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Arizona Land and People, Volume 40, Number 1 (Spring 1990)

Item Type Article

Publisher College of Agriculture, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Journal Arizona Land and People

Download date 30/09/2021 22:05:03

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/295088 z ARIzoNA's I\DI1SAGRICULTURE

Indian agriculture has made In the 1950s and 1960s, the U. S. forming the Southwest Indian significant gains in Arizona Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted Agricultural Association (SWIAA). in the last 20 years. This educational programs in agricul- This organization now works for progress is attributed to ture, home economics and 4 -H, At the betterment of Arizona Indian increased water availability, a that time, Extension served as agriculture through educational higher level of education among support to the BIA. In 1968, programs, communication with Indians in decision -making posi- Extension received funding from congressional leaders and govern- tions and Indian leaders with a the BIA to develop and conduct ment officials, and increased state vision for the future. educational programs for 19 and national visibility. Although agriculture is but one Arizona Indian reservations and SWIAA President Elliott Booth, factor of economic development, it the portion of the Navajo reserva- who also is vice -chairman of the may be the most important for tion located in Arizona. The BIA Colorado River Indian Tribes, Arizona Indians as even more recently was appointed by Dean water becomes available through Sander to serve on the National the Central Arizona Project and Land -Grant Council for Agricultural other sources. The 337 -mile -long Research, Extension and Teaching. CAP, scheduled for completion in Another SWIAA board member, 1995, is a series of canals and dams Leona Kakar, Ak -Chin executive designed to distribute Colorado director and chairwoman of the Ak- River water to Arizona cities and Chin Farm Board, is a member of agricultural users. the UA Maricopa Agricultural Eighteen of Arizona's 20 Indian Center Advisory Committee. Also, reservations are involved in some Ardell Ruiz, Donald Antone, Robert form of agriculture. Porter and Harry Cruye Jr., Gila Significant development is occur- River; Charlie Carlyle, Ak -Chin; ring on the Ak -Chin, Colorado and Clinton Pattea, Fort McDowell; River, Fort Apache, Fort McDowell, and many others, played major Fort Mojave, Fort Yuma, Gila River, roles in starting and organizing Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, SWIAA. Kaibab- Paiute, Navajo, Salt River, Many College alumni now are in San Carlos and Tohono O'odham positions of importance on Arizona reservations. The Pascua Yaqui, Indian reservations. Peter Deswood Camp Verde and Cocopah reserva- Jr., executive director of the tions also have agricultural plans division of natural resources for the in progress. Navajo Nation, and Arnold Taylor The University of Arizona Sr., manager of the department of College of Agriculture has a long canceled the contract in 1981, but natural resources for the Hopi Tribe, history of working with Arizona's Extension faculty were instructed will contribute significantly to the Indian tribes. Scientists from the by the Extension administration to agricultural future of their tribes. departments of animal science and continue to serve Indian reserva- Arizona Indian agriculture is range management have been tions in the same manner as off - here -it will stay -it will grow. conducting research on the San reservation clientele. The UA College of Agriculture and Carlos Apache reservation since The deans and leaders of the Arizona's Indian tribes are an 1954. Researchers from the Office of College have a continuing important alliance for the future. Arid Lands Studies have worked on commitment to Arizona's Indian a variety of economic development population. This commitment was ventures with tribes. reaffirmed two years ago when Cooperative Extension records Dean Eugene Sander appointed me show a relationship with Arizona the liaison for educational programs Indians dating back to the 1920s with Arizona's Indian tribes and and 1930s. Today, Extension agents reservations. This fell in line with Howard E. Jones, specialist in La Paz, Mohave, Pima, Navajo, UA President Henry Koffler's objec- Cooperative Extension Apache, Graham and other coun- tive to increase the total UA Community Leadership and ties apply UA research to problems commitment to Arizona Indians. Resource Development on reservations through agricul- At about the same time as my tural, home economics and 4 -H appointment, representatives from youth education programs. a number of Arizona tribes were ARIZONA LANDCREOPLE Magazine of The University of Arizona College of Agriculture Volume 40, Number 1, Spring 1990

Editor Jan McCoy Art Director Hector Gonzalez Production Manager Robert Casier Artist Ann Helmericks Boice Graphic Assistant Lisa Carder Contributing Photographers Page 21 Allan Fertig, Lucian Garcia, Jan McCoy, Gary Thacker, Georgine Wada, Lorena Wada Page 14 ('OVER STORY Writers New Life for Tohono Lorraine B. Kingdon and O'odham Land 2 Jan McCoy i

--a1.0 . The Hopi Vision 6 Arizona Land and People (ISSN 0033 -0744) is published quarterly by The University of Arizona College of Apache Cows Get the Agriculture. Second -class postage is paid at Tucson. Postmaster: Send Once -Over 8 change of address form to: Arizona Land and People, Office of Agricul- tural Sciences Communications, 715 A World -Class N. Park Ave., Tucson, Ariz., 85719. Operation 11 The College of Agriculture includes the School of Family and Consumer Resources, the School of Renewable They Did it Natural Resources, the Office of Their Way 14 Arid Lands Studies, the Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension and Resident Instruction. In Step With The College is an Equal Oppor- tunity /Affirmative Action employer. the 1990s 18 Subscriptions are free on request. Letters to the editor are welcome. In For the Information in Arizona Land and People becomes public property Long Haul 21 upon publication and may be reprinted provided no commercial endorsement is implied. Please A Friend of credit authors, photographers, the magazine and the University. Page 8 the People 24 Dean: Eugene G. Sander. Advisory Cover: Michael Enis sifts through the rich Committee: Jim Charrie, Kennith soil that -thanks to a new source of BACK COVER Foster, Jimmye Hillman, Roger Huber, Merle Jensen and Shirley water -again will produce crops for the O'Brien. Tohono C odham Indian Nation. See cover Map of Arizona Indian story on page 2. (Photo by Jan McCoy) Reservations /z \\\ Y MEW LIFE FOR

LAND BY JANMcCOY

With a new source of San Xavier District will receive water close at hand, 50,000 acre -feet of water and the the Tohono O'odham Schuk Toak District will receive Indian Nation is re- 16,000 acre -feet. The U.S. Depart- turning to its agricultural traditions ment of the Interior, through the that dried up as surrounding non - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, is Indian users gulped its ground charged with improving and water. expanding the Nation's existing When the Spaniards first came to irrigation systems and developing the Santa Cruz Valley, they found new ones in the districts. the Tohono O'odham farming along One project springing from the the'Santa Cruz River as they had new water source is rehabilitation done for thousands of years. of the now unproductive San Xavier But in modern times, non -Indian Cooperative Farm. Located near the agricultural and municipal devel- San Xavier Mission south of Tucson, opment in the Santa Cruz Valley the farm consists of allotted lands pumped the ground water to ever - belonging to about 1,300 individual deepening levels, drying up the landowners. water that was the lifeblood of For many years, the Tohono Tohono O'odham agriculture. O'odham irrigated their vegetable In 1975, the Nation filed a water crops with water from the nearby rights suit against the non -Indian Santa Cruz River. water users in the Santa Cruz "I remember when I was small, Basin. The suit claimed non -Indian the Santa Cruz River always had water users had pumped water about 6 to 8 inches of very clean, from under its land without cool water running year- round," compensation. says Michael Enis, chairman of the Congress settled the suit with the San Xavier District Cooperative landmark Southern Arizona Water Association. "My grandfather Rights Settlement Act of 1982. In would harvest his sweet corn and exchange for dropping the suit, the other vegetables by horse and plow. U. S. Department of Interior will In the mid -to -late 1930s, everybody deliver 66,000 acre -feet of imported was farming and going great -guns water per year from the Central because they had water." Arizona Project and other sources In the early 1940s, wells and beginning no later than October canals designed to make farming 1992. more efficient were installed by the Two of the Nation's 11 political U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. districts will receive the water. The Through the 1950s, the Tohono

Opposite page: The level -basin Irrigation system Is one of the methods that will be used to Irrigate the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation's San Xavier Cooperative Farm. Water from the canal along the right side of the road flows through a pipeline built underneath and runs headlong Into concrete barriers set at the entrance of the field. The rushing water slows to non -erosive speeds and spreads evenly over the entire area. Arizona Land & People /3 mwitti 647! O'odham continued growing vege- with the farm association on the ground gets touched," he says. "We tables for their own use, and began rehabilitation project since 1987. He still have to do some clearing, take to lease parcels of land to a non - arranged field trips for Enis and old canals and fencing out, and Indian cotton farmer. They later other Nation officials to view the remove a few trees that are in the began to grow cotton themselves. notched -ditch irrigation system boundaries of the farm rehabilita- But as neighboring Tucson grew, used in the Safford area. Thacker tion. After that, we have to prepare the water table fell. Many Tohono also showed the group the level - the land and make sure everything O'odham wells went dry. The non - basin irrigation system used in the is designed right." Indian farmer stopped leasing the Wellton- Mohawk Irrigation District The association members plan to land in the mid- 1960s, Enis says, near Yuma. do their own farming, rather than because there was no longer From the information supplied by lease the land to non -Indian enough water to sustain his crops. Thacker, Enis says the association farmers. Soon after, a second non -Indian opted for notched -ditch irrigation "We want to be the people who farmer attempted to grow lettuce on the south 800 acres of the farm, do the farming and have full control on the land, but after one planting, and level -basin irrigation on 200 over what is being planted and how he also moved away. acres in the north fields. the profits are going to be distrib- The Nation fought back finally in "It was hard to sell that concept uted," Enis says. The association is the mid -1970s and filed suit against to the Bureau of Reclamation," Enis researching the types of crops that surrounding farms, mines and the says, "but they later went to the will be most profitable and forming City of Tucson. Safford area and saw the notched - a construction group to do the "Something had to be done," ditch system, and it's now been rehabilitation work on the farm. Enis says, "the city was using approved by the Bureau and is The group is considering planting all our water and we were going under design." cotton (if prices go up), vegetables, nowhere." Notched -ditch irrigation, which is fruit or possibly pistachios. Today, the water is returning, but designed for farming on a slope, is "I think with the proper help - the new source means rethinking ideal for use on the natural south to and we're looking at the UA College the irrigation and design of the San north slope of the farm's south 800 of Agriculture -we can come up Xavier Cooperative Farm. acres, Thacker says. with something feasible for our "This type of water we're going to Because of the O'odham's long project," Enis says. "We'd like to be getting is new to everybody," history of farming, this is one of the do some test plots to see what will Enis says. "We all know how richest archaeological areas in the work." ground water reacts to irrigation, Southwest. The archaeological Although it will take more than a with this type of water, it will be treasures are the key design year to prepare the full 1,000 acres different." CAP water is expected to constraint in rehabilitating the of the farm, Enis says he hopes flow three times the rate of current farm. Only the soil that has been planting can begin on some of the pumping systems. plowed in modern times can be rehabilitated acres once the water is Enis says an engineering firm disturbed, so large land -leveling available. hired by the Nation recommended cuts are out of the question. He says the association hopes to using conventional irrigation As a result, 800 acres of this 1000 - secure a start -up loan from the ditches with siphon tubes that must acre farm must be left with its Nation, since federal land cannot be be primed and moved manually natural south -to -north slope. Only used as collateral for conventional between crop rows. But after years the north 200 acres are flat enough financing. of backbreaking experience with for level -basin irrigation. Although much paperwork still siphon -tube irrigation, Enis The farm will receive 4,000 acre - must flow between the federal proposed alternate irrigation feet of CAP water per year from a government and the Tohono methods be studied before making pipeline that will cross Interstate 19. O'odham, the association is ready. a commitment. The line will deliver 20 cubic feet of "Our group is anxious to see this "I talked with a farmer in Marana water per second. Plans for use of go," Enis says. "We want to make and asked if he knew someone I the remaining 62,000 acre feet of this farm a showcase." could talk to," Enis says. "He gave water now are being formulated by me Gary Thacker's name at the the Bureau of Reclamation and the Contact Enis at P.O. Box 50849, University. Gary's been very helpful Nation. Tucson, Ariz., 85703, (602) 294 -5727. since then." Enis says the association is now Contact Thacker at the Pima County Thacker, a University of Arizona in the final stages of farm design. Extension office, 4220 N. Campbell Pima County Cooperative Exten- "Still, we're looking at a year Ave., Tucson, Ariz., 85719, (602) sion agricultural agent, has worked away from this point before any 628 -5161.

Opposite page: The notched -ditch irrigation system moves water, without pumping, from the higher end of a sloped field to the lower end. The ditch is built along the slope of the land, perpendicular to the furrows. "Stop logs" control the flow of water from one section of ditch to the next. Irrigation starts when water flows over the notches built Into the top of each wall. Although the irrigation system Is built on a slope, each section of ditch is level. Inset: Michael Enis inspects the notched -ditch irrigation system used in Graham County.

Arizona Land & People /5 The help of agencies outside the tribe will be critical to the development of the Hopi agricultural future. The Hopi Vision BY JAN McCOY

The Hopi Tribe is looking New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Taylor says. "When they leave, toward development of Since 1943, the Hopi Tribe has these areas will be turned over to agriculture, new commu- lived within the 650,013 acres of us, but during this period we are nities and recreation on Land Management District 6. The still working to bring the ranges up land they have been fighting for district was set aside for exclusive to par." more than a century to regain from Hopi use by the Commissioner of These include ranges overgrazed the Navajo Nation. Indian Affairs as a result of the by Navajo animals, and those in Arnold Taylor Sr., has been over- Indian Reorganization Act and their own Hopi District 6, which, seeing the plans since becoming Navajo expansion. Taylor says, a BIA survey reports is manager of the tribe's department After nearly 100 years of protest 200 percent overgrazed. of natural resources in April 1989. over Navajo encroachment on their Taylor says he has been drawing Taylor received a bachelor's degree land, the Hopis finally appealed to on a group of old friends from UA in agriculture from The University the U.S. Congress in 1958. Congress Cooperative Extension for help of Arizona College of Agriculture authorized a lawsuit designed to with the range restoration. He says in 1973. determine ownership of that part of Bob Racicot, the Navajo County "Until now, there's not been the Hopi reservation occupied by director, has lent invaluable much done on our land as far as Navajos. assistance to the Hopi Tribe. agriculture is concerned," Taylor In 1962, the Court ruled the But it's just the beginning. says. "The impetus to do this has "Navajos had squatted on Hopi Taylor says one project that may always been there; it's just taken the lands, and because the Secretary of start as early as this spring, is right people to start it. The Hopis Interior had never taken any action development of a 200- to 250 -acre are known to be farmers, but some- to remove them, they had acquired test plot near the northwest corner where along the way we lost that 'squatters' rights' to a one -half in- of the reservation (range unit No. heart of the Hopis as we became terest in the Hopi Reservation...." 255). The agricultural development modernized." In 1974, Congress passed legislation project will be a cooperative, with The Hopi reservation was created providing for a settlement of the individual farmers growing from in 1882 through an executive order differences between the Hopis and five to 25 acres of various products. signed by President Chester Arthur Navajos. "There's already a well there that that gave the Hopis 2.5 million The agreement gave the Navajos was drilled by the BIA about five acres of land in what now is eastern 911,000 acres of Hopi land, and years ago," Taylor says. "We've had Coconino and northern Navajo later in 1980, 400,000 acres of public a soil analysis done for the whole counties. At that time, about 300 land for relocation. The federal area and we know it would support Navajos lived within the Hopi res- government also has supplied a good agricultural program." ervation boundaries. But because of millions of dollars in direct Taylor says the cool climate of the the numbers of Navajos occupying relocation aid to the Navajos. Hopi area will support apple and peach public land, the U.S. government land now totals 1.5 million acres. orchards, and alfalfa fields. Corn began to expand the boundaries of Final settlement of the agreement and beans already grow well there. the original Navajo reservation. The still is in progress. The first priority of any Hopi Navajo reservation was established Although the Hopis have yet to agricultural program, Taylor says, is on 3.5 million acres in northwest recover much of their land, it is to help supply food and feed for the New Mexico and northeastern being turned over to them gradu- tribe. He says the Hopis must now Arizona in 1868. Continued Navajo ally by the U.S. Bureau of Indian travel to Winslow, Flagstaff, or expansion resulted in today's Affairs. Gallup, N. M., for supplies. reservation now totaling more than "There are Navajos still living in Another site in the southwest 16 million acres of land in Arizona, those areas awaiting relocation," corner of the reservation also is

Arizona Land & People /6 Navajo NORTH Sire Indian ; ,A Pastures i 254 ,'\, Reservation Tonalea 252 ; 263 '\<' /.----- / 261 --- , . Forest Lake s \ /, Planned . . \\ // ,. _/ ,% 260 \' Communities 262 g_u'- 253 / ,'\ I / \ 251 \\ r-----/ \ , \ Agricultural 4. 259 \ \ 1 .. Developments \ toi \ Piñon

\\\ 257 as and No. 566) have been approved 255 ,1 351 by the Hopi Resources Committee 258 , //:/ for use as permanent sire pastures. , , A third area also is being consid- ,'West ,' i' \ 1 Dinnebito i North Oraibi <\ 451 ered. Taylor says the plan is a move \ Hardrock -S 1 I / n. ' \ to educate Hopi cattle owners in l_/ 1 Upper Polacca I \ ., 573 1 . i , , successful livestock management 551 1 \_ .' East /_ , ,\\ Dinnebito techniques. South 572 "We're also trying to make sure Torvea \ , \ (Oraibi , all the individual operators join one > Five Houses ,- - . 570 ,- ; Sh

0 5 10 15 ElHopi Reservation future, Taylor predicts. He has been

I t I I calling on UA College of Agriculture Scale in Miles ElLand Management District Six administrators and the heads of other state agencies to request assistance in their areas of being considered for agricultural from the mines, Taylor says. The expertise. development (range unit No. 552). tribe plans to develop two new "We know we can't do this all by The site also has an existing well. communities, one on the northern ourselves," he says. "Fortunately, I "We've still got some Navajos in end of the reservation for easier got my education through this this area," Taylor says. "These access to the mines, and the other system, and I know the assistance Navajos have demonstration plots in the eastern corner of the is there." there established by an Israeli reservation. It's an exciting time for Taylor. consultant who was impressed While most of the tribal members "There are just so many with the land. We've got a more still live within District 6 opportunities out here," he says. "I elaborate plan for that area, but boundaries, Hopi planners are love my job." we'll have to deal with that later." hoping the new developments will Many members of the tribe also encourage members to relocate Contact Taylor at the Hopi Tribe must travel long distances to work from the district into the newly Department of Natural Resources, P.O. at the Black Mesa and Kayenta acquired land. Box 123, Kykotsmovi, Ariz., 86039, mines the Hopis co -own with the Two areas on the northwest and (602) 734 -2441, Ext. 415. Navajos. About 80 percent of the southeast corners of the Hopi Hopi Tribe's income now comes reservation (range units No. 251

Arizona Land & People /7 APACHE COVS GET THE ONCE-OVER

After securing the cow going to be productive and those safely in the squeeze that are not," Bicknell says. "You chute, Bob Racicot runs can't afford to keep those that are his hand over her side. freeloaders. It gets back to the "She's a '5'" he says. He moves product -milk is not the product, around to her front to check her the calf is the product." eyes, teeth, and feet -all score a A cow is considered functionally No. 1. From the rear of the animal, efficient if it returns 50 percent to 60 Ed Bicknell calls out, "She's PG." percent of its body weight every 12 This alpha- months in the form of a calf. The numeric evaluation technique Racicot and discourse Ear Tag #: Herd: Bicknell use is based on a funda- baffles the mental rule of nature -an animal Date: Age: uninitiated, must be in good physical condition Bad but it's music to become pregnant. They rank a 4 5 Udder 1 2 3 to the ears of cow's body condition on a scale Teeth 1 2 3 4 5 the stockman ranging from No. 1 to 10. 4 Eyes 1 2 3 5 standing "We think a '5' is good condition Feet 1 2 3 4 5 nearby. The for breeding," Bicknell says. "You Pregnant: YES NO young cow is can feel a slight fat cover between BodyCondition: in prime the skin and ribs." physical Pelvic Measurements: The state of the animal's udder, condition and Other comments. teeth, eyes and feet is graded from pregnant. 1 to 5, with a score of "1" indicating For the last the best condition. The cow's age three years, also is confirmed by counting her Racicot, direc- teeth. By performing a rectal tor of the palpation, Bicknell determines Navajo pregnancy,based on the condition County Cooperative Extension of the cow's uterus. Office, and Bicknell, an Extension veterinary specialist based at the Once a representative sample of Maricopa Agricultural Center in the herd has been evaluated, Maricopa, have provided livestock Racicot and Bicknell estimate the evaluations to any of the 10 White herd pregnancy rate and present Mountain Apache Tribe cattle asso- their data to the stockman. ciations that choose to participate. "These guys sure have helped us The two don't preach, advise or a lot," says Varnell Gatewood Sr., sell products. They present their the North Fork Cattle Association Opposite page: (Top) North Fork cowboys stockman. "We knew our cattle separate the cows to be evaluated from the findings and answer questions - calves and bulls. (Bottom left) A not -so -sure period. The herd management deci- were in good condition but not cow Is ushered Into Racicot's squeeze chute. sions are made by each association's much else. It was good to find (Bottom right) Racicot evaluates the cow's stockman, or herd manager. these guys. If they'd been here physical condition while Bicknell (inside "What we're trying to help them years ago, I wonder where we'd chute) determines If the cow is pregnant. do is identify the cows that are be today." (Continued on page / 0) Arizona Land & People /8 STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAN McCOY

Arizona Land & People /9 Gatewood speaks wistfully, for summer of the same year and today, the White Mountain Apache another meeting with BIA repre- cattle industry is struggling. sentatives and stockmen followed. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, "The stockmen listened," Bicknell Gatewood says, the cattle industry recalls. "You could see Bob was was foremost in the economy of the bringing resources to them, and tribe. But a successful lumber wasn't giving them a sales job." The operation and ski resort in McNary stockmen agreed to allow Racicot have taken over that position. and Bicknell to evaluate a sample of The cattle associations were cows. The first year, they checked organized about 30 years ago when 463 cows from five associations. the tribe decided to produce its Since then, they have conducted own beef instead of depending on follow -up evaluations each year for federal sources for meat. Each self - the five associations and have supporting association is made up established new relationships with of individual owners whose cattle the others. make up one herd. The North Fork Despite their economic problems, the condition of the White Moun- tain Apache livestock is as good as any they've seen throughout the state, say Racicot and Bicknell. "The state average pregnancy rate for livestock is 70 percent," Racicot says. "We have herds up here not much different than that. Last year, the North Fork herd sample had a pregnancy rate in the high 80s. At Cedar Creek we saw the same thing." The high pregnancy rates are attributed to the use of simple management techniques that have proven effective: removing non- productive animals from the herd and a small amount of supple- mental feeding. association, for example, has more "Bob and Ed came to us as a "We're not here to change their than 60 members. The associations people offering assistance," cattle, they've got a genetic base all are based in Whiteriver, as are Gatewood says, "we realized we here that they've had for years and the tribal and local U.S. Bureau of could get help from the UA and not years," Racicot says. "These little Indian Affairs offices. just promises. The range conserva- Herefords have lasted, and know "We're hurting financially," Gate - tion group with the BIA also has how to survive this country. The wood says, "when an association helped us develop springs and cattle have survived right along lacks money, it sells cows to meet water pipes." with the people." its payroll, so the cattle are Racicot's 25 years of Extension Something they'll both continue dropping in numbers." Grazing work with Indian tribes in Montana to do, Gatewood says, despite hard areas have been deteriorated by and Arizona have given him rare times. drought and roads cut by the insight into the needs of Indian lumber mill, he says. The roads also cattle growers. He designed the Contact Gatewood at the White have made poaching easier. livestock project specifically for Mountain Apache Tribe, P.O. Box 700, "Here, the two -legged predators the White Mountain Apache cattle Whiteriver, Ariz., 85941, (602) outnumber the four -legged preda- associations. 338 -4346; or at the cattle associations' tors," Gatewood says. "Poachers He began by arranging meetings business office, (602) 338 -4418. will shoot a cow, take the hind with BIA and tribal representatives Contact Racicot at the Navajo County quarters and leave the rest. It regarding proper procedures, and Extension office, 402 E. Hopi, happens year -round up here." then started holding meetings with Holbrook, Ariz., 86025, (602) But assistance from outside association stockmen to "just talk - 524 -6271; and Bicknell at the Maricopa agencies, such as the UA and the about horses, grazing, whatever Agricultural Center, 37860 W. Smith - BIA, has helped soften the blow of they wanted." Racicot asked Bick- Enke Rd., Maricopa, Ariz., 85239, hard economic times somewhat. nell to join the program in the (602) 568 -2273.

Arizona Land & People /10 THE COLORADO RIVER INDIAN TRIBES A WORLD -CLASS OPERATION

BY LORRAINEB. KINGDON

Iis an unlikely place to find The nearly 3,000 Indians enrolled the largest cotton farms in here belong to the Mohave, Arizona. Until you cross the Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo last mountain and curve tribes. around the last turn, the desert CRIT farmland runs from Parker, looks wild, barren and bleak. the county seat of La Paz County, at Suddenly, you're surrounded by a the north, almost to Interstate 10 at green strip of fields lying flat down the south. Some of the reservation to the Colorado River. is on the California side of the You've arrived at the Colorado Colorado River, but most of the River Indian Tribes Reservation, the farming is on the Arizona side. eighth -largest of the 20 reservations Currently, 82,000 acres on the in Arizona, with 270,000 acres. reservation are under irrigation,

Arizona Land & People /11 with water available from the river Anderson Clayton & Co. of Phoenix source of water in the statè and to irrigate about 30,000 acres more, in the gin, a $5 million investment. their land won't be encroached on says Elliott Booth, CRIT vice- chair- "It's the first time anyone has by urban development," he says. man. The Tribe has adjudicated made that kind of investment in Crop uniformity is another water rights for these acres under this area," Booth says. benefit of cotton grown in the Arizona v. California and currently is At full capacity, the new 40,000 - Parker Valley. seeking water for additional lands square foot facility will gin an "We can offer mills cotton lint before the U.S. Supreme Court. estimated 60,000 bales per harvest that comes from 40,000 contiguous Farmland is both leased to non - season of both Pima and Upland acres of cotton, all grown under the Indians and cropped by CRIT. cotton. Booth says he believes the same conditions," Booth empha- Alfalfa and cotton are the major gin will generate nearly a 25 sizes. He is marketing custom crops, but about 12,000 acres are percent return on investment this ginning to fit special customers' used for wheat. Corn uses 1,200 year, in just its second season of requirements for lint quality -at acres and various kinds of melons operation. the time they want it. take up about 1,000 acres. "We don't want to gin just generic "CRIT has considerable resources cotton. We want to find our own in its land, climate and water. The market niche that allows us to Tribes are interested in adding to charge a premium," Booth says. our economic base, and cotton is The CRIT /ACCO gin even has a one of the enterprises that fits special bale wrap designed to naturally," Booth says. promote the image of top quality In the past five years, the Tribes Pima cotton. Instead of the have become the largest single standard yellow plastic, the bales cotton producer in Arizona. In are wrapped in an off -white, all - 1988, 30,000 bales of cotton were cotton woven wrap that features a harvested from about 10,000 acres. contest -winning CRIT /ACCO logo For the first time that year, the CRIT developed by tribal member cotton harvest was ginned on the Michelene Quillen. reservation at the CRIT /ACCO Joint Winans is excited about the new Venture Gin, a unique, world -class gin because it gives growers more gin that processes both Pima and local control over the markets for Upland cotton. their crop. He frequently consults The gin was a natural outgrowth with CRIT staff about varieties of tribal interest in agriculture - of crops and desirable cultural and full employment for tribal practices. members. Sherwood Winans, the Winans gives CRIT top marks University of Arizona Cooperative for agricultural sophistication Extension agricultural agent in La combined with an awareness of Paz County, says the tribes have their environment and cultural designed their agricultural ventures heritage. One example is an to encourage their youth to untouched, small corner of land consider careers in agriculture. "We saw an opportunity to in front of the gin. "Young people need to know that cooperate with CRIT when they Tribal Treasurer Mona Fernandez farming has more opportunities were trying to vertically integrate says the unkempt -looking area is than just driving a tractor back and their agricultural operations," says being preserved until tribal forth," Winans says. John Brady, the manager of field archaeologists can probe for Booth agreed that today's agricul- services for Anderson Clayton. artifacts. ture has opportunities for Univer- Brady says the gin is one of the CRIT's interest in the environ- sity- trained plant pathologists, most modern in the world. It can ment will be demonstrated particu- agronomists, economists, computer operate three short staple and 12 larly this year when they join with technicians and others. Farms long staple gin stands simultane- the Arizona Cotton Growers Asso- without specialists will be unable ously, each with its own drying, ciation to fund half of a three -year to compete. cleaning and baling systems. pink bollworm eradication project. "We need many different skills, Brady also is excited about the The $1.2 million project is aimed at and those jobs should be filled by future of agriculture on the CRIT getting rid of a major cotton pest in tribal members," Booth says. reservation. the Parker Valley, an isolated Twenty or more of those jobs are "This is the future of Arizoná cotton -growing area. at the new CRIT /ACCO gin. The agriculture. Reservations have the This eradication project differs tribe is an equal partner with most dependable, least expensive from many others in that it is de-

Arizona Land & People /12 signed to limit the use of chemical pesticides. By treating cotton early A VOICE FOR INDIAN AGRICULTURE in the season with pheromones, or synthetic hormones that attract the bollworms, growers anticipate wait- ing until August to use pesticides, which is much later in the season than normal.

In the past five years, the Tribes have become SOUTHWEST INDIAN AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION the largest single cotton In just its first two years of individual farmers, the agri- existence, the Southwest business world and non -Indians producer in Arizona. Indian Agricultural Associ- interested in Indian agriculture. ation is being heard by the The first SWIAA conference was U.S. lawmakers who form held July 1988 in Mesa. Attend- national agricultural policies. ance at the September 1989 The sponsors of the eradication SWIAA president Elliott Booth conference in Chandler nearly program hope that by 1993, the was part of a delegation that doubled. More than 190 dele- Parker Valley cotton growers will be testified before the Senate Select gates from Arizona, Nevada, able to control the pink bollworm Committee on Indian Affairs in Utah, New Mexico, California using pheromones alone. Tribal November 1989. And in February and Canada attended. Council member Connor Byestewa 1990, he testified again before a SWIAA leaders credit Univer- Jr., is the environmental official joint hearing of the Senate Select sity of Arizona College of responsible for monitoring'pesticide Committee on Indian Affairs and Agriculture faculty Howard use and pink bollworm infestations. the Senate Agricultural Commit- Jones and Edward Parmee as "GRIT is going to have a lot to do tee about the needs of Indian instrumental in the success of with the future of agriculture in agriculture and the 1990 Farm the organization. Jones is a Arizona, so we have to keep up Bill. Cooperative Extension com- with the technology explosion. We SWIAA got its start three years munity leadership and resource have to change the way we look at ago at a conference in California. development specialist and farming," Booth says. "Harry Cruye and I were at- Parmee is the Pima County tending an economic develop- Extension community leadership ment conference in Anaheim," and resource development agent. Contact Booth at the Colorado River says Booth, vice -chairman of the Jones, who is also the Indian Tribes, Route 1, Box 23 -B, Colorado River Indian Tribes. Extension liaison for educational Parker, Ariz., 85344, (602) 669 -9211. "Toward the end of the confer- programs with Arizona's Indian Contact Winans at the La Paz County ence we talked about the need to tribes, says programs will be Extension office, 1208 Kofa Ave., form an information -sharing planned and sponsored jointly Parker, Ariz., 85344, (602) 669 -9843. organization that would be an by the College and SWIAA. advocate for Indian agriculture These efforts, he says, will in Arizona." include recruitment of Indian So Booth and Harry Cruye Jr., students to the College, working a member of the Gila River with tribes on research projects Indian Community tribal and conducting informal Exten- council, organized a meeting of sion programs on reservations. Arizona Indian tribes involved in SWIAA also will be looking at agriculture and ranching. Six ways to work with other non - months later, in May 1988, tribal Indian agricultural organiza- representatives met in Laughlin, tions, such as the Arizona Nev., where "we unanimously Cotton Growers Association and agreed to form the Southwest the new Arizona Department of Indian Agricultural Association," Agriculture, to promote Arizona Booth says. agriculture. A 12- member board was formed representing tribes, -Jan McCoy

Arizona Land & People/13 It was a long fight against tremendous odds, with the fate of an entire tribe hanging in the balance. For 30 years, three people from the Ak -Chin Indian Community fought the U.S. and Arizona governments. Richard and Wilbert "Buddy" Carlyle, and their sister Leona Carlyle Kakar, fought for the tribe's right to farm its own land using water the government had long - promised but never delivered or protected. The Ak -Chin were nomadic farmers, following the water that made their land arable. Their very name means "Mouth of the Wash." By the time of the Civil War, the Ak -Chin had settled at Maricopa Wells, but a buildup of alkali in the soil, from irrigation, forced them to move to their present location in northwestern Pinal County near Maricopa. Still, the lack of sufficient water made their lives desperate. The nearly 22,000 -acre Ak -Chin Reservation was formally established by the U.S. government in 1912, with 70,000 acre -feet of THEY ground water per year appropriated for Indian use. But the water went undelivered except for four domestic wells. "We were declared a reservation DID IT only because we refused to move off our land to join with the Gila River Indian Reservation north of us, or with the Big Papago, now know as the Tohono O'odham HEI Nation, south of us," Kakar says. "We have no minerals, oil or other natural resources -not even a decent hill. Farming was, and is, our livelihood." By 1947, the promised water was still missing, and fewer than 600 acres were farmed. The Ak -Chin By Lorraine B. King4 people were literally starving, living in hovels, and working away from the reservation -if at all. Clockwise from left: "We could not borrow money to Wilbert "Buddy" Carlyle, drill irrigation wells, or finance Richard Carlyle and crops and equipment," Kakar says. Leona Carlyle Kakar. The U. S. Bureau of Indian Affairs stepped in and began to lease Ak- Chin land to non -Indian farmers. The terms of the 10 -year leases stipulated that the farmers would

Arizona Land & People /14 improve the land for irrigation and, as a result of the improvements, produce higher yields and pay higher rents to the Ak -Chin. "Still somehow or another, crops on our land never yielded much," Kakar says sarcastically. "The lessees never paid more than the minimum $10,000 a year and we knew they never would." Kakar says she remembers seeing paperwork that showed one leased farm being subleased for $50,000 a year. At that point, Richard Carlyle stepped in with a bold dream of a better life for the entire community. His dream was delayed temporarily because the Ak -Chin Indian Corn- munity was not formally organized and unable to enter into business agreements. "My other brother, Buddy, was called home from California to assist in drafting the Articles of Association for the community," Kakar says. "Buddy completed the assignment in record time and the Secretary of the Interior approved the Articles of Association on Dec. 20, 1961. By then, we had elected a five -member council that appointed Richard as Farm Board chairman." Richard Carlyle then went to the Pima Agency BIA office in Sacaton, and told the superintendent to let the tribal land leases expire because the Ak -Chin wanted control over their land, and to do their own farming. The community also hired Wayne Sprawls, a non -Indian farmer who had leased land from the Ak -Chin, as farm manager. Kakar remembers the argument that followed. "The BIA officials told us that we couldn't do that. They said it was too risky and we'd fail. 'Besides, it's just not done, "' she says her brother was told. "Richard got very angry and told them, 'the hell with you, we couldn't be any worse off than we are now. If you are not going to support our proposal, we will do it anyway.'" And the work started. It took until the late 1960s to free up all the leases. (continued)

Arizona Land & People /15 ANN HELMERICKS BOICE

"We were very unpopular with "His death just about killed the Disaster was staved off in a way the lessees," Kakar says. "We found farm, too. But I decided this was no Kakar still shakes her head about. out the leased land had not been time to stop," Kakar says in a firm A local farmer suggested she try properly leveled for irrigation. voice. dowsing for water with two peach Some of the wells we took over Buddy Carlyle again was called tree branches. Kakar says her first were barely working." home. He eventually replaced his thought was to "go someplace Still, Richard Carlyle and Sprawls brother on the Community Council where no one can see us try." secured a loan with the managers and served as chairman for many Try they did, and when they of the now abandoned Western years. Kakar was appointed as Ak- drilled the place where the dowsing Cotton Projects cotton gin to Chin Farm Board chair, a position rod dipped, Kakar says "we drilled finance the first crops. If the she still holds in addition to execu- one of the best wells we ever had Ak -Chin failed to repay the loan, tive director of the Community. and found another two in the same the loan terms stated, the gin Yet although the dream was area. Those wells saved our lives." owners could farm reservation land becoming a reality, the Ak -Chin still The wells were a temporary until the loan was satisfied. had more than a decade of struggle solution. The battle with the ahead. government began again. Wells were repaired, equipment "Our water tables were dropping In 1975, Ak -Chin filed formal suit borrowed, land prepared and drastically -more than 20 feet a against the U.S. government and finally, the first crops were planted. year. We had to quit farming on the surrounding farmers for under- Within two years of organization, west side of the reservation. We mining the water basin. In 1977, the the Ak -Chin were farming 5,000 were afraid to drill wells, for fear U. S. Department of the Interior acres of land. They showed their they would come up dry," Kakar filed a litigation report with the first profit of $21,000 in January says. "Our water basin is like a big U. S. Justice Department citing U.S. 1964. tub with all these straws draining failure to protect the Ak -Chin New housing began to replace off the water. Subsidence showed Community resources. Later in mud huts. Plans were being drawn in big cracks. By 1971, we were 1977, Arizona Democratic Senator for a commissary. But in 1965, desperate again." And the govern- Dennis DeConcini introduced a bill Richard Carlyle was only 33 years ment still was failing to protect that provided a temporary water old when he was killed in an the water it had promised to the supply of 85,000 annual acre -feet accident near Stanfield. Ak -Chin in 1912. of water until a permanent supply

Arizona Land & People /16 could be developed. In exchange In a letter marking the water started, we had nothing. Now we for this water, the Ak -Chin settlement celebration, Kakar have a successful large farm, good Community waived all claims announced, "Today we celebrate housing and a cash reserve. But against the government. The act the first permanent water supply in there's still work to do." was signed into law July 27, 1978. our history. The final settlement of She sees a need for training Again, the government failed to Public Law 98 -530 is the most young tribe members to staff key deliver on time. Escalating costs, important thing that will ever positions in Community businesses conflicting water rights and uncer- happen to this reservation. It is now filled by non -Indian and non - tain ground water supplies made vital now, and will be just as Community members. delivery of the 85,000 acre -feet important to our people 100,000 As always, Kakar is looking of water impossible. years from now. The water assures ahead. She serves on the Maricopa By this time, Kakar was carrying our future, and the future of all School District No. 20 School Board, on the fight alone. After a long our children." and she points proudly to the new battle with alcoholism and diabetes, Looking back on the dreams she junior and senior high schools built Buddy Carlyle died in 1981 at shared with her brothers, Kakar by the District. age 47. says, "We're about there. We're 98 In what might justly be called a percent self- sufficient. We can't ever reversal of the usual pattern of "I really missed both my brothers, argue about water again -unless University of Arizona outreach, but was more determined than ever the CAP fails." Kakar serves on the advisory to see our water settlement enacted committee for the UA Maricopa because both Richard and Buddy, in Ak -Chin farm profits now exceed $1.5 million a year. Sixteen Agricultural Center in Maricopa. different ways, dedicated their lives thousand acres of land on the "I want the UA Ag team to work to the betterment of our Commu- reservation are cleared, and 15,000 on improving Pima cotton varieties, nity," Kakar says. are being farmed. About 100 miles for instance," she says. "We have a It was the BIA that came up with of irrigation laterals are in place. lot of competition from foreign the water delivery plan that finally countries in this area." worked -a combination of water The Community's long -range from the Central Arizona Project plans include development of an and the Yuma -Mesa Irrigation "The water assures our industrial park, construction of a District in western Arizona. In 1984, facility for older and handicapped Public Law 98 -530 mandated 75,000 future, and the future tribal members, a model- one -of -a- acre -feet of water be delivered of all our children" kind -ecomuseum and a gymna- annually to the reservation begin- sium. But the cornerstone of the ning no later than Jan. 1, 1988. The Leona Kakar Ak -Chin future will be the same as law reduced the amount of water in the past- farming. the Ak -Chin were awarded in 1978 Kakar says she is confident the by 10,000 acre -feet per year. It also The farmland is planted mostly to legacy of Richard Carlyle will allocated $15 million to the Ak -Chin cotton, grain and hay, with another continue. to prepare their land for expanded 500 acres of pistachio and pecan "The present Council chair, Delia farming operations. trees. Don England, the current Antone, is Richard's oldest daugh- Then came the battle with state farm manager, replaced Sprawls ter," she says. "She, I'm sure, will officials over CAP water. Kakar in 1973. not drop the ball along the way." remembers the drama of signing up The Ak -Chin also own 51 percent for CAP water, making a midnight of the Chikasha Gins, which Contact Kakar at the Ak -Chin Indian run to get agreements notarized include the La Mesa, Best and Best Community, Rt. 2, Box 27, Maricopa, before a mandated freeze on Pima Gins in Maricopa. Ariz., 85239, (602) 568 -2227. settlements. The tribe is building modern "I had to be firm with state and homes for every enrolled member Department of Interior representa- who wants one. A community tives," Kakar says in an understate- center and fire department have ment of her resolve. Rather than go been built. Kakar says the Council back to the Council and admit to a plans to build a ball park and play- further reduction in tribal water, ground, "to keep the children she settled for a guarantee of 50,000 busy." And the tribe has set aside acre -feet of water purchased from 750 acres as an archeological survey the Yuma -Mesa Irrigation District site. by the Interior Department. That The Community also has an envi- amount, combined with a CAP able 4 percent unemployment rate. allotment, would make up the "Everyone who wants a job has 75,000 acre -feet of water a year. one," Kakar says. "When we

Arizona Land & People /17 The 600 Yavapai Indians who make up the Fort McDowell Indian Community northeast of Phoenix are caring for their land by limiting pesticide use on their crops. "We don't want to pollute our land or the river," says Dale Bratcher, manager of the tribal farm. For the past seven years, Bratcher has watched over experimental plantings of almost every crop the tribal Farm Board thought could be grown. The board is staying away from government farm subsidies that restrict crop choice. They have tried cabbage, broccoli, Environmental cauliflower, Pima cotton, wheat, melons, black -eyed peas for seed, awareness and opening alfalfa, blackberries and raspberries. Soon, they hope to plant about world markets are three acres of tree crops, such as pistachios, pecans and maybe deci- at the heart of the duous fruits. And they're trying olive trees for the first time this Fort McDowell and year. "We haven't found anything we Gila River Indian can't grow," Bratcher says. But although the board avoids communities' farming control by Uncle Sam, Mother Nature is less forgiving. Many operations. kinds of insects overwinter on the mesquites and other plants that grow along the Verde River banks, placing natural restrictions on the types of crops that can be grown. Though all the experimental plantings done at Fort McDowell produced a crop, some were more successful than others. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower had insect infestations that needed pesticides -and the produce quality was less than desired. The BY blackberries and raspberries were a LORRAINE B. success and those plantings will probably be kept, Bratcher says. KINGDON Currently, the tribal farm consists AND of 800 acres, which soon will be expanded by another 800 acres. Planting olive trees on the Fort McDowell JAN McCOY And if the community gets the Indian Community tribal farm.

Arizona Land & People /18 FOCUS OM WATER

Water: An Endangered Drip Irrigation for the Natural Resource Home Garden and Landscape ARIZO \A Water Specialist Jack Watson ex- This how -to program shows con- plains the problems involved in sumers all the tools, materials and WATER maintaining ground water quality in techniques needed to install a drip the West. The program shows how irrigation system in the home the College of Agriculture is work- garden or landscape. Hosted by VIDEOS ing to protect ground water. Cooperative Extension's George Length: 17 mins., 37 secs., Price: $30 Brookbank. Length: 32 mins., 20 secs., Price: $30

Casa del Agua: Arizona's High- Volume Water Turnouts Resource for Tomorrow Irrigation Specialist Tom Scherer ex- A tour through Casa del Agua, a plains the design, construction and water conservation demonstration proper use of high -volume water home in Tucson. The program turnouts. The program is important shows how the house incorporates to farmers and ranchers converting new features and designs to save from well water to irrigation water water. from the Central Arizona Project. Length: 27 mins., 45 secs., Price: $30 Length: 21 wins., 15 secs., Price: $30

Water Transfers: The Desert Oasis PRODUCED BY An Arizona Civil War A documentary about the problems with Rex Allen surrounding the transfer of water A documentary about the West's THE from rural Arizona to the state's fragile riparian zones, the creek bed UNIVERSITY major cities. The program features areas that provide life -giving water urban, rural, tribal and environmen- to desert plants and animals. Hosted OF ARIZONA tal perspectives on water transfers. by acclaimed narrator and Arizona The video also examines political ef- native, Rex Allen, the program forts to supply water for the future examines ways we can help pre- COLLEGE OF in urban and rural areas. serve these natural habitats. AGRICULTURE Length: 27 feins., 40 secs., Price: $30 Length: 26 wins., 55 secs., Price: $30

E Name Address City

I State Zip

I Make checks payable to The University of Arizona and mailed with this form to: Office of Agricultural Sciences Communications 715 N. Park Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85719

Arizona Land & People /20 Training the next generation of Indian resource managers IN FOR THE LONG HAUL BY JAN McCOY

Eugene Maughan kept hearing the same thing from federal and state resource management agencies. Although the jobs are there, he was told, few Indians seem interested in careers within the agencies. The same appeared true for resource management jobs with individual tribes. So Maughan, a professor of wildlife and fisheries science in the School of Renewable Natural Resources, began talking with tribal representatives and high school teachers to find out why. The interest in resource management careers exists, he learned, but for many, the first step is the hardest. "The students have trouble getting through the bureaucracy of enrolling and surviving in college," Maughan says. "The University of Arizona is a cultural, as well as academic transition for many students." (Left to right) Chris Kitcheyan, Lucian Garcia and Joe Jojola, Jr., with the first of many With this in mind, Maughan, Apache trout they helped study last summer. who also is the leader of the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit located within SRNR, started the Fish and Paid participants are assigned to Wildlife Training Program in 1988. actual research being conducted by Funded by the U.S. Fish and graduate student mentors. The Wildlife Service, the program is students work with their mentors designed to help tribes prepare for 10 hours a week during the members of their communities for school week and full time during resource management positions. the summer. The program helps Indian students "The students get to know move from high school to college, people who can help them through to graduate school, and into work the politics of the University The Apache trout either with agencies or tribes. system," Maughan says. "They get

Arizona Land & People /21 Training the next generation of Indian resource managers IN FOR THE LONG HAUL BY JAN McCOY

Arizona Land & People /21 exposure to techniques and philo- Ag Center," Marianito says. "After knowledge to a resource manage- sophies of natural resource man- Jennifer calculated how many fish ment position in the Navajo tribe. agement, and this office acts as an should be put in each cage, we Lorena Wada, 26, is one of the advocate for them if they have placed the cages in irrigation graduate mentors working with problems." ditches and stocked them with training program participants. Program participants are re- channel catfish." Wada's project involves locating cruited by contacting tribes, high Each summer morning was spent and identifying the habitat of the school teachers on reservations, doling out catfish chow, collecting threatened Apache trout. Previ- and federal and state agencies. water quality information, and ously an endangered species, the To be eligible for the program, removing, weighing and measuring Apache trout's habitat used to students must have an interest fish that died. By the end of three include much of the White Moun- in a career in natural resource months, the team found that fish tains, Wada says, but over the management and meet UA admis- can, indeed, live in irrigation years, populations declined dras- sion standards. canals. The next stage of the project tically. Wada's study is a cooperative Currently, the program has four involves testing the quality of fish effort to define the trout's habitat undergraduate students enrolled who represent the Tohono O'odham G. WADA and Yaqui, San Carlos Apache, Navajo and Nez Perce, and White Mountain Apache tribes. High school students participated in the training program for the first time last summer. Maughan says the students earn every dollar they are paid and are an "integral part of our research effort."

"We're a small program," Maughan says, "but we're in it for the long haul -we don't ever look to be big and flashy. You've got to identify the students, get them here, and encourage and help them through the system." Maughan says the students earn every dollar they are paid and are "an integral part of our research raised in irrigation water by characteristics. The UA, White effort." analyzing pesticide and herbicide Mountain Apache Tribe and Fish Linda Marianito is one example. levels in the fish. and Wildlife Service's Pinetop The 24- year -old senior from "I think it's a great program," Fisheries Assistance Office are Window Rock spent last summer as Marianito says. "It's a great partners in the project. a field technician on an aquaculture opportunity for Native American "The White Mountain Apache project. Marianito, a senior in range students. When I started the job I tribe wants to return the Apache management minoring in wildlife knew it was really different, not just trout to being the predominant and fisheries science, helped doc- a part -time job. This is something sport fish," Wada says, "because toral student Jennifer Budhabhatti I'm really interested in." the fish is native to their reserva- evaluate the feasibility of raising During the school year, Marianito tion." Also, understanding the fish in irrigation canals as a second works as a teaching assistant for a habitat requirements of the fish is cash crop. The team built about 15 water quality course taught by one step in meeting the federal fish cages of varying shapes and SRNR faculty. After completing a mandate to find ways to recover en- sizes to fit the conditions of a master's degree in natural resource dangered and threatened species. variety of irrigation designs. management, she says she hopes to Wada's research team included: "We hauled the cages out to the gain experience working for a Joe Jojola Jr., a high school student irrigation ditches at the Maricopa federal agency and then take that who is a Pueblo Indian from New

Arizona Land & People /22 A. FERTIG Mexico; Lucian Garcia, a White position of the stream bottom. Mountain Apache Tribe member Wada also did underwater obser- who is an Arizona State University vation but the icy cold mountain student; and Chris Kitcheyan, also streams made it difficult to stay a member of the White Mountain long in the water. Apache Tribe who is a student at "I snorkled and got to see some Alchesay High School in Whiteriver. of the fish," Wada says, "but it's Both Garcia and Kitcheyan were very difficult to approach a fish and supported by the White Mountain not interfere with what it's normally Apache Tribe during the project. doing." "We spent the summer going to three different streams that we believed contained Apache trout," Without her research Wada says. team, Wada says, her The Apache trout were there, and were captured by administering a work would be slight electrical shock to stun the impossible. fish gently. The fish were placed in buckets of water until all the fish in Wada says a Fish and Wildlife the pool were captured. Then the Service genetic analysis of the fish were weighed and measured Apache trout in the three streams and returned to the pool. she surveyed has raised some ques- Habitat measurements were tions as to the genetic purity of the taken to determine cover, current fish. Apache trout are known to strength, stream depth and com- breed with Rainbow trout, creating L. WADA hybrids. This summer, Wada will continue her study on two other streams in the White Mountains known to contain genetically pure Apache trout. Data on the five streams then will be analyzed for differences. Without her research team, Wada says, her work would be impossible. "I'm hoping also to maintain their interest in natural resources and get them even more committed to a career in a resource management field," she says. "They are trying to protect their land and heritage. Having qualified natural resources managers among tribal members will give them additional options."

Contact Maughan, Wada and Marianito at The University of Arizona SRNR Arizona Cooperative Fish and Opposite page: Joe Jojola, Jr. records Apache trout habitat data. Top: In addition to Wildlife Research Unit, Biological working as a research assistant in the summer, Linda Marlanito is a student assistant Sciences East Building Rm. 210, for the Arizona Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit during the school year. Tucson, Ariz., 85721, (602) 621 -1959. Bottom: Joe Jojoia, Jr. sets a net at one of the Apache trout test sites.

Arizona Land & People /23 (A Friend of the People)

BY LORRAINE B. KINGDON

Leonard Isaacson cares. His Once he did that, and the tourist facilities, he will be there 37 -year career as Apache farmers saw the successes their with help. County Cooperative Ex- neighbors were having, "then other Some projects are smaller in tension director proves it. people paid attention." Isaacson scale. Isaacson works with David His philosophy is simple. held his first field day in 1987 at Silversmith on the Navajo New "I try to settle on some things Many Farms. Dawn program. that will do some good," he says. "It was the first one of its kind in Silversmith started the program, After working with Navajos, the area and it was successful," he which he named after his daughter, Apaches, Hopis and Anglos for as says. Of course, the mutton stew Dawn, in 1982 to rekindle interest long as he has, Isaacson also admits and fry bread served for lunch, and expertise in home fruit -and- wryly, "They don't always take." helped. vegetable gardens. Isaacson helps But most of his projects work Ten years ago, Isaacson decided by holding workshops, and training out -eventually. to learn to speak the Navajo master gardeners, who in turn, His work at Many Farms, on the language so he would be able to teach other Navajo families the arts Navajo Reservation about 100 miles communicate, particularly with of growing vegetables and fruit northwest of Window Rock, is older tribal members. trees, and drying and preserving aimed at helping the Many Farms Learning to speak Navajo as an the crops. Cooperative farmers make better Anglo adult is a daunting task. Isaacson knows his territory -as use of their land. well he should. He was born and Isaacson took classes one night a raised in St. Johns. The house he Each winter, many Navajo week for six months. farmers buy expensive hay to grew up in is but a block away from supplement their livestock through "It took a lot of patience," he the Extension office. the cold weather. The farmers have says. But it paid off. "I was After serving in the U.S. Army in been unable to grow much of their practicing my Navajo one time World War II and earning bachelor's own hay because, although some while presenting a talk at a and master's degrees in agricultural water is available for irrigation, the meeting -and was I surprised -all education from the UA, Isaacson saltier clay soils often limit the the people there just applauded. Of taught vocational agriculture for kinds of crops that can succeed. course, they tease me a lot, too, four years in Snowflake, which is So Isaacson teamed up with Bahe when I get the words mixed up," less than 40 miles west of St. Johns. Billy, a respected Navajo soil he says, laughing. When the Apache County Exten- scientist, and the Many Farms Isaacson's interaction with Navajo sion job opened, he grabbed the Cooperative to design a five -acre leaders at Lukachukai explains his opportunity. demonstration plot containing cool success. At a recent meeting, After 37 years, Isaacson will retire season forage varieties that would chapter leaders were discussing the in June to care for his small herd of succeed on Many Farms land. Irri- possibility of increasing income Herefords. "But," he says, "I'm gation water comes from the local through development of tourism thinking about working part time reservoir. and improved agriculture. with Indian agriculture." Earlier, Isaacson had conducted Isaacson listens, asks questions Isaacson always will care. successful winter rye and winter and responds to their questions. As wheat pasture tests with dry -land, a result of the meeting, he is now Contact Isaacson at the Apache or nonirrigation- using, farmers in collecting information on chapter - County Extension office, P.O. Box 369, other Navajo reservation locations. area water. If the Lukachukai St. Johns, Ariz., 85936, (602) "My aim was to find representa- chapter officers decide to begin 337 -2267. tive farmers who were already farming on a larger scale, he can growing crops and enlist them as call on The University of Arizona cooperators," Isaacson says. experts. And if they decide on

Arizona Land & People /24 ANN HELMERICKS BOICE THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SECOND CLASS TUCSON ARIZONA

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