# Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com (2023) > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apueblo_isleta%3A54aae733c0491f82 ## Record - **Collection:** Tribal code - **Document type:** Tribal code ## Text Volume 18 Issue 9 Isleta Pueblo News Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com September 2023 Governor’s Report Maguwam, Everyone, I hope this newsletter finds everyone in good health. As we wrap up summer and prepare for another school year, I hope the children are adjusting to schedules and school well. I want to remind everyone to drink plenty of water, and stay hydrated as the days continue in the high heat. In addition, I just wanted to remind if you are feeling sick, please stay home to prevent the spread of any illness. The Governor’s Office met with Congresswoman Stansbury in-person on August 3rd. We discussed her legislative priorities during the meeting. Some key issues she emphasized were education, climate & environment, and veterans affairs. We also discussed the need for infrastructure funding for key projects across the Pueblo. We look forward to continued discussion and extend our appreciation to Congresswoman Stansbury and her staff for visiting the Pueblo. community members, I called a meeting with state, county, and city leaders to discuss the impact of the fire and the environmental protections in expanding development at Mesa del Sol. I hosted that governmentto-government meeting at the Pueblo on August 21st. The meeting was a strong start to an open and transparent conversation about the industrial development and environmental safeguards in place at Mesa del Sol. My administration will continue to engage in ongoing consultation with surrounding jurisdictions to provide input in the industry moving into Mesa del Sol. Director Clint Lente and Fire Chief Lester Gary, I presented on important matters to the Pueblo, including UXO clean up and wildland fire management. I look forward to our continued partnership with Congressman Vasquez to address these important public safety issues on the Pueblo. I also met with Isleta’s Congressman for New Mexico District 2, Gabe Vasquez. Together with Natural Resources Eugene and Denise Wade I would like to take this time to thank all the mayordomos, their families along with our departments and staff in preparing for The St. Augustine Feast on August 28th. Mayordomos Kevin and Patricia Lujan Steven Jojola and Kaylee Jojola As we continue to celebrate in honor of St. Augustine, Isleta’s Patron Saint, the Mayordomos would like to extend this invite to join them for Vespers Mass on September 3rd at 7pm with precession traditional dances, food and The Daniel Solis Live Band. The feast day to continue on September 4th with Mass at 9am, procession, traditional dances and food. I would like to extend a big thank you, to The Miguel Trujillo committee along with tribal leaders for making this day possible. We honored the 75th Anniversary of Miguel Trujillo Event on August 3rd; he was the brave civil rights advocate that paved the way for Native Americans to exercise their constitutional right to vote. We look forward in preparing for next year, working, and collaborating with other outside departments in reaching our goals to carry on in recognizing our tribal member! Last, I want to send my condolences to the families of those who have lost their family members during the month of August. Ha-Wuh On, August 8, 2023, I attended President Biden’s speech in Belen on Renewable Energy. It was exciting to hear about the future of renewable energy in New Mexico. In response to concerns I received from Max A. Zuni Governor Pueblo of Isleta Brian Jiron 4 MRGCD 2023 Endorsed by Governor Max Zuni and Tribal Council President Michael A. Lente Good day to all and thank you for taking the time to read this today. My name is Brian Jiron. I am a Pueblo of Isleta member and fulltime farmer, and I am running for the Valencia County seat for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) Board of Directors. Every Pueblo of Isleta member that has an address on the Pueblo can vote for me even if you live in Bernalillo County. I ask for your vote through mail-in voting or in person on October 3rd. Please allow me to take a few minutes of your time to explain to you why I am running and how you can support my candidacy. I have lived and farmed here in Isleta my whole life and have had the privilege of being a mayordomo on the Chical and the Ranchitos sides. I have worked closely with the ditch riders from MRGCD and seen a lack of communication with the farmers and a lack of transparency in water concerns. This is exactly what I would like to find a solution for. Water is central in our lives on so many levels. I believe it is important that Isleta, as well as other Pueblos, have a voice on policies that will affect the water distribution and flow through our beautiful communities. Voting is set to take place October 3rd. All registered Pueblo of Isleta Tribal members that reside on the reservation are eligible to vote, regardless of if you reside in Valencia County or Bernalillo County. There will be a voting polling location on the Pueblo for this special election. You can also vote by mail or vote early. For more information, please visit my Facebook page at: Brian Jiron 4 MRGCD Valencia County 2023, website at brianjiron4mrgcd. wixsite.com/vote or email me at brianjiron4MRGCD@gmail.com. I hope I can count on my community to come out and vote for me, Brian Jiron. Let me be the voice of Isleta, the voice for the other Middle Rio Grande Pueblos, and the voice for Valencia County as the next MRGCD Board of Director for Valencia County. Page 2 Isleta Pueblo News LETTER FROM THE EDITOR DEADLINE for October Newsletter articles is set for Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 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 fifteen 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 fifteen Newsletter distribution locations are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. TR 2 & TR 22 - Chical SE of Community Hall TR 10 - Behind the old 47 Sales TR 1 & TR 5 – Ranchitos / Bosque Farms Reservations Line Ranchitos Park Post Office - Big Tree TR 82 & TR 84 - Teller Road TR 78 & TR 82 - Carlos Trujillo Sr. TR 90 @ Y - CF Padilla Mouse Town Park – Health Center – South end of Health Center Parking lot Library Sunlight & Moonlight Intersection TR 6 - 47 Intersection TR 12 - 47 & 147 intersection (Old Smoke & Save) TR 71 & TR 54 @ Y - Holiday Robot / Paved Road / Railroad Tracks TR 45 & TR 40 @ Y - Tata Mel (POI Signage) September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 3 TRIBAL COUNCIL Tribal Council is seeking interested candidates to fill a number of vacant positions on boards and committees throughout POI. Tribal members with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Members will be compensated at the rate of $30/hour per meeting, not to exceed $120. Please send a letter of interest, along with a resume to: tribal.council@isletapueblo.com. Isleta Health Center External Health Board (Two-Year Term) Seeking one new member with Public Health knowledge: A strong understanding of public health principles and practices is beneficial for developing effective strategies to address health disparities and promote overall community wellness. Higher Education Board (Two-Year Term) Tribal Enrollment Committee (Three-Year Term) Candidates must be a currently enrolled tribal member, must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and may not be serving concurrently on the Tribal Council or in any elected or appointed position. ISLETA TRIBAL COURT Isleta Tribal Court is pleased to announce that we now have “Isleta Tribal Court Rules of Civil Procedure”, published and approved for use in Isleta Tribal Court. These are the rules that govern civil proceedings in the Tribal Court. The rules were first adopted by the Isleta Appellate Court and the Isleta Tribal Court, on August 18th 2023. The rules will assist litigants in properly preparing their case to be heard in Isleta Tribal Court. The Isleta Tribal Court Rules of Civil Procedure will assist community members who represent themselves in civil matters, and will help with any questions on courtroom conduct, forms, time limits, etc. You can pick up a copy of the rules at the Isleta Tribal Court, or you can find them on the internet at Isletapueblo.com. Isleta Pueblo News Page 4 Job Postings Visit us online at http://www.isleta.com/career-opportunities.aspx Fax: 505-244-8232 September 2023 OUR LOCATION Isleta Resort and Casino is located 7 minutes south of downtown Albuquerque at Interstate 25 and Hwy 47, exit 215. The Human Resources office can be found on the east side of the building through the Employee Entrance doors. September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 5 Tips for Parents: • Set curfews: Have a set curfew, but if you do decide to extend curfew do not let hours go by without checking on your child. Know where they will be and how long they will be there. • Communicate your expectations: Even though you might have talked to your child about the choices they make and how it will affect them, it is always a good idea to have the conversation again especially around this time of year. • Trust: Building trust with your child is mutual; this builds a strong relationship between child and parent. This also allows for growth and understanding. • Boundaries: Your child might want to go to a celebration that is out of town or at place you are not familiar with. Allowing your child to attend these celebrations might create a safety risk for your child and yourself. Make sure you discuss your concerns and make your decisions based on the outcome of your conversation. Isleta Pueblo News Page 6 September 2023 Pueblo of Isleta Career Opportunities Position Posting Office Location Closing Date Position Posting Office Location Closing Date September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 7 ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS) Greetings from Indian Education at Albuquerque Public Schools! Enrollment in all APS schools is open to all students who reside in Isleta with free busing available to the following schools: Los Padillas Elementary School Polk Middle School Rio Grande High School To register, the first step is for one parent to log in to ParentVue, If you do not have a ParentVue account, you can create one here: https://www.aps.edu/students-parents/parentvue-studentvue/ create-your-parentvue-account Registration for each of your children is completed through your ParentVue account. There is currently a bug in the system for many home addresses. If you have difficulty, please use the school address for Los Padillas (2525 Los Padillas Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105) to complete registration and then work with your child's school to fix the address when you visit the school. If you would like for your child to attend one of the other 145 APS schools, you can place a transfer request to the APS school of your choosing. As a member of the Pueblo of Isleta, who resides in Isleta, your transfer is given the highest priority. The transfer request process can be found here: https://www.aps.edu/schools/transfers/new-students-requeststudent-id-and-transfer Please be sure to select the reason for your transfer as "residing on non-taxable trust lands within a 50 mile radius of Albuquerque" so as to ensure your transfer request receives priority. Phil Farson Senior Director APS Indian Education Department 505.884.6392 ext 80039 "BE ON THE LOOKOUT" URGES NEW MEXICO POISON CENTER It's snake season in New Mexico, and the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center has some tips to keep you safe: • Always be aware of your surroundings. • Walk in areas where the ground is clear so you can see where you step. • Be aware of where you sit especially in shady areas. • Wear protective clothing, such as long pants and hiking boots. • Wear gloves when using your hands to move brush or rocks. Don't reach into cracks in rocks, animal burrows or under bushes. • Don't walk around at night or sleep on the ground - snakes are most active at night. • Don't tease, kill or handle a rattlesnake. • If you encounter a snake, don't panic or blindly run away. Look carefully where you are going. • Call the New Mexico Poison Center for poisoning emergencies, questions about poisons, or for information about poison prevention, 24 hours a day, toll free at 1-800-222-1222. • For removal of the snake call: Animal Control at Isleta Pueblo Wildland Enforcement Officers Dispatch Page 8 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 ST. AUGUSTINE PARISH Dear Parents, Greetings from St. Augustine Parish, I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits. As we navigate the challenges and joys of parenthood, I wanted to take a moment to reflect upon the importance of catechism for our children. Catechism, or religious instruction specifically designed for young minds, plays a vital role in our children's spiritual development. It provides a solid foundation, equipping them with the knowledge and understanding of their faith. Through catechism, our children learn about the teachings, values, and traditions of our faith, enabling them to form a strong connection with their spirituality. In this fast-paced world filled with distractions and everchanging ideologies, catechism serves as an anchor in ensuring our children have a firm grounding in their beliefs. It helps them cultivate a moral compass, make well-informed decisions, and develop a sense of purpose as they grow into responsible adults. By participating in catechism, our children become active members of their faith community. They learn the importance of unity, empathy, and support, as they share their spiritual journey with peers and mentors. Catechism fosters a sense of belonging and surrounds our children with individuals who share the same values, creating a supportive environment for their spiritual growth. Furthermore, catechism provides opportunities for our children to build a personal relationship with God. By getting deeper into the scriptures, teachings, and prayers, they can develop a genuine understanding of their faith. Catechism provides a safe space for them to ask questions, seek answers, and explore their spirituality in a nurturing and encouraging setting. This connection with God not only brings comfort and solace, but also empowers our children to face life's challenges with resilience and courage. As parents, we play a crucial role in guiding and nurturing our children's spiritual journey. By encouraging and embracing catechism, we demonstrate the importance we place on their faith and provide them with the tools to navigate through a world that can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming. An investment in catechism is an investment in their future, as it equips them with the values and principles that will shape their character, decision-making, and relationships throughout their lives. Let us take this opportunity to prioritize catechism for our children, not only by enrolling them in religious education programs but also by actively engaging in conversations about their faith at home. Let us make time to pray together, study scripture, and attend church as a family, creating a strong foundation of shared beliefs. May we embrace the gift of catechism, recognizing its significance in shaping our children's spiritual wellbeing. Through catechism, we encourage in them a love for their faith, a deep understanding of their beliefs, and a strong connection to God and their community. Thank you for your dedication to your children's growth and for prioritizing their spiritual development. Together, let us guide them on their path of faith, nurturing their souls and helping them become the compassionate, resilient, and grounded individuals they are meant to be. With warmest regards, Fr. Milton Thomas O. Praem. Pastor, St. Augustine Parish Isleta The catechism registration fee will be $20 per child. If two or more children from the same family register, the third and fourth children will be registered for free. To register, please call Margaret Zuni at (+1 505-2647296) between 10:00 am and 01:00 pm on weekdays. Last date to register September 10. September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 9 CENSUS / TRIBAL ENROLLMENT DEPARTMENT Tribal Council recently passed the new updates to the Census/Tribal Enrollment Department By-laws and Enrollment Ordinance, which took effect on August 01, 2023. Part of those changes were address updates. Address Updates: Please make sure to update your address each time you move so our office has the most current information on file. We have noticed a lot of address issues within the Census and Treasury department during the past distributions. Our office is the main source that other departments use to verify information. You may also call our office to verify your information regularly to avoid any issues. New Address update policy: Address Change a) Tribal members are responsible for maintaining a current address with the Tribal Census/Enrollment Department. b) Acceptable documentation of a change of address shall include at least two (2) of the following: 1. A valid, state issued driver’s license or government-issued identification card listing the new address. 2. A current utility bill with the requester’s name and address listed on the statement. Eligible utilities bills shall include propane bills. 3. Current insurance card or bill showing the requestor’s name and address. 4. Current real property rental agreement or purchase agreement showing the requestor’s name and address. 5. State Medical or Public Assistance with requestor’s name and address on card, letter from issuing agency showing requestor’s name and address, or profile print out from issuing agency showing the same. 6. Bank or credit card statement not more than 60 days old. 7. Employment pay stub containing requestor’s name and address. 8. Documentation from an education institution such as a transcript, report card, or enrollment information. 9. A notarized change of address authorization. Tribal Identification Cards: Tribal Identification cards will be issued every Tuesday and Thursday by appointment. Reminder** ALL TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF FIVE (5) YEARS. **ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE ON FILE WITH THE TRIBAL ENROLLMENT/CENSUS OFFICE PRIOR TO RECEIVING A TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARD. ** Birth and Certificates: State of NM Birth Certificates may be obtained through the Census/ Tribal Enrollment Department. We will continue to make monthly visits to New Mexico Vital Statistics on behalf of tribal members. An Authorization form must be signed and notarized at the Census/ Tribal Enrollment Department giving Director or Enrollment Clerk authorization to obtain Birth Certificate on behalf of Tribal Member. The cost for each certified certificate is $10.00 each with cash, check or money order payable to: NM Vital Records Office. P.O. Box 25767 Albuquerque, NM 87125 Death Certificates: There have been many questions regarding the death certificate process. As a reminder, the Pueblo of Isleta, Census/Tribal Enrollment Department will kindly assist family members in the completion of death certificates of all Tribal Members. Paperwork needs to be completed by the family before starting the process on the state system. Paperwork can be picked up at the Census office. Once the death certificate has been approved and registered with the NM State Vital Office, an Authorization form must be signed and notarized at the Census/Tribal Enrollment Department giving Director or Enrollment Clerk authorization to obtain Death Certificate on behalf of the family. All Certified Death Certificate copies are $5.00 each with cash, check or money order payable to: NM Vital Records Office. P.O. Box 25767 Albuquerque, NM 87125 Residence Ordinance: Any non-tribal member wishing to reside on the reservation must have a residence ordinance application on file. Applications are available for pick up only at our office. This ordinance is being enforced by Governor’s and IPD, please make sure your application is up-to-date. Due to delays in background checks, this application can take up to 6 weeks or longer to complete. Note: only one non-tribal member can be sponsored by enrolled tribal member (over the age of 18) per household. Any minor non-tribal members do not need an application. Please verify with our office the status of your application or any concerns you may have. Please contact the Pueblo of Isleta Census/Tribal Enrollment Department at (505) 869-9766 if you have any questions. Census/Tribal Enrollment Staff, Nanette Coriz, Director Ashlee Abeita, Enrollment Clerk Linda Sue Dawn LeBeau, File Clerk Isleta Pueblo News Page 10 September 2023 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Academic Success Office Michelle “Shelly” Valdez & Jolynn “Jo” Martinez (505)869-9790 Happy September students and families, Most of the students have completed the first month of high school. I hope that you are all taking your studies seriously and staying on top of your assignments. Once you start to miss assignments you tend to make it a habit, and you think you cannot catch up on them, do not make this an excuse. Make your education a no excuse zone! The Department of Education has tutoring services to offer Monday – Thursday 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, take advantage of the extra help and sign up. Kendra Edaakie Los Lunas High School This month we had the pleasure of getting to know Kendra Edaakie, a senior at Los Lunas High School. She is the daughter of Laura and Robert Edaakie. She has an older sister and one younger brother that is in school. She describes herself as being funny, pretty, athletic, hardworking, and smart. This summer she worked as an intern for Pueblo of Isleta Behavioral Health Services. Kendra has been an athlete since she began playing T-ball at an early age. She plays softball for the Los Lunas Tigers. One of her achievements this past May was being named to the All- Academic Team for having the highest GPA of all varsity athletes. She has a GPA that is over a 4.0 and ranked 15 out of 293 seniors at Los Lunas High School. She also likes snowboarding in the winter months when there is snow. In her spare time, Kendra enjoys sleeping. When she is not busy with school and sports, she likes to spend time with her two ducks, Millie and Bolt. A treat she likes making is alfredo. One of her likes in school is math or chemistry. She finds learning about neurons and protons is interesting. One person she attributes her motivation to do well is her father, Robert. He too enjoys math and his accounting skills have rubbed off on Kendra. Her dad is her biggest motivator. He pushes Kendra to do her best because he knows she can do well if she tries. One characteristic that Kendra failed to mention was that she is a comedian. Working alongside her in the classroom, she is often softly giggling with her friends. She appears to be shy but until the interview, we believe she is the one making everyone in her surroundings laugh. When asked what she plans to do after high school, she said while laughing, “Live with my mom and dad.” Dad looked at her in surprise. Seriously, she wants to be working with newborns in the hospital and maybe have a family of her own. A couple of achievements she wishes to attain before graduation is to be ranked in the Top 10 of her senior class, she is currently top 15. Her second goal is to get her 4-year letter in National Junior Honor Society. So far, Kendra has received the 1st year, 2nd year, and 3rd year letter for NJHS. Her advice to her fellow classmates to be successful and don’t get discouraged. Work harder. Try not to procrastinate with homework. Try to get as much of it done in school. Kendra learned that procrastinating has put her in a bind a time or two and caused her to have to work late into the evening hours. Study and learn to make and use note cards. Some teachers will allow you to use them for tests. Kendra finds that studying in her room where it is quiet helps her stay focused. Learn to find your quiet zone. Remember to try to complete all assignments and even if it is not complete, turn it in because most times you will still get a passing grade, which is better than a zero. By studying, you will see that it reflects in your grades. Lastly, keep it up! Push hard to the end, can’t slack now….finish out strong! Happy September college students, As you start a new chapter in your life remember these few things: time is now in your hands, make it count, practice good habits, and remember to ask for help. College will be fun but can be challenging when you think times are getting tough do not give up, step back analyze the situation and find the solution. The Department of Education offers tutoring services Monday – Thursday 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm as well as varsity tutors online at your convenience. Once you feel that classes are getting tough sign up and take advantage of these services. Our Higher Education and Academic Success staff had a brief meet and greet to connect our two students that will be attending University of Hawaii in Manoa this fall. We have Aliyah Zuni and Shontae Abeita. Both girls are excited to start their college years in a land surrounded by ocean. Advice, get all applications for admissions and dorms in as soon as possible and have a secondary college as a backup if the first college you choose is not an option. Shontae is the daughter of Tanisha Reid. She is a recent graduate from Valencia High School. While in high school, she academically lettered three times, was in National Honor Society, played in honor bands, All-State Band, and was on the student council. Shonae is planning to pursue a degree in creative media. She wants to be able to discover many different types of creative parts of the world. She is described as being observant. This helps her take a different look at things from another point of view. Shontae describes herself as a creative person with technology savvy skills. One day she hopes to return to the Pueblo of Isleta and use her creative art genius for others to see or hear whether it is in music or print. While in Hawaii Shontae hopes to learn to overcome her fear of water and learn to surf. Aliyah Zuni is the daughter of Sara Zuni. She is a recent graduate of Los Lunas High School. She was in student council and served as the treasurer. She is going to college to obtain a degree in nursing. She is looking forward to her new adventure while she is away. She is going to miss not being able to be home for traditional ceremonies. She wants to learn how to surf in her free time. HIGH EDUCATION We would like to highlight and congratulate Warren Chewiwi, an incoming freshman at New Mexico Tech, who was recently a recipient of the SMA Native American STEM scholarship. We wish you a successful first year on your college journey. To all POI Higher Education scholarship recipients, we wish you a successful school year! Please make sure to keep us updated on any achievements throughout the school year. September 2023 POI Scholarship Deadline Spring Semester- November 1st The link for the application will open in October. Volunteer Opportunities for POI Scholarship Recipients Volunteers will be needed for upcoming events throughout the school year. As required, each recipient of the POI scholarship must volunteer a minimum of 10 hours per term. We will have volunteer opportunities to help those requirements, be on the lookout for those opportunities. Higher Education Team Greetings, I would love to extend gratitude to the community members who attended our Back to School Fair. Your attendance made the fair marvelous. I would also like to express appreciation to the families who have picked up school supplies during the fair. If you still need to pick up your student’s school supplies, please feel free to come to the Department of Education located at 950 Moonlight Dr. SW Albuquerque, NM 87105 between the hours of 8:00 am–4:30 pm. For the 2023-24 school year the Department has distributed approximately 400 backpacks and school supply kits. If you need additional supplies please contact the office. This supply distribution is only one example of the many services that the Department of Education offers. Your participation and support help us to understand the needs of the community. I would like to remind parents and students of the educational services that the Department offers. Please remember that we have our reimbursement program where you may be reimbursed for various fees incurred within primary and secondary education. To apply for this, use the link below, you will need all original receipts, class schedule and a W-9. The Department also offers tutoring services which started the 21st of August. The tutoring sessions are scheduled from 3pm-6pm Monday through Thursday. These sessions will feature a one hour session of enrichment where students will apply skills learned in the classroom. If you wish to apply for these services, please use the QR Code provided or the formstack link found on the Department’s website. Sincerely, Michael S. Cheromiah Registration and Contact Update Educational Assistance Tutoring Services Reimbursement Isleta Pueblo News Page 11 Isleta Pueblo News Page 12 Isleta Pueblo News Editor: Nathaniel Lujan Asst. Editor: Diane Abeita Published By: Valencia Express September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 13 Page 14 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 TRUANCY Greetings from the Truancy Department, We are excited for the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year as we continue working with our students and parents. We also look forward to communicating working and continue with Los Lunas and Albuquerque Public Schools, the Native American Community Academy and Santa Fe Indian School, and other POI Departments, as well. The Truancy Department was glad to take part in events over the summer months. Events included the school supply distribution with the Department of Education and National Night Out with the Isleta Police Department. It was amazing to see families from the community participate in both events and to see that the students all had a great time. We were also happy to attend Santa Fe Indian School for their dorm check in and to provide our Isleta students with back to school items, such as snacks, toiletries, and duffel bags. In working with the schools that our Isleta students attend, we are communicating to ensure that our students attend school daily and become successful with their education. On page15 you will find the Attendance Plan set in place by the Los Lunas Public School District which is being utilized in meeting with any parents regarding their child(ren). A request has been sent to the Albuquerque Public School District for their Attendance Plan; this information will be shared in next month’s newsletter. Please feel free to call the school or the Truancy Department if you have any questions. As always, we look forward to celebrating all the successes that our Isleta students achieve. If you would like assistance or have any questions, we are always here to provide that support to you. Have a wonderful Labor Day/Feast Day! Isleta Truancy Department Yolanda, Kaylee, Christine and Jared September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Dr. Ryan Kettler, Superintendent P. O. Drawer 1300 Los Lunas, NM 87031 Attendance Plan • Requirement: All students between the ages of 5 and 18 must attend school daily. • Definition: Chronic Absence is when a student misses 10% or more of the school year for any reason, excused or unexcused. • Definition: A student is absent when not in school or a class with or without the prior knowledge and consent of parents, guardians, or school personnel. A student not in class but on a school approved activity will have the absence recorded as “excused” (see Verified Absence below.) •Definition:A school-approved extracurricular activity is when a student not is in school or class as a result of participation in a schoolsponsored/sanctioned event, practice, competition, contest, meeting etc. Students are permitted a total of fifteen (15) school-approved extracurricular absences per semester. Verified Absences (excused): • A student is absent from school with prior knowledge and consent of a parent and written verification to the school. A student is absent from school with personal illness, doctors’ appointments, death in the family, religious commitment, diagnostic commitment, extenuating circumstances, as agreed by the administrator prior to the absence and approved school activities. Student must verify absences by written method within 24 hours of returning to school. • Upon returning from an absence(s), student(s) shall request makeup work and will have one day per one day of absence to make up work unless the teacher and/or school administrator allow additional time. • Students will be expected to take final exams and End of Course exams on the day they are scheduled. Students may be allowed to make up final exams and End of Course exams if the absence is excused. All absences (excused & unexcused): • TIER 1. A student will be in need of whole school prevention when a student has an absentee rate below 5% to include excused and unexcused absences. Whole school prevention strategies will be implemented to support attendance. Attendance supports may include activities (such as whole school campaigns), class attendance competitions, parental Page 15 Bosque Farms Elementary Deanna Herrera, Principal Phone 505-866-0185 Fax: 505-866-0302 notification of student absence through tele-parent or electronic communication, positive behavioral supports (PBIS) to create welcoming school/classroom climates, education nights, social contracts, extra-curricular activities, and attendance incentives. • Tier 2. A student will be in need of individualized prevention when a student reaches 5%-9.9% of absentee rate to include excused & unexcused absences. A phone call will be made from the school site to the parent or guardian to talk to the parent of the student about attendance history, impact of absences on academic outcomes, interventions and services available and consequences of further absences. • Tier 3. A student will be a student in need of early interventions when a student reaches 10%- 19.9% absentee rate to include excused & unexcused absences. A letter will be sent from the school site to the parent or guardian (date, time, place) requesting a meeting with the attendance team to provide intervention strategies that focus on keeping the student in an educational setting. • Tier 4. A student will be in need of intensive support when a student reaches 20% or more of absentee rate to include excused & unexcused absences. A letter will be sent from the school site to the parent or guardian (date, time, place) requesting a meeting with the attendance team or principal to establish non-punitive consequences at the school level and to identify appropriate specialized supports that may be needed to help the student address the underlying causes of excessive absenteeism. Parent(s) and student(s) will be advised of consequences of further absences. Student/Family referral to CYFD: • The Attendance for Success Department will after consultation with the attendance team, administrator or designee shall report the student to the Valencia County Juvenile Probation and Parole Office for investigation as to whether the student should be considered to be neglected or a family in need of services. • If JPO determines that the student is a child in a family in need of services, a caseworker shall meet with the family at the school site to determine if there are other services that may be rovided. The meeting shall include the principal or other school personnel, and unless the family objects in writing, any appropriate community service partners that assist Valencia County children and families. The Children Youth & Families Department shall determine if additional interventions, including monitoring, will positively affect the student(s) attendance behavior. Native American Students: • Notification and referrals will be made to the tribal attendance office in which a tribal student resides for intervention services. Student Attendance Success Teams: • Each school site will maintain a Student Attendance Success Team that will address attendance related issues. The student success team will be composed of an administrator(s), counselor(s), teacher(s), attendance secretary, attendance liaison coordinator, and any other personnel deemed necessary by the school administrator. • The Los Lunas Schools Attendance Department will keep a data base of all students that are receiving intervention services and to ensure that the service providers are supporting the student and family. • The Los Lunas Schools Attendance Department will conduct home visits and coordinate interventions with families or students that are in need of services. Crisis Situations: • During a crisis, the attendance plan will be followed by the Los Lunas School District. • Hybrid Learning- Every student is required by the Los Lunas Schools and in compliance with State of New Mexico to attend all instructional classes daily. Teacher(s) will be required to take attendance for each class period of instructional learning. The administrator(s) will ensure that all attendance is taken by teachers and correctly reported for each instructional class period. • Virtual Learning- - Every student is required by the Los Lunas Schools and in compliance with State of New Mexico to attend all instructional classes daily. Teacher(s) will be required to take attendance for each class period of instructional learning. The administrator(s) will ensure that all attendance is taken by teachers and correctly reported for each instructional class period. Isleta Pueblo News Page 16 ISLETA FIRE DEPARTMENT 3950 Hwy 47 Albuquerque NM,87105 505-869-9724 Joseph Kuziel Luis Cardoza Royce Waconda Devin Chacon The Pueblo of Isleta Fire Department would like to say welcome to the four newest staff members of the Isleta Fire Department. PUEBLO OF ISLETA VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION The Federal and State Veteran Affairs Departments were at our veteran center for six weeks every Friday ending in May 2023. The purpose of the veteran affairs was to assist our Isleta veterans and their spouses on issues they might have. We are in need of young veterans to participate with our color guard details. Should you be interested, please call vice commander, Mike Lucero, at (505) 288-4098. There are several tribal members who are enlisted in the armed forces who will eventually become veterans. We would like to know the names and addresses of these men and women. Please let Elaine Lucero know by calling her at (505) 401-6250. The storage building is almost complete. We have had supply chain issues. The building was purchased to house a tractor along with all the implements which will be used to farm the 4 acres at the veterans’ field. This building was purchased by the state of New Mexico capital outlay funds. The Pueblo of Isleta helped with the cost as the estimate was pre pandemic when it was estimated. COME JOIN THE TIWA AA MEETING ON THURSDAYS FROM 6:10 PM TO 7 PM B’EEH K’OO-EE WELLNESS TRAINING CENTER ISLETA HEALTH CENTER COMPLEX 01 SAGEBRUSH ST. SW ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87105 September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 17 Construction Zone Safety Advisory We have an important message for the Residents who live, work, or attend school near the construction zones on Moon Light Drive: “Stay safe by staying out." With many projects planned and currently under construction across the Pueblo of Isleta, we are seeing people walking, jogging, riding bicycles, or playing in construction areas. This puts kids and adults at risk of serious injuries or worse. The Construction areas have large trucks and heavy equipment working in close quarters, deep trenches and drop offs, uneven ground and other hazards. Staying out of our work zones keeps us all safe and helps us do our jobs as efficiently as possible. We're focused on safety as our primary goal and dedicate ·significant resources to make all projects safe. Protective equipment is required for all workers and site visitors. Safety performance is a key metric for project teams and is continually monitored and improvements are necessary to ensure that workers are able go home safely to their families each night. You can help us by reminding your family, friends and neighbors to stay out of work zones. Please make sure that your kids, especially, know not to play in work zones or on construction equipment. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind: • Don't walk, jog, or ride bikes in construction zones. ENVIRONMENT Monthly surface water quality results • Find a different way if a construction zone temporarily affects your walking route. • Don't play on or near construction equipment. • Obey posted warnings and never go beyond construction fences, barriers or barrels. • Be careful around heavy equipment. If you can't see the driver, he/she cannot see you. DID YOU KNOW? There are no substitutes for blood, platelets or plasma—they cannot be manufactured. Patients in need of blood or blood products must rely on donations from people like you. Those who are hesitant about donating blood for the first time often find that the donation process is easy and that saving lives is deeply gratifying. *Water quality samples are collected from the Rio Grande except Indian Interior Drain at 240 Wasteway, Albuquerque Riverside Drain, and the irrigation locations. - Dash in data table indicates sample not collected. “MPN” is a unit of measure that stands for most probable number. MPN is equivalent to colony forming units (“CFU”). The Pueblo of Isleta’s most stringent surface water quality standard for E. coli bacteria is 88 MPN/100 ml at all times and at all flow rates. Following closure for safety reasons, fishing in the Rio Grande is allowed. Please continue to watch signage at the NM 147 bridge. Notes regarding surface water quality sampling: On September 30, 2022 one sampling event was conducted to measure the concentration of pesticides and herbicides at 4 sample locations: the drain near NM 45 and Interstate 25, Atrisco Riverside Drain, NM 147 and the Albuquerque Riverside Drain near the Northern Boundary. All results were non-detect. Irrigation waters on the west side were shut off around March 22, 2023 for flushing. If you have questions about surface water quality, contact Ramona Montoya, Water Quality Control Officer, at 505-869-7565. One donation can save multiple lives. Here are the facts: • Just one donation can save up to 3 lives. • The average red blood cell transfusion is 3 pints (or three whole-blood donations). • More than 1 million people every year are diagnosed with cancer for the first time. Many of them will need blood—sometimes daily—during chemotherapy. • More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day. • Type O-negative whole blood can be transfused to people with any blood type, but this type of blood is rare, and supplies of it are low. • Type AB plasma can be transfused to patients with all other blood types, but it is also in short supply. • While 38% of the American population is eligible to give blood, only 2% actually donates. Isleta Pueblo News Page 18 September 2023 Pueblo of Isleta Public Library School is in full effect and summer is coming to an end with the breeze of fall creeping its way in. We are entering the season of months that end with “ber” which means fresh roasted Green Chile, State Fair, Balloon Fiesta, Pumpkin Spice and of course we cannot forget the upcoming Feast Days and all the delicious food. The library’s calendar is filling up fast with programs to fit the season. News The library will be closed on Saturday, September 2nd and Monday, September 4th in observance of the Labor Day holiday. All library media checked out on Thursday, August 31st and Friday, September 1st will be due on Tuesday, September 5th. We apologize for ay inconvenience this may cause. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend and official end to summer! The library will be having a staff meeting on Wednesday, September 6th from 12:30pm to 2pm. The library will remain open during this time so feel free to still come in. We will be discussing upcoming programs, and as the holiday months are approaching keep a look out for family programs, book clubs, arts-n-crafts and much more! School is back in session which means students are everywhere. With that said, the library would like to remind you all to PLEASE be aware of flashing school zone lights and obey School Bus Stop Signs as we have students walking, riding bikes, skate boarding and so on. The Head Start Story Time will also be starting soon so that they will be walking to the library, so keep a look out for them as well. On August 16th Family Story Time made its return after taking a break during the summer to focus on the Summer Reading Program. Join us every Wednesday at 10am with library staff member Edith. Edith will read a story and do a small activity with the families and children who attend. Family Story Time is geared towards children 16 months to 5 years old, but everyone is welcomed! No sign up is required and monthly calendars will be available at the library. For more information on this program, please call Edith at 505-869-9808 or email Edith.Perez.Bonilla@isletapueblo. com. Upcoming If you would like extra help on the computers or would like help in a specific area such as making a flyer, card or working on a project, the library staff is here to help! Book a Librarian is a FREE service offered to all our patrons. We will do our best to help you understand and learn something new. Phone help, tablets, smart watches, email, Microsoft office and so much more those are just some examples of what the library staff can help you with. Give the library a call to set up a date and time which will work best for you also giving us time to prepare for your visit. Looking to learn how to play a new instrument? Library staff is in the process of putting together a Musical Instrument Lending service here at the library where patrons can check-out musical instruments. Our current selection includes bass and acoustic guitars. All levels are welcome to try this service from beginners to advanced, Tnd can also pair it with our wide selection of guitar tabs available at the library. We are still in the early stages of getting everything together but keep a look out for more information to come soon! September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 19 Once again, we will be starting our tutoring services in collaboration with Tutor Doctor. The Tutor Doctor will be offering one-onone tutoring services in-person here at the library. Registration starts on Monday September 11th, and tutoring sessions will start on October 2nd. Space is limited to 7 students ranging from 1st grade to 12th grade. Students will be required to complete three assessments that will be used to develop a customized approach to their tutoring. A meeting will be scheduled for all that are interested, times and dates to be announced. Recap Library staff were busy for the month of August attending back to school open houses. That included Bosque Farms Elementary, Valencia Middle School, Los Lunas and Valencia High School, Isleta Elementary and Isleta Head Start. This was a good opportunity for staff to promote library programs, services and resources as well as meet the community and encourage students and parents to come and visit the library. During our time there we handed out backpacks, water bottles, battery packs and other promotional items. We would like to thank everyone who visited our booth, gave suggestions, or stopped by to see what we have to offer. We would also like to thank the schools for allowing us to promote our services to everyone. During the month of August library staff member Kimberly hosted a Blue Beetle program where participants read three hand-picked comic books/graphic novels and participated in group book reviews to win their ticket to watch Blue Beetle on Friday, September 1st. This program was open to 10 patrons 12 years old and up. Stay for more youth programs coming soon! After School Program students gathering around to make an Origami Fortune Teller! After School Program students mixing together some Puffy Paint for a sensory twist on painting. We will continue to have incentive field trips throughout the school year. At this time our After School Program is currently full, however we are continuously accepting students to add to our waiting list. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our After School Program, please give us a call and speak with a staff member at 505869-9808. We’re off to a great start with our After School Program with students from Isleta, Sundance and Bosque Farms Elementary. We currently have 20 students enrolled in our program, with transportation to the library after school for Bosque Farms students that are enrolled in our After School Program. Library staff members Kyle, Kim and Elena help students with homework, reading, reading based programs, crafts and activities to encourage students to read. Students from Isleta Elementary went swimming at the rec for one of their half days. Library staff is currently in the process of planning an incentive field trip for all students for the month of September On Saturday July 22nd library staff participated in the Back to School & Child Find Community Event which was held at Isleta Elementary and Isleta Head Start. Which was a collaboration and community event with other POI departments. The library was there to promote our services and resources to parents and students. Department of Education was their doing the school supply distribution as well as representatives for Los Lunas Schools to help with student registration and so much more. After School Program students making a tortilla cinnamon treat after completing homework and reading! Library staff members Cheyenne and Diane promoting library services at Valencia Middle School’s Open House! Page 20 Isleta Pueblo News PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT September 2023 already, the days keep flying by and winter is right around the corner. The department is doing well! The water in the Aquatic Center is awesome and very inviting, please come by and enjoy the water. Parks Maintenance crew keep plugging away and it shows, just go to one of our beautiful Parks in the pueblo and you will see all the blood, sweat and tears my parks maintenance crew has put into our parks to make them beautiful for tribal members to use. The fitness staff is doing a great job of trying to make all Pueblo of Isleta tribal members healthy and the are waiting for the rest of you that have not come by, make it a point to stop in and workout with our fitness staff. The recreation section didn’t even get a break this year, the school year started up so quickly that they jumped right into our afterschool program almost immediately after the summer program ended. Finally, our Sports Section is doing their thing; they have many new activities planned for the remainder of the year, so keep your eyes open for upcoming activities and events from this section. AQUATICS CENTER SECTION Isleta Aquatics hopes all students and staff have had a safe fun start to the school year! We have lap swim available from 5:30am8:30am as well as family and group swim from 4:30pm-7:30pm Monday through Thursday, and 4:30pm-5:30pm Fridays. We will close mid-day to accommodate FITNESS SECTION Isleta Recreation Center has begun a new challenge. The Blender Challenge! This is for everyone who are not part of the Silver Eagles Challenge. Two lucky winners will be picked weekly, for the next 12 weeks, one Male winner and one Female winner. You could be the next winner, but you have to join the challenge!!! How it works, you must come into the Main Recreation Center, exercise for at least 30 minutes, and complete a 10-day punch card and you will be entered into the drawing. The more punch cards completed the more chances you have to win. Remember you can only win once. Yes, it is that simple. You may be wondering, what is considered exercise? Well any physical activity that gets you moving, such as Basket Ball, swim time for youth programs as well as daily pool maintenance. We are still offering our adults only lap swim on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12pm-1:00pm. All three types of swim sessions can be reserved in one and/or two hour increments at the front desk of the Rec Center. Swim lesson registration forms are available at the front desk at the Rec Center or contact Josh or Jayna at 505-8699783 for more details on availability and registration. Isleta Aquatics is still looking for lifeguards, if you know anyone interested in becoming a lifeguard please call or visit the POI website for the job posting! For anyone interested in information about Lifeguard certification, child or adult swim lessons, and other aquatic programming please call Josh or Jayna at 505-869-9783. SPORTS SECTION The men’s basketball league double elimination tournament went over very well and it ended up being very exciting. In the winners bracket the Mudd Dogz knocked off the #1 Timberwolves to send them to the loser’s bracket. The Ball Hogz then faced off with the Timberwolves in the semifinals. The Timberwolves won to get to Championship game to play the Mudd Dogz. In the first game the Timberwolves came out on top to beat the Mudd Dogz by a score of 62 - 57. The Timberwolves had to beat them one more time to take the crown, but they just couldn’t do it. The Mudd Dogz would fight till the final seconds of game September 2023 to get the Championship Crown in a very exciting game. The final score for that game was 68 - 70. In August, we held a Co-Ed softball tournament with 7 teams. It was a double elimination tournament and it was a whole lot of fun. All the teams were from Isleta except for one team that came all the way from Acoma Pueblo. The first game started at 7am at the Chical baseball fields and the weather was perfect all day long for this fun filled event. The championship game started at 7:30 pm till sundown. It was Kumandra and The Mix from Acoma with Kumandra winning the championship. Once again, this was a fun event and everyone participating enjoyed the day. Youth Cross Country has also started, the practices have been really good, so far and we are looking forward to the up-coming season. We will be hosting a meet here at Isleta Pueblo this month and the meet date will be announced as soon as it has been secured. This year’s Cross Country Coaches are George Waquie, Phil Abeita, Kyle Wade, and Alicia Smith and as of right now we have a total of 33 kids signedup. If you would like your son or daughter to join, please call the Rec center for more information at (505) 869-9777. Our Co-Ed Volleyball Season will also be starting up very soon and sign-ups for the up-coming season will begin on September 1, the signup deadline for Co-Ed Volleyball will be September 22 so if you plan on joining you had better do it soon. Swimming, Volley Ball, Weight Training, Yoga or just walking the outdoor track or the treadmill, and yes it is that simple, so get off your couches and come join this challenge and possibly win a blender! Once again, it is that simple. Call your Isleta Recreation Center (Main) for more information at (505) 869-9777 and ask for the fitness staff to answer any of your questions. The Fitness Staff that will be available to help are Anne, Elizabeth, Marcus or Thomas. To the Silver Eagles Club participants, we are proud of you. We are 8 months into this program and you all have been so impressive and extremely active, great job! Your progress shows in your attitude, strength and youthfulness. Silver Eagles, you have 3 months to go and complete any September 2023 attendance cards before the Big Drawing. This means you have until the end of November. Keep up the great work and good luck to all of you. Again, if you have any questions call the Isleta Recreation Center and speak with the fitness staff. 505869-9777 x 9012 RECREATION SECTION The afterschool program is going strong and as I mentioned earlier there was almost no time to catch our breath because school started immediately after the summer program ended. Kids seem to be having fun this year. We will have many fun activities planned for them again this school year and we are hoping to have more staff on board in the program so that we can accept more participants into the program. NM Poison Control We should be cleaning and disinfecting more often. It is important that you do not inject or ingest these chemicals into your body. Please remember to keep ALL chemicals out of children’s reach. If any cleaning or disinfectant solution is swallowed or injected, please contact the NM Poison Control immediately. 1-800-222-1222 Isleta Pueblo News Here are some summer memories from this past summer. Page 21 Page 22 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 23 Isleta Health Center Optometry Department Eye Health for Adults Over 60 See your eye doctor regularly! First and most important, it is recommended that you have your eyes examined by an optometrist or ophthalmologist at least once per year. You will be screened for eye diseases such as glaucoma or macular degeneration. If these are identified early, you can work with your eye doctor to preserve your vision for many years to come. Maintain a healthy lifestyle! Conditions such as Diabetes and High Blood Pressure can affect your eyes. It is very important to work with your Primary Care Doctor to maintain healthy blood sugar and blood pressure. A healthy lifestyle not only helps the body, but also helps the eyes. Use the right eye drops! Dryness of the eyes is very common with age. It is recommended that you use eye drops for lubrication, also known as “artificial tears”. Avoid drops that say, “get the red out” as these can actually make the eyes feel more dry. Instead, look for drops that say “lubricating” or “moisturizing”. If you are not getting sufficient relief, talk to your eye doctor about other options. quality lighting will improve your ability to read and do other near tasks. Be aware of normal aging changes to your vision! The eyes change with time. Driving at night and moving from dimly lit to well-lit areas become more difficult. Be extra cautious while driving, especially at night. You may also find that good *If you would like to schedule your Wear Sunglasses! Good sunglasses with UVA/UVB protection will help to slow the progression of cataracts and other eye damage that can be caused by UV light. Wide-brimmed hats can also help to decrease the UV light that enters the eyes. routine eye exam appointment please give us a call at (505) 869-4080* Page 24 Healthy Foods Express—2nd event Stephanie Barela, Health Educator Stephanie.Barela@islclinic.net Phone: 505-869-4479 The Isleta Health Center’s 2nd Roadrunner Food Bank Healthy Foods Express food distribution was at the Chical Reception Hall on August 3, 2023 from 9-11am and was a great success! The distribution provided food to at least 88 families with more than 226 people affected by the distribution. This was an increase of 30 families and 85 more people than the last food distribution event. This Healthy Foods Express Event provides free, fresh food to families every first Friday of the month from 9:00am until 11:00am. Our first distribution was at the Isleta Health Center B’eeh-K’ooh-ee Activities Center, but with such a great turn out, we moved the event to the Chical Reception hall for our 2nd event and it turned out great, so we plan to keep it there in the future! The Healthy Foods Express is set up like a farmer’s market, with fresh produce and other food items available for individuals to select. Staff and volunteers handed out numbers to those who attended, in order to organize the order in which food was distributed and as a way for us to evaluate and keep track of the amount and ages of people we are serving. The Isleta Health Center asked each household to answer the questions on the back of their # slip. During each event, we plan to have questions for participants to answer in order to help us improve the program, as well as, help us document the number of people we are serving. At each event, any new participant will filled out a Client Intake Form for their first attendance and then in the future after the participant registers 1 time, they will no longer have to register again. Road Runner Food Bank needs participants to register in order to show the need for the program and to maintain state funding. If you have completed this form before, then you are not required to complete this again, unless the information was incorrectly input into the computer or your information has changed. There is also a Pick-Up Authorization form that is needed if we are distributing food from TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program), in order for you to pick up food for other households. Food from TEFAP is not always distributed, but it would be good if you are planning to pick up food for others, to have this form completed in case we are distributing TEFAP food that day. The pick-up authorization form will be provided at each event, or you can access the form in order to fill it out before the distribution either on our website, www.islclinic. com or from the Isleta Health Center. We hope to see you at the next Isleta Health Foods Express Distribution at the Chical Reception Hall on September 1, 2023 from 9-11am, or until food runs out. SUBMITTED POEM FROM ANONYMOUS TRIBAL MEMBER It’s hard to put pen to paper. Write down a mood or a thought Wake up happy or sad. Change my clothes or brush my hair. Eat a good lunch or feed my cat Look out the window or stare at the wall. Sometimes, I feel I am never enough at all. -Anonymous Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 25 September is National Recovery Month Don’t miss out on attending this month’s upcoming c o m m u n i t y awareness event at the B’eeh K’ooee Activity Building on September 14, 2023. Would like to invite the Isleta community and families for an evening together to support “National Recovery Month”. If you have any questions, please call B’eeh K’ooee Wellness Center at (505) 869-5475. Doors open at 4:30pm and starts at 5:00pm at B’eeh K’oo-ee Activity Center. The purpose of the event is to create an awareness about the “Natural Consequences in Addiction”. This is about recovery to support sobriety and raise awareness of addiction recovery resources. For many in recovery from addiction may report having ongoing challenges to their sobriety. A person’s recovery journey can start in scary, uncertain waters and change into a new sober lifestyle. National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation's strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible. Page 26 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 27 Pueblo of Isleta Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care We are still accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. We strongly encourage pregnant women and infants & toddlers ages 0-5 years old, to apply!! Listed below are our service hours for each of the programs we offer to families. If you are interested in applying and enrolling, or would like additional information, please call us at our Center at 505-869-9796. Ages: Prenatal to 3 years old Ages: 3 years old to 5 years old Ages: 16 months to 3 years old Early Head Start Center Based Program Head Start Program Child Care Program 3 Classrooms M-F from 8:00am-3:00pm Classrooms M-F from 8:15am-2:45pm Child Care Program 2 Classrooms M-F from 8:00am-3:00pm Early Head Start Home Based Program An assigned teacher providing weekly services, once a week for 90– minutes. Child Care Wrap Around Program 2 Classrooms for before and afterschool services begin at 7:30am and ending at 5:00pm Page 28 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 WIC World Breastfeeding Week 2023 THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL WIC EVENT! VOLUNTEERS NAAPR ISLETA HEADSTART CONTRIBUTIONS ALBERTSONS- FOOD DION’S- GIFT CARDS JERRY’S MARKET- WATER ZUNI SMOKE SHOP- JEWELRY MOM TO BE 3D4D- ULTRASOUND ISLETA ONE STOP- ICE SEPTEMBER is Self-care Awareness Month Take time to manage your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing, Relax, Eat Well, Be optimistic AND…Ask for help if needed! PUEBLO OF ISLETA WIC Office 505-869-2662 What to do if you find a used needle outdoors People, especially children, must never touch or pick up needles found on the ground. Discarded needles can be harmful. Needles or hypodermic needles are also known as syringes or sharps. Cleaning up discarded needles must be done carefully to protect human health and the environment. If a used or discarded needle is found on Isleta tribal land, please call Isleta Police Dispatch at 869-3030 to report the location so that a qualified tribal employee can safely collect and dispose of the discarded needle. Individuals who use needles for insulin shots or other medical uses are expected to dispose of their used needles appropriately in sharps containers that individuals have to purchase themselves. An exclamation mark within a triangular border is the international symbol for caution. Always exercise caution if you see a discarded needle. If you have any questions about this article, please contact Environment Department at 869-7565. September 2023 ALBERTA “GHAWI” LUCERO On August 17, 2023, Alberta left to be with her parents Edward and Janet Lucero; sister Marcia Sosa and brother Eugene. She is survived by her brother & sister in-law, Michael B. and Miriam Lucero; nieces and nephew Susanna Sosa, Sharon English, Michael Alan, Julie Lucero and many relatives and friends. Alberta lived away from Isleta for several years, residing in San Francisco, CA and Portland, Oregon. She returned to Isleta and resided in the family home. Alberta was a fun-loving, happy, friendly, and loving person with a contagious laugh who enjoyed board games, crossword puzzles, music and movies; had a love for animals especially her pet “Junior” who she left behind. We’ll miss her smile, happy energy and spontaneous expressions “I love you,” “Not yet” and “Have fun.” Her family thanks all who visited Alberta while in hospital and helped to honor her last day with us. Camel Lucero for reciting the Rosary followed with songs by Yvonne Acoya. For the beautiful mass at St. Augustine church, our appreciation to Father Milton, Tony Jaramillo Choir, Stacy Norvell and Brandi Lucero, Jonathon Garcia, Alan Cherino and Denise. Thank you to Governor Zuni and tribal staff for gravesite and EMS transportation. Last but not least, to ALL who helped make the reception a joyful reunion among relatives and friends. May God send special blessing to all for your support and condolences. The Lucero Family We extend our deepest thanks to everyone in the community during this time of loss. Our greatest sadness. Please know that your love and kindness conveyed to us in many ways has brought us great comfort and will always be remembered. With sincere gratitude, The family of Lugarda L. Abeita Remember to WEAR YOUR SUNGLASSES! Isleta Pueblo News Page 29 Page 30 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 The Pueblo of Isleta WIC Program (505) 869-2662 The end of summer is approaching, but it is never too late to use your WIC benefits to make some summer time pasta salad! Please see the recipe below for fresh WIC Summer Pasta Salad. Some of the ingredients can be purchased with your WIC benefits. WIC Summer Pasta Salad Ingredients: 1. 1 bag or box of spinach tomato pasta-bowtie or spiral looks pretty 2. A small block of cheese- cubed (WIC Food) 3. Ham or turkey cubed- as much as you like 4. 1 carton of cherry or plum tomatoes (WIC Food) 5. 3 carrots-diced (WIC Food) 6. 2 bell peppers- diced (WIC Food) 7. 1 cucumber- thick slices quartered (WIC Food) 8. Broccoli – as much as you like (WIC Food) 9. Italian or Ranch low fat dressing- 2-3 squirts Preparation: Cook pasta according to label. Rinse and cool. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and toss. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Please give us a call to check your eligibility today if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, or have an infant or a child under the age of 5. (505) 869-2662 St. Augustine Parish Isleta Pueblo Ministry of Consolation MISSION STATEMENT 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. September 2023 Isleta Pueblo News Page 31 Understanding Family Effects of Addiction The family effects of addiction is a term that is often referred to as Children of Alcoholics (COA’s). Research theories has indicated that children who grow up in a family with addiction take on inadequate coping roles to survive that is described as COA’s characteristics. (Sources from books by Claudia Black and Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, 1980’s) This creates problems in family communication and conflict affecting all family members. The family maintains the three dysfunctional family rules of; don’t talk, don’t feel, and don’t trust that keeps the family from talking about the effects of substance abuse in the family. Addiction is not your fault. You can’t cure it, you didn’t cause it, and you can’t stop it. When a love one begins to use alcohol or other drugs, their relationship with others begin to change. There is lots of confusion, misplaced emotions, and chaos that takes the focus away from the substance user to the focus on the other family members who are acting out. Each family member develop coping roles that are inadequate (not helpful to cope with the family substance user). This will keep each family member in their ineffective family roles. The best way to improve home life is often for the addict to seek treatment. There are support groups in every community. Many family members have found that joining Al-Anon (A 12-Step Program for those worried about someone with a drinking problem), NarAnon (A 12-Step Program for Families & Friends of Addicts), or Alateen (A peer support group for teens who are struggling with the effects of someone else's problem drinking) call (505) 2622177 for more information about where in your local area for a community group. Come and join me for the adult Family Group open to the Isleta community (for anyone to attend) will be starting September 21, 2023 from 2:00PM to 3:30PM for 6 weeks at Beeh Koo ee Activity Center building. This group is for you to learn about family recovery and how to support your love one’s recovery. The Mascot: This role strategy is to use humor or jokes about anything to make light of the situation to cope within the family. They seem immature and might pretend that things are “ok” while making the illusion of normalcy to divert attention away from the chaos and confusion. Unhealthy Family Coping Roles with Substance Abuse Problems Substance abuse problems turn family members against one another by how they cope with it. The substance abuse is the primary problem in the family. Family will need to address their feelings by breaking the family rules to; ok to talk, ok to feel, and ok to trust by talking helps to practice healthy COA roles to cope with the addict. Family members often blame the addict as the cause of family problems while the family members are reacting to each other’s inadequate unhealthy COA roles. No one chooses their COA roles or behaviors intentionally. Most families are unaware of why or what they are doing. These COA’s roles develop into family problems as a ripple effect from the substance abuser that turn family members against each one another. To repair relationships is often for the addict to seek treatment. Having a family talking circle of a family meeting in the home, and or family counseling is helpful. This allows to talk, to trust, and to feel to change themselves to a healthy coping role. Knowing about addiction and how family becomes consumed in it allows for positive change and wellness for supporting recovery of your loved one. Don’t miss reading next article to be submitted on “How to Know When You’re Enabling Addiction”. Article written by Lisa Kaye Cherino, MHR, MSW, LCSW, LADAC, Therapist, Beeh Koo-ee Wellness Center Health Beat: Fruits & Veggies – More Matters Month Unhealthy Family Roles Karen Roop, Dietitian with the Isleta Diabetes Program Phone: 505-869-3200 Family members often blame the substance user as the cause of the family problems when the problems comes from the family members reacting to the other family roles. Below are the five family roles; September is National Fruits & Veggies — More Matters Month! Fruits and vegetables are very important for a healthy diet. Why is that? The Addict: Role causes the four remaining roles to emerge from other family members. The addict draws untreated guilt and shame that leads to blaming others in the family for the substance abuse. The Enabler (Caretaker): Who seeks to remain feeling needed in the relationship will rescue or cover up the addict from all responsibility. They provide micronutrients Micronutrients are compounds, such as vitamins and minerals, which we need in very small amounts (hence the prefix “micro”). However, they still play important roles in the body. For example, some of them act as antioxidants. When our bodies undergo natural processes, such as metabolizing food, they produce compounds called “free radicals.” These unstable molecules can damage the body. Antioxidants are nutrients, such as vitamin C, that eliminate free radicals. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants and, therefore, they help prevent free radicals from damaging the body. They provide fiber The Hero: This is the overachiever, a perfectionist, the shining star of the family who feels pressure to perform with high expectations. They feel they can fix the family problem by looking good. They may receive no recognition for their effort, and if it is received is short-lived for complements. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that is important for digestive health. It is important for the healthy bacteria in our digestive systems and for preventing constipation. The recommendations for daily fiber intake ranges from 21 to 25 grams for adult women and 30 to 38 grams for adult men. Kids need between 19 and 38 grams, depending on their age (the younger they are, the fewer grams they need). Vegetables are low in calories The Scapegoat (black sheep or trouble maker): Calories are the total energy a food provides for the body. This role takes the blame for the family problem by acting. This role sees perfectionism and overachieving as unsuccessful, so become defiant, rebellious, and or oppositional. They might find another family that understands them. The Lost Child: This role acts invisible being unnoticed by the rest of the family, usually quiet, and avoids confrontation. They might be complimented as the “good child” because they have learned to stay out of trouble. This role views no use in causing trouble, talking about it, or getting involved. Consuming more calories than your body uses may lead to weight gain. Conversely, consuming fewer calories than your body uses may lead to weight loss. Vegetables are low in calories and may help people who want to reduce their overall calorie intake. The Isleta Health Center is once again offering the “Healthy Foods Express” Food distribution in collaboration with the Road Runner Food Bank on the 1st Friday of September, 9/1/23, from 9-11am at the Isleta Chical Reception Hall. Please come down to get some fruits and veggies and help increase your intake of these important foods. Page 32 Isleta Pueblo News September 2023 --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Apueblo_isleta%3A54aae733c0491f82. Public record. Not legal advice.