Maric o pa, Ariz o n a V olume X X X III, Issue 8 April 19 - May 2, 2019 The grid was open for play at Ak- Chin Circle, April 12-16, for the Harrah’s celebrates 25th Meti earns second win, Burke 2nd Annual Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun World Long Drive ualifier. Anniversary and Grand takes rst at 2nd Annual Kicking off the 2019 WLD Tour, Ak-Chin was the first event on the Opening of The Events Center schedule, and the first to be televised Story and photo by R. Peters Ak-Chin Smash in the Sun as well, with a live telecast airing Tuesday, April 16, 4 pm ET on GOLF Channel. Not only was Ak-Chin ready for another action-packed weekend, the 500-yard grid was also primed for the event, receiving positive nods for its lush green appearance. Ak- Chin Southern Dunes crew worked tirelessly after last year’s WLD, putting in a new irrigation system and growing fresh new Bermuda grass to ensure the grid was at its absolute best. On Friday, April 12 Andrew Herbert, Scott Kalamar and Dan McIntosh earned top honors at the Ak-Chin ualifier. Herbert had From left: Brandon Peters, Community Treasurer, Lisa Garcia the most cumulative points in the Council member, Robert Miguel, Chairman, Louis Manuel, Gabriel Lopez, Vice -Chair and Council member Octavio Machado during final qualifying round. All three The Event Center ribbon cutting ceremony at Harrah’s. Story and photo by R. Peters Continues to page 10 Continues to page 10 Ak-Chin Parks and Recreation long JDRF Foundation awaited basketball courts finally open raises over 1 Million Story and photos by A. Santiago in annual event Story and photos by J. Peters The JDRF Walk One has led a strong journey to raise money to help find a cure to end T1D for 29 years, and on April 6th the JDRF Arizona Chapter held their annual walk to bring awareness and support to the millions that are affected by type one diabetes. Hundreds of people headed to Sloan Park, the Spring Training site for the Chicago Cubs in Tempe, for the 5k race that started at 9am. Ak- Chin Health Education set up the Ak-Chin Indian Community booth alongside other donators to show Ak-Chin Parks and Recreation Staff pictured with Ak-Chin Tribal Council on the new and improved their support and provide a staging basketball courts, located north of the recreation gymnasium. area for community participants. April 4, 2019 Ak-Chin Recreation Peters, David Peters Sr., Stanley Recreation from Martin Antone all Raising over 1 million dollars with had an opening of the newly Atone, and himself playing in 10 the way down to current employees. over 16,000 in attendance the event installed basketball courts North of tournaments in Tonoho O’odham Council man Octavio also shared has brought them so much closer to the gymnasium. and being only the 5 players, they a memory of his youth age on finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes won 8 out of the 10 games. Council how he learned how to get up in (type one diabetes), a disease that woman Lisa Garcia gave out a the morning and get ready which has been diagnosed in over 200,000 Language Department staff Lerline cases in the nited States yearly. Peters and Lusan Enos sent out a motivational speech being said the taught him to use that for work and Arizonan/Baltimore Ravens Tight recreation is not only about sports prayer following a ceremony song the military or any job he took. The The Ak-Chin community has been End Mark Andrews speaks at the for everyone. Chairman Robert it holds family events, community concern for health issues also plays a sponsor for this JDRF foundation 2019 JDRF One Walk. Andrews Miguel spoke on his memory of events, and elderly events then a good part for the recreation at any for many years now, and has always was diagnosed with T1D at the Ak-Chin Men’s basketball team of to end wanted to thank everyone age. Keeping anyone active and had a strong showing of support at age of 9. 5 team mates Norbert Peters, Cecil who help in participation of the enjoying a time of fun and laughter. this event with many walkers, as well as runners. Continues to page 9 Continues to page 10 Him-Dak celebrates its 28th Anniversary Story and photos by K. Lopez April 2, 2019 the Ak-Chin Him- was provided. Dak Eco-Museum celebrated their 28th annual event beginning with Opening the celebration and MC their Melin Melin, 5K color run of the event was none other than and walk, followed by a day filled Ak-Chin Chairman Robert Miguel with cultural entertainment and an along with Him-Dak Director, assortment of vendors. Elaine Peters. The 5k was coordinated by Ak- 2019 Melin Melin 5k run winners Chin Health Education, who laid were: Garrett Burnett, (all the way out the course for both walkers from L.A. placing first Crystal and runners, beginning at the old Hoeh placed second, and Alyssa fire department to the museum. Dickerson who placed third. Runners were giving white shirts upon registration to wear during Traditional Demonstrations took their run, while walker received a place in the art room. Russell colored version, which most likely Blackwater from the Gila River received colorful powder thrown Indian Community displayed art towards them at some point in the wood burnings, as did Lynn Liston route. Once everyone made their from the Tohono O’odham Nation, A Kualia group from Tohono O’odham Nation performs a ribbon dance during the Him-Dak Celebration. way to the museum a light breakfast along with gourds and jewelry. Continues on page 3 I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E P ag e 2 C o m m u n it y G at h e rin g P ag e 9 H arrah s 5 k P ag e 4 H o n o rs S o c ie t y I n d u c t e e s P ag e 12 D av e C h appe lle 2 April 19 - May 2, 2019 Easter preparations Gathering topic is language begin with elder egg Story and photo by K. Morago language dictionaries which were It was all about language at the put together by outside researchers. coloring March Community Gathering and He mentioned that those in Story by K. Morago, photos by Candace Allcott Ak-Chin member Jeremy Johns linguistics today have a diff erent provided great insight to the status approach where they look to ethical In preparation of the O’odham language in the considerations of transforming for the Ak-Chin Community. what they are doing to “what Elder Easter Party, resources does your Community Ak-Chin elders Held at the Him-Dak Art building, need” or “How can we transform spent Wednesday the museum staff hosted an that into something you need” morning coloring evening of a great traditional Easter eggs for the meal, presentation and discussion Those questions were important scheduled egg hunt of O’odham. to raise as revitalizing and outside the Ak- maintaining the language became Chin Elder Center. After an introduction and welcome discussion and focus of the by Holly Antone, Jeremy asked in gathering. The audience shared Normally a fun O’odham how everyone was. Not that Ak-Chin is a small community gathering of everyone answered, so he asked with a unique dialect and felt it was dipping boiled again which made for a quick extremely important to maintain eggs in diff erent icebreaker. the language, agreeing that it helps cups of food Community Gathering speaker maintain cultural identity. coloring, this year Next, he asked the audience if Jeremy Johns talks about the Ak-Chin elders they could read “Hascu agc si language preservation on Jeremy asked the group, “What are decided to try Ak-Chin elders prepare Easter eggs for the Elder haiku g t- eo’ok” on the screen. Thursday, March 28. A member our goals What can we do to create if Ak-Chin he shared his making Ukrainian party on Thursday, April 18. Translated to English, “Why is our speakers” He gave an example of experiences working with other Easter eggs. language important” O’odham tribes. the Cherokee tribe that have a goal to create uent speakers in a set The process required drawing on the egg with wax and dipping the egg For the next hour, the Community language and what happens when period of time. in various color dips to create the fi nal design. It was a new process for Gathering audience learned a lot two languages come into contact the elders and the eggs about the O’odham language in a in a colonial situation. How does it He then mentioned, “We don’t have came out beautiful with the fun informative way. aff ect communities enough young speakers. Raise your diff erent designs. Ak-Chin hand if you know someone under Elder Caregiver Supervisor, Jeremy has successfully studied He described one of the projects he the age of 18 that speaks O’odham” Candace Allcott helped linguistics, which is the scientifi c has fi rst year O’odham language No one raised their hands. organize the egg coloring study of human language. An students do, picture books. He Jeremy’s presentation gave session. instructor at Tohono O’odham presented a page of one of his examples of why the younger Community College, he teaches student’s drawing of a horse, with generation does not speak.