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January 2013 www.gilariver.org/news vol. 16, no. 1

“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

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Inside The GRINCulture & History......7Health & Wellness.....Page 7

Education.................Page 16

Announcements &Notices......................Page 21

Action Sheets.....Page 18-20

Youth & Elder........Page 9

Letters & Opinions.....Page 3

GRIN Kids................Page 15

Law & Order.....Page 8

By Joshua JovanellyGila River Indian News

Mikhail Sundust/GRIN

Continued on Page 6

By Roberto A. JacksonGila River Indian News

The drama of high school athletics has many players. The athletes, on the main stage, com-pete for their school and all the students who came before them. As the young men and women contend on the field or the court, they are also competing in the game of life and learning about themselves along the way.

But the theater of high school sports includes a larger cast than just the jocks. You have the coaches and athletic staff support-ing the players from outside the lines. In the stands, the marching band provides a soundtrack to the action. And spanning every side-line, leading the rally for victory, are the cheerleaders.

Cheerleading, a sport in its own right, requires a great deal of teamwork and dedication. A good cheer squad enhances the

game day experience and raises the profile of a team.

It’s important for a cheer squad to have a solid routine and exciting stunts, but the liveli-hood of a quality cheer program will always remain in the fund-ing. So when Gila River Com-munity Member Sonja Luevano took over the Vista Grande High School cheerleading program, she knew there was a lot of work to be done. “It was literally start-ing something from nothing,” Lu-evano said.

Initially Luevano, who is the Office Manager at the Office of the Prosecutor in Gila River, did not intend to run a full high school-level cheer program.

According to Luevano she approached Vista Grande about the lack of cheering tryouts for her daughter, a Vista Grande stu-dent. “Why doesn’t my daughter get the same opportunity?” she

asked. That’s when she discovered

that the cheer program didn’t have a coach or any program to speak of.

Vista Grande High, home of the Spartans, is located in Casa Grande and was founded in 2009. The upstart high school had gone through three cheer coaches in four years.

Luevano, who previously coached youth cheer at the Pop Warner level, officially took over in May 2012.

While taking on this new responsibility, Luevano received an unexpected phone call. It was from one of the Vista Grande’s beleaguered cheerleaders. “That first phone call I’ll never forget,” said Luevano.

Luevano recalled the young lady’s question: “All I want to

Team turnaroundGRIC member coaches squad and hosts competition

Vista Grande Cheer Team performing a stunt at a home basketball game against Maricopa on Dec. 18.

By Mikhail SundustGila River Indian News


It was 50 degrees out and cloudy but the cold didn’t stop the fun. Across the street from the Governance Center under a great, white tent, nearly 1,000 employ-ees of the Gila River Indian Com-munity gathered for food, games and raffle prizes at the Annual Employee Roundup on Friday, Dec. 14 from 11:00 – 2:00.

In the spirit of the holi-day season, the Administration expressed its gratitude toward GRIC employees with a delicious lunch catered by Famous Dave’s Barbecue. Gov. Gregory Mendo-za thanked the tribal employees for their diligent service and ded-ication to the Community. “This is your day,” he said, encouraging them to relax and enjoy the fes-tivities.

When they were done clean-ing the barbecue sauce from their fingers and chins, employees took part in games such as Flip the Chemeth (using a flipper on your foot, toss the bread into the air and catch it with a plate on your head), Face the Gingerbread Man (get the cookie from your fore-head to your mouth using only your face), and a comically vio-lent round of musical chairs. For the record, pulling the chair out from under your competition may get a laugh but it automatically disqualifies you.

Later, Clyde Antone, who was first honored as the Septem-ber Employee of the Month, was recognized before his peers as the 2012 Employee of the Year. An-tone is a bus driver for the GRIC Head Start system but regularly exceeds his duties in that capac-ity. He is consistently lauded for his dedication, compassion, tire-less effort and willingness to help whenever he sees a need.

E m p l o y e e RoundupClyde Antone named Employee of the Year

Continued on Page 13

GRIC looking to crack the code with TLOA

Volumes of neatly shelved law books cover the walls of the Library in the Office of Gener-al Counsel. Leather-bound and intimidating, these color-coded houses of justice are emblazoned with imposing titles, like “Proof of Facts.”

In the center of the room is a rectangular table surrounded by representatives of practicably ev-ery department of the Gila River justice structure. At the head is the woman running the meeting, senior assistant general counsel Rebecca Hall. On a Monday after-noon in December, the group de-bates the difference between tres-pass and burglary, and references codes with convoluted names like 5-710 subsection F-6B.

This workgroup — made up of lawyers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, court officials, police officers and more — are not just here to toss around legal jargon. They are inching closer to a goal they’ve been tasked with for over two years, one that has seemed herculean at times: updating the Community’s Criminal Code.

“It’s been very challenging because you have a workgroup, you have different parties, you’ve got different perspectives,” Hall said. “You’re trying to pull them together.”

This all started with President Barack Obama’s pen. In 2010, he signed the Tribal Law and Or-der Act, a fundamental develop-

Continued on Page 8

Year in Review p. 12

Unclaimed Checks List Page. 7

Mul Chu Tha Fair & Rodeo Job Announcements

Page. 10

Happy New Year! As you know, I sometimes travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate for our Community’s legislative and regulatory priorities. I thought it would be good to describe some of those priorities and activities for you.

A lot of my time in D.C. is spent meeting directly with Members of Congress and their staff and with President Barack

Obama’s staff. Building relation-ships with these people is critical to accomplishing our legislative and regulatory goals as they are the decision makers.

The Tohono O’odham Nation’s Ef-forts to Build a Casino in Glendale

• A top priority for the Community is to continue to fight against the Tohono O’odham Na-tion from developing a casino in Glendale. It is bad policy for them to go outside their aborig-

inal territory to develop a casi-no. It also violates the spirit of the compacts and the law that the voters passed to allow all tribes in the state to conduct gaming. We promised the voters that there wouldn’t be any additional casi-nos in the Phoenix metro area.

• Eventually, our com-pacts will expire and we will need the voters to authorize new com-pacts. I don’t know that they will if the Tohono O’odham Nation

Executive Office update: D.C. prioritiesBy Gov. Gregory MendozaGila River Indian Community

January 2013Gila River Indian News

Komatke Health Center17487 South Healthcare Drive

Laveen, Az 85339Phone: 520-550-6000Fax: 520-550-6033

Ak-Chin Health Clinic48203 West Farrell Road

Maricopa, AZ 85239 Phone: 520-568-3881

Fax: 520-568-3884

483 West Seed Farm RoadSacaton, AZ 85147

Phone: 520-562-3321Fax: 602-528-1240

Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital

Submitted by: Dr. Noel Habib, Chief Medical Officer

Cancer is a significant problem within the Gila River Indian Community. It continues to be a threat to the health of our patients, claiming the lives of many each year. At Gila River Health Care in 2013, we will begin a cancer awareness and prevention campaign to help educate the Community about the cancer threat and how we can work together to prevent the most common forms of cancer. We will focus our efforts to diagnose cancer as early as possible. By identifying and treating it before it spreads, we have a very good chance of completely removing the cancer.

The most common types of cancer we see within the Gila River Indian Community are different than the most common types prevalent throughout the nation. The chart below compares our 5 most common types of cancer in the Community, along with the 5 most common types of cancer in all American Indian/Alaskan Native populations combined, and the general population of the US, in order of occurrence.

Uterine cancer, or cancer of the womb, is the most common cancer in the Gila River Indian Community. This cancer can occur from the mid-20s onward. You can see from the above chart that it is much higher in our population than in the other groups. The primary risk factors for uterine

cancer are being overweight, having diabetes, and having high blood pressure. Women who are overweight and have abnormal periods are at particularly high risk for getting this type of cancer, especially if they have had trouble getting pregnant. A woman may decrease her risk by the use of birth control pills and a medicated IUD (intrauterine device).

Abnormal periods are a difficult and often embarrassing topic for a woman to discuss, but unfortunately, like diabetes, abnormal bleeding is a reality. It is not uncommon for a woman to begin experience irregular bleeding in their teens, and just accept it as something they just have to live with in their adult life. However, the important thing to remember about uterine cancer is that abnormal periods are warning signs. Medically, when we say abnormal periods, we are referring to bleeding that lasts more than 7 days, periods that are closer than 21 days apart, bleeding between periods, or skipping more than 2 months without a period.

Most women stop having periods between 40 and 54. Any woman over 40 who stops having periods for a year or more, and then has any bleeding after stopping should be seen without delay for possible further testing. Please don’t panic, but don’t ignore the symptoms. The Women’s Center is ready to help you and care for you at any time. If you are not sure, please come to see us – take basic health care seriously!

“Women play a vital role in maintaining the health of their family and their Community!”

Accountability Commitment Patients & Families Culture Quality Self-Governance Trust

ubmitted by: cancer are being overweight, having diabetes, and having high blood

Learning about Cancer – Smart Choices for Early Diagnosis

Happy New Year from Your GRHC Team!

Gila River Indian Community American Indian/Alaska Na ve US General Popula on Uterine (Endometrial) Prostate Prostate

Renal Female breast Female breast Female breast Lung Lung Colon/Rectum Colon/Rectum Colon/Rectum Hematologic Renal Uterine (endometrial)

Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, and Acupuncture Services Are Available At Hu Hu Kam Memorial Hospital for Community Members!

All Services Are Available in the Inpatient Area

Chiropractic service treatment times are approximately 30 minutes.

Hours of Operation:Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Acupuncture service treatment times vary from 50 minutes to an hour.

Hours of Operation: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Massage Therapy service treatment times for new patients are about an hour. Follow up appointments are approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Hours of Operation:Monday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00p.m.Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

January 2013 Gila River Indian News

robert Keller, Tribal Treasurer linda andrews, Community

Council secretary

write to: editor, GRINP.o. Box 459

sacaton, aZ 85147Published letters or columns do not nec-

essarily reflect the opinion of theeditor or

gila river indian Community.

Zuzette [email protected]

CPao Director(520)562-9851

Roberto a. [email protected]

Managing editor(520)562-9719

Gina [email protected]

grin secretary ii(520)562-9715

GovernorGregory Mendoza

Gila River Indian News

Mikhail [email protected]

Community newsperson(520)562-9717

district #1arzie Hogg

Cynthia antone

district #2Jewel whitman

district #3Dale g. enosMyron schurz

district #4Barney B. enos, Jr.

Jennifer allisonChristopher Mendoza

Monica antone

district #5Brenda robertsonFranklin Pablo, sr.annette J. stewart

Janice stewart

district #6anthony villareal, sr.

albert PabloTerrance B. evans

district #7Martha Miller

Community Council representatives

Lt. GovernorStephen Roe Lewis

Joshua [email protected]

Community newsperson(520)562-9715

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.

www.gilariver.org/index.php/news

Gila River Indian CommunityP.o. Box 459

Sacaton, aZ 85147(520)562-9715

www.gilariver.org/grin

Letters & Opinions

The GRIN encourages comments and suggestions about content that warrants correction or clarification. To report an error call (520)562-9719 or email [email protected]

CORRECTIONS

Insurance Benefit InformationDear Gila River Indian Com-

munity Employee:BMI Audit Services has con-

cluded its audit of dependent el-igibility for GRIC benefits plan participants. The intent of the audit was to limit health care cost increases by ensuring those enrolled for benefits are eligible, not to disenroll eligible depen-dents. Confirmation letters have since been sent to all employees who responded; thank you for your participation and compli-ance in providing BMI with your required verification documenta-tion through this mandatory audit.

The initial deadline to sub-mit verification information was Sept. 11, 2012, the second dead-line was Oct. 5, 2012, and the third and final deadline was Oct. 24. 2012, for those who had not yet complied with audit require-ments. Although reminders were sent to employees, there were some employees who received notice of dependent ineligibility due to either non-response or in-complete information. Employ-ees in this category will have their ineligible dependents removed

from the benefits plan effective October 1, 2012 and will not be allowed to enroll dependents un-til the Community’s next Open Enrollment or through a qualify-ing event with proper verification documentation.

Please be advised that the Insurance Office will continue to conduct ongoing dependent eligi-bility audits to maintain accurate enrollment records and ensure only those dependents that are el-igible remain on the benefits plan.

We encourage you to visit the employee self service site at https://portal.adp.com for de-tailed information regarding your insurance benefit coverage in the Health & Welfare Employee Ben-efit Plan Document and Summary Plan Description.

If you have any questions, please contact the Insurance Of-fice at (520) 562-9520.

Thank you.Sincerely,Insurance OfficeGila River Indian Community

Claims Must Be Filed By March 1, 2013

In $3.4 Billion Indian Trust Settlement

For a claim form or to update your contact information:

Call Toll-Free: 1-800-961-6109 or Visit: www.IndianTrust.com

What is This About?

The Cobell v. Salazar Settlement is approved. The Settlement resolves a class action lawsuit that claims that the federal government violated its duties by mismanaging trust accounts and individual Indian trust lands. Payments to the Historical Accounting Class are underway. The process of considering claims for the Trust Administration Class is ongoing.

The final deadline if you need to file a claim form for the Trust Administration Class is March 1, 2013.

Am I Included?

The Trust Administration Class includes:• AnyonealiveonSeptember30,2009,who:

° Had an IIM account recorded in currently available electronic data in federal governmentsystemsanytimefromapproximately1985toSeptember30,2009,or

° Can demonstrate ownership in trust land or land in restricted status as of September 30,2009.

• Theestate(orheirs)ofanydeceasedlandownerorIIMaccountholderwhoseaccountwas open or whose trust assets had been in probate according to the federal government’s recordsasofSeptember30,2009.

Do I Need to File a Claim Form?

You must file a claim form if you believe you are a member of the Trust Administration Class and you have not:

• ReceivedIIMaccountstatementsatyourcurrentaddressanytimebetweenJanuary1,1985andSeptember30,2009andcontinuetoreceivestatements;or

• ReceivedapaymentasamemberoftheHistoricalAccountingClass.Ifyoudid,youwill receive a second payment automatically as a member of the Trust Administration Class;or

• Filed a claim form already using your current address. If you have, the ClaimsAdministrator will contact you.

YoumustfilloutaclaimformandmailittoIndianTrustSettlement,P.O.Box9577,Dublin,OH43017-4877,postmarkedbyMarch 1, 2013 in order to receive a payment.

How Much Money Can I Get?MembersoftheTrustAdministrationClasswilllikelyreceiveatleast$800ormore.Theactual amount will depend on the number of claims and the costs of administration.

Dear Editor, I am an enrolled

member of the Akimel Tribe; Native American inmates will be greatly in-debted to you, should you choose to print this article. Thank you!

Over the years the system has dictated to the Native American popu-lation (state wide) fire pit dimension and depth, in-

cluding the height and cir-cumference of the Sweat Lodge. Every implement needed to conduct this ceremony to which we complied with diligence.

In November, staff made an extraordinarily resilient, reprehensible, abhorrent attack on our Sweat Lodge. Removing rocks and coverings to a degree where to con-

duct a traditional sweat ceremony would be an insult to our Creator. Na-tive American inmates have not demonstrated in any fashion. My intent is not to create any disil-lusionment, just that the Bureau of Prisons confer with an advocate prior to amending a policy change directed towards our reli-gious practices are con-

cerned. To concede any further loss could result in a repeal of our reli-gious practices. I appeal to you readers and those with friends, family mem-bers and loved ones in prison. Please serve as a voice for our communi-ties, go to central office in Phoenix, call, write, use your mobile devices. Let your concern and ours be

heard. Stay strong for us, as we are strong for you, always mentioning you in our prayers. May the grace, love and fellowship of the Creator be with all of you. Most humbly, honorably submitted:

Respectfully,Jesse L. Chamberlain

Letter to Editor


What’s New At GRICUA?GRICUA recently participated in the

Community’s holiday “River of Lights Pa-rade” held on December 7th 2012. GRICUA was represented by employees Mike Miguel, Jaina Allen, Calvin Tullie and Jessica Soliz. GRICUA decorated two of its service vehi-cles for the parade, one of which is pictured below.

Meet Our DesignersGRICUA’s Design Team is made up of Robert Yazzie, Designer;

Gary Frederick, Drafter; and Paul Bradsher, Designer. Our team de-signs and engineers plans for the construction of electrical services for both residential and commercial buildings.

RemindersGRICUA District Days 2013GRICUA will be at the Public Health Re-

source Center (433 W Seedfarm Rd in Sacaton) on the following days to accept payments from 10am to 3pm. January 7, February 7, March 7, April 8, May 9, June 6, July 8, August 8, September 5, October 7November 7, December 5

CALL BEFORE YOU DIGGRICUA is a member of Arizona Blue Stake.

Please call 1-800-782-5348 to request an under-ground line locate of both GRICUA and SCIP on reservation facilities.

GRICUA welcomes your comments. You can email comments to [email protected]. You can also go to our website at www.gric-ua.net.

GRICUA’s Hours of OperationMonday – Friday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM Payments are accepted on-line and by phone

both during our normal operating hours as well as afterhours. If you have any questions regard-ing your statement or payment options please call during normal business hours.

ProjectsGRICUA recently took delivery of these steel

transmission poles which will be used in the construc-tion of the 69kv feeder line, which will service the Community’s new Wild Horse Pass Substation.

Energy Conservation Tips Use Appliances Efficiently• Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to

42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the pow-er-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly. You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gas-kets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.

• Don’t preheat or “peek” inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items.

• Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it. Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce en-ergy use.

• In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.

• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use. Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don’t

add wet items to a load that’s already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting. A clothesline is the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all.

Turn Out the Lights• Don’t forget to flick the switch when you

leave a room.• Remember this at the office, too. Turn

out or dim the lights in unused conference rooms, and when you step out for lunch. Work by daylight when possible. A typical commercial building uses more energy for lighting than anything else.

L to R: Robert, Gary, Paul


Community updatesHere are some monthly updates on the on-going issues pertaining to the Gila River Indian Community.

by GRin staFF

The Gila River Indian Com-munity appears to be headed for a re-vote on whether the proposed Loop 202 Freeway extension may be built on tribal lands in the west end.

The Community Council Secretary’s Office on Dec. 21 ver-ified the signatures of the GRIC Landowners’ Loop 202 Initiative submitted in September. The ini-tiative will be presented to Leg-islative Standing Committee this month, where the committee will determine if the petition has the required number of signatures.

If the petition has the neces-sary 643 signatures, or 10 percent of registered voters, it will be presented to the Gila River Com-munity Council. Upon receiving a valid public initiative, Council

must call for a vote to take place within 120 days.

“The signatures are verified. We’re just putting together the re-port that’s going to go to LSC,” Council Secretary Linda Andrews said. Andrews said the report will be presenting at the Jan. 29 meet-ing the likeliest date.

Nathaniel Percharo, a spokesman for the Landowners group, supports the freeway being built on tribal lands. He believes another vote is necessary because last time voters may not have understood that their “no build” vote does not guarantee that the freeway extension will not be built. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is in the process of analyzing what the en-vironmental impacts of the free-

way would be if it is built along Pecos Road — off tribal lands and presumably through South Mountain.

“After all the hard work we have done to educate and inform Community members that the ‘no build’ vote did not actually mean the freeway would not be built, I am happy that we still have a way to save South Mountain,” Percha-ro said in a press release.

In a similar vote last Febru-ary, the “no build” option carried the vote with 48.6 percent. “On tribal lands” received 40.7 per-cent and “off tribal lands” got 10.7. This time, the ballot will have only two options: “on tribal lands” or “off tribal lands.”

This proposed extension of the Loop 202 has a long and

drawn out history dating back to 1985. ADOT is expected to re-lease a draft of the Environmen-tal Impact Study sometime in 2013. A decision will be made on whether or not build the freeway at all after a period of public com-ment. If the Community reverses paths in this expected vote and signs off on having the freeway built on the tribal lands, it is un-clear if ADOT would have to do another environmental impact study.

The apparent success of the initiative — which would be only the second time the public has brought forth a referendum vote — is a seminal moment for the Gila River, said Joseph Perez, partner of the land development company Pangea. According

to the press release, Perez said: “This is an historic event and whether they realize it now or 30 years from now, they’ve made a positive difference in not only their lives, but those of their chil-dren, grandchildren and future generations to come.”

No-build supporters were not pleased about the news that there is likely to be another vote.

“We’re disappointed not just what Pangea is doing but also by our leadership for not listening to the people,” said Linda Allen, a no-build supporter. “We’ve been opposed for over two decades now.”

202 petition signatures verified, report going to LSC

The “fiscal cliff” federal budget crisis that has dominated national headlines for the last two months could cut $275,000 from Gila River’s Head Start program — with emphasis on the could.

The solution that President Barack Obama signed on Jan. 2 only dealt with taxes and put off decisions on possible spending cuts until March.

As a precautionary measure, Head Start Director Dr. Patricia Foster on Dec. 19 alerted the Gila River Indian Community Council to the possibility of the reduc-tion in the federal program that promotes school readiness for pre-Kindergarten-age kids from low-income families. Whether the cuts come or not, no GRIC Head Start child will lose services

nor will any employee be laid off, Foster said.

A $3.35 million federal grant funds all of the program’s opera-tions and half of employee sala-ries and benefits. GRIC pays the other half.

When Obama reached a bud-get deal with Congress that avoid-ed going off the so-called cliff — a series of automatic tax increases and spending cuts — discretion-ary funding reductions were not dealt with. Programs like Head Start fall under this category.

“What we need to be care-ful about when we talk about the federal government, it’s never an absolute,” Foster said. “It could be. They could continue on with things as they are now, or they could decide to cut, they could

decide to not cut, they could, they could.”

Foster told Council, “we’ve been very frugal to date just in case this does come down.”

Foster wanted to make the Council aware of the potential 8.2 percent cut in the event the pro-gram requires extra tribal funding after the federal fiscal year ends in August. Head Start received nearly $3.5 million from GRIC for the 2013 fiscal year, according to the budget summary released by the executive office.

The Council expressed a willingness to help if needed. “We have a responsibility to maintain services where they’re at,” said Councilman Barney B. Enos Jr. (D4).

Community Treasurer Rob-

ert Keller emphasized that ev-erything was hearsay at this point and that nothing official had come from Washington. “We have not heard anything from the fund-ing agencies,” Keller said. “The information that [Foster] put out today is just sort of an alert that was put out by the Office of Man-agement and Budget, it’s not from the funding agency itself. Until that happens, we don’t know.”

Foster was certain about one thing. Whether a favorable bud-get deal gets done in Washington D.C. or not, every one of the 295 GRIC children Head Start serves would “absolutely” continue to receive services.

The program’s biggest ex-penses include fuel, bus mainte-nance and utility costs. It might

try to reduce expenses by holding its monthly field trips at closer locations or by hiring part-time employees instead of full-time. But Keller did not want to alarm anybody, maintaining that “any-thing we would say now would be totally hypothetical.”

Head Start is just trying to stay ahead of the game and brace itself financially for possible changes in its federal allotment. That way it will be prepared to make up the potential shortfall.

Said Keller: “Even if the cuts do go through, we have plenty of time because it won’t be an im-mediate effect. It will be later off in the fiscal year.”

Headstart awaiting word on ‘fiscal cliff’

Work will soon begin to cre-ate a riparian area in the Gila Riv-er streambed between the Olberg Bridge and Sacaton Road. The planned river feature will restore river habitat and be used for rec-reation by Community members. The project will also recharge wa-ter into the aquifer and by doing so create long term storage cred-its.

“Whenever the water settle-ment is mentioned, Community members often ask about the re-turn of the river, and soon we will begin work on bringing the river back,” said Gov. Gregory Men-doza.

The project calls for Central Arizona Project, or CAP, water to be used for the riparian area. Under its water rights settlement the Community is entitled to up to 311,800 acre-feet of CAP water per year. CAP water is the Com-munity’s largest source of water but also its most expensive.

To off-set the cost of con-struction and maintenance of the project and the delivery of CAP water, the long term storage cred-its created by the project will be made available for sale through

the Gila River Water Storage, LLC, or GRWS.

“Our plan is to have a self-funded riparian project that pays for itself,” said Mendoza. “GRWS is a key piece of the puz-zle in developing a long term plan to use water for the benefit of our farmers and our entire Communi-ty,” he added.

Councilman Barney Enos, Jr., who is the Community’s rep-resentative on GRWS, agrees with Mendoza. “CAP water is our most plentiful source of wa-ter but also our most expensive,” said Enos. “GRWS allows us to put this water to use in a way that makes economic sense.”

GRWS came about as part of an effort to evaluate a short term plan to maximize the Communi-ty’s use of CAP water. In 2010 the Community Council approved the creation GRWS in order to maximize the Community’s use of CAP water until the comple-tion of the Pima-Maricopa Irriga-tion Project.

Pima-Maricopa Irrigation Project, or P-MIP, is scheduled to be completed in 2029. Until the P-MIP is completed the Commu-

nity cannot physically use its full allocation of CAP water on Res-ervation. Prior to the creation of GRWS this meant that the Com-munity’s unused portion of CAP water could be used by other wa-ter users in Arizona without the Community receiving any bene-fit.

The Community has been storing water since 2010 to create long term storage credits in order to ensure that it maximizes the benefits of its water settlement.

“Essentially what the Com-munity is doing is taking its wet water that it would not otherwise use, and turning it into paper wa-ter that it can then hold on to use later, or sell,” said Jason Hauter, an attorney that works on Com-munity water resource issues.

GRWS, which is a joint ven-ture between the Community and the Salt River Project, buys the Community’s long-term storage credits, and markets and sells these credits.

According to Councilman Enos, SRP and the Communi-ty were willing to enter into the joint venture because both sides benefited. “The Community gets

to maximize its water resources so it will have the revenues to build and maintain riparian areas, but also makes sure that future generations of farmers will have affordable water and infrastruc-ture.”

SRP also benefits because under the GRWS agreement the Community agreed to make available up to 100,000 acre-feet of CAP water over the next 20 years for use by SRP in years when SRP is facing a severe cut-back in its water supplies due to prolonged drought.

Under the partnership ar-rangement with SRP, the Com-munity also intends to make available 30,000 acre-feet of its CAP supplies for long-term lease by municipal water providers. These 100-year leases would be used by municipal water pro-viders to assist them in meeting Arizona’s assured water supply requirements.

The Community and SRP in-tend to target areas identified by the state as having insufficient groundwater or other water sourc-es available to meet the state’s as-sured water supply requirements

in northeast Pinal County.“Making water available to

neighboring communities also benefits us because without al-ternative sources, these commu-nities would be forced to pump water,” said Enos, which could negatively impact the aquifer.

Since the creation of GRWS the Community has stored over 500,000 acre-feet of CAP water off Reservation. The Communi-ty is committed to storing at least two million acre-feet through 2029.

In addition to financing the riparian project the Community anticipates that the proceeds from the credit sales will be used to keep on-Reservation agricultural development affordable and to build additional irrigation infra-structure. The most tangible ben-efit for many Community mem-bers is to once again see water regularly flow down portions of the Gila River.

“We are the River People af-ter all,” Mendoza said. “It will be great day when we have a river we can visit once again.”

Riparian project planned, SRP and GRIC work together on GRWSCAP water used for riparian area, and Gila River Water Storage, LLC moves forward


know is, are you going to be here for us?” The phone call was heartbreaking and

inspirational. The student had a bad experience as a

cheerleader and was leery of making a com-mitment unless she knew the coach would give the squad the tools to be successful. From then on Luevano vowed to give the cheer team the encouragement it needed to turn the program around.

Starting a program had challenges. “First there was no money,” she said.

It has been tough making ends meet. The financial demands forced the Spartan cheerleaders into some difficult situations. Normally a school has three cheer squads—the Spartans have two. The demands on equipment, uniforms and transportation have placed a burden on the girls and the coaches.

They have born the brunt of out of pocket costs while the team fundraises for equipment and gear.

Despite the challenges, the team is ex-celling, said Luevano. Last year the team didn’t stunt, a routine where a top cheer-leader is supported by one or more cheer-leaders. This year it is one of their strengths.

“They’re doing all kinds of stuff that they didn’t get to do last year…it’s just un-believable,” Luevano said.

Luevano researched for some fundrais-

ing ideas outside the norm to offset some of the cost of running the program. She dis-covered that a great way to raise money is to host a cheer/dance competition. So the cheer team joined Americheer and Amerid-ance to organize the Spartan Classic Spirit Series at Vista Grande High School on Jan. 12. Americheer is the parent company of Ameridance and they administer cheerlead-ing and dance competitions across the Unit-ed States.

“It could be a really successful event,” said Luevano.

The competition will feature cheer teams, dance teams and a specialty division. According to Americheer.com, the host re-ceives 100 percent of door admissions and 100 percent of any additional fundraisers at the event.

The event has the potential to be quite lucrative if many teams participate. If it’s a success then the Spartan Cheer Team will have enough funding to go to summer camp. “Hopefully we’ll have enough mon-ey this year to do it,” Luevano said.

Luevano extended gratitude toward her cheerleaders and her assistant coaches and volunteers Vanessa Martinez, former Green Bay Packers cheerleader Becca Doll, and Casa Grande Police Officer Kim Schmidts.

For more information email [email protected]

Arizona Indian Chamber of Commerce Awards Newkirk and Gila River Sand & Gravel

Above: American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona Board Chair Jason Coochwytewa (Hopi/Isleta) presents Anthony Newkirk with the American Indian Small Business or Small Business Entre-preneur of the Year Award. Below: Coochwytewa presents Gener-al Manager Michael Morago with Gila River Sand and Gravel Cor-poration’s award for Tribal Enterprise or Department of the Year.

Photo Courtesy of AICC

Photo Courtesy of AICC

From Page 1

Spartan Cheer Squad on track

January 2013 Health & Wellness

The following list contains the names of individuals and oth-er parties with outstanding checks reconciled as of September 30, 2012. In accordance with Escheat Ordinance GR-10-09, the Com-munity will publish on a bi-annual schedule or as deemed nec-essary by the Community Treasurer, the Escheat Public Notice. Public notice of unclaimed checks will be published in the Gila River Indian Newspaper and GRIC’s official web site. If the last known owner is known to be a Community member, the depart-ment, program, or entity shall also post notice at all District Ser-vice Centers. In order to claim the check, the owner must claim it in person within 30 days of publication or posting. In addition, to make claim the person must provide the department, program, or entity with positive identification, including a photo identification showing the person claiming the check is the last known owner. If the check is unclaimed for 60 days after publication, it shall es-cheat and title thereof shall vest in the Community, or as applicable to the Federal, State, or other agency that provided the funding. If you are the recipient of the unclaimed property, please contact Verlene Antone of the Finance Department at (520) 562-9621 for further instructions.

Unclaimed Checks: Escheat List

Advanced Urgent Care Med 97Affinity Physical TherapyAlan Alexander *Alan MolkAlliance Urgent CareAnne M Hermida, MdAnoop DuggalAnthony Gross, Dc *Arizona Heart Hospital LlcAugustine Enas *Barbara R Espinoza *Bradley K Becker, Do PllcBrenda KronborgBrett M Quackenbush Plc *Brian Baird, OdCamelback Cosmetic & Family DeCarrie Lipp, MdDamen James, SrDarin M WhiteDario Lizarraga, Md *David KornDevin JohnsDmr HomecareElizabeth Faulkner, Lpc *Experts On SightFarooq AghaGary R HopkinsGary W WaldenGeorges NseirGeorgine T ThomasGerald GolnerGila River Dialysis EastGlenn T Cummings *Gregory Mendoza *Harvest Physical TherapyHerman Smith, MdHome Health Insights, Inc.Hosie Riley *Hospice Family Care IncJacqueline MayJames Allison, MdJason LundgrenJason Wolff, DoJeff Cottingham, DcJerrelle Copeland, MdJoe G Solarez, Jr *John RaifeJohn SteinJonathan StreeterJudith FulwilderJudith Pendleton, MdKandi D Kastl-ManuelKeith S McdonaldKenneth D Jameson *Kevin B PahonaKourosh Nourisamie

Kristopher LeeLabcorp Of America Holdings *Lance KnechtLarry D Porter, Jr *Larry GeneLaurie P Erickson, MdLighten You Load LlcMaricopa Pathologists LtdMark HarpMary Helen PinaMatthew Emmons *Maxine Norris, LcswMelody BrimhallMichael Mintz, DoMichael Ridge, MdMountain Vista Emergency PhysiMyrtle Charles *Nadeem Kazi, MdNeurotechs LlcOctavio VidalOrthosport Az IncPablo M Wilson *Parvinder Khanuja, MdPatricia J Elias *Patrick Heenan, DoPaul Laprade Jr, MdPaul Serrano DdsPhs Phoenix Indian Medical CenProgressive Medical AssociatesRandy LargeRenz C Charles, JrRichard Rosengard, Do *Ryan R StoneSatyendra Jain, Md *Spectra Laboratories Inc *Stephen Chang, MdSteven ReinhartStuart Agren, MdSunrise HospitalTherapro Physical Therapy *Therese N LosiThomas C KnappVasudevan Nair, MdVictor M Rodriguez *Victor Nahmias, PhdWade TiokasinWal Mart Pharmacy No 10-1149Walgreens Home Care - Illi-noisWest Valley Urgent Care LlcWilliam Betz *Yoshimasa Makino *

Edward Juarez (left) and Valentine Thomas chase down a basketball tossed by Tribal Recreation Coordinator Danny Eschief. Eschief ran the three-day basketball camp at the Sacaton Wellness Center in late December. The kids ran through various drills and also played five on five.

Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN

Tribal recreation holds b-ball camp

January 2013Law & Order

ment in the history of the Native American justice system. Known as TLOA, the act empowers In-dian nations to hand out longer sentences. Before, tribal courts could only prosecute misdemean-or crimes while the felonies were left to the federal government.

Under TLOA, tribal prose-cutors would be able to charge felony crimes and convicts would ostensibly be sentenced by tribal judges and held in tribal prisons, if certain rights are provided to the defendant (more on this lat-er). The maximum sentence per offense is upped from one year to three years. With the ability to stack multiple offenses, the lon-gest possible sentence would be nine years.

“This at least provides a little more teeth to our criminal code,” said assistant general counsel Mi-chael Carter.

‘This is a big deal’The Gila River Community

Council moved to adopt TLOA in July 2011, creating the work-group spearheaded by Hall and the Office of General Counsel to update the criminal code accord-ingly. The draft of the new code includes 107 criminal offenses: nine felonies, 57 misdemeanors and 41 wobblers, crimes that can be charged as either one. The cur-rent code is 52 pages, while the new one could be over 200.

It’s important to note that the federal government still shares jurisdiction over felony crimes. But federal prosecutors do not al-ways have the resources to prose-cute every felony on reservations, so they end up declining cases on at a much higher rate than on the state level, leaving a lot of crime slipping through the cracks.

The idea of TLOA, then, is to allow the tribal justice system to step in where the feds won’t.

On top of enhancing sen-tencing powers, the new code seeks to define rules for criminal procedure and sentencing guide-lines, something the current code noticeably lacks. Judges will now have somewhat of a roadmap to follow when deciding on a sen-tence and trial proceedings will be clarified.

“This is a big deal,” said Carleton Giff, who has worked in the Office of the Prosecutor for more than 20 years. “The lack of rules for criminal procedures has hampered the justice systems for a while.”

Another important change involves defining the competency of the defendant. If competency is in doubt, the new code requires the court to appoint a psychia-trist to determine if the defendant is in fact competent, something that had “been an issue with this community for a long, long time,” said assistant general counsel Claude Jackson.

The implementation of these changes, tentatively set for May 1, mark a significant moment for the Gila River justice system. It wasn’t until 1986 that the code even included crimes like homi-cide and rape. And before 1990, the maximum penalty for even the most heinous crimes was 180 days. Even with the current code, some murder convictions only get a one-year sentence.

When these proposed chang-es were first suggested, there was some worry that crime would rise. According to Community Treasurer Robert Keller, who put together an analysis in 2010 about the potential impacts of TLOA, that will not be the case.

“Just because you change it from a misdemeanor to a felony doesn’t mean you’re going to have more crime,” Keller said. “You’re going to have the same amount of crime, it’s just going to be handled different.”

Community inputThe Community also is to

have a say in the new code. Two public hearings were held in De-cember asking for input from Community members. The meet-ings were not very well attended and because the document is so large, some observers felt that more hearings would be neces-sary.

“We’re the Community members, we need to be a part of this, even if it called for another Saturday meeting,” said Berna-dean C. Lewis of District 5.

Lewis was skeptical of the tribe handling felony cases and wanted to see laws that were tai-lored to Gila River.

“Let’s concentrate on the res-ervation here, on the community here and the laws that we want to protect us as law-abiding citi-zens,” she said.

Councilmember Myron Schurz (D3), who heads the Leg-islative Standing Committee, said he was not opposed to granting more time for public meetings. He also emphasized that the May

From Page 1

GRIC looking to define and implement Tribal Law and Order Act


Senior assistant general counsel Rebecca Hall (center) , joined by Michael Carter (left) and Tana Fitzpatrick (right), goes over the TLOA updates to the revised Criminal Code at a public hearing in December.

The U.S. government began issuing payments under the Indi-vidual Indian Trust Settlement, better known as the Cobell Set-tlement, on Dec. 17. An estimat-ed 400,000 Native Americans, including many Gila River Indian Community members, received the $1,000 payouts just in time for the holiday season.

The settlement is named after the late Elouise Cobell, who, on June 10, 1996, along with three other claimants, filed a lawsuit against the federal government asserting that it mismanaged trust assets for American Indian indi-viduals that it has been responsi-ble for since 1887.

The $3.4 billion Cobell Set-tlement Claims Resolution Act was signed by President Barack Obama on Dec. 8, 2010, ending

the Class Action Cobell v. Sala-zar case after 14 years of intense litigation. The settlement resolves two different but similar claims on behalf of two groups of peo-ple, the Historical Accounting Class and the Trust Administra-tion Class. Most people included in the settlement are in both class-es.

According to the Indian Trust Settlement website, www.indiantrust.com, “The Historical

Accounting Class resolves claims that the government failed to properly account for trust funds,” whereas, “The Trust Administra-tion Class resolves claims of gov-ernment mismanagement of trust funds and trust lands.”

The $3.4 billion settlement has been divided into two funds. One, the $1.5 billion Accounting/Trust Administration Fund, is set aside to resolve the Historical Ac-counting and Trust Administra-

tion claims. The remainder will sponsor a land buy-back program.

Compensatory payments were distributed to members of the Historical Accounting Class in the form of $1,000 payouts last month. Payments for the Trust Administration Class are not yet scheduled but are expected some-time this March. Most are esti-


First Cobell payouts hit community, deadline for claim March 1st

Continued on Page 9

1 implementation target was not a hard deadline and could be pushed back.

“It looks like you’re telling us the code isn’t quite done yet,” Schurz said during the public comment session of the hearing in Sacaton.

At an early January Council meeting, other councilmembers agreed. Councilmember Anthony Villareal Sr. (D6) said: “I don’t want our people becoming vic-tims of the justice system.”

Added Franklin Pablo Sr. (D5): We moved too quick. We need to ensure that all depart-ments can commit.”

The new code remains an imperfect, living, breathing docu-ment. Making laws appears to be much harder than simply follow-ing — or breaking — them. More outreach and a possible extension of the May 1 implementation deadline will be up for debate as departments report to LSC and

Council. In the mean time, the TLOA workgroup is pleased with the progress it’s made so far, but understands that it can’t plan for every possibility.

“What about all these oth-er scenarios that could happen?”

Jackson said. “You know what, we’ve covered a lot of them [but] there’s going to be some that we didn’t realize that was ever going to happen.”

January 2013 Youth & Elder

Portions of Gila River Indian Com-munity Council of Elders Action Plan


A ‘Caring House Christmas’Caring House staff member Tina Wells (dressed as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) poses with resident Minnie Tshihnahjin-nie during a Christmas party at the Caring House in Sacaton.

mated to be around $800; none will be less than $500.

The Department of Interior has begun working on the Land Buy-Back Program. Of the $3.4 billion settlement, $1.9 billion constitutes the Trust Land Consolidation Fund, which is set aside to purchase frac-tionated land from tribal landowners and return it to their respective tribal nations.

Over 125 years ago, the General Allot-ment Act (the Dawes Act) of 1887 divided tribal lands into parcels, usually of 80 or 160-acres, for the ownership of individual Indians. These allotments have been held in trust by the government since that time.

As trustee, the government collected the money earned on those lands – usually from things like farming and grazing leases, timber sales, mining or oil and gas produc-tion – and deposited them into Individual Indian Money accounts. IIM accounts were created to help manage those assets for indi-viduals. (This is where the mismanagement claims stem from.)

Over time, many of the allotments have been divided further, causing fractionation. As the DOI said in a press release, “The lands have been handed down to heirs over successive generations, causing the number of shared interests in one parcel to grow exponentially. Currently, more than 92,000 tracts of land held in trust for American In-dians contain 2.9 million fractional inter-ests.”

“Freeing up fractionated lands for the benefit of tribal nations will increase the number of acres in tribal land bases, stim-ulate economic development and promote tribal sovereignty and self-determination,” said David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, according to the press release.

A $60 million Indian Education Schol-arship Fund will be taken out of the Trust Land Consolidation Fund to provide schol-arships for American Indian higher educa-tion seekers.

Because it is a class action suit, the settlement may already have your name and information if you are indeed eligible for payments. However, it is highly recom-mended that you call the Indian Trust Set-

tlement information hotline to make sure that the information they have for you is correct or to check if you have a claim at all. Call 1-800-961-6109.

If your name is not on the list and you believe it should be, you can register a claim online at the aforementioned Indian Trust Settlement website or by calling the number above. The deadline for submitting a claim is March 1, 2013.

You may be a class member of the lawsuit and thus eligible to receive claims resolution payments, if you have: “had an Individual Indian Money account anytime from approximately 1985 through Sept. 30, 2009,” or “had an individual interest in land held in trust or restricted status by the U.S. government as of Sept. 30, 2009.”

Note that receiving compensation from the Cobell Settlement in the Historical Ac-counting and Trust Administration claims does not mean that you are selling your land. The Trust Land Consolidation Fund and forthcoming Land Buy-Back Program will only give you the option to do so.

For more detailed information on the Indian Trust Settlement visit check out the FAQ page in the website and watch the vid-eo they have provided.

The National Congress of American Indians and the Obama Administration have sent out warnings to recipients of Co-bell Settlement money. “Be aware and be watchful,” said NCAI President Jefferson Keel, “Dishonest people know about the settlement and are figuring ways to take money from you.”

The White House advised that recip-ients should, “Beware of “opportunities” that force you to make a snap decision—high pressure “act now” offers are often used to keep you from understanding the true costs and risks of a product.” They recommend using the money to pay debts and build savings. If you suspect you have been scammed, report it immediately to the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force at www.stopfraud.gov/report.

From Page 8

Payments begin from historic $3.4 billion Cobell Settlement


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The Tribal Recreation and Wellness Center Program is currently recruiting volunteers for the 2013 Mul.Chu.Tha Fair and Rodeo. Below is a list of volunteer program opportunities:

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• Sign the Mul. Chu. Tha Volunteer Waiver and Release of Liability form.

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2013 Mul-Chu-Tha Fair and Rodeo applications are available at HumanResources offices, TERO, Tribal Recreation office, Wellness Center, andMul-Chu-Tha Fair office . Applications can also be downloaded from the Mul-Chu-Tha website at www.mul-chu-tha.com

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Broadcast at all District Service Centers


On Jan. 7, Gregory Mendoza and Stephen Roe Lewis are sworn in as Governor and Lt. Gov. respectively.

Raeging Storm Miles takes the title of Miss Gila River on March 10.

Gila River Indian Community breaks ground on the new Vee Quiva Casino & Hotel, June 7.

Sept. 20 - District 7 begins construction on its new Multi-Purpose Building on Baseline and 83rd Ave.

The Akimel O’odham / Pee Posh Youth Council enters its 25th year with 17 members from all 7 districts. Kyle Flores (D4) is elected president.

Gila River’s �rst domestic violence shelter, called On Eagles’ Wings, opens June 1.

Former Gov. Mary Thomas is recognized for her contributions to her community by the University of Arizona on April 13.

Gila River makes a presence at the National Congress of American Indians Convention Oct. 22-26. Gov. Mendoza addressed the general assembly with his vision on the future of Indian Country and plan on how to get there. The Gila River Indian Community enters the new

year with great optimism with many capital projects opening in 2013 such as the George Webb Village housing development, whose groundbreaking (above) took place on Aug.17.

Gila River Youth represent the Com-munity on a national scale at UNITY and Youth Convention in July.

President Barack Obama signs the HEARTH act with Gov. Mendoza and other prominent tribal leaders present, July 30.(Photo by Pete Souza, White House Photographer)


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From Page 1

is able to build a casino in Glen-dale. Additionally, if the Tohono O’odham Nation is able to devel-op their casino it will negatively impact the Community.

• We have a lot of sup-port in Congress for our view that the Tohono O’odham Nation shouldn’t be able to build a casino in Glendale. We came very close to passing a law on the matter. A bill overwhelming passed the House of Representatives by a 343-78 vote. And it was close to passing the Senate, but the Con-gress adjourned before it could happen.

• The Community Coun-cil continues to support efforts to oppose the Tohono O’odham Na-tion’s casino. So I will continue to go to D.C. to advocate for a law that prevents them from doing so.

Navajo Generating Station

• We continue to be con-cerned about the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ac-tions with respect to the Navajo Generating Station. The EPA is in the process of issuing a regu-lation that will greatly harm the

Community’s ability to access its water rights. In particular, the new regulation is expected to cost the Community more money to transport its water to the reserva-tion.

• I’ve been meeting with officials from President Obama’s administration for the past year to discuss ways in which the admin-istration can mitigate any nega-tive impacts to the Community caused by EPA’s actions.

• Recently, both the De-partment of the Interior and EPA has acknowledged that the US has an obligation to mitigate those impacts. This is a positive step, and I’m hopeful that a solution to our concerns can be obtained in 2013.

Land Consolidation

• The recently enacted settlement for the Cobell class action lawsuit included a sub-stantial amount of money for the Department’s land consolidation program - $1.9 billion. This pro-gram allows individual Indians to voluntarily sell their interest in land back to the tribe. However,

there has never been much money in the program.

• The Community always has several hundred tribal mem-bers on a waiting list who want to voluntarily sell their land in-terests back to the tribe. We just haven’t had the resources to buy those land interests.

• Our reservation is one of the most highly land fraction-ated reservations in the country. Consolidating our land would be very beneficial but it costs a lot of money that we don’t have.

• I have been working with the Department of the Inte-rior to ensure that we get a por-tion of the funds set aside for land consolidation in the Cobell settle-ment. I met directly with Secre-tary of the Interior Ken Salazar in December to discuss this issue.

Although I don’t yet know how much money the Communi-ty will receive for land consolida-tion, I am confident that we will receive some portion of the funds.

Tribal Trust Accounting Claim

• The Community cur-rently has a lawsuit against the

United States regarding its fail-ure to properly manage our trust assets over the past few decades. The lawsuit is moving in a pos-itive direction and the United States has expressed an interest in developing a settlement with us. The Community is developing a settlement proposal that provides a justification that we believe the federal government can approve. I am hopeful that we can reach a settlement this year.

Funding for the Southeast Am-bulatory Care Center

• The Community contin-ues to wait for federal monies to construct our Southeast Ambula-tory Care Center. We are next on the IHS construction priority list. We received monies to prepare the site for construction but have not yet received construction monies. This is because the IHS has received less funding for con-struction over the past few years. We continue to ask Congress to provide the IHS more construc-tion funding so that the Southeast Ambulatory Care Center can be constructed.

Blackwater Trading Post Lands

• Lastly, the Community will continue to ask Congress to pass a bill that would direct the Secretary of the Interior to ac-quire the Blackwater Trading Post lands in trust for the Community. Unfortunately, we need Congress to pass a law to make those lands a part of our reservation. We have to go through Congress because a provision in our water settlement requires us to do so since the land is contiguous but not within our current reservation boundaries. Congressman Paul Gosar intro-duced a bill for us in December and has indicated that he will do so again this year. We are also asking our new Congresswoman, Ann Kirkpatrick, to support that bill.

These are the issues that I work on when I travel to Wash-ington, D.C.Best Regards,Gregory Mendoza, GovernorGila River Indian Community

Description of GRIC legislative and regulatory prioritiesLand consolidation, Tribal trust accounting claim, Blackwater Trading Post

January 2013

Tribal Education Department“Maschahamdud a Jeniktha”


Six-year-old Emmettrio D’Cora is a regular at Family Night. It’s usually his uncle who takes him but since he couldn’t make it last month D’Cora’s grandmother, Betty Enos, took the initiative to get him there. “I think it’s important for him,” she said, “I want the best for him.”

Turnout was lower than ex-pected last month – perhaps be-cause the semester was already pretty much wrapped up or be-cause the weather was less than inviting – but it didn’t matter be-cause Sacaton Elementary School pressed on with Family Night exhibiting the same enthusiasm for education that it does every month.

On Dec. 20, Nelson Letts, a Math Specialist, stopped into the Sacaton Elementary School cafeteria, where he and a hand-ful of families spent most of the evening playing games. For the school’s last Family Night of the year, Letts set up eight tables – or “stations” – with eight games, each designed to challenge differ-ent levels and areas of mathemat-ical thinking.

Some tables had dice and dominoes to work on probability and subitizing, others had beads and tangrams for pattern recogni-tion, one had cards for arithmetic, and another had fake coins for calculating change.

Doctor Nelson Letts is orig-inally from Canada but got his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Arizona State University. He is a Math Specialist who worked for four years with the Salt River Pi-ma-Maricopa Indian Community and is now with the Pinal County School Office Education Services Agency.

According to Letts, one of the greatest things that parents can do to help their kids’ educa-

Carolynn Laborin watches as Jordan Pratt plays Dominoes.

By Dr. Wendy OngSuperintendent/PrincipalIra H. Hayes High School


Parents, school help students’ edu-cational development Due to the resignation of

Board Member Robert Torres, the Sacaton Elementary School Dis-trict Governing Board has a va-cancy. The vacancy will be filled by appointment made by Pinal County School Superintendent Jill Broussard.

The successful candidate will be seated until December 31, 2014.

Any eligible resident within the Sacaton Elementary School District who is interested in be-ing appointed can apply online at www.pinalesa.org, (click on the Elections tab, click on the Board Member Vacancies, click on Sa-caton Elementary Application for School Board Appointment). The application can be completed on-line, but it must be printed out, signed, notarized and the original mailed or hand delivered by the deadline.

You may also submit a re-quest for an application by calling or writing to:

Tonya L. Taylor, Chief Dep-uty

Pinal County School Super-intendent’s OfficeP. O. Box 769Florence, AZ 85132Email: [email protected](520) 866-6579

The deadline for applying is no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 23.

School board vacan-cy announcement

The beginning of 2013 will mark several new additions to the schedule at Gila Crossing Community School. Currently, the school is renovating its heating and cooling system in the main building. Under the direction of the Superintendent and Board of Trustees, the school is also constructing a new secure entry system which will allow more control over the point of entry into the school.

Gila Crossing will also begin its award-winning Saturday School program, open to students, parents/guardians, and Community members. The weekend program will feature classes open to all ages

including Technology, Arts and Crafts, Cooking, Culture, Math, Reading, Horsemanship, and the Computer Construction Zone. If you are a community member in District 6 and 7, look for a schedule of classes posted in the community center for start dates.

The spring semester is also an important time for schools making their push toward preparing students for the next grade and for standardized tests. Parents/Guardians please look for ways to partner in your students’ education at home or by volunteering in their class at the school. Gila Crossing Community School is always looking for volunteers any time of year to help our students develop into the best learners and people they can.

Gila Crossing begins spirit programsSubmitted by Gila Crossing Community School

tional development in math is play games with them at home to supplement and reinforce what they are learning at school.

“The dropout rate is going to rise, I fear,” said Letts, adding that for many students, “math is a gatekeeper.” Math is tough for a lot of kids and it’s going to get more difficult due to changes tak-ing place in the Arizona Schools Common Core Standards, Letts told parents. “They are raising the standards.” To learn more about Arizona Common Core Stan-dards, you can visit the Arizona Department of Education online at www.ade.az.gov.

The smaller crowd meant that everyone got more time per game and everyone got a chance to meet with Mr. Letts. It also meant that each family took home a free FlashMaster® – a handy device that replaces convention-al flash cards in helping students practice arithmetic, unit priced at $55 – courtesy of the school.

Satantha Tobey said her kids urged her to take them to Family Night. She found plenty of games that she intends to use at home. The night paid off most for her son Tobias who walked out with 902 baby marshmallows, which he won in a quantification by vol-ume guessing game – he came closest with a guess of 600.

As you walk through the halls of Ira Hayes High School, it is obvious that many of the students have a talent in creating beautiful artwork.

Each year, art teacher An-drew Hobson enters student art pieces into the Heard Museum Student Art Show in downtown Phoenix. Students always bring back award ribbons and the satis-faction of selling many art pieces.

At the request of many par-ents and visitors of our school, we held our very first formal student art show right here on the reserva-tion. The show was held in our school auditorium on Dec. 20, 2012 from 9 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. A variety of paintings, pencil draw-ings, baskets, and dream catchers were on display throughout the day for everyone to view and con-sider purchasing.

Several pieces were pur-chased right on the spot for per-sonal enjoyment or to be given as Christmas gifts. Casa Blanca Principal, Eric James, bought several pieces to display in his school’s newly remodeled library.

The Ira Hayes students and staff are very appreciative of the tremendous support given toward our very first student art show. Rest assured, there will be anoth-er Ira Hayes High School student art show next year!

Student art show great success at Ira Hayes

Courtesy of GCCS

Courtesy of IHHSPrincipal Eric James holding pieces from student art show.

SPECIAL SERIES BY BILLY ALLEN

A’AGASOMETHING TO BE TOLD OR TALKED ABOUTStor y of Dr. Montezuma

Auppa I’ivakithak MashathThis name for this month references the Auppa (Cottonwood), a tree that once lined

the Gila River in large stands and can still be found on occasion along canal banks and riparian areas. A’uppa are significant in that they are the first to sprout new growth. This is the meaning of the month as seen in the word i’ivakithak, which refers to the buds sprouting out of the tree. This event brings gladness to the O’otham since everything in the surrounding landscape this time of year is dormant and grey and the sprouting is a sure indication that Spring is on its way. The wood of Auppa is light and even-grained and can be used for many things because it’s a strong wood. In home and vatho construction some-times the vav’nadag (cross-beams) are Auppa wood due to their lightness. The wood of Auppa can also be used to make the chepa (mortar). Some chepa are vertical and others are horizontal lying out flat. In former days the inner bark of Auppa was used in constructing

h a k o m o l p n s d e k e h k o l i m v i: k s v j p ñ k u k u i a v o m a k m a - a: s l u m v l o v t v o ñ o t l p g a v e h c v p m o v t h i: g g d k o k d· k i o i h t l i l h ‘ e l d· a t o e p i k i p o j u m u l d· h g i k e i m k t ‘ h v k s ñ u l - i a v k p n k v o g n v t v d h a o v o l a u v m n k l n t d i: k o o m a h j e g o k u ‘ u k k i ‘ v m u s h a s h a l i k p e d s i: b a ñ j a o s u p a v o m a p k ‘ u: u l i k v t m o l p s n ‘ n m i - l i k i o h o d· k o k o p a m v k i l v k a n u a p o n k l i ñ e g h o s i l ñ a o m u a t p o s h a: n g o m p l v o p m e d v h t s p k m i e s p l t h a v o g e m - i v k u a: l i m ‘ o ñ l p i l ñ i p v k i s b u: k - s k t p n v a h n o a s h s t v o: l o p a p n m e d l v l e h i u d h k o v g o s i d k o ‘ o k o l i m i o c l v e v s m l t i o i m t v p h l v l p n o p g o g h e g e o p h g d· o p h i d m u p t h u t h k l i m d· o k n v e ‘ a v t v e p ‘ g i p u p o l i v e v o m v o j o g l i h i o m o i p u m t h v p l u m k a l i t l i m k s g v t h g k v o g o i g o k a m g s a h l ‘ t a ‘ o l d· o k ñ a h t a h t m i p l t h v e g i o p v s p v m ‘ o: d o v ñ i p o t h ‘ p o t h a k e k e k e l k u: j a m t o m a l e v e h l d· o i v k a m i l i k h t l k h u n k u ñ k v e p

kiokod.k – rainbow sivlik - whirlwind vep’gi – lightning hevel - wind ju:k – rain gev - snow chevag – cloud cha’ - hail s-ku:bsik – fog jegos - duststorm thathañk – thunder sibañ - drizzle





the hua (basket) when che’ul (willow) was scarce.

The theme for this month’s Seek & Find features weather elements that we may en-counter during this month. We encourage you to use these Akimel O’otham words in your daily lives. Words can be found up, down, diagonal, forward and backward.

Born as Wassaja, Carlos Montezuma lived in two worlds. O’otham living across the country and the world are doing the same today. Most of us know relatives who left and came back, or it may have been you. What beckoned or called you back?

In October 1871, about a hundred and fifty Yavapai Apache were camped near Four Peaks, which O’otham call Mazatzal or Snaggle Teeth. Led by Antonio Azul, Akimel war-riors attacked the camp. Among the captives taken was a five year old Yavapai boy called Wassaja, meaning calling or beckoning. The captives were taken to the then bustling town of Adamsville, two miles west of Florence. Watching the Indians, Italian entrepreneur Carlo Gentile asked what was to happen to the boy. Learning what the O’otham had in mind, he bargained to buy the boy. His first offer of a horse was turned down, but when Gentile offered 30 silver dollars, the offer was taken. He took the boy to “La Capilla de Florence”, the first Church of the Assumption in Florence where on Nov. 17, 1871, Was-saja was baptized as Carlos Montezuma.

He then began his journey to another world in the east. To further his education, Carlos was enrolled in an intense college preparatory class at Urbana, Illinois. In 1880, Carlos, or Charles as he was also called, was accepted into the University of Illinois-at age 14! Carlos and Mr. Gentile settled in Chicago, Mr. Gentile having established a solid reputation as a photographer by 1885. After graduation, Montezuma attended Chicago

Medical College, which later became Northwestern University. He earned his degree of Doctor of Medicine and Practical Pharmacist on March 26, 1889. He soon accepted a Bureau of Indian Affairs position as a physician.

Serving as physician at Indian boarding schools, he saw the shortcomings of the reservation system. Dr. Montezuma felt assimilation was right for Indians and that res-ervations were delaying the progress of Indians. He began a life crusade as an Indian civil rights activist. With a message of “Let My People Go,” Dr. Montezuma traveled the country giving speeches for assimilation. However, his message was not always popular. Once when Dr. Montezuma spoke at Lehi, Lancisco Hill was his interpreter until a tribal policeman broke up the meeting and escorted Dr. Montezuma off the reservation. During a visit to Sacaton, Dr. Montezuma wanted to meet the warrior who sold him. When he met some old warriors, no one wanted to admit he was the one. Finally a keli stepped forward, expecting anger, but Dr. Montezuma thanked him. Dr. Montezuma was educated, a med-ical doctor, and remained loyal to Native Americans.

Dr. Montezuma decided to stay in the east to gather support to change the BIA and reservation system, and to make a living. He established his medical practice in Chicago, married, joined the Freemasons, and worked with Mercy Hospital; he lived comfortably. Around 1920, the doctor developed tuberculosis, incurable at the time. In early December of 1922, he moved back to Arizona. Anna Moore Shaw writes of housing and caring for the doctor in Phoenix as he waited for relatives in his dying days. Dr. Montezuma con-sidered Fort McDowell his home and spent his last days in a traditional Yavapai hut. He refused medical attention, but allowed Apache medicine men to stay with him. He died on Jan. 23, 1923 after being beckoned home, as his birth name may have foretold. O’oth-am students William Sampson and Juan Adams were chosen as pallbearers representing Phoenix Indian High School.

In the early 1970s, there was a proposal to build Orme Dam where the Salt and Verde rivers meet. The dam would have flooded two-thirds of the reservation, plus the cemetery where Dr. Montezuma and others were laid to rest. As the proposal spread throughout Indian country, many united alongside the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation to oppose the dam. After a three day protest march, the proposal was dismissed by the U. S. government in 1981. Even in death, Dr. Montezuma’s spirit of protest was strong. Some of the infor-mation for this article was taken from “Carlos Montezuma” by Leon Speroff and “A Pima Past” by Anna Moore Shaw.

Culture & HistoryJanuary 2013


Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012

ACTION SHEETCommunity Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton, Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 562-9720; Fax (520) 562-9729CALL TO ORDER The First Regular Monthly Meeting of the Community Council held Wednesday, De-cember 5, 2012, in the Commu-nity Council Chambers at the Governance Center in Sacaton, Arizona was called to order by presiding Chairman Lt. Gover-nor Stephen R. Lewis at 9:13 a.m.INVOCATIONProvided by Councilwoman Brenda RobertsonROLL CALLSign-in Sheet CirculatedExecutive Officers Present: Lt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis Executive Officers Absent:Governor Gregory MendozaCouncil Members Present:D1- Cynthia Antone, Arzie Hogg; D2-Jewel Whitman; D3- Myron G. Schurz, Dale G. Enos; D4-Monica Antone, Jen-nifer Allison (9:14), Christopher Mendoza; D5-, Annette J. Stew-art, Janice F. Stewart, Brenda Roberson, Franklin Pablo, Sr.; D6-Anthony Villareal, Sr., Al-bert Pablo, Terrance B. Evans (9:21); D7- Martha MillerCouncil Members Absent:D4- Barney Enos, Jr.APPROVAL OF AGENDAAPPROVED AS AMENDEDREPORTS*1. School Board Coalition 2nd Quarter Progress Report Presenters: Michelle Lyons & Valerie WilliamsREPORT HEARD*2. School Board Coalition 3rd Quarter Progress Report Presenters: Michelle Lyons & Valerie WilliamsREPORT HEARD*3. School Board Co-alition Bylaws Presenters: Michelle Lyons & Valerie Williams REPORT HEARD4. Proposed SRP Transmission Line Project Presenters: Linus Everling & Thomas MurphyREPORT HEARD5. Land Use Planning & Zoning Department Activities Report- Final Follow-up Present-er: Errol V. Blackwater REPORT HEARDMOTION MADE AND SECOND

TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE THE ITEM TO UNFINISHED BUSINESS #2 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION[LT. GOVERNOR STEPHEN R. LEWIS CALLED FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAKRECONVENED AT 10:32AM]MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SES-SION6. Fourth Quarter Treasur-er’s Report (Executive Ses-sion) Presenter: Robert KellerREPORT HEARD IN EXECU-TIVE SESSION7. Gila River Indian Community Audited Financial Statements (Executive Session)Presenters: Robert Keller, Cor-rine Wilson & Bruce BleakmanTABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA8. Gila River Gaming Enterpris-es Monthly Report – October 2012 (Executive Session)Presenters: John James & Ken-neth ManuelREPORT HEARD IN EXECU-TIVE SESSION9. Gila River Gaming Commis-sion Monthly Report October – November 2012 (Executive Session)Presenters: Serena Joaquin & Courtney MoyahREPORT HEARD IN EXECU-TIVE SESSIONMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SES-SIONRESOLUTIONS1. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving The Gila River Indian Community Department of Transportation To Submit A Grant Application To The Arizona Department of Transportation For Rural Transit Services, On Behalf Of The Gila River Indian Community (NRSC forwards to Council with recom-mendation for approval; G&M-SC concurs) Presenter: Sasha SaliegoAPPROVED2. A Resolution Establishing A Technical Team For Assistance On Aspects Of The Proposed Price Road Corridor Electric Transmission Line Project In District Four of The Gila River Indian Community (NRSC forwards to

Council with recommendation for approval; G&MSC & EDSC concurs) Presenter: Thomas MurphyAPPROVED3. A Resolution Approving The Gila River Indian Community Financial Manage-ment Policy And Rescinding The Existing Financial Management Policy Authorized Under Reso-lution GR-17-02 (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenters: Robert Keller & Mike JacobsAPPROVEDORDINANCESUNFINISHED BUSINESS1. Gila River Indian Community Culture Curriculum (ESC for-wards to Council; CRSC con-curs) Presenters: Mario Molina & Dallas DeLoweACCEPTED AND APPROVEDMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SES-SION[ADDENDUM TO AGENDA]2. Land Use Planning & Zoning Department Activities Report- Final Follow-up Presenter: Errol V. BlackwaterITEM DISCUSSED IN EXECU-TIVE SESSIONCOMMUNITY COUNCIL EN-TERED A 20-MINUTE CAU-CUSMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SES-SIONMOTION MADE, SECOND AND DEFEATED TO TERMI-NATE THE CONTRACT OF MR. ERROL BLACKWATERMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DIRECT THE OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL TO CON-DUCT AN INVESTIGATION; AND FOR MR. ERROL BLACK-WATER AND MS. SUKIE FO-RENKAM TO BE PLACED ON SUSPENSION FOR THE DU-RATION OF THE INVESTIGA-TIONNEW BUSINESS1. Employee Benefits Board of Trustees Appointment (G&MSC forwards to Council with recom-mendation to approve Governor’s appointment) Presenters: Employee Benefits Board TrusteesDISPENSED AT APPROVAL

OF AGENDA2. Investigative Audit Summary (Executive Session) (H&SSC forwards to Council under New Business in executive session) Presenters: Robert Keller & Penni McCabeACCEPTEDMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SES-SION3. Verbal Update - Special Audit (Executive Session) (ESC forwards to Council in Executive Session under New Business) Presenter: Penni McCabeITEM HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SES-SION

MOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPT AS FYIMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO DIRECT THE ESC CHAIR OR DESIGNEE TO ARTICU-LATE THE INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOLS[ADDENDUM TO AGENDA]4. Council Delegation to the 2013 Presidential Inauguration Presenters: Community Coun-cil COUNCILWOMEN CYNTHIA ANTONE AND MONICA AN-TONE; COUNCILMEN TER-RANCE B. EVANS, BARNEY ENOS, JR., AND DALE G. ENOS DELEGATED MINUTESANNOUNCEMENTS>CONCERNS EXPRESSED REGARDING DIVISION MAN-GER’S POSITION STATUS>PRAYER REQUESTS FOR RODNEY MCAFEE’S FAMILY>GENESIS BIZARRE AND LIGHT PARADE FRIDAY, DE-CEMBER 7, 2012>G&M WORK SESSION WITH HR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2012ADJOURNMENTMEETING ADJOURNED AT 3:28PM* Denotes TABLED from previ-ous meeting(s)


Community Council Action Sheets Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012

ACTION SHEETCommunity Council; PO Box 2138; Sacaton, Arizona 85147; Phone (520) 562-9720; Fax (520) 562-9729CALL TO ORDER The Second Regular Month-ly Meeting of the Community Council held Wednesday De-cember 19, 2012, in the Com-munity 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 Reverend Ervin TerryROLL CALLSign-In Sheet CirculatedExecutive Officers Present:Governor Gregory MendozaLt. Governor Stephen R. Lewis (9:24) Council Members Present:D1-Cynthia Antone, Arzie Hogg; D2-Jewel Whitman; D3-My-ron G. Schurz (11:19), Dale G. Enos; D4-Monica Antone, Jennifer Allison, Christopher Mendoza, Barney Enos, Jr.; D5- Annette J. Stewart, Janice F. Stewart, Brenda Roberson , Franklin Pablo, Sr.; D6-Antho-ny Villareal, Sr., Albert Pablo, Terrance B. Evans; D7- Martha MillerAPPROVAL OF AGENDAAPPROVED AS AMENDEDPRESENTATIONS/INTRODUC-TIONS1. New Employees of Pima Agency Presenter: Cecilia MartinezMS. CECILIA MARTINEZ PROVIDED A BRIEF INTRO-DUCTION OF THE NEW EM-PLOYEES. EACH EMPLOYEE INTRODUCED THEMSELVES. VARIOUS COUNCIL MEM-BERS EXPRESSED WORDS OF WELCOME AND GRATI-TUDE.2. Introduction of Akimel O`odham Pee Posh Youth Council Member Kristen Dosela Newly Elected Co-Chair of NCAI Youth Commis-sion Presenter: Michael PrestonMR. MICHAEL PRESTON INTRODUCED MS. KRISTEN DOSELA. MS. DOSELA PRO-VIDED A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY AND OF HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE YOUTH COUNCIL. VARIOUS COUNCIL MEM-BERS, GOVERNOR GREGO-RY MENDOZA AND LT. GOV-ERNOR STEPHEN R. LEWIS EXPRESSED WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.REPORTS1. OMB Sequester Reduction Impact on Head Start & Early

Head Start Program Presenter: Pat FosterREPORT HEARD2. Ira H. Hayes Post 84 Report Presenter: Urban GiffREPORT HEARD[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA CALLED FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAKRECONVENED AT 11:19AM]3. Gila River Indian Community Utility Authority – FY12 Fourth Quarter Report Presenters: John Lewis & Len-ny GoldREPORT HEARD4. Department of Housing De-velopment – Program & Con-struction Report Presenter: Robert MawsonREPORT HEARD[GOVERNOR GREGORY MENDOZA CALLED FOR A 90-MINUTE LUNCH BREAKRECONVENED AT 2:06PM]5. Department of Community Housing – Narrative Report April 2012-November 2012 Presenter: Tina Notah-EnasREPORT HEARD6. Department of Rehabilitation & Supervision Progress Update –Tribal Law & Order Act Prepa-ration Presenter: Randy TracyREPORT HEARD7. Defense Services Office Trib-al Law & Order Act Implementa-tion Report Presenter: Cecelia VacaTABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA[MOTION MADE AND SEC-OND FOR A 10-MINUTE BREAKRECONVENED AT 4:38PM]8. Office of General Counsel’s Timeline of Implementation Ac-tivities for Enhanced Services Presenters: Rebecca Hall, Tana Fitzpatrick, Claude Jackson & Michael CarterREPORT HEARD9 National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Annual Report Presenter: Dr. Clifton BogardusREPORT HEARD10. Residential Programs for Youth Report Presenter: Mary HuyserREPORT HEARDMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPTREPORTS #11 AND #1211. Monthly Financial Report for Period Ending October 31, 2012 (Executive Session) Presenters: Robert Keller & Mike JacobsREPORT ACCEPTED12. Monthly Financial Report For Period Ending November 30, 2012 (Executive Session) Presenters: Robert Keller & Mike JacobsREPORT ACCEPTED

RESOLUTIONS1. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving A Guarantee Of Borrower Obli-gations Relating To A Loan In The Principal Amount Of Two Million Three Hundred Thou-sand Dollars ($2,300,000.00) From Pima Leasing & Financing Corporation To Ira H. Hayes Memorial Applied Learning Center, Inc. (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; NRSC, EDSC & ESC concurs) Presenter: Ron RosierAPPROVED2. A Resolution Authorizing And Approving The Community’s Consent To And Execution Of A Recognition And Non-Distur-bance Agreement In Support Of The Gila River Indi-an Community’s Guarantee Of Borrower Obliga-tions Relating To A Loan From Pima Leasing & Financing Corporation To Ira H. Hayes Memorial Applied Learning Center, Inc. (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; NRSC, EDSC & ESC concurs) Presenter: Ron RosierAPPROVED3. A Resolution Approving An Enhanced Distribution Facilities Design And Construc-tion Contract Between The Gila River Indian Community And The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement And Power District (G&MSC for-wards to Council with recommendation for approval; NRSC concurs) Presenters: Ron Rosier, Dale Gutenson & Steve HeeleyAPPROVED4. A Resolution Approving Mem-bership Of The Gila River Indian Community In The National Indian Gaming Association For Calendar Year 2013 And Authorizing Twen-ty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) For The Community’s Annual Dues (G&MSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Linda AndrewsAPPROVED5. A Resolution Approving Tribal Education Allocation Funds For Schools Located Within The Gila River Indian Reservation (G&MSC forwards to

Council with recommendation for approval; ESC concurs) Presenter: Mario MolinaAPPROVED6. A Resolution Approving A Service Line Agreement Between The Gila River Indian Community And The Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement And Power Dis-trict For A 12 KV Electricity Transmission Line To The New Vee Quiva Hotel And Casino (G&M-SC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval; NRSC concurs) Presenter: Ron RosierAPPROVED7. A Resolution Approving The Removal Of Neil James Lewis From The Gila River Indian Community Membership Roll (LSC forwards to Council with recommendation for approval) Presenter: Valerie WilliamsAPPROVEDORDINANCESUNFINISHED BUSINESS1. Gila River Gaming Enterprise Board Appointments (2) Presenter: Martha MillerMOTION MADE AND SEC-OND TO DECLARE THE VA-CANCIES FOR A PERIOD OF 60-DAYS; AND TO EX-TEND THE APPOINTMENTS OF THE TWO INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY SERVING UN-TIL THOSE VACANCIES ARE FULFILLEDMOTION MADE AND SECOND THE REVIEW COMMITTEE SHALL REVIEW ALL APPLI-CATIONS FOR THE VACANT POSITIONS AND DETERMINE WHETHER THE APPLICANTS ARE QUALIFIED; THAT FOR POLICY CLARIFICATION THAT ALL APPLICANTS SHALL BE INTERVIEWED BY THE RE-VIEWING COMMITTEE2. Blackwater Trading Post Business Plan (Approved to move forward with Business Plan; and Assignment and Res-olution EDSC concurs) Present-er: Dale GutensonDISPENSED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA3. Final Election Report and Preview of 2013 (G&MSC for-wards to Council under Unfin-ished Business) Presenter: Scot ButlerHEARD AS FYIMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SES-

Continued on next page, 20


SION4. Off-Reservation Gaming Update (Executive Session) (G&MSC forwards to Council under Unfinished Business in Executive Session)Presenters: Scot ButlerITEM HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION5. Update on Community Lease with LDR (Executive Session) (EDSC forward to Council under Unfinished Business in Executive Session) Presenters: Linus Everling, Ron Rosier & Denton RobinsonITEM HEARD IN EXECUTIVE SESSIONMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO EXIT EXECUTIVE SES-SIONMOTION MADE AND SEC-OND WITH REGARD TO ITEM #4, TO HAVE THIS ITEM OFF-RESERVATION GAMING UPDATE HELD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION BE A STANDING ITEM FOR THE COUNCIL

AGENDAS FOR JANUARY 2 AND JANUARY 16 OF 2013NEW BUSINESS1. Human Resources Depart-ment – Transfer Policy (G&M-SC forwards to Council with recommendation of approval; including changes) Presenter: Lucinda RhodesTABLED AT APPROVAL OF AGENDA2. Phoenix Area Tribal Rep-resentative for IHS Facilities Appropriation Advisory Board (HSSC motions to forward to Council with the nomination of Ms. Cynthia Antone) Presenter: Barney Enos, Jr.COUNCILWOMAN CYNTHIA ANTONE APPOINTED3. Gila River Royalty Inaugu-ration Delegation (G&MSC forwards to Council with rec-ommendation to support the Gila River Royalty Committee motion of December 6, 2012) Presenters: Gila River Royalty CommitteeMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AF-

FIRM THE GILA RIVER ROY-ALTY COMMITTEE MOTION OF DECEMBER 6, 2012; IN ADDITION THAT ALL EXPENSES WILL BE PAID FOR UNDER THE GOVER-NOR’S DUES AND MOTION MADE AND SEC-OND TO PASS COUNCILMAN BARNEY ENOS, JR.’S DEL-EGATION TO MS. KELLEY WHITMAN TO GO AS A CHAP-ERON; IN ADDITION ALL EX-PENSES WILL BE PAID FOR UNDER THE GOVERNOR’S DUES AND DELEGATION4. Inauguration Delegation Presenters: Community CouncilITEM DISCUSSED5. Board Appointments concern re: Nada Celaya and Drake Lewis Presenters: Community CouncilMOTION MADE AND SECOND TO ACCEPT THE LETTERS OF RESIGNATION AND TO DIRECT THE COMMUNITY COUNCIL SECRETARY TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF

THE DECLARATION OF VA-CANCIESMINUTESANNOUNCEMENTS>DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY CONCERNS OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES EX-PRESSED>COUNCILWOMAN MARTHA MILLER THANKED COUNCIL DALE G. ENOS AND HIS WIFE FOR THE HELP OF JUDGING THE DISTRICT 7 CHRISTMAS LIGHT DECORATING >CASA BLANCA COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED>PRAYERS AND RECOGNI-TION OF SENATOR INOUYE>UPDATE PROVIDED OF THE SECRETARIAL ELECTION

CLOSING PRAYER WAS PRO-VIDED BY COUNCILWOMAN ANNETTE J. STEWARTADJOURNMENTMEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:55PM* Denotes TABLED from previ-ous meeting(s)

Office of the Special Trustee/IIM AccountsNEW BUSINESS HOURS:9:00 A.M. to 12:00 NOON

and12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.

The business hours change is necessary to adequately handle all aspects of our work If you should need immediate assistance

please call the Trust Beneficiary Call Center at 1-888-678-6834. . Thank you for your un-

derstanding.

Community Council Action Sheets continued from page 19

January 2013

FEdERAL NEWS ANd PRESS RELEASESAnnouncements & Notices

PUBLIC NOTICEThe Gila River Indian Community Department of Environmental Quali-

ty is announcing that the 30-day public comment period for the three (3) gas stations Casa Blanca Market (D-5), Komatke Market (D-6) and Gila River Service Station (D-3), air quality operating permits officially begins on January 14, 2013. The three gas stations are being permitted for Volatile Or-ganic Compound (VOC) emissions and Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Public comments will be accepted in writing until February 15, 2013, after which staff will review and respond to all the comments received.

Any person may submit a written comment or a request to the Depart-ment to conduct a public hearing for the purpose of receiving oral or written comments on the proposed air quality operating permits. Such comments and request shall be received by the Department within 30 days of the date of the first publication notice. A written comment shall state the name and mailing address of the person, shall be signed by the person, his agent or his attorney and shall clearly set forth reasons why the permit should or should not be issued. Grounds for comment are limited to whether the pro-posed permit meets the criteria for issuance prescribed in the Gila River In-dian Community Code: Title 17, Chapter 9 of the Air Quality Management

Plan. Only persons who submit written comments may appeal a permit de-cision. Copies of the permit application, the proposed permit, and relevant background material may be reviewed during normal business hours at the Department offices. Requests and written comments may be delivered or mailed to:

Gila River Indian CommunityDepartment of Environmental QualityAttn: Dan BlairP.O. Box 97/35 Pima St.Sacaton, AZ 85147

For further information, please contact Dan Blair or Will Antone III at (520)562-2234 or visit our offices located at 35 Pima St. Sacaton, AZ 85147. Our office hours are Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

BIA PIMA AGENCY: PUBLIC NOTICEGila River Indian Community: Public Scoping for Allison Road Widening

The Lone Butte Develop-ment Corporation (Long Butte) is planning to widen Allison Road west of Kyrene Road and east of 56111 Street (see Figure 1). The project is located entirely within the Gila River Indian Community (GRIC).

Since the project will require an easement across allotment land, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Pima Agency, has deter-mined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) will be neces-sary to address potential impacts resulting from the proposed proj-ect in accordance with the Na-tional Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As part of BIA’s deci-sion-making process, comments on this proposed action are being sought from Indian tribes; local, state and Federal agencies; and interested members of the public.

Project DescriptionThis road improvement proj-

ect is the second phase of a two-phase road improvement project.

This phase involves widen-ing approximately 1,320 feet of Allison Road, by 30 feet, south of the existing roadway. The exist-ing roadway is two lanes and the project will expand the roadway to three lanes and provide a mid-dle turn lane. The project would require the granting of 0.9 acres of new right-of-way on Allotment

3091.The purpose of the project is

to enhance traffic movement and safety through the Lone Butte Business Park and facilitate ac-cess to Highway 202 just north of Kyrene Road. The project area experiences heavy use by large trucks associated with the indus-trial businesses adjacent to Al-lison Road. These trucks have a wide turning radius, which can re-sult in the trucks having to swing wide off the roadway to complete

the turn. In addition, trucks fre-quently park along Allotment 3091 making turning movements difficult and also resulting in tres-pass on this allotment. Passen-ger vehicles traveling the project area frequently travel at speeds in excess of the speed limit. This combined with truck traffic and parked rigs on the side of the road present a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles entering or turning on the roadway.

Construction of the roadway

would include the relocation of the sewer line and the addition of new curbs and gutters; driveway access for existing businesses; a speed hump; and paving. The speed limit would remain at 25 miles per hour, and no parking will be allowed along the road-way.

The project is mostly within commercial and industrial land. Businesses occur adjacent to the project. Access will be main-tained to businesses through-

out construction. A majority of construction will occur during daylight hours. However, some nighttime construction may occur to minimize traffic or utility inter-ruption.

Scoping PeriodAs part of the NEPA process,

you are invited to provide writ-ten 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 the Free-dom of Information Act or any other law.

Please submit any written comments you may have within 30 days or by Jan. 25, to the fol-lowing individual by mail or fax:

Cecilia MartinezSuperintendent, Pima AgencyBureau of Indian AffairsP.O. Box 8Sacaton, Arizona 85147Telephone Number: (520) 562-3326Fax: (520) 562-3543


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”

*Does not include governmental taxes and surcharges.

Pictured left to rightBack Row: Orvan Byler, Mercy Lewis, Dawnwind Antone, Mistydawn Miguel

Front Row: Tammy Antone, Linda Talamantez, Delberta Salkey- Paul

Lower DSL rates, Faster Speeds!

DSL rates starting at $38!

DSL BasicIncluded Monthly

• 1 Phone Line• 6 Mbps Unlimited High Speed Internet

$38.00 a month*

For more info contact a Customer Service Representative at

520-796-3333

Military Parade & Flyover Begins at 8:30 a.m.

Matthew B. Juan, Ira H. Hayes Veterans Memorial Park, Sacaton Arizona All public & Veterans groups are welcome

Lunch hosted by: American Legion Auxiliary Unit No. 84 with St. Peters Mission School

Events Sponsored by: Ira H. Hayes American Legion Post No. 84 Auxiliary Unit No. 84 phone: 1-(520)-562-8484 fax: 1-(520)-562-3297 e-mail: [email protected]

68TH ANNIVERSARY I W O J I M A F L A G R A I S I N G February 23, 2013

p employee s r s team turnaroundgilariver.org/grin/jan_2013_grin_final.pdf · 483 west seed farm...

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