<strong>Page</strong> 4 <strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> News January 2009inauguration 2009Clockwise from top left: Chairman of the Tohono Oʼodham Nation, NedNorris, Jr., with Lt. Gov. Joseph Manuel, Ira H. Hayes Post #84, MCsMichael Preston and Lloyd Notah, Jr., introduce the incoming ChiefJudge and Associate Judges, D5 Councilwoman Brenda Robertson sitswith Navajo Nation Vice Chairman Ben Shelly and his wife, GovernorWilliam R. Rhodes stands with the children of St Peter <strong>Indian</strong> MissionSchool as they sing the National Anthem.Clockwise from top right: Governor William R. Rhodes giveshis Inaugural Address, Miss <strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> 2008-2009 Kelly Whitman,the students of St. Peter <strong>Indian</strong> Mission School eagerlyawait their entrance into the ballroom, Traditional dancegroups performed social dances on the Akimel Lawn.Letters/OpinionIs banishment a solution for repeat offenders?I recently read in the Octoberissue of the <strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> Newspaperan article entitled, “Laveen mansentenced to 7 years, another 78months.” The article recounted thebrutal beating and kidnapping of ayoung woman by an especially heinousassailant and the carjacking and subsequentcar chase onto the <strong>Community</strong>where another dangerous perpetratorwas finally apprehended but only afterbrandishing a sawed off shotgun andfiring it in the vicinity of our law enforcementofficers.As I read this article, I wasshocked and appalled at the indecencyof certain people. I was sad to have toread in our little paper the unfortunateevents that occur within our <strong>Community</strong>and only minimally satisfied thatthese criminals were caught, tried andconvicted. After all, such events arenot uncommon. This is not the first,nor will it be the last time that I willhave to read about such foolishness inour newspaper. There is usually somereport every month of our <strong>Community</strong>members involved in some type of sordidcrime. This is disrespectful andembarrassing that a <strong>Community</strong> memberwould choose crime over the generalwelfare of our small communitythat accords every individual memberthe opportunity to better themselvesthrough our various enrichment programs,including a future gratuitous percapita distribution payment.After having spent some timeworking for our criminal courts, I amquite familiar with a certain segment ofpersons that do not seem to get it.Committing crimes is bad. Upholdingthe law is good. Time and time againwe have repeat offenders who dismissthe greater good for their selfish desiresor needs creating a heavy burden onThank you to urban membersLetter to the Editor:I want to thank the urban members and all the people who allow me to representyou regarding the per capita issue. It humbles me to know that I serve as yourvoice in this important endeavor.Philbert Soroquisara, ChairmanGrass Roots Per Capita Groupour <strong>Community</strong> that only seems to begrowing.The US Department of Justice(DOJ) just released a 2004-2007 studyof prisons across <strong>Indian</strong> Country. <strong>Gila</strong><strong>River</strong> ranks first in capacity, the greatestnumber of prisoners in our multimilliondollar “reform & supervision”center. More importantly, the DOJ reportedthe <strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Community</strong>’sDepartment of Rehabilitation andSupervision has seen a 50% increase ofinmates from 2004 to 2007. I am disappointedto read these statistics andam otherwise provoked to write thisopinion piece. Something must bedone to alleviate the <strong>Community</strong> ofdangerous criminals. For repeat criminaloffenders of major crimes, I regretto suggest banishment, by disenrollment,but it seems to be the only usefuloption repeat criminal offenders willchoose to take.I am unsure as to the feasibilityof such a process or whether one currentlyexists. I write this to ignite a dialogueof concerned communitymembers and ask District Representativesto follow up. Certainly with theconstitution reform process underway,and with membership as a concern, thisis a topic worth exploring.Jeff BarehandDistrict #6
January 2009 <strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> News <strong>Page</strong> 5<strong>River</strong>side Brave from D5 listed as “Who to watch”By Roberto A. Jackson<strong>GRIN</strong> Intern Reporter<strong>River</strong>side <strong>Indian</strong> School acquiredits name from the Washita <strong>River</strong>which runs from the eastern edge of theTexas Panhandle through the southwesternpart of Oklahoma, travelingsome 295 miles. The school hasresided along the river, in the Oklahomatown of Anadarko, since the late 1870s.The town of Anadarko has a NativeAmerican population of over forty percent,and is rich in Native cultural influence.<strong>River</strong>side is the oldest federallyoperated American <strong>Indian</strong> Boardingschool. And like most high schools,<strong>River</strong>side employs a wide range of athleticsin which the students can exceland compete.One such student, Jorge Flores,has taken full advantage of the athleticofferings provided by the school. Flores,a community member originallyfrom D5, is a versatile competitor, butas the young sophomore admitted,“Football is my sport.”Per Capita from page 1stated explicitly that payments were to be made inquarterly distributions. “Annual payment is not anoption,” said Soroquisara.He contended that while Council and the ExecutiveAdministration collect holiday bonuses, themajority of the <strong>Community</strong> live in third world conditionsand that along with per capita distributions,<strong>Community</strong> members should be afforded $250 atThankgiving and $1,000 at Christmas.Indignantly, Soroquisara said that mainlythose who work with the gaming enterprise, manywho are not even <strong>Community</strong> members, are reapingthe rewards of gaming revenue and not enough is distributedto those who live throughout the districts andurban members.Urban members in support of the grassrootscommittee echoed the sentiment that the people votedfor quarterly and not annual payments and that theywere frustrated by how long it has taken for the RevenueAllocation Plan (RAP) Committee to formulatea solid RAP.In defending the Council’s motion, District 6Councilman, Albert Pablo said that it’s the Council’sresponsibility to take care of <strong>Community</strong> membersand with many projects, housing and operationalbudgets to consider, this decision was made in the bestinterest of the <strong>Community</strong>.The <strong>River</strong>side team known asthe “Braves” were playing for pridemost of the season, due to a team thatincluded mostly underclassmen. As theschedule wore on, some of the playerswere no longer apart of the team. Eventhough the season had limited returns inthe win column, it did not discourageFlores. “He tries his hardest,” saidMarsha Flores, the young man’s proudmother. Her son, listed at a solid 5’7”,160 lbs, patrolled <strong>River</strong>side’s secondarydefense as a punishing defensiveback.<strong>River</strong>side’s varsity head coach,James Sutteer tries to keep Jorge betweenthe sidelines as much as possible.Flores’ number 11 jersey can be seengiving headaches to opposing cornerbacksat the wide receiver position in<strong>River</strong>side’s multiple option offense.“He has convinced me to work hard,”said the wily Flores of Coach Sutteer.Perhaps the young man did notneed much convincing. He can boast asbeing the Defensive Player of the year,and not to mention the two-time winnerof the Brave Award. Oklahoma’s “HighSchool Sports, The Magazine” listedFlores under a section entitled, “Who toWatch on Defense” in their 2A-Footballpreview. His determination and diligencein track and field has also translatedinto considerable success with 11gold medals dangling from his strappingframe.Marsha Flores keeps close ascrapbook of all of her son’s heroicssince she has yet to see Jorge clash onthe gridiron. Marsha hopes to cheer onher son from the bleachers with the assistanceof the tribe. “I do want to seehim compete,” she said from her D6home. Even though Jorge’s exploits aremade from almost 900 miles from the<strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Community</strong>, he isgrateful for his #1 supporter.In Jorge’s words, his dearmother is, “very proud of me and hasbeen supporting me though sports andacademics.”Flores’ plans after high schooldenote a touch of worldly ambition. Hehas hinted to his mother about servingUncle Sam in the United States armedservices. After his duty is fulfilled, heDistrict 4 Councilman, John Antone said thatalongside Per Capita the Council needs to considerhow gaming and other enterprise revenue will bestbenefit the youth of the <strong>Community</strong>. He sought theneed for a high school to be developed in the <strong>Community</strong>and recreation centers throughout all the districtsto keep kids occupied and away fromdetrimental activities.Although the majority gathered spoke in supportof quarterly payments, <strong>Community</strong> member,David Anderson, D2, encouraged the RAP team andCouncil to move forward with annual payments statingthat quarterly payments will adversely affect thebenefits of some <strong>Community</strong> members who qualifyfor assistance programs.Anderson said that at this point annual paymentsare not set permanently for the duration of percapita distributions but can later be amended to quarterlywhen the <strong>Community</strong> is able to reassess it’s financialcondition, notwithstanding the currentnational economic crisis.In light of the discourse expressed by thegrassroots committee, Councilman Anthony Villareal,D6 called on the Law Office for further clarificationof their recommendation to move to annual payments.Although seeking explanation, Councilman Villarealsaid that based on communication with his district,<strong>Community</strong> member, Jorge Flores,D5 has been noted as ʻWho toWatch on Defense” in High SchoolSports magazine.envisions himself attending ArizonaState University or, their Tucson rival,University of Arizona, and eventuallystudying for a Master’s degree in engineering.his constituency was aware of the ramifications of annualpayments and offered the councilman support.The subject of quarter versus annual paymentswas addressed at a Council meeting on Nov. 19because of the onset of the national financial crisis aswell as issues regarding benefits, said Jason T. Hauter,Senior Assistant General Counsel.“Ordinances and initiatives can be amended,”Hauter said. “It’s not a question of legality but of politicalwill.”Councilman Myron Schurz, D3 offered thefact that whether distribution is made quarterly or annually,it will be the sum of the whole 11% allocation,which he estimated at $1,200. This means that <strong>Community</strong>members are looking at approximately $1,200in one lump sum or divided into quarterly installments.Schurz also added that costs to administer eitherannual or quarterly payments would come fromthe 11% allocation which would have more of an impactwhen administering four payments as opposed toone.Councilman Shurz then motioned to rescindthe language addressing annual instead of quarterlypayments from the motion made during the Dec. 11special meeting. The motion was seconded by D5Councilman Frank Pablo Sr.The Clown and his BurroBy Emmett S. White, D5Not long ago a Payasa (clown) lived inthe village of Snaketown on the north side of the<strong>Gila</strong> <strong>River</strong>. He entertained the people at community,church and ceremonial functionsthrough the community. He made everyonelaugh with his jokes, his tumbling and the funnyclothes he wore. The children especially lovedhim as he would often pass out candy to them.He would also ask the children about their mothersas he claimed he was looking for a wife. Thepeople would ask him other questions aboutwho he is, where he came from and what hisname was. He always had a funny answer.One day he received word that his goodfriend had become ill and requested for him tocome and visit him at his home in Hashan Kek.He owned a burro and rode it wherever he wentand people recognized him from far away. As hetraveled to Hasan Kek he made a stop in Ge’eKi (Sacaton) to rest and water his burro. He continuedhis journey and finally arrived at hisfriend’s house around noon. He tied his burro toa nearby mesquite tree and went inside to seehis friend.It was towards evening when he wasready to go home and said so long to his friendand went outside to get his burro but the burrowas gone. He found his tracks and followedthem away from the house. He went quite aways before he came upon a white wing dove(Okkokoi) sitting on a limb of a nearby tree. Thedove began to coo “Payasa vulo ga, miyu kek,miyu kek, miyu kek”. He looked up at it and wonderedif he heard what the dove was saying.The dove again cood “Payasa vuloga, miyu kek,miyu kek, miyu kek”. Loosely translated itmeans “The clown’s burro is standing over here,standing over here, standing over here” As hewent round a mesquite tree he saw his burro bythe tree munching on mesquite beans. Thewhite wing dove then said “Chersachk hekhi:m”! meaning “Get on it and ride away”!Listen closely to a white wing dove as itcoos and you can hear this sound interruptedinto O’Otham Niok. Singalong.
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