GOVERNOR FRANK LUJAN

Isleta Pueblo News

Special Edition

Volume 6

GOVERNOR FRANK LUJAN

STATE OF THE PUEBLO ADDRESS

TRIBAL COUNCIL

SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT

STATE OF THE PUEBLO ADDRESS

August 2011

RESIDENCE

ORDINANCE

GOVERNOR FRANK LUJAN SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2011

Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Albuquerque

GOOD MORNING, AND HOW’S EVERYBODY. IT IS AN HONOR TO FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. I COULD NOT BE WHERE I AM

BE HERE WITH YOU THIS MORNING TO DELIVER THE STATE WITH OUT YOU.

OF OUR PUEBLO. THIS MORNING I WILL TELL YOU WHERE THE

AS I CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE, YOU ARE VERY

PUEBLO HAS BEEN, WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE WILL BE

INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT HOW YOUR TRIBAL LEADERSHIP

GOING. I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I’VE SEEN NOT ONLY IN THE

IS DOING AND WHAT WE WILL BE DOING IN THE COMING DAYS,

PAST SIX MONTHS OF MY GOVERNORSHIP BUT ALSO THE LAST

MONTHS, AND YEARS. WE HAVE A VERY COMPLEX AND UNIQUE

FOUR YEARS AS A LT. GOVERNOR. BUT BEFORE I GET THERE

WAY OF LIFE HERE AT OUR PUEBLO. MANAGING TRIBAL

I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO SUPPORTED ME DURING

GOVERNMENT ALONGSIDE OUR TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIFE

LAST YEAR’S ELECTIONS. TO THOSE WHO DID NOT, I AND

BRINGS MANY CHALLENGES. WE HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED

BOTH OF MY LT.S AND BOTH OF THE SHERIFFS WANT TO WIN

THIS VERY DELICATE BALANCE IN THE PAST. THERE WILL BE

YOUR CONFIDENCE IN US. I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE

OTHER SITUATIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH. BUT

THE CANDIDATES WHO RAN A GOOD HARD RACE AND I WANT

WITH COMMUNICATION WITH OUR TRADITIONAL LEADERS, I

TO WIN YOUR CONFIDENCE AS WELL.

BELIEVE WE CAN STILL GOVERN IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR

TO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH OF CONSTITUTION AND YET NOT TRAMPLE OUR WAY OF LIFE AS

YOU. THUS FAR, WE BELIEVE WE’VE ESTABLISHED A GOOD PUEBLO PEOPLE.

WORKING RELATIONSHIP IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF

SO, LET ME BEGIN. AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR ADMINISTRATION

THE PUEBLO. I WANT TO ASSURE YOU MR. PRESIDENT; MY

MY LT.S AND I SAT DOWN AND DISCUSSED GOALS, OBJECTIVES,

ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH YOU THE

AND PRIORITIES WE SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON. WHAT CAME

COUNCIL TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY,

OUT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WERE ISSUES PERTAINING TO

PROTECTING OUR LANDS, WATER, AIR, NATURAL RESOURCES

AMENDING OUR CONSTITUTION, WATER, EDUCATION, AND

AND THE EVER IMPORTANT TRADITIONAL AND CULTURAL WAY

HEALTH.

OF OUR LIVES, OUR SOVEREIGNTY.

TODAY, CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME OF YOU MAY BELIEVE I

WE ALL KNOW IT’S NOT EASY, WE GET MORE CRITICIZED

WANT TO TELL YOU OUR PUEBLO OF ISLETA IS IN VERY GOOD

FOR OUR ACTIONS BUT AT TIMES WE WILL GET A THANK YOU

SHAPE. THANKS TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE

EVERY NOW AND THEN. I WANT TO GIVE A QUOTE WHICH I

COUNCILS FOR THEIR FORESIGHTAND THEIR DECISION MAKING

FOUND READING THROUGH MATERIAL NOT TO LONG AGO AND

GOT THE PUEBLO WHERE IT IS TODAY. WITH PERSEVERANCE,

IT’S FROM THE GREAT NATION OF THE IROQUOIS, THEIR CHIEF

HARD WORK, DETERMINATION AND THE DESIRE TO MAKE OUR

TALKING TO THEIR COUNCIL. I QUOTE “INALLTHE DELIBERATIONS

PUEBLO FINANCIALLY SOUND, CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO

OF THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, IN YOUR EFFORTS AT LAW MAKING,

ALL WHO SERVED IN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT NOW AND IN THE

IN ALL YOUR OFFICIAL ACTS, SELF INTEREST SHALL BE CAST

PAST. BUT THE WAY I SEE IT, IT’S ONLY THE BEGINNING, THE

INTO OBLIVION. CAST NOT OVER YOUR SHOULDER BEHIND YOU

BEGINNING OF GREATER THINGS YET TO COME.

THE WARNINGS OF THE NEPHEWS AND NIECES SHOULD THEY

CHIDE YOU FOR ANY ERROR OR WRONG YOU MAY DO, BUT ONE OF THE FIRST MANDATES GIVEN TO US IS TO MAKE SURE

RETURN TO THE WAY OF THE GREAT LAW WHICH IS JUST AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS TO THE WELFARE AND WELL

RIGHT. LOOK AND LISTEN FOR THE WELFARE OF THE WHOLE BEING OF OUR PUEBLO, FOR OUR LANDS, OUR WATER, OUR

PEOPLE AND HAVE ALWAYS IN VIEW NOT ONLY THE PRESENT NATURAL RESOURCES, OUR HEALTH, AND TO MAKE SURE

BUT ALSO THE COMING GENERATIONS, EVEN THOSE WHOSE OUR FINANCES ARE IN STABLE CONDITION NOT MISUSED BUT

FACES ARE YET BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND - SPENT WISELY. WE NEED TO ASSURE OURSELVES AS TRIBAL

THE UNBORN OF THE FUTURE OF OUR PUEBLO”. END QUOTE. LEADERS TO THINK BEYOND SO THAT FOR MANY GENERATIONS

TO COME, THOSE GENERATIONS WILL BE SECURE IN ALL

TOGETHER WORKING AS A COMMUNITY, WITH PRIDE,

ASPECTS OF OUR WAY OF LIFE, TO LEAD THEM ON THE RIGHT

UNSELFISHNESS, RECOGNIZING WHO WE ARE AS ISLETA

PATH, THE PATH THAT WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE THEM WITH WHAT

PEOPLE, WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, TOGETHER WE CAN

WE HAVE TODAY AND MORE.

BE THE PUEBLO THAT ALL CAN BE ENVIOUS OF. I WANT TO THANK

MY LT. GOVERNORS, PAUL TORRES AND ANTONIO CHEWIWI TODAY, THE PUEBLO’S PORTFOLIO IS SOUND. IN THE PAST

FOR AGREEING TO SERVE WITH ME AND TO SERVE OUR TRIBAL LEADERS HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO LET YOU KNOW

PUEBLO. TO YOUR FAMILIES, NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH TIME HOW MUCH MONEY THE PUEBLO HAS OR HOW MUCH THE

AND ENERGY IS NEEDED NOT ONLY IN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT PUEBLO IS WORTH FOR FEAR THE OUTSIDE WORLD WILL

BUT IN OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS OF LIFE. THANK YOU WITH KNOW OUR FINANCIAL STATUS AND USE IT AGAINST US. I

ALL MY HEART TO YOUR FAMILIES. BUT MOST OF ALL, TO MY DON’T BELIEVE THAT SINCE WE ALREADY PAY THE STATE

FAMILY, MY MOTHER AND SHE IS HERE WITH US THIS MORNING, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE SHARING BASED ON

MY DAUGHTERS GABRIELLA, JENNIFER, COURTNEY, AND MY OUR NET REVENUES ON OUR CASINO OPERATIONS. FROM

SON, PHILLIP. TO MY SISTERS, MY BROTHER, MY AUNTS AND JANUARY 2007 TO MARCH 31, 2011, WE’VE GIVEN THE STATE

UNCLES, AND ALL MY RELATIVES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH $39.1 MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE SHARES.

Page 2

Isleta Pueblo News

THE PUEBLO HAS A TOTAL NET WORTH OF $488.7 MILLION.

CASH & INVESTMENTS TOTALING $368.6 MILLION CONSISTING

OF:

OPERATING CASH ACCOUNTS AND SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

TOTALING $118.4 MILLION WHICH ARE INVESTED IN MONEY

MARKETS AND SHORT TERM BOND MUTUAL FUNDS AND

WHICH GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $3 TO $ 5 MILLION A YEAR

FOR POI OPERATING CASH, PERMANENT & RESTRICTED

INVESTMENTS.

LONG TERM INVESTMENTS - $212.6 MILLION IN STOCKS AND

BONDS. THE LONG TERM INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS WERE

ESTABLISHED STARTING IN 2003 AND WE HAVE INJECTED

$121.6 MILLION DURING THIS PERIOD. WE REALIZED A TOTAL

RETURN ON THESE INVESTMENTS OF $77.2 MILLION OR 63.4%.

WE ARE PROJECTING TO COLLECT APPROXIMATELY $6 MILLION

IN TAXES FOR 2011.

TAX COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE IN THE AMOUNT OF

$5.4 SINCE 2009 - WE ANTICIPATE TO COLLECT $6 MILLION THIS

YEAR IN VARIOUS TAXES - GAS $1.1M , GROSS RECEIPTS FROM

C STORES $110K, LODGERS TAX $290K, GROSS RECEIPTS

FROM THE HRHC $850K, AND CIGARETTE TAXES $3.8 MILLION.

BUILDINGS, PLANT, VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT HAVE A

COMBINED VALUE OF $235.4 MILLION.

LIABILITIES TOTAL $129.9 MILLION.

POI OWES $33.6 MILLION FOR THE HOTEL CONSTRUCTION

AND THE GOVERNMENT SERVICES COMPLEX LOANS. ANNUAL

PAYMENTS OF $1.65 MILLION THROUGH 2035 WITH EFFECTIVE

INTEREST RATE THRU THE NEW MEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY

(NMFA) AT 3.5% PER YEAR. CURRENT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE OF

$1.88 MILLION.

IBC CURRENT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE $1 MILLION.

HRCH OWES $95.3 MILLION CONSISTING OF:

HOTEL $53.7 MILLION, POI CASINO LOAN $28.83 MILLION, SLOT

MACHINE LEASE $2.7 MILLION, CURRENT ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

$10.0 MILLION.

GIVEN THE REVENUES AND LIABILITIES, THE PUEBLO’S TOTAL

NET WORTH IS $488.7 MILLION, CONSISTING OF POI AT $375.6

M, IBC AT $21.4 MILLION, AND HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO

AT $91.6 MILLION.

IT TOOK MANY YEARS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE AT. AS I SAID

EARLIER, THANKS TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND

COUNCILS FOR THEIR FORESIGHT.

I GIVE CREDIT ALSO TO MR. ANDREW TELLER, FOR

UNDERSTANDING THE MONEY MARKETS, WHEN TO MOVE

MONEY, KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE ECONOMICS OF

TODAY.

THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE PUEBLO THIS YEAR IS $40.2

MILLION WHICH REPRESENTS ALL SOURCES OF REVENUE. OF

THIS AMOUNT, $18.6 MILLION IS PUEBLO DOLLARS, WHILE THE

DIFFERENCE OF $21.5 COMES FROM OTHER SOURCES LIKE

THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES,

AND GRANTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. HOWEVER, THAT

MONEY IS ALWAYS NOT ENOUGH. THE SOCIAL SERVICES

PROGRAM AND THE ISLETA HEALTH CLINIC ARE THE ONLY

PROGRAMS FUNDED 100% BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE SOCIAL SERVICES OPERATES ON A BUDGET OF $327,983

THIS YEAR WHILE THE CLINIC HAS A BUDGET OF $7.5M. THE

ISLETA POLICE DEPT., DEPT. OF EDUCATION ARE PARTIALLY

FUNDED BY BIA AND IHS. THE POI SUPPLEMENTS THE REST OF

THEIR OPERATING BUDGETS. FOR EXAMPLE, PUBIC SAFETY

WHICH IS THE POLICE DEPT., RECEIVES $1.2M FROM THE FEDS

WHILE $1.5M IS SUPPLEMENTED BY THE POI. THE DEPT. OF ED

RECEIVES $277,000 FROM THE FEDS AND WE CHIP IN $2.7M.

THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT HAS A SUBSTANTIAL OPERATING

BUDGET IS THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPT. THEY RECEIVE $475,000

FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES WHILE THE POI CHIPS IN $1.9M. SO

YOU BEGAN TO SEE THE PICTURE.

August 2011

SINCE THE ADMINISTRATION RE-ORGANIZED DURING THE

PAST TWO YEARS, WE WENT FROM MANAGING OVER 50

PROGRAMS TO 6 MAJOR DEPARTMENTS. OF COURSE,

EACH DEPARTMENT IS BROKEN DOWN TO MAYBE SIX AS

SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM BRANCHES. THAT LEAVES THE

RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL DEPT. HEADS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE

AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEPARTMENTS WHILE LEAVING

OUR ADMINISTRATION TO CONCENTRATE ON ISSUES THAT WE

CURRENTLY HAVE PENDING. EACH PROGRAM DIRECTOR IS

CHARGED WITH APPLYING FOR GRANTS WHERE EVER THEY

EXIST. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ELDERS PROGRAM, WORKFORCE

INVESTMENT ACT, THE HEADSTART PROGRAM, PUBLIC

WORKS, NATURAL RESOURCES, HOUSING, AND TRIBAL

COURTS HAVE RECEIVED SOME SORT OF MONETARY AID IN

THE FORM OF GRANTS. HATS OFF TO ALL THE DIRECTORS

WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN APPLYING FOR AND FOR

BEING AWARDED GRANT MONEY. I NEED TO RECOGNIZE MS.

CHERYL DIXON, WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING

TO FIND AND IN SECURING GRANT MONEY. WITH HER WORK,

THE PUEBLO WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE GRANT MONEY FOR

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTS. PROJECTS SUCH

AS THE WATER LINE REPLACEMENT IN AND AROUND THE

PUEBLO IS ONE, THE NEW EDUCATION/LIBRARY COMPLEX IS

ANOTHER. WE ARE NOW MOVING INTO DESIGN OF THE NEW

CARE FACILITY FOR OUR ELDERS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO

UTILIZE MS. DIXON TO SEEK MONEY TO HELP WITH TRIBAL

PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS AND SO, THANK YOU CHERYL. I

ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MS. MARY ABEITA, DIRECTOR OF

THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA). MARY IS A ONE

PERSON OPERATION WHO IS CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE

FOR IMPLEMENTING EXCELLENT PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT

ELIGIBLE YOUTH AND ADULTS PUTTING THEM TO WORK IN

VARIOUS POI DEPARTMENTS. RECENTLY, THE PUEBLO OF

ISLETA RECEIVED THE 2011 OUTSTANDING WEST GRANTEE

AWARD AS ONE OF THE TOP TWO GRANTEES IN THE STATE OF

NEW MEXICO AWARDED BY THE DEPT. OF LABOR, THE INDIAN

AND NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS. THANK YOU MARY AND

CONGRATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE.

THIS YEAR THE COUNCIL SET AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $17.9

MIL DOWN FROM LAST YEAR’S $21. WE CONDUCTED SEVERAL

MEETINGS WITH ALL THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS TO REDUCE

EACH OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET BY 3% WHEN WE BEGAN.

IN DOING SO, I MADE TWO PROMISES; 1, THAT I WOULD

NOT REDUCE THE BUDGET BY TAKING PAY CUTS FROM THE

EMPLOYEES AND 2, THAT WE WOULD NOT CUT ON SERVICES

FOR OUR PEOPLE. AFTER SEVERAL MEETINGS AND BUDGET

ADJUSTMENTS, WE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL AN OPERATING

BUDGET OF $18.6 MILLION FOR APPROVAL. THAT WAS THE

BEST WE COULD DO CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE WERE

BEGINNING TO TALK ABOUT REDUCING SERVICES OR PUTTING

EMPLOYEES ON FURLOUGH. AFTER MANY DELIBERATIONS

BY COUNCIL, WE GOT OUR BUDGET APPROVED. THANK YOU

TRIBAL COUNCIL.

SINCE THE DOWN TURN OF THE ECONOMY, WE’VE BEEN ABLE

TO HOLD OUR OWN. THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO

CONTINUES TO BE IN THE TOP THREE OF ALL TRIBAL CASINOS

HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. FOR THE PERIOD ENDING

APRIL, 2011, GAMING REVENUES WERE AT $34 MIL., NON

GAMING REVENUES LIKE THE HOTEL, FOOD AND BEVERAGE,

RETAIL, GOLF, FUN CONNECTION, ENTERTAINMENT AND SO

FORTH WERE AT $8.2 MIL. FOR A NET GROSS REVENUE OF

$42.2 MIL. TAKE OUT PROMOTIONAL ALLOWANCE OF $765

THOUSAND NET REVENUE CAME IN AT $41.5M. OF COURSE

FROM THIS AMOUNT OTHER CHARGES APPLY SUCH AS LABOR,

ADVERTISING, ENTERTAINMENT, INSURANCE, LICENSES AND

FEES, COST OF SALES. THAT NUMBER IS $26.9 M. I KNOW THIS

IS KIND OF HARD TO FOLLOW BUT LET ME TELL YOU AFTER ALL

THAT IS SAID AND DONE, THE NET INCOME FOR THE PERIOD

ENDING JUNE, 2011, IS $6.9 M.

OUR OFFICE, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL, AND HARD ROCK

MANAGEMENT SIT DOWN ONCE A MONTH TO DISCUSS THE

August 2011

Isleta Pueblo News

FINANCES, THE OPERATIONS, MANAGEMENT, PLANNING FOR

FUTURE GROWTH, WHAT WENT BAD, WHY AND WHAT ARE THE

FIXES. OF COURSE THE HARD ROCK DOES NOT COME WITHOUT

PROBLEMS. LIKE ANY OTHER BUSINESS, WE’VE EXPERIENCED

LABOR PROBLEMS, AND WE CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT OTHER

PROBLEMS, SOME TRUE SOME NOT. WE TAKE EACH ONE VERY

SERIOUSLY.

UNLIKE OTHER CASINOS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN

OUR REVENUES. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE WILL BE

RECEIVING FROM THE CASINO IS $14.5 MILLION DOLLARS A

YEAR.

WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY AS

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ALBUQUERQUE ON JUNE 11,

2011. THE TRANSITION HAS INCLUDED MANY PROPERTY

IMPROVEMENTS, I.E. NEW CARPETING, NEW PAINT, NEW SLOT

MACHINES, AND THE ADDITION OF LUCHA’S RESTAURANT,

NEW SIGNAGE, CENTERBAR AND EXPANSION OF THE HARD

ROCK STORE. IT IS NOTEWORTHY TO MENTION THAT THE

HARD ROCK STORE HAD SALES OF $1.3 MILLION DOLLARS

SINCE IT BEGIN SELLING HARD ROCK MERCHANDISE, WHICH

IS ALMOST AN $800,000 INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEAR. WE

WOULD HAVE DONE THE PROPERTY IMPROVEMENTS WITH

OUR WITHOUT THE HARD ROCK CONVERSION TO ENSURE

THAT THE PROPERTY REMAINS ATTRACTIVE WHICH BECOMES

INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN OUR POSITION IN

THIS COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY SEVERAL POINTS I

HEARD CIRCULATING AROUND THE COMMUNITY.

•

WHEN WE MADE THE DECISION TO RE-BRAND AS HARD

ROCK, I KNOW SOME OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY WERE

UPSET ABOUT THE REMOVAL OF THE TRIBAL DECOR.

ᴑ IT WAS PART OF THE HARD ROCK BRANDING

AGREEMENT.

ᴑ TRIBAL HISTORY HAS NOT BEEN LOST. THE

ARTWORK, PICTURES, POTTERY WILL BE PLACED IN THE

NEW GOVERNMENT BUILDING AND OTHER APPROPRIATE

VENUES.

• I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE HARD ROCK

AGREEMENT IS ONLY A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT NOT A

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.

ᴑ THE CASINO IS STILL OWNED, OPERATED AND

MANAGED ENTIRELY BY THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA.

• ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN WAS THE USE OF

ALBUQUERQUE VS. ISLETA ON THE LOGO.

ᴑ THE REASON FOR THE USE OF ALBUQUERQUE WAS

FOR BRANDING AND ADVERTISING PURPOSES ONLY.

NATION-WIDE PEOPLE WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE

ARE LOCATED.

THIS YEAR I COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE CASINO OUT OF

RESPECT FOR OUR TRADITION AND MAY DO SO AGAIN NEXT

YEAR.

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO ALBUQUERQUE BRAND

NAME DOES DIFFERENTIATE US. THE ECONOMY REMAINS A

MAJOR FACTOR IN THE ABILITY TO DRIVE REVENUES IN THE

COMPETITIVE ALBUQUERQUE MARKET, PARTICULARLY IN THE

SOUTH VALLEY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. VISITS ARE UP;

HOWEVER PEOPLE ARE MORE CONSCIOUS ABOUT SPENDING

MONEY AND ARE ULTIMATELY SPENDING LESS.

HARD ROCK CASINO BRAND HAS AFFORDED US NEW

OPPORTUNITIES AND PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS GATHERING

OF NATIONS AND WITHIN THE FILM INDUSTRY. WE’VE HAD

MULTIPLE MOVIE SCENES FILMED ON PROPERTY.

THE CASINO IS WORKING HARD TO INCREASE REVENUES

AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THIS DOWN ECONOMY. THE

COUNCIL AND I MEET REGULARLY WITH CASINO MANAGEMENT

TO ENSURE OPEN COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY.

Page 3

SO YOU MAY BE ASKING YOURSELF, WHAT DOES THE FUTURE

LOOK LIKE? THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE HAVE TO LOOK

TO THE FUTURE TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN, THE VERY

YOUNG, THE UNBORN, OUR CHILDREN, OUR FUTURE LEADERS

HAVE THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL STABILITY THEY NEED TO

CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD. IN THIS ENDEAVOR THEY WILL

NEED MORE THAN MONEY. EDUCATION IS AN IMPORTANT

FACTOR IN SECURING THE FUTURE NOT ONLY FOR THEIR OWN

PERSONAL GAIN BUT HOPEFULLY THEY WILL COME BACK AND

CONTRIBUTE TO THE PUEBLO. WE NEED TO INVEST IN OUR

YOUTH FOR THE FUTURE. THIS YEAR STUDENTS FROM ALL

HIGH SCHOOLS GRADUATED 80 + STUDENTS, ANOTHER 40

GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE. CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH

AND EVERYONE AS WELL AS THE PARENTS.

THE DEPT. OF ED MANAGES FOUR PROGRAMS, THE LANGUAGE

PROGRAM WITH A BUDGET OF $385,000, JOHNSON O’MALLEY AT

$38,499, ADULT EDUCATION IS AT $8,472 AND THE SCHOLARSHIP

PROGRAMS $2 MILLION DOLLARS PLUS. IN ADDITION, $104,000

IS RECEIVED FROM THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. VARIOUS

FORMS OF SUCCESSES WERE ACHIEVED, FROM EARNING

GED’S, CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS„ ASSOCIATE DEGREES,

BACHELORS, MASTERS DEGREES TO ONE GRADUATING WITH

A J.D. IN LAW AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.

THIS YEAR THE POI GRADUATED 56 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

FROM LOS LUNAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC

SCHOOLS, SANTA FE INDIAN, AND ALSO FROM THE NEW

MEXICO SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF. TO THE 5 GED GRADUATES

WHO WORKED HARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR CERTIFICATES IN

ORDER TO PURSUE JOBS AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION

OPPORTUNITIES.

25 ACHIEVED A COLLEGE DEGREE IN A WIDE RANGE OF CAREER

FIELDS. OUR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WAS VITAL IN HELPING

THOSE STUDENTS ACHIEVE A DEGREE TO EITHER FURTHER

THEIR EDUCATION OR TO PURSUE PROFESSIONAL CAREERS.

I CHALLENGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE DEGREES,

VOCATIONS, AND CAREERS WHICH WILL LEAD YOU BACK TO

SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING ON

DECENT WAGES.

THE FUTURE PLANS FOR STUDENTS INCLUDES CREATING

AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM TO GET ON- THE-JOB TRAINING

MENTORING WITH POI PROGRAMS AND ENTERPRISES;

ONE THAT I WILL PUSH FOR IS TO CREATE A “ISLETA YOUTH

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL”, EXPAND TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

AND CLASSES TO INCLUDE DISTANCE LEARNING AT THE NEW

EDUCTION COMPLEX; CONTINUE TO PROVIDE TUTORIAL

SERVICES AND EACH YEAR HONORING A LONG-TIME EDUCATOR

FROM THE PUEBLO. LAST YEAR’S HONORING WENT TO MR.

MICHAEL JOJOLA, FORMER LT. GOVERNOR AND A LONG-TIME

TEACHER AT THE ISLETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE WILL SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE OUR KIDS TO CONTINUE

ON WITH THEIR EDUCATION BUT WE NEED TO FIND WAYS OF

KEEPING THEM HERE AT HOME.

BEGINNING WITH HEAD START, THE POI’S PRIORITY IS TO

ENSURE THAT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE READY TO

ASSUME THEIR ROLE IN SCHOOL. WE WANT SELF-SUFFICIENT

FAMILIES WHO ARE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED IN THEIR CHILD’S

SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. WE WANT CHILDREN

TO BE PREPARED TO LOVE EVERYTHING THAT SCHOOL IS

ABOUT.

THE LAST 2 YEARS HAVE SEEN GREAT CHANGES AT OUR HEAD

START PROGRAM. THE FEDERAL MANDATES FOR TEACHER

EDUCATION ARE MORE STRINGENT EACH YEAR. RESEARCH

HAS SHOWN THAT TEACHERS WITH MORE EDUCATION HAVE

STUDENTS WHO MAKE GREATER LEARNING GAINS. THE TRIBAL

COUNCIL AND OUR OFFICE HAS SUPPORTED THIS MANDATE.

WE NEED THE BEST TEACHERS BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN

DESERVE NO LESS.

Page 4

Isleta Pueblo News

ON THE OTHER HAND, WE ARE WORKING TO ENSURE THAT

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNDERSTANDS HOW INTEGRAL

OUR CHILDREN’S LANGUAGE, CULTURE, AND TRADITIONS,

OUR COMMUNITY IS TO ENSURE A PRODUCTIVE CITIZEN. WE

CONTINUE TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO DIALOGUE WITH

THE OFFICE OF HEAD START IN WASHINGTON, TO SHARE

THESE PRIORITIES SO THAT THE HEAD START EXPERIENCE

IS MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT TO OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS

THE HEAD START GOING INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND

BEYOND.

SPEAKING OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, IN THE LAST FIVE

YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF PERSONNEL CHANGES.

WE’VE SEEN ADMINISTRATORS IN THE BUREAU OF INDIAN

EDUCATION SOUTH COME AND GO. WE’VE SEEN IN OUR OWN

SCHOOL, PRINCIPALS COME AND GO AS WELL. WE HAVE

NOT SEEN STABILITY IN THE PAST AND I BELIEVE THIS HAS

AN OVERALL EFFECT ON MAKING THE GRADE. THE SCHOOL

FOUND ITSELF IN RE-STRUCTURING BECAUSE THE SCHOOL

DID NOT MAKE AYP, WHICH MEANS ANNUAL YEARLY PROGRESS.

THIS IS A MEASURE OF HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING. THIS

OCCURRED FOR FOUR YEARS IN A ROW WHICH PUT THEM IN RESTRUCTURING. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT THE SCHOOL HAD

TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS, LIKE CHANGE CURRICULUM,

BRING IN NEW TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, OR HAVE

THE POI AN OPTION OF TAKING OVER THE OPERATIONS AND

MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL. I HAVE SERIOUSLY LOOKED

INTO US, THE POI, TAKING OVER. I’VE EXPRESSED THIS TO THE

SCHOOL BOARD, THE ADMINISTRATION OF BIE, AND TO THE

COUNCIL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS ONE OF MY PRIORITIES.

WE WILL STUDY THE PROS AND CONS OF THE POI BEING IN

CONTROL. THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE OUR CHILDREN

WITH THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN PROVIDE WHETHER

IT’S US, BIE, CHARTER SCHOOL OR A COMBINATION. WE

OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN, AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT

IS SECOND TO NONE. WE CAN DO IT OR MAKE CHANGES

TO OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, BUT IT WILL NOT WORK IF

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS. FOR THIS

YEAR, THERE IS A NEW PRINCIPAL BY THE NAME OF MS. JO

ANN MEYERS AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ALSO NEW IS

MR. CASEY SOVO, LINE OFFICER FOR BIE SOUTH. I WISH BOTH

OF THEM WELL.

IF WE DID NOT HAVE ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS, THE TRUANCY

DEPT WOULD NOT BE IN EXISTENCE. I TELL MARGARET ABEITA,

THE DIRECTOR OF THE ISLETA TRUANCY DEPARTMENT, THAT

THIS IS ONE DEPT I WISH WE COULD DO WITHOUT, HOWEVER.

WE NEED IT. THE TRUANCY DEPT. WAS PREVIOUSLY WORKING

UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ISLETA TRIBAL COURT FROM

2007-2010. TRUANCY WAS MADE A STANDALONE DEPARTMENT

IN DECEMBER, 2010. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ISLETA TRIBAL

COURT, TRIBAL ADMINISTRATION AND TRIBAL COUNCIL THE

DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO EVOLVE FROM A PROGRAM

WHO ONLY OFFERED SOME ISLETA STUDENTS PERFECT

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVES, TO A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES

STUDENT INTERVENTIONS AND ADDRESSES OUR STUDENT

NEEDS ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

IN ORDER TO FIT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, CHANGES HAVE BEEN

MADE TO THE PROGRAM TO HELP IMPROVE AND ENFORCE

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF OUR YOUTH. FOR EXAMPLE, THE

TRUANCY OFFICE PREVENTION PROGRAM (TOPP) WHICH

BEGAN IN 2007 IS STILL IN PLACE AND IS SUCCESSFULLY

REDUCING THE TRUANCY RATE. THIS DEPARTMENT HAS

BUILT A FOUNDATION WITHIN THE TRIBAL COURT JUDICIAL

SYSTEM WHICH HAS EMPOWERED THEM TO HELP REDUCE

THE TRUANCY RATE, ALSO GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY

TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER JUDICIAL SYSTEMS IN THE

SURROUNDING AREAS TO ADDRESS TRUANCY AS WELL.

UNFORTUNATELY, CHILDREN WHO HAVE TRUANCY ISSUES

HAVE OTHER ISSUES GOING ON WITHIN THEIR HOMES,

SUBSTANCE ABUSE, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SINGLE-PARENT

August 2011

HOMES OR TEEN PREGNANCY. THE TRUANCY DEPARTMENT

HAS A PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO

THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE ISSUES BY

REFERRING THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE PROVIDER.

BUILDING A COMMUNICATION NETWORK WITH OTHER ISLETA

PUEBLO SERVICE PROVIDERS SUCH AS: SOCIAL SERVICES

AND ISLETA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES HAS ALLOWED

THEM TO ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ANY NEEDS

THAT A CHILD MAY HAVE. BECAUSE OF OTHER ISSUES THAT

ARE TAKING PLACE, IT MAY SEEM LIKE TRUANCY IS DIRECTLY

INVOLVED WITH ISSUES NOT CONCERNING TRUANCY.

HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE TRY TO ASSIST AND

OFFER PROGRAMS THAT WILL BEST SERVE THE CHILDREN

IN OUR COMMUNITY. OFFERING SUPPORT SERVICES OPENS

THE DOORS FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL HELP

IN ALLOWING OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED. AGAIN, IT IS

TRUANCY’S PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY

TO REPORT ANY INCIDENTS TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE

PROVIDER, OFFER SUPPORT SERVICES, AND EDUCATION AND

ENFORCE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE FOR ALL CHILDREN WHO

RESIDE WITHIN THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA.

THE FOLLOWING WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH TRUANCY STATISTICS

FOR THE 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR. THESE STATISTICS WERE

TAKEN FROM THOSE 582 STUDENTS WHO ATTEND LOS LUNAS

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

1ST NOTIFICATIONS 2ND NOTIFICATIONS 3RD NOTIFICATIONS

159

83

45

THESE NUMBERS SHOW A DECREASE IN THE TRUANCY

RATE FOR THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA AS LESS CONTACT IS

NEEDED TO BE MADE WITH THOSE PARENTS OF STUDENTS

WHO HAVE EXCESSIVE ABSENCES. ADDITIONAL STAFF

TIME IS SPENT CONCENTRATING ON STUDENTS WHO ARE

BORDERLINE TRUANT TO CONTACT PARENTS AND AT THIS

TIME INTERVENTION SERVICES ARE OFFERED. INTERVENTION

SERVICES INCLUDE MAKING A HOME VISIT OR PLACING A

PHONE CALL. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PARENTS

IN REGARDS TO THE STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF SCHOOL

ATTENDANCE.

THE TRUANCY RATE HAS DECREASED HOWEVER; THERE ARE

STILL SOME PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO DO NOT TAKE

TRUANCY SERIOUSLY. AS A RESULT, TWENTY-SIX (26) CASES

ARE ACTIVELY OPEN IN THE TRIBAL COURT. THESE CASES WERE

FILED DUE TO THE NON-COMPLIANCE OF THE PARENTS AND

STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS

NUMBER ALSO INCLUDES PARENTS WHO HAVE REQUESTED

THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TRUANCY DEPARTMENT AND HAVE

ASKED THEM TO FILE A COMPLAINT IN TRIBAL COURT ON THEIR

BEHALF BECAUSE THEIR CHILD IS UNCOOPERATIVE.

RESISTANCE IS OFTEN MET WITH PARENTS WHO MAY FIND IT

OFFENSIVE WHEN TRUANCY INTERVENES. IT IS IMPORTANT

TO REMEMBER THAT THE EDUCATION OF OUR STUDENTS

IS VITAL. EACH STUDENT’S SUCCESS TRICKLES DOWN TO

THE COMMUNITY AS THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE

LEADERS. TRUANCY IS A CHOICE. TRUANCY IS NOT THERE

TO HURT THE COMMUNITY BUT TO DO THEIR JOB AND

ENSURE EACH STUDENT ATTEND SCHOOL ON A DAILY BASIS.

ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL IS TO KEEP STUDENTS AND THEIR

PARENTS OUT OF THE COURT SYSTEM. SOME STUDENTS

ONLY NEED A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND HAVE

BECOME SUCCESSFUL DURING THEIR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH

SCHOOL YEARS. HOPE IS NEVER LOST FOR THOSE STUDENTS

WHO FALL BEHIND OR MAY HAVE SOME BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

THE GOAL IS TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO MEET THEIR CHILD’S

EDUCATIONAL NEED, TO SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN THEIR

CHILD’S EDUCATION. LET’S ALL TAKE A POSITIVE APPROACH.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HOW OUR

STUDENTS BECOME.

August 2011

Isleta Pueblo News

WE ALSO BEGAN DISCUSS PUTTING TOGETHER A TRIBAL

YOUTH COUNCIL THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. THIS COUNCIL

WOULD BE MADE UP OF VARIOUS AGES, WOULD BE ABLE TO

TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER ABOUT PROBLEMS THEY FACE,

IDEAS ON HOW TO ADDRESS THEM, OR ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE,

PLAN FOR ALL TYPES OF ACTIVITIES TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED,

TO LEARN, OR PERHAPS JUST TO TALK WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WHO ELSE KNOWS BETTER THAN THEM? I SEE THIS YOUTH

COUNCIL FUNCTIONING JUST LIKE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL,

BRINGING A SENSE OF GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT

RELATIONS WITH US TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THE YOUTH

FACE TODAY. DURING THE YOUTH SUMMIT A MONTH OR TWO

AGO, I ASKED KIDS IN ATTENDANCE HOW MANY WOULD BE

INTERESTED TO HAVE A YOUTH COUNCIL AND HOW MANY

WOULD LIKE TO SERVE ON THE COUNCIL. JUST ABOUT EVERY

KID RAISED THEIR HAND. I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO

KEEP KIDS INVOLVED AND LEARN ABOUT BEING A LEADER.

BECAUSE OUR VISION IS TO LEAD YOU BACK TO SERVE YOUR

COMMUNITY, IN DOING SO, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL CREATED

THE ISLETA BUSINESS CORPORATION, OR THE IBC. WITH THE

SUCCESS OF THIS CORPORATION, I ENVISION JOB CREATION,

A STEADY REVENUE STREAM, A STRONG ECONOMIC FUTURE

FOR OUR PUEBLO. ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPORTANCE OF A

TRIBAL BUSINESS THE TRIBAL COUNCIL INCLUDED THE ISLETA

TRAVEL CENTER, THE ONE-STOP, AND THE COMANCHE RANCH.

THESE BUSINESSES WERE INCORPORATED UNDER THE IBC.

THE FARMING ENTERPRISE WAS ALSO A PART OF THE IBC,

HOWEVER. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL DECIDED TO HAVE IT REVERT

BACK TO THE ADMINISTRATION.

THIS PROCESS SEPARATES TRIBAL GOVERNMENT AND

POLITICS FROM TRIBAL BUSINESS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING

SHAREHOLDER OVERSIGHT AND RESPONSIBILITY WITH TRIBAL

LEADERSHIP. SUBSEQUENTLY TRIBAL LEADERSHIP APPOINTED

THE IBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO THEN RECENTLY HIRED

THE CEO. THE IBC HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO EVALUATE VARIOUS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BOTH ON AND OFF TRIBAL LANDS.

MOVING FORWARD, THE IBC WILL EVALUATE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR EXPANSION, DIVERSIFICATION, AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO

SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. THE

MESSAGE IS “WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS”. UNDER THE

LEADERSHIP THE OF THE CEO, MR. MARVIS ARAGON,

MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS BOARD, WITH MR. HAROLD

CULBERTSON, CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS MS. FAYLA KOVACS,

MR. MIKE PAQUIN, MR. NATHAN LUCERO, WHO ARE TRIBAL

MEMBERS, AND LASTLY MR. JIM FITTINGS. THIS BOARD IS

CHARGED WITH DEVELOPING ON AND OFF-RESERVATION

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, RELATIONSHIPS, PARTNERSHIPS,

TO GENERATE A REVENUE STREAM WE’VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.

THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO GENERATE REVENUE

OTHER THAN GAMING. ALTHOUGH GAMING HAS BEEN VERY

SUCCESSFUL, WE NEED TO FURTHER EXPAND AND LOOK FOR

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC OUR PUEBLO

STANDS TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.

THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE ENDURING

CHALLENGING ECONOMIC TIMES. WHETHER IT IS TRIBAL

GOVERNMENTS, THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,

OR THE PUBLIC AT-LARGE, WE ARE ALL AFFECTED IN SOME

WAY BY THIS ECONOMY. AS OF THIS WRITING, THE FEDERAL

GOVERNMENT IS STILL DEBATING THE DEBT CEILING CRISIS. I

DO NOT KNOW WHAT EFFECTS IT WILL HAVE ON THE PUEBLO

IF AT ALL, BUT I DO KNOW IT WILL AFFECT US AS INDIVIDUALS.

HIGHER INTEREST RATES, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID MAY NOT

BE PAID; SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS MAY NOT BE ISSUED AND

SO ON. WHAT IT ALL MEANS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OWES

MORE MONEY IN PAYMENTS THEN THEY TAKE IN. MONDAY IS

THE DEADLINE FOR THE CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO

AGREE, SO STAY TUNED.

AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, ALL TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE

Page 5

STATE OF NEW MEXICO OWN SOME TYPE OF BUSINESS TO

GENERATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL

SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITIES. SOME OF THESE CRITICAL

SERVICES INCLUDE HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATION

TO NAME A FEW. FURTHERMORE, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

ARE ESPECIALLY CHALLENGED BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A

STRONG TAX BASE LIKE OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES DO. IN

SHORT, OUR TRIBALLY OWNED BUSINESSES ARE CRITICAL TO

SUSTAINING OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO SUSTAIN OUR VERY

WAY OF LIFE.

WE HOWEVER NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS WE FACE

TODAY. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, WE AS ISLETA PEOPLE NEED

OUR LANGUAGE, KNOW OUR HISTORY, AND TEACH IT TO OUR

CHILDREN. OUR TRADITIONAL LEADERS, OUR TATA’S AND

NANA’S ALWAYS REMIND US AND SOMETIMES WILL SCOLD US

WHEN WE DON’T SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE. THEY CONTINUE TO

REMIND US THE KEY TO KEEPING OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS OF

LIVE, OUR CULTURAL VALUES IS OUR LANGUAGE. LANGUAGE

IS THE KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL. WITHOUT IT, WE DIE. SO WHAT

DO WE DO TO MAKE SURE OUR LANGUAGE IS ALIVE FOR

ANOTHER 100 YRS AND MORE? SPEAK THE LANGUAGE AT

HOME? YES. DO OUR YOUNG PARENTS KNOW HOW TO SPEAK

THE LANGUAGE? MAYBE SOME DO BUT PROBABLY NOT ALL.

MY OWN FAMILY CANNOT SPEAK IT. AND IT’S MY FAULT AND

I’M NOT ALONE. OUR LANGUAGE PROGRAM HEADED BY MR.

PAUL LUJAN, INSTRUCTORS LARRY LUCERO, CAROL LUCERO,

BARBARA TRUJILLO, AND LENA ABEITA ARE ALL STATE

CERTIFIED TEACHERS. BRIAN JOJOLA IS CURRENTLY WORKING

ON HIS CERTIFICATION. I THANK THEM FOR HELPING TO KEEP

THE LANGUAGE ALIVE.

THE LANGUAGE PROGRAM HAS NOW IN PLACE PROGRAM

POLICIES AND TEACHER CERTIFICATIONS. FOR THOSE OF YOU

WHO DON’T KNOW, LANGUAGE LESSONS ARE CURRENTLY

BEING TAUGHT AT THE OLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ALL

TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND. MONDAYS,

TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS, CLASSES ARE FROM 6:00PM8:00PM AND ON SATURDAYS: 9:00AM-11:00AM. THE LANGUAGE

PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED TO TEACH OUR ISLETA YOUTH

BASIC CONVERSATIONAL TIWA LANGUAGE. STUDENTS LEARN

GREETINGS, FAREWELLS, NUMBERS, COLORS, OBJECTS,

FAMILY, ANIMALS, AND DIRECTIONS.

LANGUAGE CLASSES ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

1. TIWA 101: BEGINNING TIWA (AVERAGE 15 STUDENTS)

STUDENTS GET ACQUAINTED WITH THEIR NATIVE TIWA

LANGUAGE WHILE EMPHASIZING THE EVERYDAY LANGUAGE

USAGE BY ALL AGES IN HOPES THAT THE STUDENTS WILL

LEARN, UNDERSTAND, AND FEEL COMFORTABLE TO SPEAK

THE TIWA LANGUAGE EVERY DAY.

2. TIWA 201: INTERMEDIATE TIWA

STUDENTS GET ACQUAINTED WITH MORE ADVANCED

TIWA LANGUAGE WHILE EMPHASIZING FULL IMMERSION IN

HOPES THAT THE STUDENTS WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE TO

SPEAK THE TIWA LANGUAGE EVERY DAY.

3. TIWA 301: ADVANCED TIWA (AVERAGE 4-6 STUDENTS)

ALSO BEING OFFERED BY THE LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS AN

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH AT OLD ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL FOR ALL TRIBAL YOUTH MONDAY THRU THURSDAYS:

4:00 PM-6:00 PM

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 10-15 STUDENTS ATTENDING ON

A DAILY BASIS AFTER SCHOOL. IN ADDITION TO CLASSES HERE

ON THE PUEBLO, CLASSES ARE OFFERED AT THE FOLLOWING

SCHOOLS:

NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY ACADEMY (NACA)

HEAD START AND EARLY HEADSTART SCHOOL

ISLETA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LOS LUNAS SCHOOL DISTRICT

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Page 6

Isleta Pueblo News

LANGUAGE CLASSES AT THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY

ACADEMY (NACA) FOR ISLETA STUDENTS. THIS COURSE

IS OFFERED AS AN ELECTIVE CREDIT FOR MID-SCHOOL

STUDENTS WITH 15 TO 18 STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED.

FOR THIS CLASS, LANGUAGE CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENTS COUNT TOWARDS GRADUATION.

• ISLETA HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START:

COORDINATED EFFORTS WITH THE ISLETA HEAD START

HAVE DEVELOPED INTO AN IMMERSION PROGRAM

SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING THE HEAD START AND

EARLY HEAD START. EVENING CLASSES ARE OFFERED TO

HEAD START PARENTS TO LEARN THE ISLETA LANGUAGE

WITH THEIR CHILD.

• ISLETA ELEMENTARY

NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ALLOW THE ISLETA

LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL PROGRAM TO BE A PART OF

THE CURRICULUM IN THE SCHOOL’S BILINGUAL PROGRAM.

A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) HAS BEEN

DRAFTED AND AWAITING SIGNATURE FROM THE BUREAU

OF INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

• SCHOOL DISTRICTS

APS: THE LANGUAGE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY IN

DISCUSSIONS FOR TIWA LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR

APS SCHOOLS. MOU IS BEING DISCUSSED AND WILL BE

DRAFTED FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION WITH

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

• LOS LUNAS: AN IDEA IS BEING DISCUSSED TO

APPROACH THE LOS LUNAS SUMMER LANGUAGE CAMP:

THE PUEBLO IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING ITS 4TH YEAR

OF SUMMER LANGUAGE CAMP FOR ISLETA YOUTH. AGES

HAVE RANGED FROM 5 YEAR OLDS TO 18 YEAR OLDS.

AT START OF THE PROGRAM 4 YEARS AGO ATTENDANCE

WAS 6 STUDENTS, CURRENTLY OUR ATTENDANCE IS 62

STUDENTS. MIRACULOUS INCREASE FROM JUST 3 YEARS

AGO.

MANY THANKS TO STAFF FOR MAKING GREAT STRIDES WITH

THE LANGUAGE PROGRAM. THEY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

BUT I ASK, IS IT ENOUGH? WITH A SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY

OF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE? WE

HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD WE CANNOT WRITE OR RECORD

THE LANGUAGE. BUT WE ALL KNOW IT HAS HAPPENED AND

CONTINUES TODAY. I ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL,

AND SOME OF OUR TRADITIONAL LEADERS VISITED THE SW

MUSEUM IN PASADENA CA., WHERE WE FOUND RECORDINGS,

PICTURES, EVEN A DICTIONARY. SOME OF US HAVE READ A

BOOK CALLED ISLETA TIMES, RIGHT? WE WRITE TRANSLATIONS

IN OUR SCHOOLS, FOR EXAMPLE AT THE ISLETA ELEMENTARY

SCHOOL. MY POINT IS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FIND NEW

WAYS OF TEACHING OUR LANGUAGE. CAN WE OR SHOULD WE

THINK ABOUT TEACHING USING CURRENT TECHNOLOGY? THE

USE OF RECORDERS OR VIDEOS? THESE ARE QUESTIONS I

OFTEN HEAR BEING ASKED A LOT ESPECIALLY KNOWING

THAT MOST KIDS INCLUDING ADULTS KNOW HOW TO USE

COMPUTERS AND ARE JUST TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY. SO

WHAT IF THEY COULD LOG ONTO THE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

WEBSITES, THEY COULD BE LEARNING AT HOME. IT WOULD BE

A GOOD WAY TO LEARN. AND I’M TALKING ABOUT EVERY DAY

LANGUAGE WE USE AROUND THE DINNER TABLE CASUAL TALK.

I KNOW IT’S A DIFFICULT QUESTION TO ASK. THE ANSWER HAS

ALWAYS BEEN A SIMPLE “NO” BUT I THINK IT’S AN IMPORTANT

QUESTION TO ASK AGAIN.

I WANT TO MOVE ON TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. I RECENTLY

RECEIVED A REPORT ON THE NUMBER OR INCARCERATIONS

AND THE COST FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS. I WAS SHOCKED AT

THE NUMBERS. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, “OH MY GOD”. IN EACH

OF THOSE YEARS, WE HAVE AVERAGED APPROXIMATELY

$35,000/MO. OR $420,000/YR. FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS IT COST

THE PUEBLO $2,520,000. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? AND THIS

August 2011

ALL STEMS FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE, DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE, CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, THEFTS, AND ON

AND ON. HOW MUCH OF THIS MONEY IS RECOVERED? ONLY

A SMALL FRACTION. WHAT DOES THIS TELL US? ARE WE THAT

OUT OF CONTROL? RECENTLY, THE TRIBAL COURTS STARTED

ISSUING ANKLE BRACELETS IN LIEU OF INCARCERATION. THIS

CHANGE BROUGHT DOWN THE COST TO ABOUT $13,000/MO.

THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE TO THE LAST INVOICE RECEIVED

FROM THE VALENCIA COUNTY DETENTION CENTER.

WE ALSO SAW VIOLENT CRIMES WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

BACK IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A SHOOTING

AT THE SUNSET HILLS SUBDIVISION. LUCKILY, THIS INCIDENT

DID NOT CLAIM A LIFE, HOWEVER, THERE WERE INNOCENT

CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE WHO ESCAPED A POSSIBLE

CARNAGE.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING TO DETER THESE ACTS? JUST

RECENTLY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PUEBLO’S PROGRAM

DIRECTORS INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICES, TRIBAL LAW

ENFORCEMENT, TRIBAL COURTS, TRUANCY, AND OF COURSE

US, THE ADMINISTRATION, GOT TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT

HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY OUR CURRENT

CAPABILITIES AND NEEDS TO DEVELOP STANDARDIZED

POLICIES FOR ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES. WE, AS YOUR

LEADERS ARE SHOULDERED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR

PROVIDING SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES AND MAKING

SURE CHILDREN ARE RAISED BY HEALTHY ADULTS. TO DO

THIS, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE

EFFECTIVE TRIBAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS WHEN INCIDENTS

ARE REPORTED. AS A RESULT OF THESE MEETINGS, THE

PUEBLO SUBMITTED A GRANT TO THE DEPT. OF JUSTICE FOR

$2 MILLION DOLLARS. WE HAVE NOT YET HEARD IF AND WHEN

WE MIGHT BE AWARDED. IN THE FRONT LINES OF ALL THESE

CASES ARE SOCIAL SERVICES AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

I HAVE POINTED OUT MANY TIMES THAT THEIR JOBS ARE

TOUGHER THAN MINE AND THAT IS THE TRUTH.

LET’S BETTER TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES, OUR LIVES, CARE

FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN AND TAKE CARE OF

OUR PUEBLO. SEEMS TO ME JUST BY VIRTUE OF OUR LOCATION

SURROUNDED BY METRO ALBUQUERQUE TO THE NORTH

AND LOS LUNAS TO THE SOUTH, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE

CRISS-CROSSING OUR RESERVATION. NOT TO SAY THEY ARE

RESPONSIBLE, BUT IN MY OPINION A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THE GRAFFITI ALL OVER OUR REZ, DRUGS

HAVE BEEN FOUND, AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BUSTED. THIS IS

GOING TO BE A CONTINUOUS WAR ON DRUGS. OUR COUNTRY

IS AT WAR WITH DRUG LORDS.

TO HELP FURTHER THIS ENDEAVOUR, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL

ESTABLISHED A LAW AND ORDER CODE REVIEW COMMITTEE.

THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO REVIEW OUR PRESENT CODES

AND MAKE REVISIONS TO OR CREATE NEW LAWS IN ORDER

TO PROTECT THE PEACE, THE GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR

PEOPLE AND PROSECUTE VIOLATORS. COUNCIL MEMBERS,

MARK DIXON, DIANE PIEGLER, ALONG WITH THE PD, THE

TRIBAL AND APPELLATE COURTS MAKE UP THE COMMITTEE.

THE TRIBAL COUNCIL HAVING THE FINAL APPROVAL ON ALL

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE. WITH THIS, THE TRIBAL COURTS

NOW HAVE TEETH TO PROSECUTE ALL THOSE WHO ARE

CAUGHT, TO BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF

THE LAW.

LAW ENFORCEMENT- THE ISLETA POLICE DEPARTMENT

CURRENTLY HAS 24 OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE CHIEF OF

POLICE. TWO NEW DRUG OFFICERS ARE ON STAFF AND

HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WITH THE GRAFFITI

THAT HAS BEEN SEEN WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. TWO

JUVENILE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ARRESTED WHO

WERE CHARGED AND CONVICTED WITH COMMITTING

GRAFFITI.

August 2011

Isleta Pueblo News

FROM JANUARY 2011 TO PRESENT, THERE HAVE BEEN

2,923 CALLS RECEIVED, THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER

REPORTED. AND OF THESE CALLS, OFFICERS RESPONDED

AS FOLLOWS; CRASH PROPERTY DAMAGE-104, DWI/

RECKLESS DRIVER-224, ASSAULT & BATTERY-12, DOMESTIC

DISPUTE-59, DRUG/DRUG RELATED-47.

THESE ARE SOME DISTURBING NUMBERS AND REMEMBER

WE ARE ONLY HALF WAY THROUGH THIS YEAR. AS A

RESULT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE PROGRESS

IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: THE COMMUNICATIONS

SECTION WILL BE RECEIVING $405 THOUSAND DOLLARS

FOR 911 EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT UPGRADE. FUNDING IS

THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE STATE; PROCESSING OF

CITIZEN’S COMPLAINTS; TRAINING OF USE OF FORCE; AND

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE NOW IN PLACE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAS BEEN THE

ADOPTION OF THE SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION ACT OR

SORNA.

THE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION

ACT (SORNA) WAS PASSED IN JULY 2006, WITH A 3 YEAR

IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE. A ONE YEAR EXTENSION

WAS ADDED BRINGING THE DEADLINE TO JULY 27, 2011.

NO MORE EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED. JURISDICTIONS

THAT FAIL TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPLEMENT SORNA BY THIS

DATE ARE SUBJECT TO A MANDATORY 10% REDUCTION

IN FUNDING UNDER BRYNE JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANTFUNDING). FOR TRIBES THAT WERE NOT SUBSTANTIALLY

IMPLEMENTED WITH SORNA, THEY WILL BE MONITORED

BY STATE AND/OR LOCAL COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT

AGENCIES.

THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA CURRENTLY HAS 14 TOTAL SEX

OFFENDERS IDENTIFIED IN THE SYSTEM. FIVE (5) ARE

CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE AREA AND ARE REGISTERED WITH

THE ISLETA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SURROUNDING LAW

ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THERE ARE SIX (6) SEX OFFENDERS

THAT ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED. THE REMAINING THREE

(3) SEX OFFENDERS ARE LIVING OFF THE RESERVATION AND

ARE REGISTERED IN OTHER COUNTIES.

1. A WEB-SITE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING OF ALL SEX OFFENDERS

IS AVAILABLE AT (HTTP://ISLETA .DSOPW.GOV/)

REMEMBER THE NEED FOR SORNA IS TO PROTECT THE SAFETY,

HEALTH, AND THE GENERAL WELFARE OF OUR MEMBERS. I AM

PROUD AND HONORED TO ANNOUNCE WE, THE PUEBLO OF

ISLETA, RECEIVED NOTIFICATION ON JULY 25TH , 2011, FROM

THE U.S. DEPT. OF JUSTICE’S OFFICE OF SEX OFFENDER

SENTENCING, MONITORING, APPREHENDING, REGISTERING,

AND TRACKING (SMART) THAT THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA HAS

SUBSTANTIALLY IMPLEMENTED THE PROVISIONS OF SORNA,

TITLE 1 OF THE ADAM WALSH CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY

ACT OF 2006. AGAIN THANK YOU COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO

WORKED HARD AND DILIGENTLY ON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

I WOULD SAY WE ARE THE FIRST PUEBLO IN NEW MEXICO AND

PROBABLY IN INDIAN COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE THIS TASK.

POINT OF CONTACT FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING

THE SEX OFFENDERS ARE DETECTIVE DARREN MALLON,

PROBATION OFFICER ELALIA LUCERO AND CAPTAIN KEVIN

MARIANO.

LASTLY, THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION WILL BE RECEIVING

$405,626.00 THRU A GRANT FROM THE STATE TO PURCHASE

911-EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE AN

UPGRADE TO THE CURRENT 911-EQUIPMENT WE CURRENTLY

HAVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE SERVICES TO THE

COMMUNITY FOR THE PROTECTION AND WELL-BEING OF OUR

COMMUNITY.

Page 7

WE NOW HAVE A FUNCTIONING TRIBAL COURT SYSTEM. AS

SOMEONE ONCE SAID “A STRONG INDIAN NATION MUST HAVE

A STRONG COURT SYSTEM. BEING ABLE TO ADMINISTER

JUSTICE AND HANDLE JUDICIAL MATTERS, EVEN THE MORE

COMPLEX ONES, IS A HALLMARK OF GOOD GOVERNMENT FOR

ANY NATION”. ACCORDINGLY, EARLIER THIS YEAR I APPOINTED

AN INTELLIGENT AND ARTICULATE STATESMAN TO SERVE AS

CHIEF JUDGE, MR. ERNEST JARAMILLO. AND REALIZING THE

GROWING COMPLEXITY AND NUMBER OF CASES THAT TRIBAL

COURT IS FACED WITH, I APPOINTED TWO ASSOCIATE JUDGES.

BOTH OF THESE MEN ARE LAW TRAINED, PASSED THE NEW

MEXICO BAR EXAM, WERE SERVING AS TRIBAL JUDGES FOR

OTHER INDIAN NATIONS WHEN I APPOINTED THEM, AND BOTH

ARE ENROLLED TRIBAL MEMBERS. I AM HONORED TO HAVE

ASSOCIATE JUDGES ROBERT MEDINA FROM THE PUEBLO OF

ZIA AND AARON CHONESKA, FROM THE MESCALERO APACHE

NATION. EACH OF THESE JUDGES HEARS A FULL DOCKET OF

CASES, AND I’M PROUD TO STATE THAT OUR TRIBAL COURT IS

FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT SHOULD.

HEALTH INFORMATION

IN THE AREA OF HEALTH, NATIVE AMERICAN DEATHS FROM

DIABETES AND ALCOHOL-RELATED CAUSES OCCUR AT

SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES AS COMPARED TO OTHER

ETHNIC GROUPS IN NEW MEXICO. THE PREVALENCE OF

DIABETES IN THE PUEBLO IS APPROXIMATELY 12%.

THE CLINIC HAS INSTITUTED PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND

IS FOCUSED ON EXERCISE AND DIET. SMOKING CESSATION

CLASSES AND OTHER RISK-REDUCTION ACTIVITIES ARE

AVAILABLE.

SUPPORT GROUPS FOR CANCER PATIENTS AND EX-SMOKERS

HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AS HAVE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

PREVENTION EFFORTS. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE

COMMUNITY HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FITNESS AND WEIGHT

LOSS ACTIVITIES AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE.

THE CONTRACT HEALTH PROGRAM IS FUNDING SCREENING

MAMMOGRAMS, COLONOSCOPIES AND BONE DENSITY TESTS

TO HELP DETECT DISEASES EARLY AND BEGIN TREATMENT

EARLY. EARLY INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT WILL LEAD TO

HEALTHIER LIVES.

I’M VERY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT 90% OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE

UPDATED IMMUNIZATION RECORDS. THIS RATE IS HIGHER

THAN THE STATE AVERAGE. IN ANOTHER NOTE RELATED TO

CHILDREN, THE SERVICES OF A PEDIATRIC DENTIST ARE NOW

AVAILABLE BEGINNING JULY 11, 2011. THE DENTIST WILL BE

AVAILABLE ONCE A WEEK.

OTHER SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE:

DENTAL HYGIENE SERVICES HAVE BEEN INCREASED TO

SHORTEN THE “WAIT TIME” FOR THAT SERVICE.

A RETINAL CAMERA WAS ADDED TO THE OPTOMETRY CLINIC

TO IMPROVE DIAGNOSIS OF EYE DISEASE.

PHARMACY STAFF HAS BEEN INCREASED TO PROVIDE BETTER

SERVICE. THE PHARMACY DISPENSES APPROXIMATELY 65,000

PRESCRIPTIONS PER YEAR. THE PHARMACY HAS ADDED

ZOSTAVAX (SHINGLES VACCINE) TO ITS FORMULARY. IT WILL

BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS AS SOON THE SHIPMENT IS

RECEIVED. UPON RECEIVING YOUR PRESCRIPTION, PLEASE

ASSURE YOURSELVES THAT THE PRESCRIPTION RECEIVED IS

YOURS BEFORE LEAVING THE CLINIC.

DEMAND FOR HEALTH SERVICES CONTINUES TO GROW;

THEREFORE AN APPLICATION PROCESS HAS BEEN

ESTABLISHED TO ASSURE THAT ISLETA MEMBERS,

DESCENDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO RESIDE ON

OR NEAR THE RESERVATION RECEIVE PRIORITY ACCESS.

Page 8

Isleta Pueblo News

LASTLY, JUST A REMINDER THAT THE ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR,

CO-SPONSORED BY HEALTH CENTER AND HEADSTART, IS

ON-GOING RIGHT NOW AND WILL CONTINUE TILL 1:00 PM AT

THE RECREATION CENTER. SO PLEASE, TAKE THE TIME RIGHT

AFTER THIS MEETING TO TAKE PART IN THIS EVENT.

WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE LAST YEAR, I CHOSE CERTAIN

MATTERS TO FOCUS ON THAT I FELT WERE IMPORTANT TO

THE PUEBLO. THE FIRST MATTER IS THE PROTECTION OF OUR

WATER RESOURCES. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WATER IS A PRECIOUS

GIFT AND A VALUABLE RESOURCE TO OUR PEOPLE, AND WE

NEED WATER TO SUSTAIN OUR CULTURE AND OUR SOCIETY.

THE PUEBLO ACTIVELY AND FULLY PARTICIPATES IN THE

SIX MIDDLE RIO GRANDE PUEBLOS WATER COALITION.

THE COALITION IS COMPOSED OF THE GOVERNORS AND

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SIX PUEBLOS AND PLAYS A VITAL

ROLE IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE BOR,

BIA AND THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, AS WELL AS STATE

GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE OFFICE OF STATE ENGINEER

AND THE MRGCD.

IN ADDITION TO SERVING AN ACTIVE ROLE ON THE COALITION,

THE PUEBLO RECENTLY FORMED THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA

WATER TASK FORCE. THE WATER TASK FORCE IS COMPRISED

OF THE GOVERNOR, TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM TRIBAL

COUNCIL, WATER RESOURCE STAFF, OUR TRIBAL ATTORNEY,

AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY WITH WATER

RESOURCE EXPERTISE. I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS WHO

VOLUNTEERED, AND ARE NORMAN JOJOLA, RAMONA MONTOYA,

AND BLAINE SANCHEZ. ADVISORS ARE LARRY ABEITA, KEVIN

LENTE, BERNARD LUJAN, AND THE MAYORDORMOS AND REPS

FROM THE CULTURAL COMMITTEE. THE PRIMARY ROLE OF

THIS WATER COMMISSION IS TO FORMULATE STRATEGY TO

ADVISE TRIBAL COUNCIL AND US ON KEY WATER MATTERS

AFFECTING THE PUEBLO, SUCH AS THE ISLETA DIVERSION

DAM, THE POTENTIAL ADJUDICATION OF THE MIDDLE RIO

GRANDE, PROTESTING WATER TRANSFERS FROM JUNIOR

USERS DOWNSTREAM FROM US TO LOCATIONS UPSTREAM

SUCH AS THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND RIO RANCHO, AND

WATER QUALITY ISSUES AFFECTING OUR WATER SUCH AS

THE SOUTH VALLEY WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT. VERY

FEW INDIAN TRIBES IN THE SOUTHWEST HAVE CREATED THIS

TYPE OF WATER TASK FORCE, AND THOSE THAT HAVE ARE IN

THE BEST POSITION TO ASSERT AND PROTECT THEIR WATER

RIGHTS.

ANOTHER MATTER I CHOSE TO FOCUS ON DURING MY

ADMINISTRATION IS OUR TRIBAL CONSTITUTION. FIRST

ADOPTED IN 1947 AND AMENDED IN 1970 AND 1990, OUR

CONSTITUTION IS IN DIRE NEED OF AMENDING AND

MODERNIZING. WHEN OUR PEOPLE VOTED TO ADOPT THE

CONSTITUTION BACK IN 1947, THEY SET A COURSE FOR US

THAT WE MUST CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND LIVE BY

TODAY. NOT A WEEK GOES BY IN COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT WE

DO NOT REFER TO IT AND TRY TO LIVE BY IT. I HAVE COME

TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE MANY PROVISIONS IN OUR

CONSTITUTION THAT DO NOT APPLY IN TODAY’S WORLD OR

THAT HINDER OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AS A NATION.

WITH THAT, THE TRIBAL COUNCIL APPOINTED 8 MEMBERS

TO THE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT TASK FORCE. THESE

MEMBERS ARE VOLUNTEERS WITH NO COMPENSATION AND

THEY ARE:

RICHARD L. JARAMILLO SR.

TA TA LARRY LUCERO

ISADORE ABEITA

JENNIFER JOJOLA

JOE ANZARA JR.

DANIEL WASETA

VALENTINO JARAMILLO

GABRIEL LUJAN

August 2011

THESE MEMBERS WERE CHOSEN OUT OF 17 WHO SHOWED

AN INTEREST. CONGRATULATIONS AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT

YOU BE GIVEN THE WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, THE PATIENCE,

AND WITH GREAT HOPE THE PUEBLO CAN HAVE A NEW

CONSTITUTION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO VOTE ON SOONER

THAN LATER. GOOD LUCK MEMBERS.

STATE / PUEBLO RELATIONS

THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAS A NEW GOVERNOR, SUSANA

MARTINEZ. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF ROBERT BENAVIDES

LAST YEAR, THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA WAS THE FIRST PUEBLO

TO WELCOME SUSANA MARTINEZ, THE CANDIDATE, TO

DISCUSS POLICY ISSUES THAT AFFECT INDIAN TRIBES.

THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA WILL CONTINUE TO FOSTER THAT

RELATIONSHIP WITH HER ADMINISTRATION. AND ALTHOUGH

GOVERNOR MARTINEZ AND HER ADMINISTRATION HAVE VERY

DIFFERENT VIEWS ON POLICY, THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA WILL

CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HER ADMINISTRATION, AS WE DID

WITH THE ADMINISTRATION BEFORE HER. WE ACCOMPLISH

THIS BY CONTINUING TO ASSERT THE BEST INTERESTS OF

THE PUEBLO OF ISLETA, BY PARTNERING WITH THE STATE

WHEN WE SHOULD, AND BY PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES

AND VALUES FROM ENCROACHMENT FROM THE OUTSIDE.

THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT NOW, GIVEN THE HARSH

ECONOMIC REALITIES THAT CURRENTLY FACE THE STATE OF

NEW MEXICO. THE PUEBLO WILL FIGHT FOR AND PROTECT

THE CIGARETTE AND GAS TAX EXEMPTION THAT CURRENTLY

BENEFITS THE PUEBLO.

WE HAVE ALREADY MET WITH SECRETARY OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

ARTHUR ALLISON AND SECRETARY OF HEALTH CHRISTINE

TORRES. ALTHOUGH OUR MEETINGS WERE BRIEF, BOTH

SECRETARIES ARE VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WE’VE BEEN

ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH HERE AT THE PUEBLO. SECRETARY

TORRES TOURED BOTH THE CLINIC AND THE HEALTH CENTER

HERE AT THE HOTEL. SECRETARY TORRES INFORMED US OF

HER CONTINUED SUPPORT TO THE PUEBLO AND CONTINUE

TO BUILD ON WHAT WE HAVE.

WE ARE NOW AT A POINT IN THIS ADDRESS THAT MOST OF YOU

HAVE BEEN PROBABLY BEEN WAITING FOR, ORDINANCES THAT

HAVE BEEN ENACTED. AS MOST OF YOU KNOW BY THE NOW,

THERE IS A RESIDENCY ORDINANCE THAT LEGALLY WENT INTO

EFFECT ON APRIL 20, OF THIS YEAR. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL

ENACTED THE RESIDENCY ORDINANCE ON DECEMBER 20,

2010. AS REQUIRED BY THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS

ORDINANCE WAS SUBMITTED FOR REVIEW AN APPROVAL BY

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TIME FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL

WAS 120 DAYS WHICH REQUIRED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

TO SUBMIT ITS FINDINGS TO THE PUEBLO BY APRIL 19, 2011. AND

AS A RESULT OF NO RESPONSE RECEIVED BY THE DUE DATE,

THE ORDINANCE ESSENTIALLY WENT INTO EFFECT ON THE

ABOVE DATE. HOWEVER, WE HAVE WITHHELD ENFORCEMENT

BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT AROSE FROM THE

WORDING OF THE ORDINANCE. AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION,

THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO REQUEST PUBLIC OPINION FROM

YOU. OUR OFFICE RECEIVED SEVEN RESPONSES, VERY LOW

IN CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ORDINANCE.

WE ALL KNOW THIS RESIDENCY ORDINANCE IS NOT NEW.

THE FIRST RESIDENCY ORDINANCE WAS FORMALIZED BACK

IN AUGUST 20, 1962. AS STATED, THIS ORDINANCE IS AN

IMPORTANT ASPECT OF PROTECTING THE CUSTOMS AND

TRADITIONS OF THE PUEBLO AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, WE

WILL HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON WHO LIVES WITHIN OUR

BORDERS.

THIS ORDINANCE WAS SIGNED AND FORWARDED TO THE BIA

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. AS BEFORE, THE BIA HAS 120 DAYS

TO REPLY BACK TO US. AT THAT TIME, OUR OFFICE WILL BE

READY TO ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENT OF THE ORDINANCE.

August 2011

Isleta Pueblo News

WE’VE RECEIVED ABOUT 10 APPLICATIONS ALREADY AND

MANY ARE ASKING ABOUT HOW TO REQUEST FOR PERMISSION

TO RESIDE. AN APPLICATION IS BEING DEVELOPED AND WILL

BE AVAILABLE AT OUR OFFICE ONCE THE BIA APPROVES

THE ORDINANCE. IT SIMPLY REQUIRES THE NAMES OF THE

APPLICANTS, WHO THE TRIBAL MEMBER IS AND WHO IS NOT.

NOW THERE ARE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO

ARE LIVING WITHIN THE PUEBLO PROPER. NON-INDIANS

ARE ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED FROM RESIDING WITHIN THE

PUEBLO PROPER. THERE IS A MAP THAT SHOWS WHERE THE

BOUNDARIES LIE. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT THIS ORDINANCE

WILL NOT BECOME A DIVISIVE ISSUE. THIS IS NEITHER TO

PURPOSELY HURT PEOPLE NOR TO DISRESPECT ANYBODY.

MY LIEUTENANTS AND I WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW ALL

APPLICATIONS, INSURE THAT ALL INFORMATION IS ACCURATE,

AND WILL RENDER A DECISION. IN THE END, I REALLY THINK

WE WILL ALL LIVE MORE COMFORTABLY, LIVE IN HARMONY,

AND ONCE AND FOR ALL, SETTLE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS

LIVING HERE ON OUR TRIBAL LANDS.

I WILL ASK THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL TO SAY A FEW

WORDS ON THIS ISSUE. THE TRIBAL COUNCIL IS HERE AND

READY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE IN

RELATION TO THIS ORDINANCE, OR ON ANY OTHER ISSUE

YOU MAY HAVE. HOWEVER BEFORE I DO, I HAVE A FEW

ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE.

THE ELDERS PROGRAM SENT A FEW OF OUR ELDERS TO

COMPETE IN THE SENIOR OLYMPICS IN HOUSTON AND I

UNDERSTAND THERE WERE A FEW WHO CAME BACK WITH

TROPHIES AND RIBBONS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO

COMPETED AND PROUDLY REPRESENTING THE PUEBLO

OF ISLETA. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. LORENZO

JOJOLA WHO I UNDERSTAND WON A GOLD MEDAL COMPETING

IN HORSE SHOES. LASTLY, THANK YOU TO THE ELDERS

PROGRAM FOR COORDINATING THE PUEBLO CLEAN UP PRIOR

TO OUR GOVERNOR’S FEAST LAST MONTH. THANK YOU TO ALL

WHO GAVE A HELPING HAND.

THE DITCH ASSOCIATIONS ASKED ME TO CONVEY SOME OF

THEIR CONCERNS. THEY ARE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH

COLLECTION OF DUES. THEY HAVE NO MONEY TO PURCHASE

TOOLS, CHEMICALS TO CONTROL WEEDS, AND FUEL FOR

THEIR VEHICLES. SO PLEASE, PAY YOUR DUES SO THEY CAN

BETTER SERVE YOU.

Page 9

AS YOU ALL KNOW BY NOW, ST. AUGUSTINE BLESSING AND

RE-DEDICATION IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 13TH. WE

ARE EXPECTING HUNDREDS IF NOT A THOUSAND OR MORE

PEOPLE TO JOIN IN ON THIS CELEBRATION. THANKS TO THE

CHURCH AND CULTURAL COMMITTEES FOR STAYING INVOLVED

THROUGHOUT THE PLANNING AND RE-CONSTRUCTION OF THE

CHURCH. TO ALL THE VOLUTEERS WHO ARE DOING ALL THE

COOKING FOR THE CELEBRATION. THANK YOU SHIRLEY ZUNI,

MY STAFF, AND THE CHURCH COMMITTEE FOR PLANNING OF

THIS GREAT EVENT. THIS WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER

100 YEARS.

WE WILL HAVE DEDICATIONS OF THE TRIBAL AND EDUCATION

COMPLEXES. A DATE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED YET. I

WOULD GUESS ON OR ABOUT THE END OF AUGUST OR MIDSEPTEMBER. WE WILL BEGIN THE MOVE-IN SOON.

IN CONCLUDING, I WANT THANK ALL OF YOU FOR TAKING TIME

TO BE HERE. I KNOW YOUR SATURDAYS ARE IMPORTANT. I

REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT

EACH ONE OF US TAKE TIME TO THINK ABOUT WHO WE ARE,

THINK ABOUT THE PRECIOUS GIFTS OUR ANCESTORS LEFT

US, OUR BELIEFS IN OUR TRADITIONAL WAYS, OUR CUSTOMS,

TRADITIONS SO WE AS A COMMUNITY MAY MOVE FORWARD IN

A POSITIVE LIGHT.

AS DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF OUR

ANCESTORS, WE AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE SURVIVORS. WE

HAVE LEARNED TO OVERCOME TREMENDOUS CHALLENGES

TO CONTINUE OUR EXISTENCE - WE HAVE NOT LOST THE

ACTIVITIES, PRACTICES AND RITUALS WHICH WE HAVE LIVED

BY SINCE OUR BEGINNING. SO LET’S CONTINUE TO GATHER IN

EVENTS LIKE TODAY, TO SHARE OUR IDEAS, BE OPTIMISTIC OF

OUR FUTURE, AND MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT!

ON BEHALF OF MY LIEUTENANTS, MY SHERIFFS AND I, OUR

FAMILIES WE WANT YOU TO KNOW, THAT THE CANES THAT ARE

IN OUR POSSESSION DO NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE POWER,

BUT RATHER, THE AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO

GOVERN, TO SERVE YOU THE PEOPLE AND TO TAKE CARE OF

ALL OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. REMEMBER IT IS YOU WHO

HAVE THE POWER.

MR. PRESIDENT, I TURN OVER THE MEETING TO YOU.

Page 10

Isleta Pueblo News

August 2011

PUEBLO OF ISLETA TRIBAL COUNCIL

SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT

APRIL 1, 2011 TO JUNE 2, 2011

The SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT is a summary of activities and actions taken by the 2011-2012 Tribal Council.

This report serves as a means of communicating those actions and activities to the membership of Isleta Pueblo.

Tribal Council Meetings-Attendance and Minutes

The following information represents the number of Council meetings held, attendance at each meeting and Minute approval

for each meeting. The total number of Council Meetings held for the 2nd quarter is (22) meetings.

Meeting

Date

Attendance

by Council

Members

April 7

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 21

April 26

April 28

All Present**

All Present

All Present

Cynthia

Jaramillo

absent

All Present

All Present

Leonard

Abeita absent

Robert

Benavides

absent

Robert

Benavides

absent

May 2

May 3

May 5

May 11

May 12

May 16

May 17

May 19

May 24

May 26

May 31

All Present

Diane

Peigler

absent

All Present

All Present

All Present

Robert

Benavides

absent

Robert

Benavides,

Regina Zuni

absent

Robert

Benavides

absent

Mark Dixon

absent

All Present

Robert

Benavides

absent

June 1

June 2

Diane Peigler,

Robert

Benavides,

Moses Lujan

absent

Diane Peigler,

Moses Lujan

absent

Attendance

by Lt.

Torres

Attendance

by Lt.

Chewiwi

Approval

of Minutes

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Yes

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Present

Present

Absent

Yes

Present

Absent

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Absent

Present

Present

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Absent

Absent

Present

Yes

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Absent

Absent

Present

Yes

Absent

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Present

Present

Present

Absent

Present

Present

Yes

Yes

Attendance

by

Governor

**Note: Regina Zuni on suspension; returned May 2, 2011.

Absence of Governor and Lieutenant Governors due to attendance at No Child Left Behind Summit, Economic Summit, in office

attending to community business, unless otherwise noted for travel.

August 2011

Isleta Pueblo News

Isleta Tribal Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan

Tribal Council approved the Isleta Tribal-Multi-Hazard Mitigation

Plan that addresses emergency type situations from fire, flood,

wind, rain, chemical spills and a host of many other situations. It is

imperative that Isleta has plans in place to address these types of

emergencies and to continually manage and update it. By identifying

hazardous situations that can occur naturally or man-made, our

community is better prepared with the intent of minimizing loss or

damage. Safety of lives is the primary concern, and secondly, the

protection of homes, businesses and other property.

Fire Hazard

Due to the high fire dangers in the surrounding areas, it is the

decision of Governor Lujan with the support of Tribal Council to

close the Manzano Mountains to the public in an effort to protect

our natural resources. In addition, the Bosque along the river

has experienced several fires this Spring. Due to the danger and

destruction from fire, a Fire Resolution presented by the Isleta

Natural Resources Department was presented to Tribal Council

and approved. The Fire Ordinance outlines the restrictions and

allowances for burning, including penalties for violating the

Ordinance. Copies of the Fire Ordinance may be requested from

the Natural Resources Office. Closures will remain in effect until

further notice.

Cigarette Tax

Vendors selling tobacco products in Isleta Pueblo are required to

collect $.075 per pack from the consumer as a tax imposed by the

State of New Mexico during the 2010 Legislative session, effective

July 1, 2010. The law requires tribal governments to have a

cigarette tax in place. A tribe choosing not to participate in the tax

will result in the following:

• Cigarette distributors who are licensed in the State of NM

can only sell to tribal vendors with a Tax Stamp so the cost of

$1.61 per pack is passed on to the tribal vendor in the cost of

the product since the distributor already paid the tax.

• Tribal vendors will pay the same price for cigarettes as offreservation vendors and will lose the price difference between

off-reservation and on-reservation sales, resulting in the loss

of the competitive advantage on-reservation vendors have.

The tax of $.075 per pack of cigarettes collected by tribal vendors

is paid to Isleta Tribal Government and is earmarked for the

construction of a new elderly care facility.

Tribal Court Associate Judge Appointment

Mr. Aaron Cheneska was confirmed as an Associate Judge for

Isleta Tribal Courts. Mr. Cheneska comes from the Mescalero

Apache Tribe where he served as Chief Judge. Mr. Cheneska filled

the vacancy left by Mr. Richard Olguin who chose to resign after a

serving as Associate Judge for a brief period.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Monthly meetings are held with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Management, Tribal Council and Governor. Ron Olson, CEO of

Hard Rock provides updates regarding the profitability of the

business. Economic conditions have impacted the profitability of

the hotel and casino, resulting in higher cost of goods sold and

lower than projected revenues. Tribal Council determined it is

in the tribe's best interest that a committee be formed to work

with the hotel and casino in reviewing Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

departmental budgets for cost savings. The committee members

are: Vice-President Joseph Lucero, Council Secretary Barbara

Sanchez, Councilwoman Cynthia Jaramillo, Tribal Treasurer

Andrew Teller, Ron Olson, and Pam Gallegos, CFO. Meetings will

be conducted on a monthly basis aside from the regularly scheduled

Casino meetings.

Page 11

Tribal Council has considered the possibility of constructing a new

Palace West in the area near the 1-40 freeway at the west end

of the reservation. The consensus of the Council was that Palace

West should not be moved at this time, but a decision must be

made in the near future whether to renovate Palace West or build

a new one. The cost of renovating Palace West will be incurred by

the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino budget.

Isleta Y-Interchange

The Tribal Council visited the Y at Highway 314/Coors Road.

The intersection has been a safety concern for many years. The

Isleta Department of Planning has been given the responsibility of

working on plans to update the intersection.

Railroad Quiet Zone

Tribal Director of Planning, Simon Shima has worked with the

Burlington Santa Fe Railroad in establishing a Quiet Zone for

Isleta Pueblo. The plan includes updating the railroad signals

and redesign. The cost will be approximately 1.7 million dollars,

and will be paid for by the State of New Mexico. Funding will be

awarded for Fiscal Year 2012, and will be made available October,

2011.

Isleta Business Corporation

The 2009-2010 Tribal Council authorized the establishment of the

Isleta Business Corporation to include the enterprises previously

under Isleta Tribal Government to transition to the Corporation.

Those enterprises are Isleta One Stop, Isleta Travel Center,

Farming Enterprise and Comanche Ranch. The Isleta Business

Corporation, (IBC) consists of five board members: Harold

Cullbertson, Chairman; James Fitting, Member. Tribal Members

on the Board are: Michael Paquin, Member; Rafaela Kovacs,

Member; Nathan Lucero, Member. The Board recently hired Mr.

Marvis Aragon as the Chief Executive Officer. Their first Quarterly

Report to Tribal Council was scheduled for April but was not held

until May 31, 2011. The IBC Quarterly Report informed the Council

that work thus far has consisted of transitioning the enterprises

to the IBC and evaluating those businesses, locating office space,

office set-up, hiring staff and researching new economic ventures

to invest in. The IBC reported that they received two designs from

the community in response to the proposal request for designing

an IBC logo. Rather than selecting a new logo, the Board chose

to utilize the Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Seal and include the wording

`Isleta Business Corporation’ below the Seal. Tribal Council voted

in approval of utilizing the Tribal Seal.

A new enterprise that is near to becoming a reality is the

development of the Insurance Agency of Isleta Pueblo. This venture

will offer businesses insurance coverage for property and casualty

with plans to grow and offer other types of coverage to individuals.

This project has been a high priority with the goal of opening for

business very soon. Updates will be forthcoming. This business

will be under the IBC authority.

As members of a Board, the IBC Board Members are required

to sign the Code of Ethics established by the 2009-2010 Tribal

Council.

Isleta Diversion Dam

Isleta has been involved in ongoing negotiations with the Middle

Rio Grande Conservancy District and BIA regarding the diversion

dam located on Isleta land. The issue involved is due to the fact

that the MRGCD has been in violation of trespass due to not having

an Agreement with Isleta Pueblo for use of the diversion dam on

Isleta land since its expiration in 1993. Tribal Council approved

Deborah Lewis, Office of Special Trustee, Southwest Region to

conduct a request for proposal (RFP) appraisal of the dam and the

land it is on. Isleta Tribal Council intends to seek compensation

from MRGCD for using the dam without an agreement with the

Tribe from 1993 to present.

Page 12

Isleta Pueblo News

August 2011

Tribal Services Complex

Isleta Cemetery

Tribal Council members were given a tour of the new Tribal

Services Complex located off of highway 47 near the Casino. The

complex will house the following programs:

Tribal members including Tribal Council have expressed the need

for maintaining the cemetery. The needs include expanding the

cemetery site and cleanup. Lt. Torres has met with landowners

who own property adjacent to the cemetery in an effort to negotiate

the purchase of the land on behalf of the Tribe. In addition, the

archway at the entrance of the cemetery was repaired and cleanup

is ongoing.

Isleta Police Department, Tribal Courts, Appellate Courts, Fire

Department, Treasury Department, Tribal Council, Procurement,

The Isleta Business Corporation, Managed Information Systems,

and Tribal Attorney's Office. The anticipated move-in date is

tentatively set for late August/early September. The facility is

state-of-the-art and is designed with an underground parking lot.

The facility has been planned since 2004 with the initial award of

capital funding from the State of New Mexico Legislature.

Manzano Expressway Resolution

Tribal Council unanimously passed a Tribal Resolution expressing

the Tribe's position to not allow Valencia County to construct the

Manzano Expressway through Isleta tribal land. Tribal Council

maintains the position of a resounding NO to any thoroughfare

through the reservation from outside entities.

Meadow Lakes Encroachment

The east boundary of Isleta Reservation borders with Meadow

Lake and as a result, has been encroached upon by residents of

Meadow Lake. Trash dumping, cattle rustling, meth labs, even

squatting on tribal land was identified along approximately six

miles of borderland. BIA and the Bureau of Land Management

were called upon to conduct a site inspection. Valencia County

Commissioners were informed by letter of the problem and agreed

to clean up the area and to remove any violators from Isleta land.

New fencing material was requested from BIA since the tribe has

already incurred expenses for fencing of approximately ten miles of

borderland. This issue will continue to be monitored.

Sexual Offenders Registration Notification Act (SORNA)

The Law & Order Committee of Isleta has worked diligently on

creating a Sexual Offenders Registry within the Pueblo of Isleta.

The need to provide awareness to the public about those convicted

of sexual offenses is an important aspect of community safety.

Currently, there are 14 members of the community who are

registered sexual offenders, with 5 residing within Isleta. Public

zones identified as areas where sexual offenders are not permitted

to loiter are: Isleta Head Start, Isleta Elementary School, Pickle

Heights Park, West Recreation Center and Isleta Recreation

Center, all baseball fields, Chical Park, Village Park, and the

Fun Connection. Tribal Council approved the SORNA Ordinance

and supports the efforts made by the Law & Order Committee in

promoting public awareness and public safety in our community.

As part of this public awareness campaign, the Pueblo of Isleta has

a Sexual Offender Registry website and can be accessed at: http://

isleta.nsopw.gov/.

Isleta Residence Ordinance

The 2009-2010 Tribal Council enacted The Isleta Residence

Ordinance Resolution Number 2010-137. The Residence Ordinance

has been in existence from 1962 and updated several times with

the most recent Resolutions adopted in 2006 regarding Historic

Paths and Restricted Sites. The Historic Paths and Restricted

Sites Ordinances identify areas within the Pueblo that have

cultural significance. It is important to our culture that these

sites be respected and protected. Therefore, new homes cannot

be placed near or within those sites. It is imperative that new

home applicants follow the application process established by the

Housing Authority to prevent inadvertently placing a home on the

protected sites.

On June 3, 2011, the Residence Ordinance was mailed out to

tribal members to allow them to familiarize themselves with the

Ordinance and to also allow the opportunity to comment on the

Ordinance prior to enforcement. Deadline for all comments were to

be received by June 17, 2011. Comments will be reviewed by Tribal

Council and Tribal Administration and taken into consideration.

A suggestion to begin identifying plats and names of those buried

in those plats was proposed. That effort will require much time and

research, but will result in a much needed organized and managed

system of record keeping.

Community Clean-up

Governor Lujan requested the participation of Tribal Employees,

Tribal Council and community members in a community wide cleanup. Many participated in collecting trash and debris and cutting

weeds, including graffiti removal. Participants were provided with

lunch after the work was done. The effort was a huge success which

added to the beauty of our community and was enjoyed by all who

attended the Governor’s Feast.

Minutes Access and Distribution Policy; Tribal Council

Minutes Protocol

The Tribal Council approved a policy regarding the access and

distribution of Official Tribal Council Minutes. The purpose of

the policy to provide the community with access to information

and decisions made by Tribal Council. Requests must be made by

completing a form at the Tribal Council Office. The Secretary of

the Council will be responsible for handling all requests.

Constitutional Amendment Task Force

The Pueblo of Isleta Tribal Constitution revision has been an

ongoing task since 2010. Several Tribal Council Meetings were held

to address each section in the Constitution. Recommendations were

made for updates and the public was invited by letter to submit

letters of interest in participating as a member of the Task Force.

The deadline for submittal was May 27, 2011. A total of eighteen

tribal members submitted letters and Tribal Council voted on

selecting eight for the committee. Those selected are:

Isador Abeita

Joe Anzara, Jr.

Richard Jaramillo, Sr.

Valentino Jaramillo

Jennifer Jojola

Larry Lucero

Gabriel Lujan

Daniel Waseta

The Task Force Committee will work with Tribal Attorney, Pablo

Padilla, Jr. in making recommendations for updating the Tribal

Constitution. It is anticipated that the Constitution revisions/

updates will be prepared and voted on through an authorized

Secreterial Election conducted by BIA in December, 2011.

Travel and Training

• Annual NIGA Conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona

April 3-7, 2011. Council members who did not attend are:

Leonard Abeita

Cynthia Jaramillo

Fred Lujan, President

Diane Peigler

• Tribal Economic Summit held at Hard Rock Hotel &

Casino, Albuquerque May 25-26,2011.

Council Members who attended:

Fernando Abeita

Josephine Padilla

Fred Lujan, President

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Isleta Pueblo News

• NCAI Mid-Year Conference Milwaukee, Wisconsin June

13-17, 2011. Attended by Fred Lujan, President.

• Records & Retention Management Training, Las Vegas,

Nevada May, 23-25. 2011 Attended by Dolores Lujan,

Records Manager and Rochelle Mariano, Tribal Council

Administrative Assistant.

Sand & Gravel Policy

Tribal Council approved and passed a Tribal Resolution addressing

the purchase of sand, gravel, and clay products from the Tribe.

Previously, Tribal Members had been limited to a maximum of ten

yards purchased per year. The new resolution allows an unlimited

amount of product to purchase provided that the Tribal Member

agrees not to resell the product to anyone and will only be used for

the Tribal Member’s personal use within the reservation.

St. Augustine Church

Councilman Moses Lujan participates in meetings regarding

restoration of the church. Updates from contractor, Neil Carter

have reported that the initial completion date set for June, 2011

was set back due to weather and the unanticipated collapse of the

north wall. The date is now set for the end of July, and a dedication

to bless the church is scheduled for August 13, 2011.

This project was initiated in 2004 with a small grant from the

State of New Mexico Historic Preservation Office. Committee

members at that time were: Cynthia Jaramillo; Father Hillaire;

Alan Cherino; Gene Jojola; Ernest Jaramillo and Ted Jojola. To

date, Alan Cherino, Father Hillaire and Gene Jojola have seen the

project to near completion.

Page 13

The grant funds were used to perform a structural assessment of

the church to determine its stability and identify any structural

damage. A year later, a second grant was written to the National

Historic Preservation, where a larger grant was received to begin

some of the work. Work was initiated with Cornerstones of Santa

Fe, until the project grew into an immense reconstruction project.

With the support of Governor Benavides and Tribal Council,

funds were allocated from the Federal Mis-Management Award

to contract with a architectural firm that was highly experienced

in historic preservation. Many of us have witnessed the amazing

transformation from a near dilapidated building into a solid,

proud structure. The support of the entire community in this

significant preservation effort is greatly appreciated. St. Augustine

Church endured the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and today is an iconic

representation of history for Isleta, the State of New Mexico and

the United States.

In the year 2013, we will mark the 400th year anniversary of the

church’s establishment in our community.

The rededication event is anticipated to bring a large number of

guests from across New Mexico, and a fiesta is planned for that

day. Archbishop Sheehan will be present to rededicate the church

and New Mexico State Governor Susana Martinez is also scheduled

to be present for the event. The entire community of Isleta Pueblo

is encouraged to attend.

The second Tribal Council Quarterly Report was written by

Councilwoman Cynthia L. Jaramillo.

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Isleta Pueblo News

August 2011

PUEBLO OF ISLETA RESIDENCE ORDINANCE

“The following ordinance was approved by Tribal Council last year and amended by Tribal Council in July of this year. Tribal Council

amended and approved the ordinance as presented here after mailing the ordinance to the public and after receiving public input about

its provisions. The ordinance is currently under review by BIA for approval. Once BIA approves the ordinance, Administration will begin

implementing its provisions. A public meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 22nd, 2011, to discuss the ordinance.”

ARTICLE I: AUTHORITY

This Ordinance is enacted under authority of and pursuant

to Article V, Section 2(e), of the Pueblo of Isleta Constitution, which

states:

Subject only to the limitations imposed by the laws of the United

States and the restrictions established by this constitution,

the powers of the council shall include the following…to enact

ordinances, subject to the approval by the Secretary of the

Interior, to protect the peace, safety, property, health, and

general welfare of the members of the Pueblo of Isleta; …. and

to provide for the removal or exclusion from the lands of the

pueblo of any non-member whose presence may be found by

the council to be injurious to the peace, safety or welfare of the

members of the pueblo.

Pueblo of Isleta Constitution at Article V, Section 2(e).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE, TRIBAL COUNCIL FINDINGS,

AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1. The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the

peace, safety, property, health, and general welfare of the members

of the Pueblo of Isleta (hereinafter “Pueblo”).

Section 2. The Tribal Council of the Pueblo hereby finds:

WHEREAS, the Pueblo has and continues to govern the

residence of members and non-members who reside within Pueblo

of Isleta lands, under its inherent authority of self-government and

pursuant to customs and traditions;

WHEREAS, at various times residence requirements of the

Pueblo were formalized in writing, including but not limited to the

Ordinance of August 20, 1962 (setting forth permission by Governor

and Tribal Council for non-members to reside); the Law and Order

Code of November 22, 1965 (general law and order provisions); the

Ordinance of July 14, 1975 (setting forth process to exclude and

remove non-members from Pueblo of Isleta lands); Tribal Council

Resolution No. 2006-113 (July 13, 2006) (designating restricted

sites) (rescinded and replaced with Tribal Council Resolution No.

2011-041, July 13, 2011); and Tribal Council Resolution No. 2006114 (July 13, 2006) (designating historic sites and paths) (rescinded

and replaced with Tribal Council Resolution No. 2011-042, July 13,

2011).

WHEREAS, governing the residence of members and nonmembers is an important aspect of protecting the customs and

traditions of the Pueblo; and

WHEREAS, the Council of the Pueblo of Isleta finds it is in

the best interest of the Pueblo of Isleta to enact an ordinance that

will clarify and reaffirm these residence requirements.

Section 3. For purposes of this Ordinance, the following

definitions shall apply:

(a) “Member” shall mean an enrolled tribal member of the

Pueblo of Isleta.

(b) “Member dependent” shall mean an enrolled tribal

member of the Pueblo of Isleta that is under the age of eighteen

(18) years, over the age of sixty (60), or is mentally incompetent

or physically challenged to the extent of requiring daily care.

(c) “Descendant” shall mean an individual with less than

one-half (½) degree, but at least one-quarter (¼) degree, of

Isleta Indian blood, who is not enrolled in any other federally

recognized Indian tribe, and who is listed on the Descendant’s

Roll maintained by the Pueblo of Isleta.

(d) “Non-member” shall mean an individual who is not a

“Member” or a “Descendant”.

(e) “Non-Indian” shall mean an individual who is not a

member of a federally recognized Indian tribe.

(f) “Pueblo” shall mean the Pueblo of Isleta.

(g) “Days” shall refer to calendar days.

(h) “Pueblo of Isleta lands” shall mean land that is (a) held

in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Pueblo of Isleta,

(b) owned in fee by the Pueblo of Isleta, or (c) any other lands which

the Pueblo of Isleta’s civil regulatory jurisdiction or authority to

exclude a non-member is recognized by federal law.

ARTICLE III: PERMISSION AND CONSENT FOR NONMEMBERS TO RESIDE

Section 1. No one shall rent, lease or lend buildings, houses

or land to non-members of the Pueblo for temporary or permanent

use as residence within Pueblo of Isleta lands.

Section 2. Permission to Reside. All members of the

Pueblo that plan to reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands with a nonmember must first request written permission from the Governor

before taking up residence within Pueblo of Isleta lands. The

request shall include the address of the proposed residence and

other information requested by the Governor. Governor shall

utilize a uniform application. The non-member shall submit to

a basic criminal background check in a form established by the

Governor’s Office and the cost of which shall be borne by the nonmember or member. The Governor shall give permission to reside

in writing within thirty (30) days of the request submittal. In the

event a conflict of interest exists between the Governor and the

requesting member or non-member, Governor’s Lieutenant shall

decide on the request. In no event shall the non-member take up

residence within Pueblo of Isleta lands unless and until permission

is granted. The Governor may consult with the War Chief, the War

Captains, and others in his discretion when granting permission.

A. If written permission is granted by the Governor,

the member and non-member must sign an agreement that they

shall respect and abide by the laws, rules, regulations, customs

and traditions of the Pueblo, including the provisions in Article V of

this Ordinance, and shall consent to the jurisdiction of the Pueblo

of Isleta for enforcement of this Ordinance. In the agreement, the

member shall accept responsibility for the non-member to respect

and abide by the laws, rules, regulations, customs and traditions of

the Pueblo. Such agreement shall be renewed every five (5) years.

The Governor shall develop and maintain a database identifying all

non-members residing on Pueblo of Isleta lands where permission

has been granted. Such database shall contain the signed

agreements. Any failure of a Pueblo member or the non-member

to respect and abide by the laws, rules, regulations, customs and

traditions of the Pueblo shall be reported to the Governor, who

shall record the failure in the database and exercise enforcement

as described in Article VI.

B. If written permission is denied by the Governor,

the Governor shall inform the member in writing stating the

reason or reasons for the denial. Such denial shall be conveyed

within thirty (30) days of the request submittal and shall not be

unreasonably withheld.

Section 3. Consent to Reside. All members who currently

reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands who are married to a nonmember of the Pueblo or who otherwise live with a non-member

of the Pueblo and all non-members who currently reside within

Pueblo of Isleta lands at the date of enactment of this Ordinance

shall, within ninety (90) days of enactment of this Ordinance,

request written consent from the Governor to continue to reside

within Pueblo of Isleta lands. The non-member applying for consent

to reside shall also submit to a basic criminal background check in

a form to be established by the Governor’s Office. The Governor

shall consider prior permission given by a previous Governor or

Tribal Council when giving Governor’s consent. The Governor may

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Isleta Pueblo News

consult with the War Chief, the War Captains, and others in his

discretion when granting consent.

A. If written consent is granted by the Governor,

the member and non-member must sign an agreement that they

shall respect and abide by the laws, rules, regulations, customs

and traditions of the Pueblo, including the provisions in Article

V of this Ordinance, and shall consent to the jurisdiction of the

Pueblo of Isleta for enforcement of this Ordinance. Any failure of a

member or the non-member to respect and abide by the laws, rules,

regulations, customs and traditions of the Pueblo shall be reported

to the Governor for enforcement as described in Article VI.

B. If written consent is denied by the Governor, the

Governor shall inform the member in writing, via certified U.S.

mail, stating the reason or reasons for the denial. Such denial

shall be conveyed within thirty (30) days of the request submittal

and shall not be unreasonably withheld.

C. Failure of a non-member to request written

consent to reside within ninety (90) days of enactment of this

Ordinance shall be subject the non-member to enforcement as

described in Article VI of this Ordinance.

Section 4. Permission or consent given by Governor for

a non-member to reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands shall not be

deemed to convey a property right, a possessory interest right, or

Pueblo of Isleta tribal membership status to the non-member, and

is subject to revocation by the Pueblo of Isleta. Any revocation of

permission or consent by the Governor will afford the member and

non-member due process, including notice and an opportunity to

be heard, and shall be done according to the laws of the Pueblo of

Isleta.

Section 5. In the event of the death of the member, the

permission or consent of the Pueblo of Isleta shall be revoked after

six (6) months after death. Any non-member who has a member

dependent may request consent of the Pueblo to continue to reside

within Pueblo of Isleta lands. Such request shall be made according

to the procedure in Section 3. The Pueblo of Isleta reserves the

right to attach conditions on the consent if given, such as charges

for services provided to the non-member or non-member dependent.

Such services include water, wastewater, and trash collection and

will be charged according to an established fee schedule. In no

event shall a life-estate be granted to a non-member by Pueblo of

Isleta Tribal Court. In no event shall the non-member who was

given consent to continue to reside be allowed to have another nonmember reside with him/her within Pueblo of Isleta lands.

Section 6. In the event of the voluntary separation of the

member and non-member, the permission or consent of the Pueblo

of Isleta shall be automatically revoked. Any non-member who

has a member dependent may request consent of the Pueblo to

continue to reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands. Such request

shall be made according to the procedure in Section 3. The Pueblo

of Isleta reserves the right to attach conditions on the consent if

given, such as charges for services provided to the non-member or

non-member dependent. Such services include water, wastewater,

and trash collection and will be charged according to an established

fee schedule. In no event shall the non-member who was given

consent to continue to reside be allowed to have another nonmember reside with him/her within Pueblo of Isleta lands.

Section 7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the member

shall have the right to petition the Governor to revoke permission

or consent according to Article VI, Section 1 of this Ordinance.

Section 8. Residence Requirements for Descendants. Any

Descendant over the age of eighteen (18) years that plans to reside

or plans to continue to reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands must

first request written permission or consent from the Governor

before taking up or continuing residence within Pueblo of Isleta

lands. Permission or consent to reside pursuant to this section

shall be granted in the same manner as described in Sections 2 and

3 of this Article.

Page 15

ARTICLE IV. APPEAL OF GOVERNOR’S DECISION

Section 1. In the event written permission or consent is

denied by Governor pursuant to Article III, the member shall be

allowed to appeal the decision to Tribal Council by filing a notice

of appeal to the Tribal Council President within five (5) days of

receipt of the denial required in Article III, Section 3(b).

Section 2. Tribal Council shall hear the appeal within fortyfive (45) days of receiving the notice of appeal and at a time and

date acceptable to the affected member and Governor, who shall

both be present at the appeal. Tribal Council reserves the right to

extend the deadline for good cause for no longer than fifteen (15)

days after the initial deadline. At the appeal the affected member

shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to present witnesses,

testimony, and other evidence on his or her behalf. The Governor

shall also be given the same opportunity. Tribal Council shall

render a written decision within thirty (30) days of the appeal,

which shall not be unreasonably withheld. In the event Tribal

Council affirms the Governor’s denial of consent, such decision

shall include a timeframe for the non-member to vacate residing

within Pueblo of Isleta lands on a case-by-case basis.

Section 3. The decision by Tribal Council shall be final

and not appealable.

ARTICLE V: SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR RESTRICTED

SITES

Section 1. Pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution No.

2011-041, non-Indians are not permitted to be on the Restricted

Sites described therein. No non-Indian shall be permitted to reside

within these Restricted Sites.

Section 2. Pursuant to Tribal Council Resolution No. 2011042, non-Indians are not permitted to be within the Historic Sites

and Paths described therein. No non-Indian shall be permitted to

reside within these Historic Sites and Paths.

Section 3. Non-Indians shall not be permitted to reside

in the Pueblo of Isleta Village Proper, defined as follows and as

depicted in Exhibit A of this Ordinance:

Beginning at the northwest corner identified as the point

where the BNSF railroad tracks meet State Road 147; thence

along said road in a southeasterly direction to a point where

the road meets the Isleta Indian Lateral; thence along said

lateral in an easterly direction to a point where the lateral

meets the Isleta Riverside Drain; thence along said drain in

a southeasterly direction to a point where the drain meets

State Road 147; thence along said road in a westerly direction

to a point where the road meets Tribal Road 33; thence along

said road in a westerly direction to a point where the road

meets Tribal Road 40; thence along said road in a southerly

direction to a point where the road meets the Isleta Drain;

thence along the drain in a northwesterly direction to a point

where the drain meets the BNSF railroad tracks; thence

along the tracks in a northeasterly direction to the point and

place of beginning.

ARTICLE VI: ENFORCEMENT

The Pueblo of Isleta shall enforce this Ordinance as

follows:

Section 1. Revocation of Permission or Consent. In the

event a non-member is alleged to have failed to respect or abide by

the laws, rules, regulations, customs and traditions of the Pueblo,

the Governor shall revoke the permission or consent of the nonmember to reside within Pueblo of Isleta lands. Such revocation

will not become final unless and until concurrence is given by Tribal

Council at a duly called meeting with quorum present by majority

vote. Any revocation of permission or consent by the Governor will

afford the member and non-member due process, including notice

and an opportunity to be heard, and shall be done according to the

laws of the Pueblo of Isleta. Once revocation is final, the Governor

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Isleta Pueblo News

shall cause written order to be given to the non-member. Failure to

abide by revocation of permission or consent by non-member shall

subject the non-member to banishment proceedings according to

Pueblo of Isleta law.

Section 2. Violations of Article V. In the event a non-member

violates a provision in Article V, the non-member shall immediately

cease residing therein and shall be subject to banishment

proceedings according to Pueblo of Isleta law.

ARTICLE VII: OTHER PROVISIONS

Section 1. This Ordinance may be amended from time

to time by Tribal Council at a duly called meeting with quorum

present by majority vote.

August 2011

Section 2. To the extent that this Ordinance is inconsistent

with any prior law of the Pueblo, this Ordinance shall govern and

apply, and such conflicting prior law is superseded and repealed.

Section 3. In the event that any provision of this Ordinance

is found invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining and unaffected

provisions shall remain in force and effect.