# Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com (2020)

> Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more.

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apueblo_isleta%3A4f7fec7ad3f9a51e

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

Volume 15 Issue 3

Isleta Pueblo News
Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com

March 2020

Governor’s Report
Ma gu wam

MOTOR POOL

Greetings to everyone. I hope that you all
had a memorable Valentine’s Day. Let us
all be thankful for the blessings of this past
few weeks and look forward to the warm,
sunny days of Spring.

Construction of the tribal motor pool has
begun and should be completed soon. This
new program will save the tribe money on
vehicle maintenance to include maintenance
on our heavy equipment. The motor pool
building will house the Natural Resources,
Utilities and Transportation Departments
and will be located at the Tribal Services
Complex.

COMMUNITY MEETING
I would like to thank everyone that
gave their time and suggestions at the
Community Meeting held on Saturday,
February 1, 2020. The meeting was very
informative, especially the information
provided on upgrades for Highway 47
scheduled to begin in March and the topic
of 2020 Census. If you have any questions
regarding these topics, please feel free to
call the programs directly or our office 505
869-3111.
9:05am NM 47 Two-way Left Turn Lane
Kathy Trujillo, Director
Construction Operations
9:25am Community Contact
Chief Sylvester Stanley
Isleta Police Department
9:45am Language Program
April Padilla, Director
Language Department
9:50am Construction Updates
POI Motor Pool
Paul Lujan,
Construction and Design
10:00am 2020 Census
Nanette Coriz, Census Dept.
10:15am Utilities New infrastructure
and maintenance techniques
Edwin Jaramillo, Director
Public Works Department
10:30am Update
Barbara Sanchez, Director
Isleta Pueblo Housing
11:00am Progress Report
Kevin Lente, President
Isleta Tribal Council
MAYORDOMO APPOINTMENTS
A meeting of the ditch associations was
held on January 25th and the following
Mayordomos have been appointed for 2020.
Chical Ditch
Head Mayordomo – Leon Chiwewe
Helper – Leonard Abeita
Acequia Madre
Head Mayordomo – Daniel Waseta Jr.
Helper – Johnathan Piro
Cacique Ditch
Head Mayordomo – Ben Garcia
Helper – Calvin Jiron
Thank you to these gentlemen who will
serve their community. Signs should be
posted soon for notice of ditch cleaning
dates. I also urge you to go out and support
your ditch association on ditch cleaning
days and to keep your ditch dues current.
You may call the Isleta Governor’s Office
for Mayordomo contact information.

LANGUAGE PROGRAM
A big welcome to April Padilla, Director for
Pueblo of Isleta Language Program. The
language program will be moving to the
new cultural building (former site of the Old
Isleta Elementary School) where language
classes will be scheduled and taught.
NM STATE LEGISLATURE
I would like to extend our sincere
appreciation to Drew Setter and Pamela
Mahooty for all their lobbying efforts on
behalf of our tribe. The following is a list
of projects that were proposed to the State
of New Mexico were funded for program
support funds and infrastructure support:

•
$305,000 for tower replacement at
the Roads Department yard
•
$217,154
to
purchase
farm
equipment and construct a storage building
for the Conservation Services Program
•
$615,000 for design of a new Social
Services office
•
$25,000 for a water tank
CENSUS 2020
Tribal Administration and Tribal Council
are in full support to ensure the accurate
and total count for the 2020 census. Our
Census and Enrollment Department will
be assisting the federal and local liaisons to
advertise, provide informational assistance
to the public and recruit workers for this
task. The Pueblo of Isleta Public Library
has computers and assistance available for
on-line response. It is estimated that for
every person counted in the census, it could
increase funding in the amount of $3,400
per year/per person. So, please be timely in
responding to the 2020 Census count.
May our great father grant you good health
and a bountiful growing season.

Page 2

Isleta Pueblo News

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
DEADLINE for April Newsletter articles is set for
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at 4:30 pm. Articles may be dropped
off at the Library or emailed to Nathaniel.Lujan@isletapueblo.
com. Should you email your article, expect a confirmation
email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, odds are it
never made it to me and then it’s time to panic, so call Nate at
505.869.9808.
People who wish to submit an article or flyer are responsible
for generating their own article or flyer. Should you need help,
please call the Library at 505.869.9808 and set up a date and
time to sit down with a Library staff member who will help you
throughout the process. The Library will NOT accept notes
dropped off at the Library or information over the phone to
generate your article.
PROBATES need to be published in the Newsletter for two
consecutive months. Probates are considered court documents,
therefore, all submitters must provide: 1) Name of Deceased, 2)
Date of Deceased 3) Court Case # and 4) Date of Court Date. A
Probate form can be found on the Newsletter Archive page at
http://www.isletapueblo.com/newsletters.html .
CLASSIFIED ADS: The new administration has requested
that the Newsletter start a Classified Ad section for Tribal
members selling land, houses, mobile homes, vehicles, and
farm equipment. Leasing of houses and mobile homes will
be accepted. Smaller items which can be sold at the local flea
markets or weekly yard sales will NOT be accepted.
Currently, this service is FREE to Tribal members. Land,
houses, and mobile homes must be within the reservation
boundaries. Ads must meet the 160 character limit. Ads that
exceed the 160 characters will NOT be submitted into the
Newsletter. A single picture may be submitted with the ad.
Submitters of classified ads are responsible for generating their
own ads as this is a FREE service.
As a reminder, Tribal business owners may submit a small
flyer at no charge. Like the classified ads, business owners are
responsible for generating their own flyers as this is a FREE
service.
Classified ads and business flyers will be posted no more than
two consecutive months. In the event where the Newsletter
may exceed the 24-page limit, classified ads and business flyers
will be “bumped” for newsletter articles. Again, this is a FREE
service for Tribal members.
The Isleta Newsletter is owned and operated by the Pueblo of
Isleta. Therefore, the Governor of the Pueblo of Isleta has the
final say of all articles and contents within the Isleta Newsletter.
For additional questions, you may call the Library and speak
with Nate or Diane at 505.869.9808.
Thank you,
Nathaniel Lujan
Newsletters may be found at the sixteen distribution locations
listed below. Remember, Digital copies of the Newsletter
may be obtained from the Newsletter archive at http://www.
isletapueblo.com/newsletters.html
The sixteen Newsletter distribution locations are:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
13)
14)
15)

The Administration Building (Governor’s Office):
Receptionist Desk
Census Office: Receptionist Desk
Health Center: Lobby(Newsletter Stand)
Housing Department: Receptionist Desk
Department of Education: Receptionist Desk
New Recreation Center: Newsletter Stand
Old Recreation Center: Front Desk & Breakroom
(Newsletter Stand)
Tribal Service Complex: Receptionist Desk
Tribal Service Complex: I.P.D. Dispatch Window
Tribal Service Complex: Tribal Courts Window
Elders Center: Receptionist Desk & Lunch Delivery
Head Start: Receptionist Desk
Library: Newsletter Stand
Ranchitos Park: Blue Box (see picture
for example)
Intersection of Tribal Road 82 &
Tribal Road 84: Blue Box
(see picture for example)

March 2020

PROBATE NEWS
FIRST NOTICE – A petition to Probate the Estate of Juan F. Abeita,
deceased September 15, 1986. Case No. CV-PR-0311-2019, has been
filed with the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Courts. Any person claiming an
interest in the Estate may notify the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court Clerk in
writing within thirty (30) days of this notice being posted. A hearing on
the matter is scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 10:45 a.m.
Claims must be filed in writing with the Isleta Tribal Court Clerk, located
at the Tribal Service Complex, 3950 Hwy 47 SE, Building A, Albuquerque,
NM. Any questions regarding the matter may be directed to the Isleta
Tribal Court Clerk at (505) 869-9699.
SECOND NOTICE – A petition to Probate the Estate of Richard T.
Jojola Sr., deceased September 09, 2019. Case No. CV-PR-0285-2019,
has been filed with the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Courts. Any person claiming
an interest in the Estate may notify the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court Clerk
in writing within thirty (30) days of this notice being posted. A hearing on
the matter is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at 9:30 a.m.
Claims must be filed in writing with the Isleta Tribal Court Clerk, located at
the Tribal Service Complex, 3950 Hwy 47 SE, Building A, Albuquerque,
NM. Any questions regarding the matter may be directed to the Isleta
Tribal Court Clerk at (505) 869-9699.
SECOND NOTICE – A petition to Probate the Estate of Prudence
Maria A. Lente, deceased May 05, 2019. Case No. CV-PR-0282-2019,
has been filed with the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Courts. Any person claiming
an interest in the Estate may notify the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court Clerk
in writing within thirty (30) days of this notice being posted. A hearing
on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 9:45 a.m.
Claims must be filed in writing with the Isleta Tribal Court Clerk, located at
the Tribal Service Complex, 3950 Hwy 47 SE, Building A, Albuquerque,
NM. Any questions regarding the matter may be directed to the Isleta
Tribal Court Clerk at (505) 869-9699.
SECOND NOTICE – A petition to Probate the Estate of Augustine
Delano Jiron, deceased June 04, 2019. Case No. CV-PR-0304-2019,
has been filed with the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Courts. Any person claiming
an interest in the Estate may notify the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Court Clerk
in writing within thirty (30) days of this notice being posted. A hearing
on the matter is scheduled for Wednesday, April 08, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Claims must be filed in writing with the Isleta Tribal Court Clerk, located at
the Tribal Service Complex, 3950 Hwy 47 SE, Building A, Albuquerque,
NM. Any questions regarding the matter may be directed to the Isleta
Tribal Court Clerk at (505) 869-9699.

March 2020

ISLETA ANIMAL CONTROL
Greeting Folks,
Isleta Animal Control hopes all is well with you
and your Animals. With the beginning of Spring
rolling around the corner, our small mammals will
be getting out of a long winter of resting resulting in
more active movements as the days warm.
Please keep in mind the Pueblo of Isleta Animal
Ordinance. As a responsible pet owner, you are
required to adhere to the animal ordinance and
comply with Authorized Officials. Please Read and
Review the animal ordinance Section 3, Animal
Owner’s Duties and Responsibilities. Don’t
forget to keep your animals within your property.
Take the time to reinforce or repair any areas
that your pets may use to escape through on your
property.
During the month of February, citations were issued
for Animals “Running At Large, No Identification
and Rabies Vaccination”. Please keep in mind, there
are fines and penalties assessed with every violation
that is violated by Isleta Animal Control.
This Month there will be a few slots available for
Animal Spay and Neuter. Please call Isleta Animal
Control for a voucher. Slots are limited and are
on a first-come, first-serve basis. We have not set
a date for Rabies Vaccinations, please keep posted
by visiting the animal control web link found on the
Pueblo of Isleta’s website.
If there are any questions, concerns or feedback
please do not hesitate to contact Animal Control at:
Isleta Animal Control
505-869-7564
https://www.isletapueblo.com/tribal-programs/
animal-control/

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 3

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 4

March 2020

Pueblo of Isleta Career Opportunities
PositionPosting

OfficeLocation

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT I
Tribal Administration
CUSTODIAN - AMENDED
Public Works
DIABETES PROGRAM MANAGER
Health Center
HEAD START TEACHER
Head Start
HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN REPOSTED Construction Operations/Motor Pool
HVAC TECHNICIAN
Public Works
INTERNAL AUDITOR - REPOSTED
Gaming Regulatory Agency
JOHNSON-O’MALLEY COORDINATOR
Department of Education
NATURAL RESOURCES TRAINEE
Natural Resources
NURSE EDUCATOR - REPOSTED
Health Center
OPTOMETRIST-AMENDED
Health Center
PARAMEDIC PT
Health Center
PERSONAL CARE SERVICE AIDE REPOSTED Elder Center
PHYSICIAN-AMENDED
Health Services
PHYSICIAN/PEDIATRICIAN
Health Center
PLUMBER
Public Works
POLICE OFFICER CERTIFIED - AMENDED
Police Department
PRC MANAGER-REPOSTED
Health Services
REGISTERED NURSE-(Part Time)
Health Services
SALES ASSOCIATE-REPOSTED
C-Store
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER
Isleta Elementary School
SYP WEED & LITTER WORKER (6 Positions) Parks & Recreation
UTILITY WORKER
Public Works
VETERAN SUPPORT SERVICE
Elder Center
PROGRAM MEMBER
WATER - WASTE WATER APPRENTICE
Public Works
through WATER-WASTE WATER
OPERATOR IV
62A Tribal Road 90 SW
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Phone: (505) 916-0695
Fax: (505) 916-5243
www.cfpadillallc.com

CURRENT JOB OPENINGS as of February 2020
o Heavy Equipment Operators o Project Engineer
o Pipe Layers

o Laborers
EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
Indian Preference Applies
1. Complete New Hire Application
a. Application available for pick up at CF
Padilla Office located at: 62A Tribal Road
90 SW, Albuquerque NM 87105
b. Application available upon request via
email to Felicia Padilla, Office Manager at:
felicia@cfpadillallc.com
2. Pass a pre-employment drug screen
3. Must have a valid drivers license
*Once hired, employee must have the
ability to travel.

ClosingDate
Within Only 03/03/2020
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
02/20/2020
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
02/24/2020
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
02/24/2020
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled
Open Until Filled

March 2020

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE
Isleta Health Center Team

When Counseling Helps
Talking to others is always helpful and talking
with a professional therapist can really help.
If emotional or mental health issues did not
have such a stigma, people would see a
therapist as regularly as they see any other
health professional. Is there a special time or
circumstance that makes it the “right” time to talk
with a counselor?
*
Perhaps a loved one was diagnosed
with a serious health problem or a loved one
passed away. Maybe an important relationship
ended.
*
Perhaps there is tension at work, home,
with family, or with friends.
*
You have been “blue” or “down” for a
while but do not really know why. You do not
have to have a specific reason to justify talking
to a professional…if you’ve been sad for a
significant period of time - every day, for two
weeks or more — it’s time to get help.
*
You are avoiding other people – just want
to be left alone – while some alone time can be
good; avoiding other people can also be a sign
of depression.
*
You have little or no energy, have difficulty
concentrating or remembering, and little
motivation for everyday tasks – these could be
signs that you have depression – depression is
one of the most common mental health issues
in this country.
*
You worry too much about what might
happen or you feel guilty about what has
already happened in your life. These emotions
can be overwhelming and cause anxiety.
Anxiety can really disrupt your regular routine
and can even result in panic attacks.
*
You feel as though family, friends, and
your job all have something negative to say to
you and it may feel as though the whole world
is against you.
*
You are self-medicating to improve or
change your mood - maybe one drink or a
shot leads to drinking the entire bottle…or you
cannot seem to get through the day without a
little something. If you’re relying on something
to numb yourself or change how you feel –
food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, or otherwise
— it’s definitely time to talk to someone.
Call 869-5475 and schedule an appointment to
meet with a therapist to see if counseling could
help you.
There are times you cannot wait for an
appointment to get the help you need, if you or
someone you know is having a mental health
crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255,
you can also
contact the Crises Text Line by texting HOME
to 741-741 for 24-hour support, it is free.
Give time and attention to all your health
needs
physical, emotional, and mental.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 5

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 6

March 2020

ISLETA PUEBLO HOUSING AUTHORITY
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY MEETING PRESENTATION
HELD ON FEBRUARY 1, 2020
FY 2019 Snap Shot
The Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority (IPHA) derives its powers and authority from the Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority Ordinance. The
IPHA is managed by a Board of Commissioners, appointed by Tribal Council. The members are Mark Dixon, Chair; Judy Jojola, Vice;
Leroy Abeita, Secretary; Frank Lujan, Member; and, Bill Richardson, Member
The Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority provides services to Tribal membership for housing services in the following five (5) main categories:

MANAGEMENT OF HUD UNITS
MANAGEMENT OF POI,
EMERGENCY UNITS & TRAILER
PARK
HOME REPAIR/MAINTENANCE
LOAN AGREEMENTS
WORK ORDERS FROM
NON-MANAGED HOMES
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION/HOME
RENOVATION
MANAGEMENT OF HUD UNITS –
Sunset Hills I
A Three Year Program Review Findings –
Southwest Office of Native American Programs,
HUD, Conducted March 18 – 22, 2019, found:
Findings: Findings occurred prior to interim
employment of the current Executive Director:
1. Self-Monitoring Assessment.
ADDRESSED AND CLOSED
2. Binding Commitments. ADDRESSED
AND CLOSED
3. Inaccurate APR reporting. ADDRESSED
AND CLOSED
4. Outstanding finding is the maintenance of
HUD units – referred to as Sunset Hills I. HUD
required IPHA to develop a maintenance plan
to include a Maintenance Department, which
IPHA did, or return prior allocated maintenance
funding. Modernization Program developed to
include:
Modernization Program created to address
maintenance for HUD Lease Purchase Units at a
cost of $1M+ for next 3 years
Phase I: Installation of Water Heaters/Furnaces
for 54 HUD homes – approximately 45%
complete with projected completion date,
March 2020. Inspections by licensed plumber/
HVAC (N & J Plumbing and HVAC) are occurring
after installation by Maintenance crew. It is
CRITICAL that homeowners/tenants adjust
their schedules to allow for inspections to occur.
Phase I:
Installation of Metal Roofs –
Development of 6 different roof designs has
occurred – approximately 95% complete. Once
the design work is completed, a scope of work and
bid documents will be prepared for installation
of metal roofs and Master Coolers. IPHA has
hired an Architect Technician and he is currently
preparing the designs.
Phase I: Installation of Windows – Installation
of windows will follow the same process as the
roofs.
Phase II: Tentatively scheduled for FY 2021 electrical, plumbing, interior ceilings/walls, etc. if
needed, will follow
To Prepare for Modernization Program, letters
sent to each Home Owner to clean up yards and
resolve delinquent accounts. Out of 54 accounts,
1 is in a hardship situation and 1 is delinquent.
All 52 accounts are being paid on a monthly basis
along with their insurance costs. Thank you to
those who are maintaining diligence in keeping
your accounts current.

TRIBAL MEMBERS, the Modernization
Program is only for HUD Units LOCATED AT
SUNSET HILLS I, not for PRIVATE homes,
NOR OTHER IPHA MANAGED UNITS.

MANAGEMENT of DELINQUENCIES
The Board of Commissioners directed the
Executive Director to reconcile the Home Owner/
Tenant delinquent accounts as this has been an ongoing problem for at least the last four years, if
not longer.
At the Tribal Council Meeting March 2019, 8 days
in an interim Executive Director position, Council
inquired as to how delinquent accounts will be
resolved. According to POI Treasurer’s Total
Account Receivable (BALANCE OF MONEY
OWED TO IPHA/POI) as of December 2018, was
$755,729.63.
R E C O N C I L AT I O N / D E L I N Q U E N C Y
PLAN FORMULATED TO ADDRESS
DELINQUENCIES:
IPHA Will:
1)

Follow policies. Determine via policy

what procedures will be followed to strengthen
our efforts in collecting, sending letters,
delinquency notices, letters of eviction, etc.
with our primary objective to get the HO/
Tenant/Borrower to come into the office and
assist IPHA in reconciliation of their account.
2) Recognize that delinquent accounts
would be going to tribal court. Homeowners
feel that they are being harassed, threatened,
with numerous complaints to Council and
Administration. The BOC and Council has
demonstrated support in this area.
3) Expect accountability if an Agreement is
signed to pay HO cost of $250.00 a month plus
insurance, then IPHA expects the HO to honor
their agreement. If tribal members want a home,
there are homeownership responsibilities that
come with it. IPHA does not need the verbal
abuse and complaints if a member is delinquent
on their account.
The Homeownership
Department has done a tremendous job
in addressing account reconciliations and
delinquencies.

March 2020
4) The Board of Commissioners went one
step further to secure the accounting services
of Sloan and Company, prior to the Executive
Director’s tenure, to assist counselors in
reconciling accounts. Since then, the following
steps were taken:
a. Staff schedules created to concentrate on
reconciliation of accounts from the HDS –
Wins, Quick Books to MOM’s for a period
of 2 hrs. per day, five days a week. As of
today, the Quick Books and MOM’s, system
kept by the tribe primarily for IPHA, are no
longer being used.
b. Reorganization occurred where a
position of Data Clerk was re-classified to
Homeownership Loan Counselor (HOC)
(POI accounts), a HOC was reclassified to a
Coordinator position, and a new HOC hired.

Isleta Pueblo News
Number of Home Repair/Maintenance Loan
Agreement accounts that are/may be going to

Tribal Court for collection thus far: 9

HUD MANAGEMENT – Sunset Hills III
Aside from the 54 HUD Lease Purchase Units
described earlier, there are 48 units (across the
library) which is referred to as Sunset Hills III.
These delinquencies range from $795.00
to $6,247. A total of $8,039.05 of 2019
Per Capita was collected through court
judgements to address these delinquencies.
Number that are/may be going to
Tribal Court: 5

POI EMERGENCY RENTALS

IPHA has four (4) modular homes
emergency rentals where an Emergency
c. A software program called Doorways Agreement, per policy, is signed for a onehas been purchased and is in use. This is year period. Emergency rental includes a
the system we will be using for our HO/ monthly payment of $250.00, insurance,
tenant accounts, charging of labor/fringe and utilities, and a $250.00 security
benefits and materials for each project. deposit. Again, this policy was not being
Email addresses are still being set up along enforced as some Agreements were not in
with access to WI-FI for FAC for I-Pad use place, and IPHA was paying for utilities,
in work orders. This program will assist in rent, and repairs. Tribal members in these
keeping track of the materials/supplies and units are on a one-year agreement and the
member’s responsibility is to find housing
time for each work order.
accommodations within that one year
POI PAYBACK AGREEMENTS
period.
This is POI funding, approved by Tribal Council
in 2012, where a tribal member may “borrow” EMERGENCY RENTALS ARE NOT
money to do home repair/maintenance. Great AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.
source for non low-income members. To avoid
confusion with the account payback, this source
has been renamed Home Repair/Maintenance
Loan Agreements. Various problems have
been encountered with this service as follows:

PROBLEM: If you borrow $20,000 or more,
plus interest, then as per Renovation and
Emergency Home Repair Policies, IPHA must
have the collateral land assignment, in case
payment is forfeited. This policy requirement
was not consistently followed in the past, which
is now resulting in tribal court cases. Addendums
to prior Agreements totaled up to more than
$65,000. This source of funding is experiencing
SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH DELINQUENCIES.
PROBLEM: These agreements had different
interest rates RANGING FROM 0% to 4%. New
policy amendments now reflect 1.5% interest, and
the tribal member must sign an Authorization to
Deduct and Assign Tribal Per Capita Distributions,
which means a member must voluntarily give up
their per capita.
PROBLEM: Lack of account reconciliation
prior to March 2019. This source of funding was
suspended for 6 months in 2019 until the majority
of the accounts were reconciled. In some cases,
errors were made by IPHA. Some accounts did
not receive one payment and some payments were
made only ONCE from 2012 moving forward.
In the future, IPHA will not be approving
agreements if there is a history of delinquent
accounts and/or accounts are moving towards
tribal court for collections. For accounts not
yet paid off, you will no longer be able to add
addendums to the original agreement, unless it
due to documented unforeseen circumstance.
STATUS: Out of 123 accounts with POI
Investment/IPHA from 2012 to January 2020,
approximately 29 accounts have been paid off
at an approximate cost of $1,160,000. These
accounts are homes/trailers purchased or funded
by POI funds.
Approximately 50%, or $146,567.67, of the
POI accounts are in a delinquent state ranging
from $10.87 to $38,000.00.

POI MOBILE HOME PARK

There are 31 trailers located at the trailer
park on Sun Circle and Star Place. Out
of the 31 trailers, ONLY 13 units are
managed by IPHA, and 20 non IPHA

Page 7
managed units, or are paid off. This trailer
park area tends to be a highly unsafe area
and IPHA is working with IPD to ensure
that residents are safe WHETHER IPHA
IS MANAGING THE UNITS OR NOT.

POI MANAGED UNITS
Total Under POI Management: 123
Number of POI Units that are/may be
going to Tribal Court: 20
WITH ALL THE STEPS TAKEN TO
RECONCILATE ALL POI ACCOUNTS,
ACCORDING TO THE POI Treasurer’s
Total Accounts Receivable (BALANCE
OF MONEY OWED TO IPHA/POI) AS
OF December 2018, AR’S DECREASED
FROM $755,729.63 IN DECEMBER
2018 TO $461,525.75 IN OCTOBER,
reduction in arrears of a $294,203.88.
As of October month end, the Treasurer’s
Office has shown that active accounts are
at 98% in balance with their analysis/
reconciliation ledgers.
Insurance accounts have been combined
into the Loan accounts and are being
paid off before the 2020 rates are applied.
Additional payments are being made by the
homeowners to close out 2019 insurance
balances.
A total of 155 letters were sent out regarding
delinquent notices; and termination notices
have been sent out by the HOC. A higher
volume of responses have been received
from these letters within the last month,
which led to 17 payment arrangements/
agreements being made with the HOC.

Page 8
Homebuyers were informed that Payback
Agreements are a temporary fix and are not
to be extended beyond a 24-month period.
Thirteen (13) Notice of Satisfaction &
Release of Collateral Assignments and
Certificate of Titles have been processed
for accounts that have been paid in full.
Delinquent letters are going out for all
accounts that are in default and reaching
the $500 threshold as a reminder that the
Homeowner is approximately two months
behind in making payments. It is not a
form of harassment – but rather it is a
means of ensuring that payments will
be made on a timely basis.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS
Why do we have to submit an
Application?
IPHA has combined
two separate applications for seasonal
and renovation into ONE application,
condensing the type of information being
requested. The application is now good for
3 years and does not need to be renewed
annually. However, the application will
need to be updated when (1) the member’s
project has been moved from the waiting
list to the master list; (2) the income/
family composition changes; or (3) the
land assignment is sold or transferred.
Applications are now being tracked by
eligibility date and type of services being
requested.
Submittal of the application helps IPHA
determine whether HUD funding will
be used or not. If the home is a grant,
which means you do not make payments
if you are low-come, elderly and disabled,
you are responsible only for insurance
payments. Maintenance for the home,
after the warranty period, will be the
responsibility of the home owner, except
for emergencies and seasonal services.
For repayment of homes, an application
is required to ensure IPHA that the tribal
member is able to make monthly payments.
If you are NOT low income, not elderly, nor
disabled, if you choose to use the services
of IPHA you will be required to pay for
services. Number of applications received
by year:
2017: 68
These applications will need to be updated, if
the home is still in the tribal member’s name.
Income verification will need to be provided.
Long-term disability documentation does
not need to be re-submitted nor do copies of
land assignment unless the home/property
has been transferred or sold.
2018: 60
2019: 181
2020: 9
Why do I have to wait so long for
Housing to address my Work Order?
A high number of work orders are for
seasonal services. With two maintenance
staff, this is a high volume of work orders
to address. IPHA has negotiated service
agreements with three Plumbing/HVAC
companies since Fall 2019 to meet the
high demand of plumbing needs. Each
seasonal service is approximately $123.00
x 2 = $246.00 per home. If a furnace is
required, dependent on make/model, costs
have reached as high as $1,000, including
labor/fringe benefits. Air conditioners
average cost is $900.00, including labor/
fringe benefits. Valves, copper lines, if
replaced is an additional cost. Ductwork, if

Isleta Pueblo News
deteriorating, may also be an extra cost as
require more time on each work order.
Plumbing needs such as clogged lines,
back-ups, also constitute a high number of
work orders. The number of work orders
received:
2019: 1,051 Work Orders
2020: 193 Work Orders up to February 19,
2020
REMEMBER, IF YOU ARE NOT
SATISFIED WITH THE SERVICES
THAT IPHA PROVIDES TO YOU
OR YOUR FAMILY, IF YOU FEEL
THAT SERVICES ARE NOT TIMELY
ENOUGH, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED
TO SECURE YOUR OWN PLUMBING/
HVAC, ROOFING, ETC. SERVICES.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE
SERVICES PROVIDED BY IPHA.
FOR
WEEKEND
CALLS,
IF
THE
MAINTENANCE
TECH
IS
UNAVAILABLE DUE TO FAMILY/
TRIBAL EVENTS, THE CALLS ARE
DISPATCHED TO THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR. DEPENDENT ON THE
SITUATION,
MOST
OF
THESE
WORK ORDERS CAN WAIT UNTIL
A WORK ORDER IS SUBMITTED
ON MONDAY. IF THEY ARE OF AN
EMERGENCY NATURE, THE CALLS
ARE REFERRED TO THE COMPANY
ON CONTRACT WITH IPHA.
Why do I have to submit a Land
Assignment? As explained earlier, if for
some unknown reason your home repair,

March 2020

etc. is more than $20,000, and if it is not a
grant, IPHA requires the land assignment
as collateral, as per policy. The positive
side of this requirement is that it is pushing
tribal members to have their land surveyed
and are now thinking about wills and
succession of property. Of course it is overwhelming to Survey/Mapping.
Survey/
Mapping and IPHA has agreed that if
Survey/Mapping provide a memorandum
to IPHA that the tribal member is on the list
to have their property surveyed, then IPHA
is accepting that document until the actual
survey is done for minor repairs and
services. If it’s a major renovation project,
then the land assignment is required. The
property must be in the name of the person
requesting the services.
What happens if the home is in probate
court? If the home is in probate, but a
family member is living in the home, or the
home is considered a family home, IPHA
is now (1) allowing seasonal/emergency
services to be provided IF all family
members sign a NOTARIZED document
that they are in agreement for the member
living in the home to receive services, and
the member is responsible for repayment of
services. The family is given ONE year to
resolve their home situation. If more time
is needed, documentation from the court is
required that their case has not yet been
resolved. IPHA understands the backlog or
dragging on of cases that may occur. IPHA
recognizes the need for minor services;
however, IPHA will not be caught in the
middle of probate court cases.

Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020
Why are home inspections being done;
it’s my home and I’m paying for it?
Inspections are a requirement and each
HO signs an agreement stating they will
comply with HOC’s making inspections.
Again, it is the responsibility of the Home
Owner to maintain their home, not IPHA.
Why are the same people receiving
services over and over again? As work
orders are received and approved, it does
become apparent that a group of individuals
are receiving more services than others.
Policy changes approved by the BOC sets
a limit of $5,000 per household. Once the
tribal member reaches this amount, except
for emergency and seasonal services, the
member is not eligible for major repairs/
renovation services for a period of 10 years.
These individuals will be receiving letters
from IPHA informing them they have
reached their maximum cost of services
that are grant related. This policy paves the
way for tribal members who do not receive,
or receive limited services, to also receive
home renovation or new construction
services, if funding is available. If
you are already paying for your services,
once you pay off your account, you may
choose to borrow money for home repair
and maintenance, again, as long as the
funding is available.
Development of Policy Driven Master
Lists. IPHA is compiling master lists,
as per policy, of members to be served in
2020 in the areas of renovation, plumbing/
hvac, roofs, ADA/Accessible bathrooms,
and emergencies. As funding becomes
available, these individuals are moved to
the Project List. Except for emergencies,
the application date becomes the eligibility
date. IPHA has found people on the waiting
list that have been waiting for an extremely
long time for a home. This should be the
exception, not the norm.
SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH
IPHA:
1.
Seasonal Services – AC to Furnaces
and Vice-Versa
2. Plumbing problems within the
interior of the home and five feet from
the home; thereafter, the Utilities
Department will be able to assist the
family
3. Renovation of Homes. This includes
roof repairs. New roofs range from
$8,000 to $23,000 or more, depending on
problems encountered, especially with
adobe homes.
4. New Home Construction via
Modular Home Replacement Program.
This is a Council funded initiative for
the second year in a row. The goal is to
start replacing modular units with new
homes for those members whose homes
are paid off. IPHA sells the trailer to
the highest bidder and uses the money
received, including the total amount
paid on the trailer, as a “down-payment”
towards the new home. The goal is to
complete three homes in FY 2020
5. Shei Whieff Revitalization. This
service provides up to $20,000 in support
for tribal members who want to renovate
or build a home in the village proper.
This is a policy driven program. The
Governor’s Office provides assistance as

Page 9

well; ie. lava blocks, doors, and windows,
etc. Applications, along with the Home
Site Development Application.
The goal is to complete four homes in
FY 2020. This is not the Plaza Renovation
Program initiated by the Governor and
supported by Tribal Council.
6.

Electrical. Licensed electrician

7. Home Repair/Maintenance
Agreements

Loan

8. ADA/Accessible
Bathroom
and
Ramps. Average cost of ADA bathroom
is $25,000 with FAC and with contractor
up to $35,000. Average ramp, depending
on length, average cost is $4000 - $5,000
(mobile homes higher). Once installed, it
is the HO responsibility to maintain the
ramp. They are not to be dismantled and
used for fire wood, or thrown away.
9. Emergencies. Calling in a work order
for lack of heat or plumbing problems
are often a result of home owners not
having your septic tanks emptied and
filling your propane tanks. This creates
a timing issue for the Force Account
Crew (FAC) member(s) who are issued
the work order. AGAIN, the homeowner
is responsible for maintaining their own
homes.
10. Moonlight Development.
Infrastructure is ready to be bided out
in February 2020. This is at a cost
of $3.0+ million with infrastructure
to be completed in 2021. Thereafter,
construction of 29 units will begin at an

approximate cost of $4.0M. The funding
for the construction of the homes has not
yet been determined. Nine (9) mortgage
lots will be available for purchase those
members who do not have land, but
want to build their own home, with
all infrastructure provided.
A team
comprising of IPHA’s legal counsel, a
consultant, the HOC Counselor and the
Executive Director are working on the
Master Lease/Ryder/Covenants to be
presented soon to Council for approval.
11. Emergency Rental Duplexes. With
the lack of emergency homes in our
community, IPHA will be designing and
building 1 rental duplex in FY 2020.
WAITING LIST FOR HOMES
Waiting list for Homes:
69
Scattered Sites Waiting List (tribal
members who have their own land
assignment):
8
NASHDA Waiting List (tribal members
who do not have their own land
assignment and are in need of a home
(some of these individuals will be moving
to the Moonlight Development): 68
Modular Home Replacement:
12

Total: 157
DISCLAIMER: NO BLAME IS BEING
PLACED ON PRIOR EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
OR
BOARD
OF
COMMISSIONERS.
IN ORDER TO
MOVE
FORWARD,
IPHA
MUST
DETERMINE THE CURRENT STATUS
OF THE ORGANIZATION AND MOVE
FORWARD ACCORDINGLY.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 10

March 2020

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
The DOE Department would like to thank
everyone for the successful “College and
Career Fair ,” which was held on Saturday,
January 11th from 9:00 – 1:00. There
were 27 vendors with information about
their educational programs as well as 122
visitors, which is an increase from last
year’s visitors of 103.
All of our educational programs have
deadlines, please start planning for the
summer and fall semester. The scholarship
Coordinator Mrs. Lisa Smith and her
assistant Ms. Johnna Shije are available to
assist and answer questions you may have.
Please call the office or come in and visit
the DOE Department.
Many of our summer programs are
advertising
DEADLINES
and
registration dates for an academically
fun and innovative summer program.
It is hoped that the times and dates will
meet the needs of all students and parents.
As a former teacher/principal I would
also like to promote the love of reading.
Reading should be fun, innovative, as well
as rewarding. Continue to read with your
child/ren at home, here are some helpful
tips.
•
Pay attention to what your child is
interested in, and encourage him or her
to read books on those subjects.
•
Set aside time to read with your
child every day. Spend time reading
together just before bed and take turns
reading out loud with younger children.
•
Set time aside every week for family
reading night.
•
Make reading a daily part of life,
including reading road signs, recipes and
directions out loud.
•
Make reading interactive – ask your
children’s opinions on what they are
reading.
•
Set goals, such as challenging your
child to read three books over Spring
Break.
•
Ask older children to help younger
ones with reading. This activity will
boost older kids’ confidence, in addition to
providing important practice for younger
children.
•
Spend at least an hour a week
with literacy activities such as reading
magazines, comic books, puzzles etc.
We need to instill the love of reading
and incorporate fun activities, because
learning is fun.
•
Actively encourage children to read
and congratulate them on their progress.
•
Set an example – seeing you read
will encourage your child to do the same!

Adult Education/Special Programs

There are some great programs in the area
of Vocational Education as well as Adult
Education Special Programs/Concurrent
credit the DOE Department has created. I
would like to thank our Tribal Leaders and
all of the Council members for supporting
this effort. Without the continued fiduciary/
funds of support, these programs would
not exist. Our first CDL class/orientation
will be Saturday, March 7th at the DOE
Department from 9:00 – 11:00. If you are
interested in this type of work, please attend
the orientation, class schedules will then be
created for the first CDL class based on the
availability of students.

Our “Concurrent UNM/Valencia” class
is in full swing, class meets on Tuesdays
and Thursdays from 4:30 – 5:45 at the
DOE Department. The students that are
attending will receive 3 hours of credit in
Sociology 101 once the class is completed.
This is a great way for students to build
their credit and be very close to having
an Associate’s degree when they graduate
from high school. Congratulations students
for taking that first step in accomplishing
this task. This new program would not be
possible without our Tribal Leaders and
Council support. All university credit IN
THIS SPECIFIC PROGRAM is 100% paid
for through the DOE budget.
The

Department

of

Education

Board

has been established, the members are
as follow: Juan Ray Abeita, Sara Beccio,
Jennifer Lente, Tasha Lujan, and Audrey
Lucero. Board Meetings are scheduled once
a month, with anticipation in the future of
having a ZOOM Conference (on line) set
up for students to meet the board members
and ask questions. A public notice will be
sent out to all students giving you more
information about when this will take place.
Have a wonderful month, enjoy all of the
educational activities that have been
planned for the month of March, please
feel free to call OR VISIT the DOE office
(505)869-9790.
Marian Serna, Director
Department of Education

Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

Page 11

PUEBLO OF ISLETA
HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAM
Hello Fellow Scholars,
I hope you all are enjoying your spring
break and getting much needed rest and
relaxation before you complete out your
spring semesters. This has been a busy new
year for the Higher Education Program,
we have funded: 106 Isleta students for
spring 2020 and 129 for the fall 2019
semester. The Higher Education Program
has completed funding for the spring 2020
semester and we are working toward the
summer semester.
All documents have been posted to the
Pueblo of Isleta Higher Education website
for the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year.
The deadline for the summer application is
April 1st. All other required documents are
due no later than May 31st. Funding will
NOT be provided if documents are received
after these deadline dates.
Please keep in mind the deadline dates
for the Pueblo of Isleta Supplemental
Scholarship. When students submit late
documents this delays funding and award
letters. If the documents are turned in
late the university may require a payment
plan, which the student is responsible for,
this will not be reimbursed by the Higher
Education Program. This is why it is
imperative to turn in all your documents
on time.
The Higher Education Program has gone out
to area high schools to present information
to the Isleta students graduating from high
school.
Students received information
about the Higher Education Supplemental
Scholarship.
Each student received a
new student packet which contained:
the Scholarship Application, Applicant
Checklist, Financial Needs Analysis,
Degree Plan form, and a refrigerator
magnet with the deadline dates. Students
were informed when and where to begin
the process of applying for funding.
We will be having student orientation
at the Department of Education for new
and existing students that have not yet
attended. These will be held on March 11th
at 5:30 p.m. and March 25th at 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP for either
dates call (505) 869-9790. Dinner will be
provided to those who attend.
Please feel free to contact me at the
Department of Education, located in the
Educational Complex, right down the hall
from the Pueblo of Isleta Public Library!
The address is:
950 Moonlight Dr. SW,
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Monday thru Friday from
8:00am to 4:30pm.
Phone: (505) 869-9790

Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for our upcoming
events in March:
•
Graduation Banquet RSVP’s
•
Student Orientation: March 11th
and March 25th
•
Application Deadline: April 1st

Graduation Banquet RSVP’s:
Students if you have graduated (completed
your degree) please call or e-mail the

education office so we may proudly place you
on our list for the upcoming “Graduation
Banquet”.
Information needed:
• Name
• Phone number
• Address
• Name of the university
• Degree you completed

Student Orientation:

These will be held on:
•
March 11th at 5:30 p.m.
•
March 25th at 5:30 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP for either
dates call (505) 869-9790. Dinner will be
provided to those who attend. (Please see
flyer for additional information.)

Isleta Higher Education Application
Deadline:
•
•
•

Next Available Funding: Summer
2020 Term
Summer Application Deadline April
1, 2020
Summer Supporting Documents
Deadline May 31, 2020

It is the responsibility of the student
to submit their required documents by
deadline dates.
•
Please understand that once your
file is complete with the Isleta Higher

Education Program, your file will be
reviewed to determine eligibility of
funding. Your financial aid does takes
time to process and may require you
to establish a payment plan with your
institution to avoid being dropped from
your courses.
•
Students it is extremely important
you communicate with our office
regarding any changes to your education.
•
All students are required to submit
Official Transcripts at the end of each and
every term. You may order your official
transcripts through your institution
ahead of time and request the school
process your request when final grades
post.
*Failure to provide Official Transcripts
may suspend your scholarship award*
I hope you find this information helpful and
I hope you have a wonderful March!
If you have any questions or need further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
the Scholarship Program:
Lisa Smith, Scholarship Coordinator
Lisa.Smith@isletapueblo.com
Johnna Shije, Scholarship Assistant
Johnna.Shije@isletapueblo.com
Phone: (505) 869-9790

Page 12

PUEBLO OF ISLETA
Johnson-O’Malley Program
Hello J.O.M. students and families,
Tutoring at the Johnson-O’Malley Program has started!
In January we started up our tutoring program once
again. If your student is in need or could benefit from
our tutoring program, it is not too late to sign them up.
All you need to do is contact the J.O.M Program at 8699810 and speak to either Lisa, AuDrena, or Kristle and
we will let you know how to get the process started.
Our program is twice a week for an hour each time and
focuses on the student’s specific area of need. The
tutoring program is open to all students, your student
DOES NOT need to be J.O.M eligible in order to receive
tutoring services. Students who attend school at the Isleta
Elementary School or private school can enroll in the
tutoring program, though spots are limited. Please give
us a call for more detailed information and a schedule of
day/times. Please keep in mind that once you sign your
student up for tutoring, attendance is mandatory.
Graduation Banquet is also on our radar. Please contact
us if you have a student graduating from high school,
so we can add them to the RSVP list. The Graduation
banquet will be held on April 16th. We are so excited
for this annual event. We love to see our students
graduate and to recognize them for all their amazing
accomplishments in high school. Remember this is just
the start of your academic careers, next step Higher
Education!
With the new contract year, comes some changes.
Please be aware that all requests for reimbursements
must be submitted by April 1st. Requests received after
this date will NOT be accepted. We are also reimbursing
for ACT or SAT test fees, so please call for more details.
If you have any questions, please give us a call.
Please feel free to contact us at the Department of
Education, located in the Educational Complex, right
down the hall from the Pueblo of Isleta Public Library!
The address is:
950 Moonlight Dr. SW,
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Monday thru Friday from
8:00am to 4:30pm.
Phone: (505) 869-9790

Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for our upcoming events in March:
•
Graduation Banquet RSVP’s
•
Family Activity Night: March 17th at 5:30-7:30

p.m.
o J.O.M. Barrack (behind the

Educational Complex)
•
Experiential Learning Opportunities:
o March 10th Grades: K-5th
o March 12th Grades: 6th-12th
o Contact J.O.M. for more information and
see our flyer in this Newsletter.
•
Higher Education Student Orientation: March

11th and March 25th
•
Higher Education Application Deadline: April 1st

Graduation Banquet RSVP’s:

Students if you have graduated (completed your
degree) please call or e-mail the education office so
we may proudly place you on our list for the upcoming
“Graduation Banquet”.
Information needed:
• Name
• Phone number
• Address
• Name of High School or University
• Degree you completed
If you have any questions or need further assistance,
please do not hesitate to contact the J.O.M. Program:
Lisa Smith, Scholarship Coordinator/JOM Interim
Coordinator
Lisa.Smith@isletapueblo.com
Kristle Abeita, Admin. Assistant
Kristle.Abeita@isletapueblo.com
AuDrena Abeita, Academic Coach
Audrena.Abeita@isletapueblo.com
Phone (505) 869-9810

Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
Greetings!

As of January 1st 2020, the former “Tiwa Language Program” that
was under the direction of the Department of Education, has become
a stand-alone department now known as Pueblo of Isleta Language
Department. The Language Department is located within the Yonan
an Culture Complex, West of the New Recreation Center.
The mission statement of the Department is:
“The Language Department will develop projects and provide
language service that will empower Isleta people to reinforce the
Isleta way of life, uniting the community through language.”
Currently, the department has several memorandums of
understanding (MOU) with several of the local schools. These MOU
allow Language teachers to teach and reinforce the language within
the school setting.
Evening Language Classes are offered to all ages, every Wednesday
evening starting at 5:15pm in the Department of Education Building.
**To current attendees, please make note of the change in time**
The Department is in the process of establishing more language
opportunities for the community. Be on the lookout for updates in
the coming months.
Until Next Time,
April Padilla
Director, Language Department

Page 13

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 14

March 2020

Isleta Historical Society
Historic Isletans Known and Unknown
This continues a monthly series of articles
consisting of photographs of well-known
Isletans coupled with photos of unknown
Isletans (at least to us) whose names we
may or may not know, but whom we cannot
connect with any families or descendants.
If anyone has information or photos that
might help to identify these Isletans, please
email us at isletahistoricalsociety@gmail.
com, call the Governor’s office at (505) 8693111 (mention the Isleta Historical Society)
or visit us on Facebook and Instagram @
isletahistoricalsociety. We will not use
any information without your permission.
Thank you!
This month’s article will feature part two of
a two-part series on Pablo Abeita.
Isleta Historical Society: Randy
Jiron, Kateri Jojola, Malcolm Ebright,
Valentino Jaramillo, Rick Hendricks,
and Ted Jojola

Pablo Abeita, 1871 - 1940
Last month we focused on Pablo Abeita's
education, his early life, and his role as
lieutenant governor. This month we again
focus on Pablo Abeita, examining his
passion for baseball, his judgeship, and his
advocacy at the national level.
Pablo Abeita carried on an extensive
correspondence writing to officials such as
the local Indian agent, the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs, the Special Attorney for
the Pueblo Indians and even the District
Court Judge.
Pablo also travelled to
Washington, D.C. and is said to have met
every president from Grover Cleveland in
1886 to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, with
the exception of Calvin Coolidge. One of
the personal artifacts recently discovered in
one of Pablo's trunks kept by Mr. Leonard
Abeita is a signed photo of a very young
FDR as well as one from a young Eleanor
Roosevelt. Abeita became a personal friend
to many correspondents, almost all of whom
addressed him as "Dear Pablo" or even "My
Dear Friend."
One of the longest correspondences was
with Willian Ketcham of the Bureau of
Catholic Indian Missions (BCIM), the
man who helped Pablo get the legislation
passed that funded the bridges across the
Rio Grande, mentioned last month. For
over thirteen years the two wrote letters
back and forth, with Abeita often asking

Ketcham for help. In 1911 when Pablo
wanted to be included in the delegation
that was going to Washington, Ketcham put
in a good word with Indian Agent Ruben
Perry who wrote to Isleta Governor Juan
Domingo Lucero, "I consider Pablo Abeita
the best posted of all Pueblo Indians. He
has been to Washington ... and could get the
commissioner to understand what you wish
to present ... better than any person among
the pueblos." Eventually Pablo joined the
delegation and helped advocate for Isleta
with Commissioner of Indian Affairs Robert
G. Valentine.
One of Pablo Abeita's little-known
accomplishments was his organizing and
managing a successful Isleta baseball
team. During his travels, Abeita developed
a passion for baseball. It is likely that he
learned about major league baseball and its
many Native American star players, such as
Sac and Fox legend Jim Thorpe, beginning
with his job with the Albuquerque Journal
in the early 1900s. His knowledge of
baseball was on display when he arrived
in Washington D.C. in 1936 and asked
what team the Washington Nationals were
playing that night. When he learned it was
the Boston Red Sox, he expressed the hope
that Lefty Grove would pitch and that he
could attend the game.
Little is known about Abeita's 1911 baseball
team other than its roster and reports of a
few of its games. A photograph of the team,
complete with uniforms, was found in the
Pablo Abeita trunk, mentioned earlier, kept
by Mr. Leonard Abeita. Members of the team
were (standing left to right) Felipe Padilla,
Domingo Jojola, Pablo Abeita (manager),
Paul Shattuck and Frank Anzana, (seated
left to right) Tony Abeita, Lazaro Abeita,
John T. Jojola, Marcelino Abeita (Pablo's
brother), and Juan Rey Abeita. In a game
with Los Lunas on July 25, 1911, Isleta
won by the lopsided score of 24 to 4 based
partly on the stellar performance of John T.
Jojola who scored two home runs and made
a spectacular one-handed catch over second
base.
In 1913 Abeita was appointed a judge of
the Court of Indian Offenses, a court that
was established by Congress in 1883. He
served for ten years until 1923. Although
the court was established to assist in the
process of assimilation of Native Americans
into American society, Pablo Abeita found
ways to use the court to protect traditional
practices and establish more order in
the pueblo. The court heard cases of
inheritances, family disputes, truancy cases
involving the Indian School in Albuquerque
and St. Catherine's in Santa Fe, as well as
misdemeanor cases such as assault. The
judge of the Court of Indian Offenses was
like a justice of the peace; Pablo received
only ten cents per day or $36 per year as
a salary. As judge of the Court of Indian
Offenses, Pablo learned a great deal about
New Mexico law and procedure primarily
through his contact with lawyers such
as Francis C. Wilson. Abeita issued the
summons that brought the parties before
the court, then held a trial, and finally
rendered a decision often after conducting
an investigation. His decisions could be
appealed to the Indian Agent and then to
the Commission of Indian Affairs. In most
cases his decisions were affirmed on appeal.
Judge Abeita handled numerous cases over

his tenure, sometimes sentencing offenders
to pay a fine or serve time in the Isleta
jail. He worked closely with the tribal
policemen Esquipula Jojola and Louis
Abeita, discussed in earlier articles. Many
disputes were settled in a such a way that
each party gave up something. Gradually,
however, the court clashed with views of
conservative governors and fractions. As
with other pueblos, notably Pecos Pueblo,
the governors and their followers were split
between conservatives who didn’t want
anything to do with federal government
representatives, while the progressives like
Pablo Abeita chose to work with Indian
Agents and others, as the most realistic
alternative. As a result, in 1923 the federal
government terminated the Courts of
Indian Offenses.
Pablo Abeita then decided to remove himself
from Isleta politics temporarily (though he
did serve three more terms as lieutenant
governor) and devote himself to national
issues affecting Native Americans. Chief
among these was the congressional effort to
adjudicate—some would say legitimate—
non-Indian titles to Indian land in New
Mexico. During this period Pablo often
travelled to Washington to testify against
legislation like the Bursum Bill that
allowed most non-Indians to keep land
encroaching on pueblo lands. Testifying
before a congressional committee in the
1920s, Abeita said, “Our principal needs
today are that you [the government] eject
all non-Indian trespassers off our land.”
Although Pablo and others led to the
defeat of the Bursum Bill, the adjudication
of Pueblo lands under the Pueblo Lands
Board was blatantly anti-Indian in its
operation, leading to the loss (albeit with
some payment) of over 44,000 acres of
pueblo lands in New Mexico. Pablo and
his allies did not rest, however, and were
able to achieve some compensation from
Congress for the injustices of the Pueblo
Lands Board.
It was during this period in 1933 that Isleta
finally received a patent to the mountain
tract east of the pueblo all the way to the crest
of the Manzano Mountains. Commissioner
of Indian Affairs John Collier and attorney
Richard Hanna greatly assisted Pablo in
his three decades long quest for recognition
of the crest of the Manzanos as the eastern
boundary of Isleta Pueblo.
In May of 1940, just a few months before
his death, Pablo Abeita spoke at the
“celebration” of the 400th anniversary of
the arrival of the Spanish conquistador,
Francisco Vasquez, to New Mexico. Speaker
after speaker spoke in praise of Coronado as
the man who brought European civilization
to the Southwest. Then Pablo rose to
speak: “I don’t know why you invited me
here, because I am not particularly proud
to be here to observe this quatrocentennial.
After all, you people are honoring those
who brought diseases to my country and
my people, thereby reducing the Indian
population. We have very little land left,
but you continue to encroach upon our
villages. . . you have turned a large section
of land that used to be fertile enough for at
least a subsistence economy for Indians,
into outright desert.”
Throughout his
speech, the audience interrupted with loud
applause.

(Continued on next page)

March 2020
Seven months later Pablo's long and
eventful life ended. Jemez historian Joe
Sando has best summarized Pablo Abeita's
life: "Pablo Abeita was truly an important
and great Pueblo Indian leader. He stood
between the people of the pueblos and the
people outside, since he was erudite and
multilingual. He could communicate with
legislators in Washington, as well as with
businessmen in Albuquerque and Santa
Fe."

Juan Rey Abeita
We are excited to announce that we have
had a couple of responses to the unknown
Isletans. After conducting more interviews
and doing some genealogical work, we hope
to announce who the unknown Isletans
are. This month we are requesting any
information you might have on Juan Rey
Abeita. He is pictured here circa 1892
during the time his children were being
held captive by the Albuquerque Indian
School. Should you have any information
including, but not limited to, photos, letters,
documents, and/or family stories/history
please contact us with your information, we
would love to speak with you. We will not
use any information without your consent.
Thank you!

HOW do you REDUCE YOUR
RISK FOR A STROKE:
Take steps to control certain Chronic
Conditions (high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, diabetes, obesity)
► Quit Smoking! Call 869-4479 to
sign up for Freedom From Smoking
or Thinking About Quitting.
► Eat Healthier! Call 869-4093
to speak with the Nutritionist.
► Get Active! Call 869-4595 to
sign up for the Diabetes programs
or go to the Isleta Rec.
► Manage Your Chronic Disease!
Call 869-4479 to sign up for the
MYCD 6 Session program Starting
2/24/2016.
► Limit your Alcohol Intake! Call
869-5475 to help manage your
drinking.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 15

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 16

March 2020

A new month is here, and spring is on the horizon. Don’t let spring fever keep you away from the
library, come in and check out everything we have to offer. We are busy planning for upcoming
programs and finalizing our Summer Reading Program.

News
The Library will be closed on Friday, March
6th from 8:00am-12:00pm for our monthly
staff meeting. During this time we will be
discussing upcoming library programs,
improving library services and finalizing
Summer Reading details. We apologize for
any inconvenience this may cause. It you
have any suggestions, feedback or concerns
please feel free to speak with a library staff
member. We are always happy to hear from
our community.
The Library will be assisting the Pueblo of
Isleta Census Department with the 2020
Census by providing aid to those whom
choose to complete their 2020 Census online
within the Library. We will also be providing
assistance via Apple iPads wherever the
Library is hosting a remote promotional
booth. For additional questions, you may
call Nate at the Library at 505-869-9808.
The Spring Break vibe is in the air! All
schools will officially be on Spring Break
during the week of March 9th-13th. During
this time the library may be busier and
louder than usual. We apologize in advance.
If noise is a concern please remember
the conference room is an option, which
is available for all patrons any day. For
conference room reservations, please give
the library a call at 505-869-9808.
If you can’t make it into the library to check
out a book, take advantage of our eBook
service! Library patrons now have access
to Overdrive. Overdrive is a FREE service
offered to you by the Pueblo of Isleta Public
Library that allows you to borrow eBooks
and audiobooks anytime, anywhere. You
will need your library card number and
pin to log on to Overdrive. Download the
mobile app Libby to start enjoying this free
service or simply log on to overdrive.com. If
you have any questions about our services
please give us a call at 505-869-9808.
Free Music! Don’t forget to take advantage
of our Freegal Music service. Log on with
your library card number and pin to
start downloading and streaming music.
Library patrons receive 3 free downloads
each week and UNLIMITED streaming of
music with NO AD interruptions. Log on to
freegalmusic.com or download the Freegal
Music app. If you have any questions about
this service or would like to learn more
about it, please give the library a call at
505-869-9808.

Upcoming
Join in on the NCAA March Madness at the
library with 3 events taking place in March.
•
Fill out your NCAA 2020 Bracket on
the ESPN app! We will add you to our
Library Bracket Group. The person with
the most points on their bracket will win
a gift card to Champs!
•
March 25th - Learn how to make
Basketball Oreos for your game day
dessert starting 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm while
supplies last. This program is open to
ages 5 & up, no sign ups are required.

After School Program Students participating in the Valentine Day craft!
•
March 26th- Learn how to make
Cheese Sticks and Onion rings appetizers
for your game day snacks from 5:00 pm
to 6:30 pm. This program is open to the
first 6 adults ages 18 & older. Sign ups
start March 16th.

For more information on any of the March
Madness programs, please give Rebekah or
Ashley a call at 505-869-9808 or by email
Rebekah.Lovato@isletapueblo.com
and
Ashley.Morales@isletapueblo.com.

March 2020
Summer Reading Program
Registration will be on Friday, May
8th at 7am.
Registration will be on the first come, first
serve basis. We will have one single line for
registration for youth and junior groups.
This will insure that priority is given to
those whom showed up early.
Some reminders to keep in mind before
registering:
•
Only Parents/Legal Guardians of
students are allowed to sign up students
for the Summer Reading Program.
•
3 year olds MUST be potty trained.
•
We will be asking for BASIC
information on registration form along
with a list of allergies.
The Youth Summer Reading Program
group descriptions are out. We will feature
5 different themes to choose from. 5 spots
will be available for each of the programs.
Both Junior and Youth calendars will be
released in the April newsletter and will be
available to be picked at the library and will
be posted on our social media accounts so
keep a look out for that.
If you have any questions regarding our
Summer Reading Program please give us
a call at the library and speak with a staff
member at 505-869-9808.

Recap
On February 12th library staff member
Cheyenne hosted a Valentine program in
making adorable little Valentine Candy
Dogs to give to your loved ones for Valentines
Day! This program was open to ages 5 & up,
while supplies last. We had a great turn
out with it being a half-day for students.
Students were able to come in read or do
homework then participate in the craft.
On February 13th library staff member
Ashley hosted a Valentine’s Fruit Bouquet
program. Most of you are familiar with
Edible Arrangements, this program showed
participants a DIY version of the product.
We all know those arrangements can get
pricey and the library is all about showing
nifty ways of saving money. This program
was open to the first 6 sign-ups 18 & over
with all supplies being provided.
Pueblo of Isleta Public Library
Hours of Operation:
Library Hours
Mon-Thurs - 8:00a.m. - 6:30p.m.
Friday 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Saturday 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m.
Closed on Sundays, all federally recognized
Holidays and also Isleta traditional
Holidays. Please contact library for more
information on closures.
Phone: 505-869-9808
Fax: 505-869-8119
Email: poi02002@isletapueblo.com
Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/IsletaPuebloLibrary
Web Address:
www.isletapueblo.com/library2.html
YouTube:
www.youtube.com/user/poilibrary
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/poilib
Snapchat:
poipubliclib

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 17

Page 18

Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

SUMMER PROGRAMS

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

Pueblo of Isleta Public Library
Summer Reading Programs
2020 YOUTH Summer Reading Program
will feature 5 different curriculums for students
to choose from. We will have 25 spots available
for our Youth Program for ages 7-17 years old
with 5 students per curriculum.

Page 19

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 20

March 2020

Isleta Parks and Recreation
Happy March to everyone in the Pueblo!
For all those basketball fans March
Madness is here for college teams around
the country and high school teams here in
the state. It’s also March Madness for our
Isleta Eagles boys and girls teams here at
the recreation center as well. Both teams
are doing well, last month they traveled to
tournaments and had a great time. The
tournament in Dulce, NM was a good trip
for the kids to attend. They left very early
that morning to be there in time for the
games, our boys’ team won 1 game and lost
2 in this tournament while our girls’ team
won 2 and lost 1. According to the kids
and the coaches everyone had a great time.
Our coaches (George Waquie, Cubathee
Montoya, Kyle Wade and Timothy Jiron) do
a wonderful job with the boys and girls on
our teams, they do a great job of teaching
the kids about the game of basketball and
how to play the right way and they hope
that the kids always do their best no matter
the outcome, even more importantly, our
coaches teach our kids about life. The
teams also played a game in Laguna in
mid-February and as usual they all did
well. Please continue to support our teams
the kids love to see people in the stands and
we think it’s great to see the support they
get from everyone here in the pueblo.

Abeita) are always ready to help the clients
that attend their facility. These individuals
are very knowledgeable and they do a great
job of putting programs together for the
patrons that frequent that facility. Please
stop in and workout, make sure to ask the
staff for help. They will gladly be there to
offer their assistance.
Don’t forget about our other fitness
instructors here at the Recreation Center
(Thomas Zuni, Cubathee Montoya, and
Kyle Wade) have been putting programs
together for tribal members as well. Spin
Classes, weight loss challenges, talking to
the youth at school, working with clients
at the assisted living center and the elder
center keeping them busy throughout the
day. They have been trying to come up
with creative new programs to bring more
tribal members into the facility to work out.
These individuals really know their stuff
and really want to help each and every one
of you become healthier, so come in say hi,
work out or ask them to help put a program
together for your needs.

Our after school program is another
program that does wonderful things for
the children that attend. The current staff
members (LeeAnne Zuni and Meredith
Platero) are awesome with the children.
Field trips, daily activities, board games,
arts & crafts projects, reading, homework
help, outdoor activities and daily snacks
are common place for all the kids that
attend. These two have even gone above
and beyond by setting up field trips that
sometimes land on national holidays during
the week. I love checking on the kids before
I leave for the day, all the kids have smiles
and really seem to be enjoying themselves,
they are usually eating their snacks, doing
homework or working on an arts & crafts
project. If you get a chance stop in and see
the wonderful things our staff does with the
children.
I don’t want our sports program and after
school program to over shadow our other
programs.
The Pickle Heights fitness
instructors (Michael Trujillo, Antoinette
Lucero, John Matt Jojola and Steven

Our Parks Maintenance crew is dealing
with the last remnants from winter; they
are also already starting to prep the parks
and ball fields for the summer. Little
League is getting ready to start soon and
our fields need to be ready to go. The crew
(Donald Lucero, Ron Abeita, Ted Rockwell,
Jon Stapleton, Ron Jojola, Alvin Olguin,
Stephanie Jiron, Jamaine Madrid, Ernest
Correa and Alex Jaramillo) have been
working their tails off and there is no
slowing down now with spring and summer
right around the corner. If you see our crew
out there working please tell them, hi, and
don’t forget to compliment them on how
good our parks and fields look.
Another update on our swimming pool!
The work on the re-plaster of the pool will
be starting soon. I think I mentioned last
month that this facility and the pool are
22 years plus old and it’s time for some
subtle upgrades. Everyone has been very
supportive and patient and I want to thank
you all for the support. We are currently
in the process of hiring a Pool Manager
and staff to man the pool, we hope that we
are able to find people to fill the lifeguard
positions and if we can’t we will be doing our
best to recruit people to fill those positions.

Those positions are very very important
because of the safety issues that we need
to stay on top of in the Aquatic Center, so
we really need to find the right people to fill
those positions.
Once again, thank you for being patient; we
are trying really hard to get the pool open
again. I just want to make sure we open it
correctly not just quickly.
Feel free to contact me at the Center if
you have any questions about the Parks &
Recreation Department or if you just want
to call and say hi!
Arnold Sena
Director of the Parks & Recreation
Department
869-9777

Optometry Services

Patients in need of Optometry
Services:
Due to the Optometrist vacancy the IHC
Optometry Department and PRC are
working together to schedule Optometry
services outside of the Isleta Health Center.
Please be advised that services that are
coordinated require an authorized referral
from PRC in advance.
Patients who
schedule their own Optometry appointment
without an authorized referral will be
financially responsible for payment.

Optometry Services available to IHC
Patients:
•
•
•

Frame and lens selection
Frame repair and adjustment
Ordering glasses and contact lenses

Optometry will accept prescriptions for
glasses and contacts from outside providers
as long as the prescription is not expired.
If you have questions or concerns please
contact Optometry services @869-4080
THANK YOU
-Isleta Health Center Optometry Department

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 21

Page 22

Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

PUEBLO OF ISLETA
PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT
Newspaper Article – March 2020
The Public Works Department has a new
phone number that should be used when
calling in work orders such as sewage backups, septic pumping or water and wastewater
issues. Septic systems are pumped only on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call 505869-5170 to request a work order. There is
also a work order system available via email
that can be used to submit work orders:
publicworksorders@isletapueblo.com . When
submitting work orders, please provide the
address, resident’s name, contact phone
number and the type of work requested.
Please advise if you have locked gates or dogs
on the property that we should be aware of.
The “Village Sewer Line Replacement Project”
is expected to begin construction in the
spring of 2020 and will serve approximately
1,300 residents on 460 homes within the
Main Village, Oraibi, and Mousetown areas.
The sewer infrastructure will include new
installation and rehabilitation as shown
below:
• Pipe Bursting Total – 27,037 Linear
Feet
• Rehabilitation of 150 manholes – 525
Vertical Feet
• New Manhole Installation – 6
• Locate, Removal, Disposal of existing
gravity sanitary sewer service line –
34,750
• Installation of new HDPE Force main
– 5,580 Linear Feet
• Installation of new grinder pumps - 17
At various times the contractor will need
to close roadways in order to protect the
residents and the construction workers.
The contractor and the Pueblo of Isleta will
coordinate to ensure everyone affected by the
road closures will have sufficient notice.
As the contractor works on installing new
service lines from the homes or businesses to
the new sewer mains, proper notice will be
given to residents or business owners since
the use of your service line will need to be
suspended during the installation work.
The project is expected to be completed in the
summer of 2021.
If you have any questions, please feel free to
contact Mr. Edwin Jaramillo, Public Works
Director at 505-869-9781 or email him at
poi37401@isletapueblo.com. You may also
contact Mr. Bernard Chavez, Public Works
Supervisor at 505-270-9538 or email him at
poi90201@isletapueblo.com

Isleta Pueblo News
Editor:
Nathaniel Lujan
Asst. Editor:
Diane Abeita
Published By:
Valencia Express

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 23

ISLETA POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER
The second month of
2020 has come and
gone and many of us
are looking forward
to bidding Winter
adieu and hello to
Spring. Even though
Punxatawney Phil
predicted an early
spring it has yet
to arrive so we hope it will arrive on time
March 19. Weather conditions have been
anywhere from a low of 32 degrees to a high
of 60 degrees appearing Mother Nature
hasn’t quite decided what to do yet.
With these significant changes in weather
conditions, we ask that all drive accordingly.
There have been multiple crashes in and
around the Pueblo and some are due to
weather while many others are because
drivers fail to use due care watching speed,
traffic flow, weather conditions, traffic
lights/stop signs, etc. IHSP Traffic is out
daily and watching for traffic violators so
PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

Right now, data from the U.S. National Institute
on Drug Abuse shows that “methamphetamine
abuse is most prevalent in the western and
midwestern regions of the U.S.,” according to
Glatter. “Nearly 70% of local law enforcement
agencies from those areas of the U.S. indicate
that methamphetamine is the drug that poses
the greatest danger to its citizens.”
Add fentanyl to the mix, and risks run even
higher.

methamphetamines and fentanyl, often used
together in potentially lethal ways.
The drug test results came primarily from
clinics dealing with primary care, pain
management or substance abuse disorders.
The results showed that between 2013 and
2019, urine samples testing positive for
methamphetamine (“meth”) have skyrocketed
sixfold, from about 1.4% of samples testing
positive in 2013 to about 8.4% in 2019.
Similarly, the percentage of drug urine tests
coming back positive for the highly potent -and sometimes fatal -- opioid fentanyl have
more than quadrupled since 2013, the study
found. In 2013, just over 1% of the urine
samples tested positive for fentanyl, but by
2019 that number was nearing 5%, said a
team led by Dr. Eric Dawson, of Millennium
Health in San Diego.
And, too often, fentanyl is being taken in
combination with meth or other illicit drugs.

The D.A.R.E. Program in the school is
preparing to begin classes with the first
class scheduled for March 4, 2020 at Isleta
Elementary School. It is anticipated these
classes will occur once a week in different
classrooms. The ability to prevent and/or
curb the problems with drugs and violence
must be education imparted to the young
with continued mentorship from the
community, department resources, and the
Police Department.

DRUG AWARENESS WITHIN
THE PUEBLO
Drugs are a problem everywhere and the
Pueblo is no exception. With the constant
travel through the Pueblo the flow of drugs
is inevitable. Methamphetamine has been
found on the Pueblo and testing has shown
Fentanyl has been discovered here as well.
Drugs will definitely take a dramatic toll
on a person’s body and health but these
are deadly as well. This is a public service
message to all the members of the Pueblo.
Below is an article taken from Drug.com:

U.S. Saw Big Rise in Meth,
Fentanyl Use in 2019
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2020 -- A study of over 1
million urine drug tests from across the United
States shows soaring rates of use of

Between 2013 and 2019, the rate at which
urine samples testing positive for fentanyl
also tested positive for meth rose almost 14fold, Dawson’s group found, and by more
than sixfold for cocaine and heroin.
All of this suggests that “methamphetaminerelated overdose deaths [especially] may
continue to increase,” according to the study
published online Jan. 3 in JAMA Network
Open.
One doctor on the front lines of the epidemic
of drug abuse and overdose said the statistics
are cause for alarm.

“Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent
than morphine, and consequently may lead
to respiratory depression and death,” Glatter
said, and often “rescue” medications like
naloxone won’t help.
“Standard doses of naloxone to reverse the
respiratory effects of fentanyl are typically
ineffective,” Glatter said, so “[only] intubation
and mechanical ventilation may be lifesaving
in the setting of fentanyl overdose.”
We urge anyone who has knowledge of
someone who has an addiction to these
drugs or any drugs to include prescribed
medications reach out for help. There are
services available and recommendations
that can be made to guide them through the
process.

IHSP
The members of the Indian Highway Safety
Program in Isleta will be traveling to the
“Lifesaver’s Conference” in Tampa, Florida.
This conference is “The largest gathering of
highway safety professionals in the United
States” as it brings together “a unique
combination of traffic safety and public
health professionals, researchers, advocates,
practitioners and students committed to
sharing best practices, research and policy
initiative proven to work”. (As taken from
Lifesavers Conference 2020 website).
The conference has approximately 2000
attendees representing the following
groups:
• Local, tribal, state and Federal
highway safety officials
• Law enforcement, prosecutors &
first responders

“We are talking about serious and deadly
risks -- patients who may stop breathing
and suffer heart attacks, strokes or develop
bleeding in the brain,” said Dr. Robert Glatter,
an emergency medicine physician at Lenox
Hill Hospital in New York City.

• Child safety advocates,
technicians & instructors

Even when meth doesn’t kill, it can easily ruin
lives, he noted.

• Auto & insurance industry leaders

“Methamphetamine
abuse
can
result
in anxiety, insomnia, addiction, mood
disturbances, psychosis and violent behavior,”
Glatter explained. The drug “may also trigger
psychotic symptoms including hallucinations,
paranoia and delusions. In some cases,
psychotic symptoms can persist for months or
even years after people have stopped using,”
he said.

• Private & non-profit program
providers
• Victim advocates
• Public health professionals
• Safety & injury prevention
specialists
• Students, researchers &
academics
• Transportation planners &
engineers

Page 24

Isleta Pueblo News

ELDER CENTER MONTHLY GENERAL MEETINGS
A GREAT PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT IMPORTANT
RESOURCES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO
ELDERS!
In February, 2020 Mark
Dixon, Director and Frank
Jiron, Fire and Forestry
Supervisor, representing
the Pueblo of Isleta Natural
Resource
Department,
shared
information
regarding the work that
their department performs.
They talked about the size
of our land base and the
various types of challenges
they encounter in the
protection and management of POI lands. They also shared information about
services available to elders like wood supply, tree trimming and land clearing.
They noted that some of these items are not free and come with some conditions
and/or limits. The presentation was very interesting and the elders were happy
to know who is working to protect our lands.
Every month, the Elder Center Calendar in the Tribal Newsletter indicates the
scheduled day for the General Meetings. Please join us, we start the day with a
“Friendship Breakfast” allowing elders to interact and socialize before they get
to hear about important information and available resources.
For the General Meeting on March 18, 2020 we will cover the results of a
recent Community Assessment conducted to identify the needs of our elder
community population. 303 Randomly selected tribal members 55 years of
age and older participated in the survey. In addition, at the meeting in March,
we will publicly tally and announce the newly voted Elder Center Advisory
Committee Members.

March 2020

From the desk of Emma Abeita
Elder Center Adult Day Services
Manager
“Spring has sprung!”
Adult Day Services has many exciting
activities planned for the Month of March,
one will be taking our elders to visit Jemez
Pueblo Elder Center to meet and socialize
with Jemez elders. In addition, Thomas
Zuni and two others from Isleta Recreation
Center will begin a new exercise program
with our elders, for example, taking short
walks and chair exercises twice a week on
Tuesdays and Thursdays.
We would like to thank Tony, Vera, and
Thelma that came last month and played
music for our elders, they enjoyed the music
and dancing.
Just a reminder you can come and visit
our elders Monday- Friday 9am-3pm. We
welcome families, friends and those of you
who would even like to come and do an
activity with our elders. We can provide
supplies. You can also join us for lunch.
If you have any questions about Adult Day
Services for your loved ones or would like
to come and do an activity, please contact
myself or Karla Trujillo, Adult Day Services
Assistant at 505-869-9770

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 25

WHAT IS ADDICTION?
Addiction is a chronic disease
when left untreated causes
lasting damage to the person
with the addiction as well as
to family and community.
Addiction is also known as
chemical dependency.
People can develop an addiction or chemical
dependency to many substances that include alcohol,
methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and opiates
such as heroin and pain pills. Alcohol is also considered
a drug and people can and do become addicted to
alcohol.
Addiction is classified as a brain disease because abuse
of alcohol and/or drugs changes the brain. Addiction
is dependence on something that is physically or
psychologically habit-forming. It is difficult for the addict to
stop using alcohol/drugs because of the withdrawal that
happens when the use stops. A hangover or withdrawal
is a severe physical and psychological shock.
People with addictions have an intense focus on using
certain substances such as alcohol or drugs until the
addiction takes over their lives. The changes in the brain
cause addicts to have powerful cravings and make it
hard for them to stop using alcohol and/or drugs, even
when they know continued use causes problems.
The destruction of the disease of addiction is real and the
changes to brain chemistry are frightening. Sobriety or
recovery often seem impossible to the alcoholic/addict,
family, friends, and community. Untreated addiction is a
tragedy that has a devastating ripple effect on children,
parents, communities, and nations.
Remember there is no shame in having an addiction –
the shame is in doing nothing about it!
Isleta Behavioral Health 505-869-5475

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Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

Health Effects of Cigarette
Smoking Part 1
Stephanie Barela,
Isleta Health Educator, 869-4479

Smoking Causes Death
•
Cigarette smoking causes more than
440,000 deaths, or nearly one of every five
deaths, each year in the United States.
•
More deaths are caused each year by
tobacco use than by human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor
vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined.
•
If nobody smoked, one of every three-cancer
deaths in the United States would not happen.
•
Smoking causes an estimated 90% of all
lung cancer deaths in men and 80% of all lung
cancer deaths in women.
•
An estimated 90% of all deaths from
chronic obstructive lung disease are caused
by smoking.

Smoking and Increased Health Risks
Compared with nonsmokers, smoking
estimated to increase the risk of—
•

Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times,

•

Stroke by 2 to 4 times,

•

Men developing lung cancer by 23 times,

•

Women developing lung cancer by 13
times, and

is

•
Dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases
(such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by
12 to 13 times.

Smoking and Cardiovascular Disease
•
Smoking causes coronary heart disease,
the leading cause of death in the United States.
•
Cigarette
smoking
causes
reduced
circulation by narrowing the blood vessels
(arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing
peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of
the large arteries in the arms and legs that can
cause a range of problems from pain to tissue
loss or gangrene).
•
Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm
(i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery
of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the
abdomen).

To learn more about the “Thinking
About Quitting”, quit smoking
program. Please contact me at the
Isleta Health Center
Stephanie Barela, 869-4479

March 2020

Isleta Health Center
Behavioral Health Clinic:
Prevention Program
Phone: 505.869.5475

Teen Dating Violence Recap
A question posed to youth participants, “What
Can You Do To Help”? Through self-disclosure,
youth participants who agreed to have their input
in the newsletter, they were unsure, but provided
great insight. Insight provided were statements
like, “I don’t know, I’m confused, we can get help,
go to a counselor, don’t go to so and so (identified
unhelpful individuals), or don’t tell so and so
(identified unhelpful individuals)”. Through this
reflection, we were able to gather positive and
negative statements, turning negative to positive
statements to gain confidence when addressing
their own needs.
Youth agreed to input, with the following, Kendra
Edaakie, Kayanna Jiron, Aaron Jiron, and Ava
Cherino. Tasks were given to participants to
provide input to the group process and questions
around Teen Dating Violence. One participant
stated, “It’s important for people to know it’s bad
to be in a bad relationship?” Bad relationships
to them consisted of “fights, they can hurt you
(physically fighting, emotional/mental abuse),
get dumped because of jealousy, insecurity or
cheating, not able to leave a relationship because
the partner uses threats to kill or come for you”.
Furthermore, they want to provide community
members with information regarding signs of
a bad relationship. These signs include, “over
controlling and over protective, when a partner
controls whom the person sees, what they can do,
or when they can go”. Partners can be “abusive,
physically-hitting or fighting, emotional-unstable
or trust issues.” Throughout this discussion, a
great amount of time was dedicated to how a
“partner could use you”. They feel partners can
and will use someone to gain “money, things, or
materials when the partner buys them things to
their benefit, they use their possessions such
as cars or phones, or use them to live in their
house”.
Through this dialogue, youth were able to
conceptualize how they can turn negatives
into positives. Collectively, they were able to
talk about dating violence, in general, and the
impacts it has. Impacts include humiliation to a
person, embarrassment, afraid of repercussions
of partners and parents, collectively they were
able to understand and address the negative
statements above. An example of this is turning
“I don’t know” into “I do know”. One participant
recognizes by reading information on dating
violence, you can gain information. Another
example of this is in the form of identifying
support systems. One identified negative social
support is individuals you do not trust or are not
comfortable talking with. The way they turned
this into positive, is identifying those they do trust
and are very comfortable. One youth identified
ways both parents and youth can be helpful
in dating violence. Parents can be helpful by
questioning or talking to them about what might
be happening, by not judging or getting mad.
Youth can be helpful by helping to calm down
the person by talking to them, and bringing up
positive memories, and not bad ones.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 27

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Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

St. Augustine Parish
Isleta Pueblo
Ministry of Consolation

MISSION STATEMENT

COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR
SAVE THE DATE
AUGUST 8, 2020
10am-1pm

We are a ministry of consolation at St. Augustine Parish to offer
spiritual comfort and support to families who have experienced
the loss of a loved one. We will continue to honor and respect
our traditional teachings.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To assist our spiritual leader in Christ with his duties to render
pastoral care and/or services.
2. To assist families with hospitality and Christian fellowship after
the liturgy and burial services when requested.
3. The bereavement group will offer informal continuing support.

March 2020

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 29

Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care
P.O. Box 579 Isleta, NM 87022

March Newsletter

2nd Annual Valentine’s Day Dance
The Isleta Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care held our annual Valentine’s
Day Dance for the families and children on February 7, 2020. The Parent Committee
planned a successful family night with well over 100 attendees. The children had a
great time bustin’ a move with their friends and family! The Head Start, Early Head
Start, and Child Care would like to thank the Isleta Rec Center for hosting our event
as well as contributing their time and effort to decorate in preparation for the dance. A
big thank you to Reservation Party Rentals who donated the DJ equipment to make
this event possible. We would also like to thank the community service workers for
assisting in the decoration and handing out sack lunches.

March 4, 2020

Family Night (Dental and Nutrition)
Dinner will be provided

March 9-13, 2020

Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)

March 16, 2020

Children Resume School

March 18, 2020

Policy Council Meeting @ 5:00pm
Dinner & Child Care provided

March 19, 2020

Parent Committee Meeting @ 5:00pm
Dinner & Child Care provided

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER
In 2019, the Isleta Health Center
prepared, disseminated and collected
549 Community Health Assessment
Surveys at over 21 different program
sites throughout Isleta. In reviewing
all of the responses, we are aware there
is a need for more education on the
Isleta Health Center and our services.
In 2020, we plan to offer a quarterly
newsletter as a way to provide this
information to the community, along
with a range of information on health.
We will initially distribute the IHC
Newsletter out to the community at
different locations throughout the
Pueblo, however, if you would like
this Quarterly Newsletter mailed
or emailed directly to you, please
contact Lorraine Lucero at (505) 8694595 and specify that you would like
to be on the Isleta Health Center
Newsletter list.
Please feel free to contact Stephanie
Barela at (505) 869-4479 if you have
any suggestions on Health Education
topics.
Thank you.

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Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

Isleta Health Center
Behavioral Health Services Prevention Program
Phone: 505.869.5475

Misperceptions and Stigmas
associated with Mental
Health
When you hear the words Mental Health, what is
your initial thought? Is your first thought, “they’re
crazy, they’re psycho, they want attention, or they are
dangerous?” These are common stigmas and negative
terms that are heard throughout exercises facilitated
in Mental Health First Aid courses. We don’t want to
brand individuals as John Doe “the Schizo” or John
Doe “the Crazy guy down the street”. The reality is, he
is “John Doe who has a mental health problem”.
Mental health issues are as common as physical
ailments and diseases. Yet, we are more likely to go
to the aid of someone with a broken leg than someone
who suffers from Depression or Anxiety. Although
Depression or Anxiety is ‘unseen’, these mental health
issues are just as debilitating as or more so than
many physical problems. Mental Health issues don’t
discriminate, a phrase taken from Mental Health
First Aid exercise, “it is neither a rich man’s disease
nor the poor man’s curse.” The reality is that Mental
Health issues are as common as the use and abuse of
legal and illegal substances.
How can we help those in need who have anxiety,
depression, or other mental health issues? Like
stated above, we are often more likely to offer help to
a person with physical disabilities than we are to the
one with emotional or mental health challenges. We
can change that! We can become Mental Health First
Aiders. As participants in the training, misperceptions
and stigmas are challenged and debunked through
the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid Training.
Developed in the U.S. by the National Council for
Behavioral Health in 2008, MHFA classes are meant
to give people the tools they need to identify mental
illness in people they interact with on a regular
basis — and support them in finding help. Breaking
stigmas and misconceptions about mental illness is
an added bonus.
May is considered Mental Health Awareness month.
In the month of May, Mental Health First Aid training
is offered for community members to learn how to
help those people who suffer from Mental Health
conditions, such as Depression, Anxiety, Substance
Use, and Psychosis.
All trainings are free! In recognition of Mental
Health Awareness Month, IBHS acknowledges IHS
Albuquerque Area Office the opportunity to bring
Mental Health First Aid to this community. If you are
interested in attending, call now to reserve your spot:
505-869-5475
We are here to serve.

March 2020
WE ARE HERE TO SERVE
Isleta Health Center Team
(505)869-3200

National Native
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Stephanie Barela, Health Educator

MARCH is National Native HIV/Aids Awareness
Day. This is a time to raise awareness about HIV/
AIDS in Native Communities. According to the CDC,
Members of Native Communities chose to observe
this day on “Spring Equinox because, for many, it
represents a time of equality, balance, and new
beginnings; a celebration of life for all people. This
day encourages Native communities to get educated,
get tested, and get involved in HIV prevention and
treatment.”
“HIV” stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
The HIV virus destroys the body’s immune system,
resulting in AIDS. “AIDS” stands for Acquired
Immunodeficiency Syndrome, the end result of HIV
infection when your body is no longer able to fight off
other opportunistic infections.
CDC states that although in 2017 HIV only
represented approximately 1% of Native Americans,
it is still important that HIV/AIDS prevention is brought
to all communities to hopefully one day end the
HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States in the next
decade. With today’s tools, we know how to prevent
HIV and to help people with HIV stay healthy. It is
important to start treatment as soon as possible after
someone is diagnosed and to continue treatment
regularly to help lower the amount of the virus in the
body and eventually make the virus undetectable.
If a person with HIV stays undetectable, they can
stay healthy for many years, and there is effectively
no risk of transmitting HIV through sex to an HIVnegative partner. Having an undetectable viral
load also substantially reduces the risk of mothers
transmitting HIV to their babies.

Health officials note the best way to stop the
spread is to:
• Know your HIV status
• Avoid or delay sexual activity
• Decrease the number of sexual partners you
have
• Always use latex condoms during sex
• Avoid sharing needles or equipment to
tattoo, body pierce or inject drugs
• Test at least annually if sexually active
• Get into and continue with health care if
infected.

People can get infected with HIV by:
• Unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-
infected person.
• Sharing drug injection needles
• Being accidentally stuck by needles or sharp
objects
• Infected blood used in transfusions
• Pregnancy, childbirth, and/or breastfeeding,
where the virus is passed from mother
to child.
• Transplanted organs from infected donors.
Getting tested is the best way to ensure that you and
your partner remain as safe and healthy as possible.
If you wait until you have symptoms, it can be much
harder to treat with medication. With the medication
available today, it is entirely possible to live a long
and healthy life with an HIV diagnosis, but getting
tested early is the KEY! Schedule an appointment
with your provider today to and tested.
Please call New Mexico AIDS Services that provides
comprehensive services, support, and prevention
education at (505) 938-7102 for more information.
www.cdc.com

Isleta Pueblo News

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Isleta Pueblo News

March 2020

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apueblo_isleta%3A4f7fec7ad3f9a51e. Public record. Not legal advice.