Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.co (2024)

Volume 19 Issue 12

Isleta Pueblo News

Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.co

Governor’s Report

Maguwam,

We hope this newsletter finds our

community in good health and spirits.

The holidays are fast approaching and

we encourage everyone while attending

family events and Traditional activities

to continue to mask up when you feel the

need to. If you are feeling sick, please stay

home to prevent the spread of Influenza

and COVID. It seems like we skipped

Fall and are going straight to Winter, so

bundle up.

November has been a busy month for us

all, we would like to first, “Thank All our

Veterans for their service to our country”.

This month was also filled with

another

Government-to-Government

(G2G)

meetings

for

Tribal

Administration. Lt. Jiron and Lt.

Abeita attended the G2G for the 19th

Annual

Government-to-Government

Violence

Against

Women

Tribal

Consultation held at Buffalo Thunder

in Santa Fe. Lt. Abeita and other tribal

leaders shared their perspectives on how

federal programs can better meet the needs

of their communities and ensure the safety

and dignity of Native women. We would

like to extend our gratitude to Tiffany

Jiron, Executive Director of CSVANW,

who continues to be a voice for our people.

As our community

continues to strive,

we would like

to

congratulate

Andrea

Pesina,

Executive Director

of the Head Start

and Child Care.

Andrea

was

elected to serve as

the President of the National Indian Head

Start Directors Association. She has been

employed with the center for 20 years,

and has been the Executive Director of

the program for almost 2 years.

Quick reminder to all farmers, the

irrigation season has come to an end and

the water cut off has ended.

Ham distribution will be held on

December 16th and 17th, at the Isleta

Recreation Center, from 8am to 7pm

on these two days. Please see flyer for

more information, if you have further

questions, please contact the Governor’s

office at 505-869-3111 and you can speak

with Jessica Jiron or Amber Richesin.

Last, we want to send my condolences to

the families of those who have lost their

family members during the month of

November.

Ha-Wuh,

Tribal Administration

December 2024

Page 2

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEADLINE for January Newsletter articles is set for

Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 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 my 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)

Department of Natural Resources

The Department of Natural

Resources will be providing a wood

distribution for elders, disabled

and social services requests to

tribal members ONLY. The wood

will be one full truck load of split

mixed cottonwood and mountain

wood. There will be a limit of 1

request per residence/month. Call

our office at 505-869-9817 to put in

your request.

December 2024

ISLETA PUEBLO HOUSING

AUTHORITY

Do you want to start the New Year with no Delinquency

or Past Due Amount to Housing (IPHA)?

If for any reason you have an outstanding or delinquent

balance with Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority, please

contact Housing as soon as possible. This would include

any outstanding balance for maintenance (work orders),

insurance, rent, lease, or mortgage. We are offering a

one time ‘catch up’ for accounts. If we are contacted by

February 1, 2025, in regards to your outstanding balance,

we will make every effort to work with each person or

family that reaches out to us by that date to bring the

account current. Housing has begun reviewing and

moving forward with any steps necessary to remedy the

past due amounts. You can stop by our office MondayFriday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Building 3 Tribal Road

61 or by calling our office at 505.869.4153.

Christmas and New Year’s Schedule for Housing (IPHA)

IPHA will be closing on Christmas Eve at 12:00 pm

(Noon) and will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday, January

2, 2025. Voice mails will be monitored during this

time. IPHA will have on-call personnel available for

emergencies only. Have a joyous Holiday Season.

Purchased Referred Care

Did you know?

Did you know Isleta Health Center

is your payor of last resort?

Payor of last resort means if you have

primary insurance, Isleta Health Center would be

your secondary insurance. If you have a primary and

secondary insurance, Isleta Health Center would be

your Tertiary insurance. Please list Isleta Health Center

as your last payor.

Did you know you have to call PRC to inform them

of all appointments?

This includes all ER/urgent care visits, any follows

ups, any secondary referrals, telemed appointments,

rescheduled appointments. Not calling in for

appointments will delay payment.

Did you know if you receive a bill from a provider,

you have to bring it in to PRC, even if you have a

referral?

Some facilities will send a bill to the patient but not Isleta

Health Center. It is best to bring all bills in received by

mail to make sure PRC contacts the facility to bill Isleta

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 3

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 4

Job Postings

Visit us online at http://

www.isleta.com/career-opportunities.aspx

Fax: 505-244-8232

Goodwill

Goodwill Goodjobs! Serving Albuquerque south valley/Isleta

Pueblo, and Valencia County

We offer individual free assistance with job search, interview

skills, and resume assistance.

Contact : Vicki Herring

Career Specialist at

505-944-0289

Vicki Herring

Career Specialist

Goodwill Industries of New Mexico

_____________________________________

vherring@goodwillnm.org

505-944-0289 or 505-881-6401 x4097

201 Desert Willow Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031

www.Goodwillit.org

December 2024

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.

December 2024

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 5

Pueblo of Isleta Career Opportunities

Position Posting

Office Location

Closing Date

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

Police Department

Open Until Filled

ARCHIVIST

Cultural & Historic

Preservation

Open Until Filled

ASSISTANT AQUATIC

COORDINATOR

Parks & Recreation

Open Until Filled

CHILD CARE PROVIDER

Head Start

Open Until Filled

COMMUNITY HEALTH

REPRESENTATIVE

Health Services

Open Until Filled

COMPLIANCE INSPECTOR I

Gaming & Regulatory

Open Until Filled

DIRECTOR, CLINICAL

SERVICES/ NURSE

PRACTITIONER

Health Services

Open Until Filled

DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL

PLANNING & ANALYSIS

Treasury

Open Until Filled

EMT BASIC (3 Positions)

Health Services

Open Until Filled

EMT - INTERMEDIATE (2

Positions}

Health Services

Open Until Filled

GROUNDS MAINTENANCE

WORKER

Public Works

Open Until Filled

HIGHER EDUCATION

COORDINATOR

Department of Education Open Until Filled

HOME CARE ATTENDANT

Elder Center

Open Until Filled

IRRIGATION TECH

Agricultural Division

Open Until Filled

TRUANCY

IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPE

TECHNICIAN

Parks & Recreation

Open Until Filled

LABORER

Public Works

Open Until Filled

Merry Christmas,

The Truancy Department hopes you and your families enjoyed a

wonderful Thanksgiving. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and

enjoy bringing in the 2025 New Year together. Holidays can be a

busy time and sometimes you may become overwhelmed; make

sure to take some time out for yourself so that it won’t seem to

be like there is not time for self-care. Moving forward, enjoy this

time with your family and be safe.

LIBRARY AIDE I Library Open Until Filled

LIFEGUARD

Parks & Recreation

Open Until Filled

LIFEGUARD ASSISTANT

Parks & Recreation

Open Until Filled

MEDICAL ASSISTANT MULTI­

DEPARTMENTAL

Health Services

Open Until Filled

MULTIMEDIA SPECIALIST

Department of Education Open Until Filled

NURSE PRACTITIONER

Health Services

Open Until Filled

PATIENT REFERRAL

COORDINATOR

Health Services

Open Until Filled

PERSONAL CARE SERVICE

AIDE

Elder Center

Open Until Filled

PHYSICAL THERAPIST

Health Services

Open Until Filled

POLICE CADET

Police Department Open Space

Open Until Filled

POLICE OFFICER I

Police Department

Open Until Filled

POLICE OFFICER II

Police Department

Open Until Filled

RANGELAND DATA MONITOR

Natural Resources

Open Until Filled

RECEPTIONIST

Parks & Recreation

Open Until Filled

ROADWAY MAINTENANCE

WORKER II

TransRrtation Services

Open Until Filled

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER

Transportation Services

Open Until Filled

TRUANCY COORDINATOR

Truancy

Open Until Filled

UTILITY WORKER

Public Works

Open Until Filled

VETERAN SUPPORT SERVlCE

Elder Center

Open Until Filled

MEMBER - WITHIN ONLY

WATER/WWTP OPERATOR I­-IV

Public Works

Open Until Filled

We know that there are many activities that happen within the

month of December. If your child will be out of school, please

remember to provide a written letter upon their return to school

after an absence, and remind them to turn this letter in to the

Attendance Office immediately. The school districts are now

enforcing their policy of accepting written notices and doctor’s

excuses for any absences that your child has. A note must be

turned in to the attendance office within 24 hours following an

absence. Please remind your child to turn in any notes that you

send to school with them, as this is important for the purposes of

recording attendance.

We are always excited to work with Isleta Elementary School

to provide perfect attendance incentives during the school year.

The Truancy Department was invited to their assembly for the

1st Quarter of school. The Truancy Department presented 12

students with an incentive of Lego sets; we know that the students

were excited to receive their gifts. We hope to see the numbers

for students who achieve perfect attendance to rise for the next 3

quarters of school.

If your child(ren) attend Los Lunas and Albuquerque Public

Schools and have perfect attendance, you can notify the Truancy

Department of this achievement. We will verify your student’s

attendance once a Release of Information is signed, and provide

your child(ren) with an incentive.

We would like to remind students to attend school daily and be on

time so that this does not affect your attendance and the learning

time for each class. Once January rolls around, the time spent in

school will fly by and before you know it, some of the students will

be graduating!

We wish you a fun and safe Christmas holiday and a fresh start to

a very Happy 2025!

Isleta Truancy

Page 6

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

Transit Services Now Serving the

Pueblo of lsleta

The Pueblo of lsleta and the Rio Metro

Regional Transit District Working Together

Bus Route 208 (No Fares until further

notice!)

Bus Route 208 connects the Pueblo of lsleta and

Valencia County communities to the Alvarado

Transportation Center (ATC) in Downtown

Albuquerque during the morning/midday when

the Rail Runner does not operate. Route 208

features three northbound trips arriving at the

ATC at 9:30am, 11:00am and 1:30pm, and

three southbound trips departing the ATC at

9:35am, 11:05am and 1:32pm. At the ATC,

riders can transfer to ABQ RIDE bus routes.

Route 208 serves two bus stops on the Pueblo

of lsleta. The stop

closest

to

the

village proper is

located on NM 147

just east of the Rio

Grande

Bridge.

Please do not park

and leave vehicles

unattended on the

adjoining roads near this stop, as the bus and

other vehicles use these roads to turnaround

and access other locations. Route 208 also

stops at the lsleta Pueblo Rail Runner Station,

where riders can transfer to the lsleta Resort

and Casino shuttle. Because the bus serves

the station, riders can also consider using

Route 208 in combination with the Rail Runner,

for example, taking the bus to Downtown

Albuquerque in the mid­morning and returning

by train in the evening.

Please see route flyer that includes map,

times of Bus Route 208. (No Fares until further

notice!)

Pueblo of lsleta Dial-a-Ride (No Fares until

further notice!)

The Pueblo of lsleta Dial-a-Ride operates

Monday through Friday from 8:15am to 2:45pm,

providing trips within the Pueblo and to the ABQ

RIDE Route 53 bus stop on NM 314. Service to

places like Smiths, Albertsons and Wal-Mart in

Los Lunas is also provided with requests made

before noon at least one business day prior to

your trip.

Request your Dial-a-Ride trip by calling

Valencia County dispatch at (505) 352-3595

before noon at least one business day prior

to your trip. Requests are accepted between

5:00am and 3:00pm Monday thru Friday. On

the date and time of your trip, a wheelchair

accessible van will arrive within 15 minutes of

your scheduled pickup time. Trips may also be

grouped together; riders should expect to travel

with others.

For more information about both services,

including a copy of the Route 208 schedule,

visit riometro.org and select "Schedules">

"Bus"> "Pueblo of lsleta" from the grey bar near

the top of the website. Schedules for Route

208 are also available at the Public Services

Department Office at the Tribal Services

Complex.

Isleta Pueblo News

Editor:

Nathaniel Lujan

Asst. Editor:

Diane Abeita

Published By:

Valencia Express

December 2024

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 7

Safe Wood-Burning Practices

When using your wood burning appliance, follow

these guidelines for safe operation:

•

Keep flammable items, like curtains,

furniture, newspapers, and books,

away from your appliance.

•

Only use newspaper, dry kindling

and all-natural or organic fire starters.

Never start a fire with gasoline, kerosene,

or charcoal starter.

•

Do not burn wet or green (unseasoned)

wood.

•

Many wax and sawdust logs (available

commercially) are made for open

hearth fireplaces only. Check your wood

stove or fireplace insert operating

instructions before using artificial logs.

•

If you use manufactured logs, choose

those made from 100-percent compressed

sawdust.

•

Build hot fires. For most appliances, a

smoldering fire is not safe or efficient.

•

Keep the doors of your wood-burning

appliance closed unless loading or

stoking the live fire. Harmful chemicals,

like carbon monoxide, can be released

into your home.

•

Regularly remove ashes into a covered,

metal container. Store the container

outdoors on a nonflammable surface.

•

Keep a fire extinguisher handy.

•

Check your local air quality forecast

before you burn.

What Not to Burn

These materials can release toxic or harmful

chemicals when burned, and may damage your

appliance:

•

Household trash, including cardboard,

plastics, foam and the colored ink on

magazines, boxes, and wrappers

•

Coated, painted, and pressure-treated

wood

•

Ocean driftwood, plywood, particle

board, or any wood with glue on or in it

•

Wet, rotted, diseased, or moldy wood

•

Plastic, asbestos, rubber, manure and

animal remains

Good Fire Building

Burn only dry, split, well-seasoned wood. Properly

seasoned wood is darker, weighs less, and sounds

hollow when hit against another piece of wood.

SOURCE: Information in this article is from the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Burn Wise

website. You may contact Environment Department

at 869-7565 with questions about burning wood for

home heating or indoor air quality concerns.

Attention: Pueblo of Isleta Community

Public Works has implanted a new work order system for community work orders.

Community members can submit a work order the following ways:

1. Below is a QR Code you can scan with a smart device

2. You can access the link on the Pueblo of Isleta Website

3. Calling Public Works Office at 505-869-5170

Please provide as much information as possible about

the work order being placed. We will need the following

information:

• What is the issue?

• Location (Complete Address)

• Contact Name & Number

• Attached pictures, if any

NOTE: Please one work order per submittal! Our new system will not generate

multiple work orders in one submission.

Not providing all detail information on your work order may cause a delay!

We understand that not everyone has access to a smart device or computer

to submit a work order, calling into Public Works Office at 505-869-5170 is still

available.

Page 8

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

December 2024

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 9

Page 10

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

December 2024

Isleta Pueblo News

BREAKFAST

LUNCH

Page 11

Page 12

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

The Department of Education hosted an

experience out-of-this-world. Family Night

in Space proved

to be an exciting

event filled with

stellar activities for

families of all ages.

Families learning

about the stars and

planets

through

hands-on activities

that sparked a

sense of awe and

wonder in each in

attendance. Families were able to build

and launch their own paper rockets in our

launch zone. This hands-on activity was a

fun way for students to learn basic physics

and experience the thrill of launching their

creations.

For this event we

were joined by

some spectacular

partners.

These

partners

were

truly tremendous

with helping create

a curiosity about

the universe, stars,

and planets. The

New Mexico Space

History Museum

joined us. This group brought samples

from celestial bodies for students to see

and touch. They also brought replicas of

tools that astronauts used during their

space adventures. We were also joined by a

wonderful team from the University of New

Mexico-Valencia. This group promoted the

amazing university located within our own

backyard. We certainly hope this sparks a

drive for university education within our

Native American students. The UNM Kiva

Club joined us with a truly shocking stem

activity. The Kiva Club taught students

some applications with static electricity.

Students thoroughly enjoyed learning how

to charge objects

and the effect of

static electricity.

We express our

deepest sense of

gratitude to these

partners.

They

have made Space

Night

a

night

that will not be

forgotten.

The Department would like to highlight

the Tutoring program. Please remember

that tutoring is available to not only help

students struggling but also to enhance

student performance. One of the greatest

advantages of our tutoring program is the

personalized attention students receive.

Unlike the crowded classroom setting

where it’s easy to feel lost, our tutors focus

entirely on you. They assess your strengths

and weakness, understand your learning

style and tailor to those needs accordingly.

Our tutors will adapt to the student’s needs

and ensure each session is productive and

effective. Tutoring is available Monday

through Thursday from 3:00 pm to 5:45 pm.

High School News:

As we are in the final month of the grading

period, it is important that if you are

missing any assignments that you talk

to your teachers to see if it is not too late

to turn them in. Even if you are offered

partial credit that is better than no credit.

Most teachers are open to allowing you to

make up assignments as long as you are

communicating with them.

If you are aware that you are not going to be

passing a class at the end of the semester,

reach out to your counselor and get signed

up for credit recovery. Credit recovery

for the Los Lunas School district is being

offered here at the Department of Education

Monday – Thursday 3:00pm – 5:45pm.

Take advantage of this being provided to

you as a student of Los Lunas. Also, credit

recovery is no longer being offered by Los

Lunas for elective courses. If you fail an

elective course you will have to make it up

the following year. Don’t let an elective be

the reason why you don’t graduate on time!

Reminder that tutoring is being offered

after school Monday – Thursday 3:00pm

– 5:45pm, take advantage of this free

opportunity.

First Year College News:

As the semester is finishing up, you

should have started to meet with your

academic advisor to discuss next courses.

As a reminder to be funded for the next

semester, you will need to submit your

supporting documentation to the following

link:

https://isletapueblo.formstack.com/

forms/scholarship_application_supporting_

documents

Supporting documents must be submitted

to the link no later than January 15, 2025.

It is important that you check your emails

to ensure you did not miss any important

information. As a first year college

student we are here to help support you,

however, we do not have access to your

file. It is important that you reach out to

poischolarships@Isletapueblo.com for any

information pertaining to your funding.

Please reach out to our office for further

assistance.

renewed each year until the recipient earns

a bachelor’s degree.

New Mexico Graduate Scholarships

The New Mexico Graduate Scholarships

are available to graduate students at

New Mexico colleges or universities. To

receive the award, recipients must agree

to participate in an unpaid internship at

their institution for 10 hours per week.

Priority is given to applicants who belong to

minority groups that are underrepresented

in graduate programs. Students can submit

an application for the scholarships at their

college or university. The awards are worth

up to $7,200 and are renewable for a second

year.

College Affordability Grants

The College Affordability Grants are

awarded to New Mexico residents who

are enrolled at least half-time at New

Mexico public colleges or universities. The

monetary amount varies based on financial

need, but the maximum amount awarded is

$1,000. To apply, students must fill out the

FAFSA and contact their college’s financial

aid office. The grant can be awarded yearly

until the student receives a bachelor’s

degree.

Vietnam Veterans’ Scholarships

The

Vietnam

Veterans’

Scholarships are awarded

to Vietnam veterans who

are certified by the New

Mexico Veterans’ Service

Commission. Recipients must have been

honorably discharged from the armed

forces and must be New Mexico residents.

The scholarship covers tuition, fees, and

books for each recipient. Students can

renew their scholarship each year if they

make satisfactory progress and stay in

good academic standing at their college or

university.

NMSU Academic Scholarships

Michelle & Nissa

Higher Education!

Greetings Students, It’s mid semester,

yahoo! Just a reminder, the deadline for the

Spring application was November 1, 2024.

The supporting documents are due January

15, 2025. Finish strong students.

The DOE Team

Best Scholarships in NM

Student Incentive Grants

New Mexico State University

awards several to incoming

students.

The

President’s

Associates

Excellence

Scholarship, which covers all tuition, fees,

and housing, is awarded to students with

a GPA of 3.75 and an ACT score of 28 or

higher. The Honors Excel Scholarship,

which covers tuition and fees, is awarded to

students with a minimum GPA of 3.75 and

an ACT score of 24. The Regents Success

Scholarship, which also covers tuition and

fees, is awarded to students with a minimum

GPA of 3.5. All of these scholarships are

renewable for eight semesters.

UNM Freshman Scholarships

Student Incentive Grants provide between

$200 and $2,500 per year to students

attending New Mexico public colleges or

universities. Students must be enrolled as

undergraduates at least half-time to receive

the award. The award amount is based on

financial need, and students must fill out

the FAFSA to apply. The scholarship can be

The University of New

Mexico awards Freshman

Scholarships to New Mexico

students with strong academic

backgrounds. The Regents

Scholarship, which is worth about $17,800,

is awarded to students with a 3.9 GPA and

a 31 ACT score. The National Hispanic and

December 2024

American Indian Scholarships, which are

worth about $8,400, are awarded to students

who have Hispanic and American Indian

heritage. The Presidential Scholarship,

which is worth about $8,400, is awarded

to students with a 3.75 GPA and a 25 ACT

score. Every scholarship is renewable for

up to four years if the recipients meet the

minimum GPA requirements.

Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship

The Andrew Piech Memorial

Scholarship is awarded to

a New Mexico high school

senior or college student

who plans to pursue a

degree or certificate from an

automotive or technical-vocational school.

To apply, students should provide a personal

essay explaining why they are interested

in the automotive or technical-vocational

field and a letter of recommendation from

a teacher, counselor, or employer. The

recipient may be either a full-time or parttime student. The award amount varies

between $500 and $1,000.

AAF-NM Scholarship

The New Mexico branch of

the American Advertising

Federation awards a $1,500

to a full-time student in

his or her junior or senior

year at a New Mexico

college or university. Applicants must be

studying business, journalism, advertising,

marketing, or strategic communications

and should have a GPA of at least 3.0. To

apply, students should supply their official

transcripts, a letter of recommendation

from a teacher or counselor, a resume, and

a personal essay explaining their career

goals and why they have chosen their field

of study.

Julie’s Helpers Memorial Scholarship

The Julie’s Helpers Scholarship

is awarded to a female Navajo

student who is enrolled in a New

Mexico college or university. The

recipient must be at least onefourth Navajo Indian and must be enrolled

full-time in business, education, science, or

engineering

Nightingale Nursing Scholarships

The Nightingale Nursing

Scholarships are awarded

to New Mexico nursing

students who have already

completed one semester of a

nursing program. To apply,

students should have a minimum GPA

of 3.0 and must submit a transcript, two

reference letters, and a personal statement

explaining why they chose to pursue a

nursing career. The scholarship committee

awards several $1,000 scholarships each

year

Dan and Lucille Wood Athletic

Scholarship

The Dan and Lucille Wood

Athletic

Scholarship

is

awarded to a high school

senior who participated in

NCAA sanctioned sports,

including basketball, baseball, football,

cross country, volleyball, golf, soccer,

and wrestling. The recipient must have

played at least one NCAA sport in his or

her sophomore and junior years and at

Isleta Pueblo News

least two NCAA sports in his or her senior

year. Applicants must submit their official

transcript, their ACT or SAT scores, three

letters of recommendation, and a personal

statement. The monetary amount varies

yearly.

NMLA Scholarships

The New Mexico Library

Association awards several

college scholarships each year.

The Marion Dorroh Memorial

Scholarship

is

available

to an individual pursuing an advanced

degree in Library and Information Science.

The College Scholarship Fund supports

library workers who are enrolled in an

undergraduate degree program in Library

Technology. To apply, students should

submit a resume, their letter of acceptance

to their program, and a one-page statement

of their professional goals and how they

plan to improve the New Mexico Library

system.

PFLAG Scholarship

The Santa Fe PFLAG

Chapter offers about 15

$1,000 each year to LGBT

students who live in New

Mexico. The recipients

should have integrity,

honesty, and strong moral character, and

they should have a history of involvement

in community service and extracurricular

activities. When picking the scholarship

recipients, priority is given to LGBT

individuals below the age of 35, but some

scholarships may also be awarded to older

students and straight allies.

Sparx and Lorenzo Antonio

Foundation Scholarships

The Sparx and Lorenzo

Antonio

Foundation

awards a $2,000 to

a New Mexico public

high school student.

Applicants must be

Page 13

graduating seniors planning to enroll

full-time at a two- or four-year college or

university, and they must have a cumulative

GPA of at least 2.5. The recipient should

have financial need and a focused goal for

their future. Applicants should submit their

high school transcript, two recommendation

letters, and a personal statement describing

their career goals and their financial need.

ACF Notah Begay III Scholarships

The Notah Begay III Scholarship worth

$1,400, is awarded to New Mexico high

school seniors who are Native American

scholar-athletes and have a minimum

cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must

have played a varsity level team sport

in high school and must be planning to

attend a community college or four-year

university. To apply, students must provide

a copy of their Student Aid Report of their

FAFSA, their Certificate of Indian Blood

or proof of tribal enrollment, a letter of

recommendation from a coach, and a letter

of recommendation from a teacher.

TEACH New Mexico Scholarships

The New Mexico branch of

the TEACH organization

provides

several

scholarships to students

pursuing associate’s degrees,

bachelor’s

degrees,

or

graduate degrees in education. They offer

several different models of scholarships that

cover varying percentages of the recipient’s

tuition, books, and fees. The scholarships

are available both for current teachers who

want to pursue more education and new,

full-time students. Students can submit

their applications through the New Mexico

Association for the Education of Young

Children website.

Page 14

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

ISLETA POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

December - 2024

The end of 2024 is here as we are now

entering December and Christmas is

quickly approaching! The year has flown

by and before you know it will be January

2025.

Winter officially begins on December 21

but the state clearly experienced a dose of

wintry weather in November paralyzing

some areas of the state. The Pueblo also

had a snow day based upon conditions

affecting the community and surrounding

cities. There are probably more days of

this type forthcoming and we ask you to be

prepared particularly during the upcoming

holidays as many will be traveling.

Whether it’s snow, sleet, ice or rain during

winter weather can lead to extremely

dangerous road conditions. Preparing

yourself – and your vehicle – for winter

weather is key.

“Slow down so that you have enough room to

stop; don’t follow too closely, give plow and

salt trucks a lot of room to operate,” These

basic cold weather driving habits could save

your life or someone else’s.”

There were an estimated 121,156 policereported crashes in the United States

during snow or sleet conditions in 2021,

according to the National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration.

The NHTSA and AAA recommend these

basic winter driving tips:

Drive slowly on slick or snow-

covered surfaces

•

Accelerate and decelerate slowly

•

Increase your follow distance to

allow time to stop

•

Don’t crowd snow plows and use

caution when passing them

•

Avoid stopping if possible by

slowing enough to keep rolling until

a traffic light changes

•

Build inertia at the base of hills to

avoid using extra power on the way

to the top

•

Don’t use cruise control when

driving on slick surfaces like

snow and ice

AAA recommends preparing your car by

keeping tires properly inflated with plenty

of tread and maintaining at least a half

tank of gas at all times. The National Safety

Council recommends drivers use winter

tires and test their battery, as power drops

when temperatures do. Wiper blades should

be checked and replaced as needed and top

off wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees.

The NSC also recommends drivers remove

dirt, ice and snow from sensors for assistivedriving features and clean external camera

lenses and side mirrors.

With colder weather, inclement weather,

increased traffic for the holidays and holiday

parties, the Isleta Police Department

is ready to respond for increased calls

for service, emergencies and traffic

enforcement to include DWI detection. Our

goal and mission is to serve and protect the

community as well as all who pass through

the Pueblo.

There are many people who are walking or

taking the bus. Excessive speed in wintery

conditions can create a safety hazard for

pedestrians, who may be moving slowly

or be obscured by any number of weather

conditions.

Please be patient and allow yourself extra

time to get to school and work during your

morning and evening commutes so that we

can all get where we need to safely.

We hope all have a joyous and safe

holiday season!

For commuters going to work, attend school

or holiday shopping remember weather

conditions here on the Pueblo may be

shockingly different traveling to different

areas so please check weather forecasts,

road conditions and if you absolutely must

travel in adverse conditions keep the safety

tips above in mind.

Public Works Department

The Isleta Police Department’s participation

in community activities continued the end

of October and by the photos all had some

good times.

IS THERE LEAD IN YOUR

WATER PIPES?

PHONE: 869-5170

Public Works needs your help to “fill in the

blanks” on the lead inventories. We need to

know what type of pipe was used to connect

your home to the shut-off; if this line had

been replaced and what type of piping was

used; if there is any type of water filtration

at your home; the owners name, physical

and mailing addresses, phone number,

and year home was constructed. All of

the information collected goes back to the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

•

Both AAA and NHTSA suggest drivers have

cold-weather gear including:

•

Ice scraper, snow shovel, and broom

•

Food and water

•

Kitty litter or sand for traction if

stuck

•

Blankets and warm clothing

•

Necessary medications

•

Flashlight

•

Cell phone charger

Keep vigilant for “scams”, “porch pirates”,

suspicious individuals/vehicles, unsafe

drivers and those driving under the influence

and report them to the Police Department

as soon as possible. Sadly during the

holiday festivities these seem to increase

and we need your help in maintaining the

safety and security of the Pueblo of Isleta.

All of this information is important as it

helps us submit more thorough funding

requests to update these lines to protect

the safety and health of the community.

The initial inventory for each of the four

water systems on the Pueblo were submitted

to the EPA on October 15, 2024. EPA is

reviewing each inventory and will contact

the Pueblo with any questions. What we

submitted was not comprehensive. We still

need to “fill in the blanks”.

Erin Waconda, Chewbacca, Darth Vader

(?) Janel Jojola

Public Works may have information on

what materials were used when your home

was constructed. If we know the home

was built after 1990 based on records we

have on file, there will be no need for you

to complete a form. Any homes or business

we do not have records on will be asked

to complete a form with the information

requested.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation

in assisting the Public Works Department

by providing the necessary information. If

you have any questions, please contact our

main office at 505-869-5170.

December 2024

What happens when you call 911?

Hopefully you never had to call 911, but if you have,

you know it can be scary and frustrating at times.

First off, knowing where you call from makes a

difference. If you are calling from a landline within

Isleta, it will go directly to the Isleta dispatch

center. If you call from a cell phone multiple things

can happen depending on your location within the

Pueblo; 1.) Your call could go to the POI dispatch

center, 2.) Your call could go to Bernalillo County

EMS or 3.) Your call could go to Valencia County

EMS.

If you call from a cell phone the dispatch center

will not have a location or name. So please make

sure you let the operator know your name and

location before you tell them what is happening.

This will ensure emergency units are sent as

soon as possible. If dispatch does not have this

information there is no way they can dispatch

emergency services quickly. If you reach an

outside dispatch center, just let them know you

need Isleta Dispatch and they can transfer/

connect you. Also please answer all the questions

dispatch has for you. It may seem mundane, but

all the information is critical for Police, Fire, and

EMS. Tell dispatch something distinctive about

your residence. This will help ensure PD and

EMS can locate your property more quickly.

Please remember dispatch is there to help you

just as much as EMS, FIRE, and PD. Dispatchers

of the 911 service are just as important as the

rest of Emergency Services offered here on Isleta

Pueblo.

Anyone. Any struggle. Any time.

This is the English version of the Tiwa article published

in the August POI Newsletter and the IHC Summer

Newsletter

Did you know that NM Native American youth who

have a trusted adult in their lives are less likely to

experience mental health distress and engage in

risky behaviors? Unfortunately, for many people when

they experience mental health distress, they do not

feel that they have the support and care they need,

making the bad situation worse, sometimes resulting

in suicide or overdose. Studies have shown that in

New Mexico, suicide is the leading cause of death for

Native Americans.

However, there is hope.

Regardless of someone’s current situation or who

they are, they deserve to feel heard and met with

compassion and understanding. The National Suicide

and Crisis Line- more frequently referred to as 988- is

that support for a lot of New Mexicans and could be a

good support for you or someone you know. The lifeline

is not only free, confidential and available 24/7, but it

also provides the support from trained professionals

who are equipped to handle a variety of situations

quickly. 988

Some reasons to call, text or chat with 988 include:

●

●

●

●

●

●

Worried about safety

Hard time managing strong emotions

Relationship troubles

Worried about substance use

Need information about local community

services

Or any other reason, you need to talk to

someone

For more information about 988: visit 988nm.org.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 15

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 16

December 2024

Pueblo of Isleta Public Library

As we wrap up another year, we want to take a moment to reflect on all we’ve

accomplished, and look forward to what’s to come. December is a special month, filled

with festive celebrations, cherished traditions, and the opportunity to connect with

those who mean the most to us. We’re incredibly thankful for your continued support.

In this final edition of our newsletter for 2024, we’ve got some exciting updates, holiday

cheer, and plenty to share with you!

News

A staff meeting will be scheduled sometime

during the first week of December. We

will be planning upcoming programs for

children, teens, and adults. The library

will remain open during this time so don’t

hesitate to come on in and check out any

library material.

The library will be CLOSED on the following

dates during the month of November.

Tuesday, December 24th EARLY

CLOSURE at 12pm Christmas Eve will be

observed.

Wednesday, December 25th CLOSED

in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

We would like to wish everyone a Merry

Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 26th EARLY

CLOSURE at 12pm due to Traditional

Dances.

Friday,

December

27th

EARLY

CLOSURE at 12pm due to Traditional

Dances.

Tuesday,

December

31st EARLY

CLOSURE at 12pm New Year’s Eve will be

observed.

Wednesday, January 1st CLOSED in

observance of New Years Day.

Please keep in mind with the upcoming

Holiday Season and unpredictable weather

that unexpected closures may occur. Notices

will be posted and up to the minute notices

will be posted on all library social media

accounts.

Attention library mobile app users, if

you are not currently getting library

notifications please go to your settings and

allow notifications for the POI Library app.

If you need assistance you can come into

the library and a staff member can help you

with the library app. The library sends out

notifications for closures, events, programs,

give aways and community announcements

so make sure you’re receiving those

notifications.

Please join us every Thursday at 11:00am

for Family Story Time, no sign ups required

so just come on in. Library Staff member

Abbey will read a story and engage

toddlers and families in an activity. This

It was a beautiful fall day to have

fun at Explora!

program gives parents and caregivers the

opportunity to introduce reading to their

children. If you have any questions, please

give Abbey a call at the library at 505869-9808 or by email at Abbey.Whitaker@

isletapueblo.com.

Don’t forget the library offers a streaming

service Kanopy. Enjoy the many movies

and shows Kanopy has to offer for FREE!

To access you will have to select your

library (Pueblo of Isleta Public Library) set

up an account using your library barcode

and pin. From there you will receive 21

tickets per month to enjoy shows, movies,

and Kids Kanopy is always unlimited. For

any questions or information about this

service speak with a staff member at 505869-9808.

Upcoming

Put your building skills to the test and

come to the library to make a Pueblo style

Gingerbread House! Gingerbread houses

will be submitted to the Indian Pueblo

Cultural Center for their annual Pueblo

Gingerbread House Contest. All supplies

will be provided! Participants will work on

the gingerbread houses every Wednesday

from November 20th through December

11th from 5pm – 6:30pm. This program

is open to 8 patrons 18 & over. For more

information please contact Lucas at 505869-9808 or email at Lucas.BiscanWhite@

isletapueblo.com.

Looking for something festive to do this

Holiday season? Join us for a Christmas

Candle Painting Night on Thursday,

December 5th at 5pm. This program will

be open to the first 8 patrons 18 and over

to sign up. All supplies will be provided

and sign-ups start Monday, November

25th. Light snacks and refreshments will

be served. For more information about this

program please contact Diane by email at

Diane.Abeita@isletapueblo.com or call 505869-9808.

The library will be planning programs for

children, teens and adults in the upcoming

weeks and months. Please keep your eyes

and ears open. We are excited to share

our knowledge with you. You can always

refer back to our library website, library

social media, Isleta Newsletter, and library

flyers throughout the community. All our

programs are open to the community and

public.

Recap

We would like to acknowledge our After

School Program students for doing such a

great job with their reading and staying

on track with their homework. On Friday,

November 22nd library staff members took

students on an incentive field trip to Urban

Air where the enjoyed jumping on the

trampolines, a ball pit, dodge ball, cruising

down a zipline and pizza. We are currently

planning a Christmas Party for our

students. Festivities will include holiday

activities, crafts, games and of course food.

Students will soon be on Winter Vacation

and we hope students can relax and enjoy

their free time. We look forward to seeing

everyone after the break for the second half

of the school year.

The fourth Learning Outside the Classroom

field trip of the school year took place on

Monday, November 4th and was led by

library staff members, Diane and Abbey.

This is ongoing program throughout the

school year for the opportunity for students

to learn outside the classroom. Our field trip

for November was to Explora! the students

enjoyed a staff led activity of Magic Bubbles

and then explored the center making there

last stop at the gift shop. After students

and staff enjoyed lunch at Dion’s. We are

currently planning our next Learning

Outside Fieldtrip, more information and

details coming soon for our next field trip.

If you have any questions or suggestions

about this program, please call the library

at 505-869-9808 and speak with a staff

member.

In celebration of Native American Heritage

Month, the library hosted a Movie Night

on November 21st. Participants enjoyed a

cozy evening at the library with a FREE

screening of Warrior Spirit. A documentary

about the first native American UFC

champion, Nicco Montano, who is on a quest

to defend her UFC title. It turned out to be

a great evening filled with entertainment,

popcorn and fun. We would like to thank

everyone who participated in our library

movie night.

Students at Explora! on their Learning Outside the Classroom Fieldtrip.

December 2024

Vaccine Recommendations for the 2024-25

Respiratory Disease Season

COVID-19

•

Everyone ages 6 months and older should

get an updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine.

This includes people who

have received a

COVID-19 vaccine before and people who have

had COVID-19

•

The COVID-19 vaccine helps protect you

from severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

•

It is especially important to get your 2024–

2025

COVID-19 vaccine if you are ages 65

and older, are

at high risk for severe

COVID-19, live in a long-term care facility, or have

never received a COVID-19 vaccine.

•

Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it

is important to stay up to date with your COVID-19

vaccine.

•

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more

reliable way to build protection than getting sick

with COVID-19.

Seasonal Influenza

•

Everyone 6 months of age and older should

make a plan to get an updated flu vaccine.

•

All U.S. flu vaccines for the 2024-2025

season are

itrivalent (three component)

vaccines that protect against three i n f l u e n z a

viruses: an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus, and

a B/Victoria virus.

•

People age 65 and older and people who

have received a solid organ transplant can opt

to receive a “high dose” flu vaccine

•

Flu vaccination can keep you from getting

sick from the flu.

•

Flu vaccination can also reduce the risk of

hospitalization from flu as well as the severity of

illness even if someone gets sick with the flu.

RSV Vaccine

•

Recommended for all adults age 75 and older

if they did not receive a previous RSV vaccine last

season.

•

Recommended for people ages 60–74 who

are at increased risk of severe RSV, meaning they

have certain chronic medical conditions, such

as lung or heart disease, or they live in nursing

homes.

•

The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual

vaccine, meaning people do not need to get a

dose every RSV season.

•

Eligible adults can get an RSV vaccine at any

time, but the best time to get vaccinated is before

RSV starts to spread in communities.

Call Isleta Health Center to check on vaccine

availability and scheduling!

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 17

Page 18

Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024

In Loving Memory of Tata Jose Jojola

and Nana Sophie Jojola

Chee-ee and Teh-ea, Mom and Dad,

Nana and Tata you will always be in our

hearts and never be forgotten. Words can't

explain, just know your knowledge, love,

kindness and strength is missed dearly.

Ee-bin-oom so much always.

We Love You

December 2024

Supporting Your Mental Health

During the Holidays

From B’eeh K’oo-ee Wellness Center

In a 2014 survey conducted by the National Alliance on

Mental Illness (NAMI), researchers found that 64% of

people diagnosed with a mental illness experienced

worsening symptoms during the holidays. While

some may find the holidays to be a mostly joyful time,

it might be a mixed time for many of us, even if we

haven’t been diagnosed with a mental illness.

Here are some tips on how you can take care of your

mental health during the holiday season:

1. Check in with yourself regularly. Ask

yourself how you’re feeling. If you’re not feeling

100% joyful and happy, that’s okay. Feeling down

or sad during the holidays is normal for many

people. Noticing our feelings and emotions is the

first step to taking care of ourselves.

2. Develop a plan. Make a plan for when you’re

feeling stressed, lonely, or sad. It’s important to

make this plan when you feel “ok,” that way the

plan is ready for when you’re not feeling very good.

Ask yourself: What usually helps me feel better?

3. Connect with Community. For many, being

with trusted loved ones (even if you’re not talking

about your feelings) can help us feel better. Ask

yourself: Who helps me feel better when I’m down?

Who is a positive influence?

4. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Sometimes

people use substances because it makes them feel

better in the short-term. For example, someone

might use alcohol to feel less stressed or to “get

through” something. However, immediate effects

include decreased inhibitions (which can cause

us to do or say things we wouldn’t normally do or

say) and potential risky behaviors like driving while

under the influence. Once immediate effects have

worn off, substances (including alcohol) cause

increased depression, stress in relationships,

and health problems. Alcohol especially affects

the brain’s ability to get deep sleep, which makes

emotional regulation more difficult. Check in on

those around you who are in recovery or who are

struggling with substance use to see how you

might be able to support them.

5. Know when to ask for help. If you’re

experiencing ongoing low mood, difficulty sleeping,

decreased or increased appetite, difficulty

concentrating, or anything that makes you feel like

you’re not yourself, reach out for help. Don’t wait

for symptoms to get worse.

Who can I reach out to for help?

B’eeh K’oo-ee Wellness Center - Call us at (505)

869-5475 to schedule your first appointment! We are

often able to get people in for their first appointment

within a few weeks after they call

Medical Providers - If you’d rather talk with a medical

provider to explore your treatment options, schedule

an appointment with your Primary Care Provider!

988 - 988 is a free and confidential lifeline that you

can call if you’re in crisis, or if you just need some

support.

If you’re having thoughts of suicide, please call 988,

911, or go to the nearest emergency room to get help

immediately.

Isleta Pueblo News

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Isleta Pueblo News

December 2024