila River Indian News

Although Officer James Milano has only been with the Department for a short time, he has made a significant impact on many lives.

His attitude from many who have met him, sometimes for the first time is profession-al, yet friendly. His interactions with employees and the general public at the new Phoenix Pre-mium outlets has brought noth-ing but praise.

One of this officer’s excep-tional examples of the slogan “To Protect and Serve” came at an instance when a distraught Community member visiting a casino was contemplating sui-

cide. The officer was able to comfort the individual as well as find a safe facility for him.

Through these signifi-cant accomplishments with the Community, it shows this of-ficer’s personal way of emulat-ing the slogan “To Protect and Serve” are not simply words. Through his general love of the his job, Through His posi-tive attitude and the personal touch that he bring to everyone he comes into contact with each and every day, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the June Governor’s Employee of the Month: Gila River Indian Com-munity Police Officer James Milano.

Governor’s Employee of the Month for June: GRPD Officer James Milano

Submitted By Human Resources DepartmentGila River Indian Community

Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN

From left: Gov. Gregory Mendoza, Officer James Milano and Acting Chief Edward Alameda.

Ben Curtis has been teaching for 10 years, working mostly with at-risk students, but he’s new to the Coolidge Unified School District, which carries a population of more than 540 Native American students.

Nearly 50 educators new to Coolidge, including Curtis, partici-pated in a teacher in-service at the CUSD Office July 30. The Gila Riv-er Indian Community Tribal Educa-tion Department’s Gale Rawson was on the scene to talk to the new teach-ers about working with American Indian youth, particularly those from Gila River.

“The whole premise that I wanted them to get,” said Rawson, “was: get to know the student, build a relationship with them and don’t

see them for where they come from, [rather] see the richness inside of them.” Rawson presented on the history, culture and the familial and emotional aspects of Gila River stu-dents.

Curtis called the presentation “enlightening.” Based on interviews, he is anticipating that more than half of his students this year will be Na-tive American. “I need to learn this culture so I can respect it and … help them find success in who they are,” Curtis said.

Ninety percent of CUSD’s Na-tive American population comes from Gila River, according to CUSD Johnson O’Malley Coordinator Ter-ry Willis.

Demitria Davis, a JOM Advi-sor, said it was important to bring Rawson’s presentation to Coolidge “to build a relationship because a lot

blocks from the ASU campus. She wears a black sweater over a white blouse, hand-made red and silver Native American earrings and a smile as warm as the coffee shop’s best brew. She spoke modestly about her recent achievements, and not just to me apparently.

“She downplays everything,” said her father, Chris, a firefighter in Long Beach, Calif. “Finally, what I have to do is I have to research the information and what she says is a little thing is actually a big thing.”

Meanwhile, Tave made sure to thank the tribe for helping fund her education. GRIC would be hard-pressed to find a more driven stu-dent to sponsor. Tave has always taken school seriously, excelling at all levels. For a time she held the top-ranked position in her 900-stu-dent high school and last fall had a 4.1 GPA. ASU’s nursing program selects students based on GPA and a single test, so when Tave first be-came a Sun Devil, she put all her energy into getting in.

“I knew the nursing program was really rough to get into, so I took all of my time and put all of my focus into school,” Tave said. “Once I turned in my nursing application, I was able to breathe a little bit.”

After being accepted, Tave sought out extra curricular activities to get involved in, such as club vol-leyball. This past spring, she discov-ered Alpha Pi Omega and decided to

join. The sorority was founded at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1994 and has over 500 mem-bers nationally.

Getting in requires a large com-mitment of time and community service. New initiates, or Honey-combs, must be disciplined, prompt and persistent. Tave impressed Ly-nette Lewis, who handled the initia-tion process for the spring semester, enough to earn the nomination as the best newcomer of the year.

“It can be overwhelming for the girls, it’s a 42-day process,” said Lewis, who just graduated with a B.A. in chemistry last spring. “[Christen] was able to keep a posi-tive attitude. She’s very organized

and she showed great time-manage-ment skills.”

Her affiliation with Alpha Pi Omega has also encouraged Tave to get more in touch with Gila River. Tave is mixed race — her father is African-American — and grew up in Southern California. Her mother, Victoria Walker Morris, had known she was from Gila River but had been adopted off the reservation as a baby.

“When I was around 10 or 11 that was when I started figuring out that I was Native American and what that means,” Tave said.

Because adoptions in Arizona are closed, protecting the right of the parent to stay anonymous, Tave’s mother had a difficult time tracking down her biological family. Victoria finally hired a private investigator, who, in 2002, found the family’s relatives in Gila River’s District 6. Sadly, Tave’s grandmother had died the year before. But Victoria was able to reconnect with her broth-ers and sisters from the Walker and Barehand families, allowing her and her daughter to learn more about their Akimel O’odham roots.

“They accepted us with open arms, which was a blessing,” Tave said.

It’s not hard to see where Tave gets her academic motivation. Vic-toria has a master’s degree in geron-tology from the University of South-ern California and an M.B.A. from

the University of La Verne. Just this year she completed her Ph.D. in ed-ucation at Chapman University.

Victoria currently works as the associate director of career relations at Chapman, which is located in Orange, Calif. Her goal is to move back to Arizona and work in a ca-pacity where she can give back to Gila River.

“That’s why that educational department is very important to a lot us Natives, especially the ones off the rez, in trying to further our edu-cation so that we can come back and support our tribe,” Victoria said.

Christen has the same instinct: once her education is complete, which might include graduate or medical school, she plans on return-ing to work for GRIC. She’d like to work at a women’s health clinic or possibly start her own.

Armed with a peerless aca-demic drive, supporting parents and membership in a prestigious Native American sisterhood, Tave likely has many more achievements to realize in the future and hopefully bring back to Gila River.

“Our whole mission is for Na-tive women in college to pursue their goals, to give back to their community,” Lewis said. “I know she’ll definitely do that. I know that’s what she wants to do — give back and work with the people.”

Mikhail Sundust/GRIN

Gale Rawson, Tribal Education Behavioral Specialist, holds up a GRIC information packet during the Coolidge teacher in-service.

of our new teachers that come to our district don’t understand the culture [of] our students coming off the res-ervation into a public school.”

For his part, Curtis said that learning about a student’s culture “gives me authenticity. That helps me break down the barriers that have prevented them from being success-ful in school before.”

Curtis has worked with at-risk youth in Florida, a juvenile detention center in Idaho and most recently in San Antonio, Tex. A primary con-cern of his in this new environment is to avoid being accidentally offen-sive for his ignorance.

“I can’t educate diverse stu-dents without building a personal re-lationship with them,” he noted. “If I’m going to do that, I have to know their culture, I have to accept their culture just the way it is and respect it and then work with it.”

By Mikhail SundustGila River Indian News

Educators at Coolidge in-service learn about Gila River students for upcoming school year

Joshua Jovanelly/GRINChristen Tave won the Gover-nor’s Scholar Award and was recognized by Alpha Pi Omega as the Honeycomb of the Year.

Word Match Solutions

August 2, 2013 Page 9

Gila River Indian Community Utility AuthorityWhat’s New at GRICUA:

Announcements & Notices

NOTIFICATION FROM: Ramona Sabori, Tribal Court AdvocateAk’meil O’odham/Pee-Posh Native JusticeP.O. Box 2072Sacaton, AZ 85147I am seeking assistance from the Gila River Indian Community (PUBLIC) in regards to a Community member SONJA MARRI-ETTA. On June 4, 2013 a hearing was con-ducted in the Gila River Tribal Community Courts, which this person SONJA MARRI-ETTA failed to appear.I am requesting that any one with informa-

Public Notification

IN THE COURT OF THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY IN THE COUN-TIES OF PINAL AND MARICOPA IN THE STATE OF ARIZONAIN THE MATTER OF: J. M.NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT PE-TITIONERS 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, 2013TIME: 10:00 a.m., LOCATION: Sacaton Children’s Court, 721 West Seed Farm Road, Sacaton, Ari-zona 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 TER-MINATE 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

TITLE 13BUSINESS LICENSES AND TAXA-TION CHAPTER 1 DEFINITIONS

13.101 “Business” includes all activi-ties or acts engaged in or caused to be en-gaged in with the object of gain, benefit or advantage, either direct or indirect, but not casual activities or sales. A casual activity or sale occurs when a person engages in an iso-lated transaction that is not conducted with such frequency or is not one of a series of activities as to be sufficient to consider the person as regularly conducting the activity. “Business” shall include, but not be limited to:a. A manufacturing or industrial concern.b. Wholesale merchants.c. Retail merchants.d. Automobile service stations or garages.e. A cotton gin or dairy enterprise.f. A farming or agricultural operation making use of more than two hundred acres of land within the Gila River Indian Community.g. A concern providing crop dusting, harvesting, planting or similar services to farming or agricultural operations.

PROPOSED LEGISLATIONThe Gila River Indian Community

Council is considering revisions to the Busi-ness Licenses and Taxation code. A copy of this proposed ordinance as revised and in its entirety is on file and available for review at all District Service Center coordinators’ of-fices and the Community Council Secretary’s Office. This revision will be considered at the August 13, 2013 Legislative Standing Com-mittee meeting at 1:00 p.m., the Governance Center.

Public NotificationPublic NotificationIN THE COURT OF THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITYIN THE COUNTIES OF PINAL AND MARICOPAIN THE STATE OF ARIZONACOURT DATE NOTICENotice is hereby given to: Deanna JohnsonIn the Matter of: A. J.Docket Number: JC-2013-0144Notice is given that the Petitioners have filed a Petition of Termination of Parental Rights.This case has been scheduled and YOU ARE ORDERED TO APPEAR on the date, time and place designated below for your Answer/Response. IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR a judgment can be rendered in favor of the other party.Sacaton Children’s Court721 West Seed Farm RoadSacaton, Arizona 85147(520) 562-9860Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.

Summer High School Intern Update

GRICUA intern Clauda Bandin from Dis-trict 5 recently started her internship and is already working with the various de-partments learning about the enterprise. In addition, she is also learning how to write a valuable resume and sharpening her presentation skills. Pictured below from L to R: Jasmine Martinez, Jaina Al-len, Clauda Bandin and Martha Cons.

Featured Employee – Calvin Tullie Meter Technician

Calvin Tullie has been with GRICUA for over four years. Calvin’s day to day responsibilities can vary from taking meter reads in order to determine usage, installing and uninstalling meters, as-sembling and repairing existing meters to providing customer service throughout the Community. When Calvin is not at work he enjoys the outdoors and spend-ing time with his family.Customer Survey (Reminder):GRICUA is currently conducting a customer satisfaction survey. The survey will be conducted by phone and on-line. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to conduct and will provide GRICUA with valuable feedback that will allow us to enhance our service. We appreciate your time and encourage customers to participate. Customers that participate in the survey will have the opportunity to win one of five $50 VISA gift cards, if they choose to have their name included in the drawing.

GRICUA System Improvement ActivitiesGRICUA design and line crew resources have been busy performing system maintenance and system improvement projects. Below are some examples of the work that has been performed to date to improve system reliability:• District 1 – Lateral Road Line UpgradeBad poles are replaced and new power lines are installed to accommodate the growth in the District.• District 2 – Sacaton Flats Line UpgradeDuring this upgrade project, bad poles were replaced and new power lines were installed to provide 3 phase service for the District.• District 3 – Blue Bird Line UpgradeBad poles and cross arms were replaced, hardware and power lines were tightened and inspected. Old lightning and wind damage was repaired.• District 3 – Open Wire Service UpgradeOut dated service connections were removed and new transformers and conductors were re-installed.• District 4 – Santan Road Line UpgradeBad poles are replaced and new power lines are installed to accommodate the growth in the District.• District 4 – Santan Substation UpgradeThe transformer at the Santan substation was repaired, equipment was installed to split the single Santan circuit into two separate circuits and a new fence was installed at the substation site.• District 4 – Firebird Substation UpgradeThe Firebird substation transformer was replaced and new transmission circuit switches were installed.• District 5 – 587/Nelson Road Circuit UpgradeBad poles and cross arms were replaced, hardware and power lines were inspected and tightened. Old storm damage was repaired.• District 5 – Casa Blanca Circuit Up-grade (in progress)The Casa Blanca 222 circuit is one of the oldest in the system. All poles were inspected and bad poles will be replaced. The power lines will be upgraded to a size that will accommodate growth.Additional system maintenance and sys-tem improvement projects are underway or in the planning stages. So as you drive around the Community you will see GRl-CUA’s designers and crews at work.

Conservation Tips – Air Leaks – What Are They?

Many homeowners think windows and doors are the biggest cause of air leaks in their home, because the drafts around them are so easy to notice. But that’s wrong.The attic, basement and crawl spaces are usually responsible for the biggest air leaks and fixing them can bring down

Call GRICUA at 520-796-0600 to report downed power lines or other outage-related problem.RemindersGRICUA District Days 2013GRICUA will be at the Public Health Re-source Center (433 W Seed Farm Rd in Sacaton) on the following days to accept payments from 10 AM to 3 PM. August 8September 5October 7November 7December 5

GRICUA’s Outage Map can be found at www.gricua.net . When you visit the site you will find the “Outage Map” icon on the upper right hand side of the GRICUA homepage and also in the “Outage Center”. CALL BEFORE YOU DIGGRICUA 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 gricuacom-ments@gricua.net. You can also visit our website at www.gricua.net.

your energy bill a lot.Air leaks happen when outdoor air enters your home through cracks and other openings. Temperature differences, wind, appliance use, and even living hab-its can create a different pressure inside your home than outside it, which helps the air to enter your home.Finding the air leaks in your home and then sealing them will cut your heating and cooling bill significantly. Common sealing techniques include using weather stripping and caulking. It will also im-prove the durability of your home, create a healthier environment, and make your rooms more comfortable.Sealing your home’s air leaks can reduce your energy bill by 5 and 20 percent a year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The following are common areas in your home for leaks:1 Wall or window mounted air condition-ers2 Window, door, and baseboard moldings3 Wiring that runs through insulated floors, ceilings and walls4 Plumbing that runs through insulated floors, ceilings and walls5 Recessed lighting and fans in insulated ceilings6 Fireplace dampers7 Dropped ceilings above bathtubs and cabinets8 Missing plaster9 Electrical outlets10 Attic covers / hatch11 Switch Plates

KEVIN MERCADOReview HearingCase #: J-08-1004/1005Court Date: November 18, 2013 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.FAILURE TO APPEAR CAN AFFECT YOUR RIGHTSJurisdiction: Salt River Pima Maricopa In-dian Community CourtAddress: 10005 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256Contact: (480) 362-6315 Heather JefferiesCourt Clerk480-362-2721heather.jefferies@srpmic-nsn.gov

Public Notification

1. GAIL BROWN, Permanency Hearing Case J-10-0121/0122 Court Date: Septem-ber 10 2013 at 1 p.m. in Courtroom #2, 1st Floor.FAILURE TO APPEAR CAN AFFECT YOUR RIGHTSJurisdiction: Salt River Pima Maricopa In-dian Community CourtAddress: 10005 E. Osborn Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85256Contact: (480) 362-6315

Public Notification

IN THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COM-MUNITY COURTSTATE OF ARIZONAJULIE HILL,Plaintiff/Petitioner,vs.LEONARD MCINTOSH,Defendant/Respondent.TO: Leonard McintoshPost Office Box 1168Bapchule, Arizona 85147CASE Number: CV-2013-0098CIVIL SUMMONSYOU 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/RE-SPONSE HEARING regarding this mat-ter on the following date and time at the place set forth below:Sacaton Community Court721 West Seed Farm RoadSacaton, Ariozna 85147(520)562-9860DATE: Monday, September 09,2013Time: 11:00 AMYOU may respond in writing. However, even if you do so, your presence at theAnswer/Response Hearing is still re-quired. 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.

Public NotificationCommunity members may comment on the proposed ordinance by contacting their Council member(s) and/or Council-woman Jennifer Allison, the Chairperson of the Legislative Standing Committee. Written comments may also be sent to: GRIC Of-fice of General Counsel, Post Office Box 97, Sacaton, Arizona 85147.

tion leading to the location or whereabouts of SONJA MARRIETTA, please contact me at: Office: (520) 796-3938 or Cell: (480) 720-4954 Thank you in advance for your assistance.

August 2, 2013Page 10

Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, July 17, 2013

ACTION SHEETCommunity Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton, Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 562-9720; Fax (520) 562-9729CALL TO ORDER The Second Regular Monthly Meeting of the Community Council held Wednesday July 17, 2013, in the Community Council Chambers at the Governance Center in Sacaton, Arizona was called to order by presiding Chairman Governor Gregory Mendoza at 9:05 a.m.INVOCATIONProvided by Councilwoman Carolyn WilliamsROLL CALLSign-In Sheet CirculatedExecutive Offi cers Present:Governor Gregory MendozaLt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis (9:07)Council Members Present:D1-Cynthia Antone (9:08), Arzie Hogg; D2-Carol Schurz (9:11); D3-Myron G. Schurz, Dale G. Enos (9:08); D4-Monica Antone, Jennifer Allison, Norman Wellington, Barney Enos, Jr. (9:08); D5- Annette J. Stewart, Jan-ice F. Stewart, Robert Stone, Franklin Pablo, Sr.; D6-Anthony Villareal, Sr., Albert Pablo (9:07), Terrance B. Evans; D7- Devin RedbirdAPPROVAL OF AGENDAAPPROVED AS AMENDEDREPORTS*1. Ira Hayes American Legion Post No. 84 Presenter: Urban GiffDISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA2. Sacaton Middle School Tribal Allocation 3rd Quarter Report Presenter: Philip BondsMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO TABLE3. Sacaton Elementary School Tribal Alloca-tion 3rd Quarter Report Presenter: Leslie RychelREPORT HEARD4. Pee Posh Veteran Association-Third Quar-ter Report For FY 2012 – 2013 Presenter: Dan Jenkins REPORT HEARD[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA CALLED FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAKRECONVENED AT 10:48AM]5. Haskell Osife-Antone American Legion Post 51 Presenter: David Anderson REPORT HEARD6. Haskell Osife-Antone American Legion Auxiliary Unit 51

Presenter: Alison AndersonREPORT HEARD7. Tribal Social Services Assessment 2013 Presenter: Arizona State UniversityREPORT HEARD[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA CALLED FOR A 90-MINUTE LUNCH BREAK RECONVENED AT 3:04PM]8. Sun Valley Marina Report Presenter: SVMC Board of Directors Copper TrainREPORT HEARD MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION9. Monthly Financial Activity Report Nine Months Ended June (Executive Session) Presenter: Treasurer Robert G. Keller and Mike JacobsREPORT HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SESSION 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 recom-mendation for approval) Presenters: Treasure Robert G. Keller, Sha-ron Harvier-LewisTABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA2. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving The Termination Of Per Capita Trust Accounts And Directing The Distribution Of Trust Assets To Certain Benefi ciaries (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation of approval) Presenter: Treasurer Robert G. KellerAPPROVED3. A Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 To The Amended And Restated Intergov-ernmental Agreement And Approving The Amended And Restated Joint Powers Airport Authority Agreement For The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation of approval; EDSC concurs) Presenter: Jane MorrisAPPROVED 4. A Resolution Approving The Fiscal Year 2014 Gila River Indian Community Indian Housing Plan For Implementation And Sub-mittal To The United States Department Of Housing And Urban Development (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation of

approval) Presenter: Tina Notah-EnasAPPROVED 5. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 316 Located On Allotted Trust Land In District Four Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Coun-cil with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 6. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 464-A Located On Al-lotted Trust Land In District Four Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 7. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 464-A Located On Al-lotted Trust Land In District Four Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 8. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 726-A Located On Al-lotted Trust Land In District Four Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 9. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 2539 Located On Allotted Trust Land In District Five Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Coun-cil with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 10. A Resolution Consenting To A Non-Transferable Fifty Year Residential/Homesite Lease On Allotment 3432 Located On Allotted Trust Land In District Five Of The Gila River Indian Reservation (NRSC forwards to Coun-cil with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Dean HowardAPPROVED 11. A Resolution Permitting The Chairperson Of The Natural Resources Standing Commit-tee To Designate Another Committee Mem-

ber To Represent The Gila River Indian Com-munity On The Joint Control Board (NRSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Linda SauerAPPROVED ORDINANCESUNFINISHED BUSINESS1. Community Council Secretary Appointment Presenter: Community CouncilJACQUELINE THOMAS CERTIFIED AND APPOINTEDNEW BUSINESS1. Clarifi cation on Tribal Ranger Reclassifi ca-tion (NRSC concurs and forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; LSC con-curs) Presenter: Nada CelayaAPPROVED2. Violence Against Women Act Inter-Tribal Working Group Appointment (LSC forwards to Council with recommendation to submit a Letter of Interest to designate an inter-tribal representative) Presenter: Michael CarterMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTEREST AND TO DESIG-NATE AN INTER-TRIBAL REPRESENTA-TIVE FROM THE COMMUNITY3. Vacancies on Litigation Team (CRSC for-wards to Council with recommendation to appoint Chairwoman Monica Antone; EDSC concurs with recommendation to appoint Councilman Norman Wellington, Sr.) Presenter: Thomas MurphyCOUNCILWOMAN MONICA ANTONE AND COUNCILMAN NORMAN WELLINGTON, SR. APPOINTED4. Appointment Confi rmation Citizens Advi-sory Board – District Two Presenter: Gailyn EthelbahMR. DENNIS PANCOTT CONFIRMED MINUTESANNOUNCEMENTS>PASSING OF ELDER CAROLINE BARE-HAND>GOVERNOR MENDOZA AND COUNCIL-MAN NORMAN WELLINGTON, SR. TO AT-TEND THE DOJ TRIBAL LEADER CONSUL-TATION IN FLAGSTAFFADJOURNMENTMEETING ADJOURNED AT 5:13pm* Denotes TABLED from previous meeting(s)

Council organization is signifi -cantly older than he is. With the theme of the conference in mind, he said that with recent advances in communication technology have given youth “more outlets for our voices to be heard.”

Flores also currently works as an executive intern in Gov. Men-doza’s offi ce, following around the Governor to each meeting and event in an attempt to understand the ins and outs of the government process. Flores said Mendoza’s support for the youth is still as strong as ever. After helping found the organization, Mendoza served as the Youth Council coordinator for 17 years before entering tribal politics. He gave the opening key-note speech at the conference.

“Twenty-fi ve years ago we began with an idea,” Mendoza said. “The idea was to organize the youth of the Community and es-

tablish a concrete organization to ensure that the perspective of the youth is felt throughout the entire scope of the political realm.”

In many ways, Mendoza rep-resents the fruition of the youth movement that the organization has ushered in over the past 25-plus years. He is the youngest to ever serve as Governor, but he realized that the term “youth” was relative to his teenage audi-ence members. “I don’t know if 47 is considered young, but…” he joked.

Mendoza volunteered, with-out pay, for a year in the Offi ce of Planning and Evaluation. They gave him a desk and a phone and from there he was able to recruit other Community members who shared his passion for helping the youth. Other founding Youth Council members include Arlene Howard-Holder, Mario Torres, Carol French, Tim Gomez, Car-

lene Myers, Ramsey Moffett, Ira Paul, Emaline Rhoades, Jason Moyah and Adrian Hendricks.

Mendoza knew he wanted to give back to Gila River and get to know his community better. Of all the things he could have done next, he sought to break down the barriers that were holding a pow-erful segment of the population back.

“Back then I believe there was an untapped potential for leadership among the youth,” Mendoza said during an interview in the Executive Offi ce. “I don’t believe that young people were given a seat at the table. There was no really formal voice for them. And I felt that this was the starting point.”

Today, it’s diffi cult to go any-where in the Community without bumping into someone who got their start in Youth Council. Gila River Community Council mem-

bers Devin Redbird (D7), Terrance B. Evans (D6) and Barney B. Enos Jr. (D4) all prepared for their cur-rent positions by holding similar ones on the youth organization.

Michael Preston, who took over Mendoza’s role as Youth Council Coordinator, is a former youth president. Ginger Martin is the cultural customer service di-rector at Gila River Health Care. Zuzette Kisto is the director of the Communications and Public Af-fairs Offi ce. The list goes on and on.

Councilman Redbird, who was the youngest council repre-sentative ever elected when he fi rst ran in 2007 at 25, said being a part of Youth Council taught him how to talk with concerned Com-munity members who regularly come to him with needs and con-cerns. “What I gained from it was the leadership training and how to speak to somebody who has a

problem,” Redbird said. “Espe-cially, how to speak to them on a positive level.”

The legacy of the Youth Coun-cil will owe its vitality to the fore-sight and sacrifi ce of the founders, to people like Tim Gomez, who recalls, “We started from nothing and needed input from all angles.” But he knew, even then, that it would pay off.

“It was hard, the long hours trying to establish everything, but in the long run we all felt that it was going to be benefi cial in the future for other youth,” Gomez said.

Jason Moyah, a fellow found-er, chimed in via email: “I am very honored and proud to have been part of a group of individuals that had a positive vision for the future of our youth of our Community,” adding: “I look forward to cel-ebrating another 25 years!”

25th Annual Youth Conference held in ChandlerContinued from Page 1

Gila River Indian NewsAugust 2, 2013 Page 11

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Heather M.

Have Insurance?

FREE $25 GIFT CARD As a small token of our appreciation, we’d like to say thank you

with a $25 gift card at the conclusion of your first visit.

First visit is defined as comprehensive exam, x-rays, basic cleaning or periodontal cleaning. New Patients Only. Limited to two gift cards per household and may not be combined with any other offer. Coupon must be present at time of use.

SUMMER Wisdom Teeth Extractions!

FREE Wisdom teeth consultation!

NO COPAY! For Wisdom Teeth

after annual deductible is met for

GILA River Dental Insurance!

Riggs

NW Corner of

Cooper & Riggs 5970 S. Cooper Rd.,

Ste. #1 Chandler, AZ 85249

148TH ANNUAL MUSTERING IN DAY CELEBRATION

SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 7, 2013

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

GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY, DISTRICT SEVEN AND PLANNING COMMITTEES SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BODILY INJURY, THEFT OR DAMAGES INCURRED DURING THE MUSTERING IN DAY CELEBRATION.

- 5K RUN, FAMILY FUN WALK- PARADE- CHAIR VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT - SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT- BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT- HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT

- KIDS GAMES, CRAFTS, INFLATABLES- TRADITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT- VENDORS: FOOD, CRAFT/MERCHANDISE - FUN RUN/WALK- LIVE CHICKEN SCRATCH (WAILA) BAND: MUMSIGO TRIBE (TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION)

FREE ADMISSION, FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT