IN the GRIN Health & Wellness.....Page 7 Letters & Opinions
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“Serving all seven districts of the Gila River Indian Community” Blackwater - Hashen Kehk - Gu U Ki - Santan - Casa Blanca - Komatke - Maricopa Colony DECEMBER 20, 2013 WWW.GILARIVER.ORG/NEWS VOL. 16, NO. 20 Past leaders recall fight for water rights during 9th anniversary Change Service Requested AZ 85147 Sacaton, Box 459 P.O. News Gila River Indian By Roberto A. Jackson served the Community for 30 years, Gila River Indian News gave a legal perspective on the ne- The Community relived the gotiations and said that the water tireless crusade for water rights and rights issue unified the Community. celebrated the determination of past “[Water rights] has been a rallying leaders at the Water Rights Celebra- cry from all the Community mem- tion, marking nine years since the bers since I started working here in historic settlement was reached. 1972,” said Lewis. Held at the Vah-Ki Multipur- Thomas reiterated Lewis’s pose Building in District 5 on Dec. point. 10, the celebration included an im- “As I look back on the former leaders and those who are not here, it pressive array of individuals, as well PRESORTED Permit No. 25 No. Permit STANDARD U.S. Postage U.S. as four former GRIC governors, was like passing a baton between all AZ Sacaton, who described their experiences Roberto A. Jackson/GRIN of us,” she said. PAID and the key moments that led to the Back from left: former Gov. Richard Narcia, former Gov. Donald Special recognition was paid to signing of the Arizona Water Settle- R. Antone, Gov. Gregory Mendoza, former counsel Rodney Lewis, the many elders who were steadfast ment Act of Dec. 10, 2004 by former former Gov. Thomas R. White, former Lt. Gov. Cecil Antone, Lt. in their guidance at the time and also President George W. Bush. “It’s Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis. Front: former Gov. Mary V. Thomas. to the memory of the late Dana Nor- ris, the late Alexander Lewis, and the Water Rights Day everyday for me,” blessing. Antone and former GRIC General late Loyde Allison, former governors said former Gov. Thomas R. White. The programming continued at Counsel Rodney Lewis. 1930s arrest at who were instrumental in GRIC’s The settlement gave the Gila 9 a.m. with Lt. Gov. Stephen Roe “I stand here on the shoulders of water settlement claims. Estrellas leads River Indian Community 653,500 Lewis outlining the schedule as mas- our past leaders,” Mendoza told the The Community plans on cele- acre-feet of water annually. ter of ceremonies. crowd. brating the 10th anniversary through- to new family “We persevered, we kept on The speakers included Gov. He also said: “As we celebrate, out the next year with various events. fighting,” said former Gov. Mary V. Gregory Mendoza, former gover- we should recognize that we remain The Huhugam Heritage Center, discoveries for Thomas. nors Donald R. Antone, Thomas R. vigilant to make sure that our water P-MIP, Office of Community Man- Water Rights Day, which is a White, Richard Narcia and Mary rights are never taken again.” N.C. author ager and Communications and Pub- holiday observed by the Community V. Thomas, former Lt. Gov. Cecil Former counsel Lewis, who government, started with a sunrise lic Affairs Office also participated. Gary Bohnee sets his sights on New Zealand Ironman By Joshua Jovanelly The 46-year-old Community Gila River Indian News member from District 4 complet- Quick pop quiz: if you swim ed his first Ironman competition 2.4 miles, bike 112 and run an- in Arizona in 2012 and is training other 26.2 all in a single day, what for his next one in Taupo, New does that make you (other than Zealand, scheduled for March slightly crazy)? 1. As a warm-up — for him — It makes you an Ironman Bohnee recently competed in the Photo Courtesy DJ Everette and a member of an elite group bicycle portion of the Arizona Irene Schroeder and Glenn Da- gue sparked a cross-country man of individuals around the world Ironman in Tempe in November, Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN hunt after killing a cop in Penn- who have pushed their bodies to completing the 112-mile trek in five hours and 15 minutes. Gary Bohnee rounds a curve at the Ironman in Tempe last month. sylvania, ending in their arrest at the brink and back again. You do He finished the 112-mile bike portion in five hours and 15 minutes. the Sierra Estrellas. Bohnee is a special assistant not have to be an elite athlete or By Mikhail Sundust for congressional and legislative before accepting the job in Salt a young person in prime physical rina Corp. board. Gila River Indian News shape to accomplish this com- affairs for the Salt River Pima- River in 2005. He was part of While he came from a strong The standoff lasted eight mendable feat. You just need the Maricopa Indian Community. He Gila River’s team that dealt with cycling background, Bohnee had hours. It was a sunny day and an physical determination to train held a similar position for Gila the 2002 gaming compact and the never attempted a marathon be- airplane was called in to locate and the mental fortitude to power River previously, working for 2004 water settlement. He’s the fore he completed his first Iron- the three bandits – two men and yourself to the finish. Governors Mary Thomas, Don- son of Harlan Bohnee, who is the a woman – holed up in the rocks Gary Bohnee is an Ironman. ald Antone and Richard Narcia president of the Sun Valley Ma- Continued on Page 7 along the northwestern base of the Estrella Mountains near Laveen. GRIC teen inspires troubled youth with message of starting fresh Leon Sundust, a Pee-Posh, was asked to lead the search party By Joshua Jovanelly pining for security that always and the Maricopa Sheriff’s Depart- Gila River Indian News seemed out of reach. ment followed. This area had been He found himself mad at his family’s home for hundreds of By age 12, Nelson Lopez had years. experienced more turmoil than the world. He felt it owed him something — considering all it The standoff ended when most do in a lifetime. the criminals, surrounded and ex- There was the drug-addicted had taken from him, the griev- ance was understandable. Finally, hausted, walked out from behind mother who could no longer care the bus-sized rock they chose as a for him and had to give him up. Nicki Green, the woman who be- came his foster mother in 2008, hiding place. There was the half a year stint in Finally, more than two weeks the Juvenile Department of Reha- told him to stop feeling sorry for himself, that the world didn’t owe after setting off a cross-country bilitation Center. There was the manhunt, wanted for the murder of death of three male role models him anything. He owed it to him- self. a policeman in Pennsylvania, “Iron from whom he had sought guid- Irene” was in handcuffs. It was Jan. ance, including his father. There “That’s when I started realiz- ing that God started me over and 14, 1930. Joshua Jovanelly/GRIN was the bouncing around between Nelson Lopez, 17, pictured at his home. After a challenging child- group homes and shelters and the Continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 5 hood, he’s using poetry to express himself and share his story. IN the GRIN Health & Wellness.....Page 7 Letters & Opinions......Page 3 Education.........................Page 8 Community Updates...Page 5 Announcements/Notices..Page 9 Culture & History.........Page 6 Action Sheets...........Page 10 Christmas and New Year’s Message As the Christmas holiday approaches, I encourage all Community members and employees to reect upon the true meaning of Christmas. Faith, hope, peace, love, gratitude, joy and many other positive attributes are associated with the Christian meaning of Christmas and the birth of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ. Being mindful of, and actively practicing, these positive qualities, as individuals and employees, can help shape our thoughts, choices, decisions and actions in ways that contribute to the realization of Christmas in our Community everyday during the holiday season and perhaps, throughout the upcoming New Year. Some of the ways we can capture the true meaning of Christmas in our Com- munity and in our workplaces include contributing to a toy drive for needy children which helps create love and joy in the Community. Adopting a child or family to provide gis to or a meal for instills hope, peace and a sense of community or connection in the truest sense of the word. Participating in holiday related work events brings people together and provides an opportunity for each of us to embody faith, hope, peace, love, gratitude and joy in ourselves and for each other. Christmas truly is the season to remember what matters and is truly important in our daily lives. During this season of eternal peace, let us be attentive of the simple gis we can give of ourselves and to each other: words of encouragement, a smile, a hug, or a prayer. e celebration and remembrance of the birth of Christ reminds us that we all are our brothers’ keepers. As a workforce, as a group of people, we are a community in the midst of the Gila River Indian Commu- nity, and this community is one of family, neighbors, friends and co-workers. During this holiday season and in our individual moments of peace and gratitude, we can be grateful for all that is true, good and pure in our lives while remaining aware that there is still much to be done in within ourselves, our work, and our communities.