Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs monthly newsletter

              Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs Arizona

Building partnerships to enhance intergovernmental relations, social and economic prosperity for the 22 Indian Tribes/Nations of Arizona April 2008

ACIA'S MONTHLY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATE GOVERNMENT AND ARIZONA INDIAN COUNTRY



28th Indian Town Hall--Save the Date! July 14, 15, 16 in Carefree

Please Save The Dates July 14, 15, and 16! ACIA will be hosting the 28th Annual Indian Town Hall. This year's topic will be Protecting Land and Water in terms of Quality, Quantity, Rights and Culture. This year should be our biggest event yet. Because of the anticipated size of the event, we'll be at the beautiful Carefree Resort in Carefree, AZ. Watch our website for more information and for online registration/payment forms!



ACIA is: Kenneth Poocha, Executive Director Traci L. Morris, Program Specialist Lorie Wells, Administrative Assistant

www.azcia.gov traci.morris@azcia.gov or call 602-542-3123



Arizona Native Assets Coalition

Many Arizona Native communities lack the nonprofit and mainstream financial institutions necessary for successful economic development   for individuals & families as well as small business development. In response to this condition, the Arizona Native Assets Coalition has been created as a group of Arizona tribes, Native non-profit organizations, state agencies (including ACIA) and other partner organizations working together to promote the development of asset building and financial education programs and policy for Native people at the tribal, state and federal level.

  Training and Technical Assistance Provide and training regarding asset-building programs Facilitate the expansion of financial education programs in tribal communities Provide and technical assistance for the coalition and Native organizations   Identifying Resources To assist tribes in implementing asset-building programs To provide sustainable funding for coalition members   Policy Advocacy Promote and support the implementation of tribal asset-building and financial education policy Advocate the creation and funding of state asset-building and financial education policy that is sensitive to the needs of Arizona Native communities Advocate the amendment, creation and funding of federal asset-building and financial education policy sensitive to the needs of Native communities



Spotlight on Tribal Liaisons: Kristine Thomas

Kristine Thomas is the Equal Employment Opportunity Coordinator for Governor Napolitano's Office of Equal Opportunity (GOEO). Kristine's primary focus is to ensure the fair administration and compliance of state and federal laws that prohibit state employment discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability and age. In addition, Kristine produces updated analysis of HRIS data and state equal opportunity statistics, and also serves as a trained employment mediator. Born in Tuba City, she is half-Navajo (Water) and half-Hopi (Spider). She graduated Cum Laude from ASU with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Design. ACIA Board Members Sherry Counts Hualapai Nation Margaret Baha Walker Vice Chair-White Mountain Apache Tribe Lucinda Hughes-Juan Tohono O'Odham Nation Cedric Kuwaninvaya Hopi Tribe GinaMarie Mabry Member at Large Elizabeth McNamee Member at Large



Indian Tribes and Nations Legislative Days 2008

This year's INTLD was a huge success! Held in January, this year ACIA planned and hosted this large event on the House Lawn. It was a beautiful day and we had nearly 900 people attend. This number included Tribal leaders, tribal members, state legislators, various state agency representatives and tribal liaisons, and vendors. Events included a Tribal Leader's Breakfast with Governor Napolitano, a Joint Legislative Session at the House of Representatives, lunch catered by El Paso Bar-B-Que, and numerous State Agency Informational Sessions held throughout the day in various locations in the Capitol Mall.



A Letter from the ACIA Board Chairwoman

On behalf of the Board of Commissioners, I would like to welcome you to this edition of our newsletter. It is our goal at the Commission to keep the tribal nations and communities, informed and educated on important state related issues. This newsletter will give us the opportunity to provide you with information and updates on news, events, programs and issues that may be of interest to you. We are committed to serving Arizona's Native American population, both rural and urban. There are many developments in state programs serving Arizona tribal members, and as our tribal Nations progress and develop, we feel it is import to engage every opportunity to foster a strong communication climate throughout our native populations and hope this newsletter will support those objectives. We welcome any input or feedback and hope you find our information useful.



Native American Basketball Invitational

Mission : Create, encourage and support Native American athletes and sports programs. Provide college scholarships & opportunities to Native American students. To provide funding for mentoring programs that encourage & support Native American college students NABI is not just about showcasing talented Native American basketball players. NABI is about being part of their future. To build an on going relationship that encourages and supports native youth and their dreams. Given the extraordinary success of NABI's Basketball Invitational and the acceptance of the NABI brand in Native American communities throughout North America, we wanted to extend our reach and potential influence to our Native American youth that play baseball and softball at a high school level.



Paul Nosie Jr. San Carlos Apache Tribe Cora Maxx-Phillips Navajo Nation Taylor Satala Yavapai-Apache Nation



From the Desk of Ken Poocha

Greetings! On behalf of the Arizona Commission of Indian Affairs (ACIA) I want to welcome you to the newest edition of our new and improved e-newsletter! One of the many goals of the ACIA is to keep Arizona's Indian communities informed about the many things happening not only at the ACIA but throughout state government. Over the coming months we will highlight in each addition of this newsletter a different tribal liaison, ACIA Board member, resources available from the state, news from around the state and of course a calendar of events. As the Executive Director I would like to personally invite you to contact us at any time should our office be of assistance to you. Our office truly understands our role as public servants and will do anything within our ability to ensure that state government works for you. Also, please check our newly redesigned website at www.azcia.gov for even more information including upcoming events, tribal liaison contact information and other useful resources. It is truly a pleasure to work for you and again, please do not hesitate to contact our office should we be able to assist you. Kenneth G. Poocha, Executive Director



Calendar of Events

Page UNITY Pow Wow April 11-12, 2008, Page/Lake Powell, Arizona University of Arizona Pow Wow April 11-12, 2008 - Tucson, AZ 145th Annual Five Tribes Peace Treaty Celebration April 12, 2008, District 7 service center 15th Annual Madison School District Pow Wow April 12, 2008 - Phoenix, AZ 22nd Annual Arizona State University Pow Wow April 18-20, 2008 - Tempe, AZ Mul-Cha-Tha Fair April 17-20, 2008 - Sacaton, AZ Mul-Chu-Tha All Indian Rodeo & Wild Horse Event April 18-20, 2008, Sacaton Rodeo Arena, Arizona Phoenix Indian Center 25th Annual Fundraising Gala & Native American Art Auction April 19, 2008, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona 25th Annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow April 24-26, 2008 - Albuquerque, NM www.gatheringofnations.com 14th Annual Pueblo to Pueblo Run April 26, 2008, Cortez, CO, 9 am



What It Means to Be an Indigenous Person in the 21st Century Wilma Mankiller

April 16, 2008, Lecture begins at 7:00 p.m., Bulpitt Auditorium, Phoenix College 1222 West Thomas Road, Phoenix AZ, 85013 For more information, please call (480) 7318026 In an historic tribal election in July 1987, the members of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma elected their first woman Principal Chief, Wilma Mankiller. She was re-elected in 1991 with nearly 83% of the vote. In 1983, Mankiller was elected Deputy Principal Chief, also the first woman to hold that position. She succeeded the previous Principal Chief upon his resignation in December 1985. Mankiller, who left office in 1995, co-authored Mankiller: A Chief and Her People, which includes the story of the Cherokee Nation, one of the country's largest tribal groups. She also co-edited the Readers Companion to the History of Women in the U.S. and served as a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College during the 1996 winter term.

Please verify calendar info with respective organizer / ACIA bears no responsibility for the accuracy of calendar content