Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com (2023)

Volume 18 Issue 4

Isleta Pueblo News

Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com

Governor’s Report

I want to continue to wish the entire

community a nice safe and healthy

month as Spring has arrived! We

would like to remind the community to

continue to practice the safety protocols

and continuing to keep our COVID

numbers low.

On Thursday, March 16th, Governor

Zuni met with Congressman Vasquez to

discuss the Pueblo’s law enforcement,

infrastructure, and natural resources

initiatives. As Congress gears up

for its annual budget, the Pueblo

of Isleta has submitted specific

federal

appropriations

requests

to the New Mexico Congressional

delegation, including Congressman

Vasquez. Governor Zuni appreciates

his partnership with Congressman

Vasquez and the other members of the

delegation. He will continue to urge

them to advocate for Isleta’s interests.

We are excited to announce our

broadband grant has been received

and we have hired Richard Jaramillo

as the manager. This upgrade is in the

beginning stages and we will update

you at a later time.

Again, we would like to remind you

that all irrigation issues be addressed

with your assigned Mayordomos,

before proceeding to the Governor’s and

Natural Resources.

Chical

Brian Jiron

Leon Chiwiwi

Ranchitos

Ben Garcia

Derek Jaramillo

Village

Warren Edaakie

Clint Lente

We will be hosting our second

community meeting on Sunday, April

16, 2023. The meeting will be located at

Isleta Resort and Casino in Ballroom B

from 1:00-4:00pm. We would like to see

everyone attend to hear what changes

we will be bringing to the Pueblo. It is

also my intent to continue to listen and

determine what the priorities of the

community are. We have been working

on the human resources issues, probate

cases, and we have started on the Chical

Well Project. Our plan is to have our

Cultural Center up and running by the

summer, 2023. We have also started

the project for the little league fields

and new building.

Rent the Reception Hall or Court

House for your Next Big Event!

The Reception Hall and Court House

are now taking reservations! To check

availability or ask any questions,

please contact the Governor’s Office at

April 2023

(505) 869-3111. All reservations must information please contact her at 505be made in person at the Governor’s 869-9817.

Office.

I would like to wish the community a

The cost to reserve the Reception Hall safe and healthy Happy Easter!

is $250, with a $100 refundable deposit Last, I want to send my condolences to

due at the time of booking. The cost to the families of those who have lost their

reserve the Court House is $100, with a family members during the month of

$50 refundable deposit due at the time March.

of booking. All payments must be made

via money order. Please comply with Ha-Wuh

all rules and regulations for the Court Max A. Zuni

House and Reception Hall to keep our Governor Pueblo of Isleta

facilities in good condition for everyone,

or risk losing your damage deposit.

The Reception Hall and Court

House are booking up quickly.

Make your reservation today!

Need a Burn and Wood Permit?

Melissa Abeyta with Natural resources

will be issuing out all burn and wood

permits!

Natural

Resource

Department

Building (located in the same building

as Transportation/Motor Pool- we

are on the south side) 3929 Hwy 47

Albuquerque, NM 87105. For more

Page 2

Isleta Pueblo News

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEADLINE for May Newsletter articles is set for

Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 4:30 pm. Articles may be

dropped off at the Library or emailed to Nathaniel.Lujan@

isletapueblo.com. Should you email your article, expect a

confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation

email, odds are it never made it to me and then it’s time to

panic, so call Nate at 505.869.9808.

People who wish to submit an article or flyer are responsible

for generating their own article or flyer. Should you need

help, please call the Library at 505.869.9808 and set up a

date and time to sit down with a Library staff member who

will help you throughout the process. The Library will NOT

accept notes dropped off at the Library or information over

the phone to generate your article.

PROBATES need to be published in the Newsletter for

two consecutive months. Probates are considered court

documents, therefore, all submitters must provide: 1)

Name of Deceased, 2) Date of Deceased 3) Court Case #

and 4) Date of Court Date. A Probate form can be found on

the Newsletter Archive page at http://www.isletapueblo.

com/newsletters.html .

CLASSIFIED ADS: The new administration has requested

that the Newsletter start a Classified Ad section for Tribal

members selling land, houses, mobile homes, vehicles, and

farm equipment. Leasing of houses and mobile homes will

be accepted. Smaller items which can be sold at the local

flea markets or weekly yard sales will NOT be accepted.

Currently, this service is FREE to Tribal members. Land,

houses, and mobile homes must be within the reservation

boundaries. Ads must meet the 160 character limit. Ads

that exceed the 160 characters will NOT be submitted into

the Newsletter. A single picture June be submitted with

the ad. Submitters of classified ads are responsible for

generating their own ads as this is a FREE service.

As a reminder, Tribal business owners may submit a small

flyer at no charge. Like the classified ads, business owners

are responsible for generating their own flyers as this is a

FREE service.

Classified ads and business flyers will be posted no

more than two consecutive months. In the event where

the Newsletter may exceed the 24-page limit, classified

ads and business flyers will be “bumped” for newsletter

articles. Again, this is a FREE service for Tribal members.

The Isleta Newsletter is owned and operated by the Pueblo

of Isleta. Therefore, the Governor of the Pueblo of Isleta

has the final say of all articles and contents within the

Isleta Newsletter.

For additional questions, you may call the Library and

speak with Nate or Diane at 505.869.9808.

Thank you,

Nathaniel Lujan

Newsletters may be found at the fifteen distribution

locations listed below. Remember, Digital copies of the

Newsletter may be obtained from the Newsletter archive

at http://www.isletapueblo.com/newsletters.html

The fifteen Newsletter distribution locations are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

TR 2 & TR 22 - Chical SE of Community Hall

TR 10 - Behind the old 47 Sales

TR 1 & TR 5 – Ranchitos / Bosque Farms

Reservations Line

Ranchitos Park

Post Office - Big Tree

TR 82 & TR 84 - Teller Road

TR 78 & TR 82 - Carlos Trujillo Sr.

TR 90 @ Y - CF Padilla

Mouse Town Park –

Health Center – South end of Health

Center Parking lot

Library Sunlight & Moonlight Intersection

TR 6 - 47 Intersection

TR 12 - 47 & 147 intersection (Old Smoke & Save)

TR 71 & TR 54 @ Y - Holiday Robot / Paved Road /

Railroad Tracks

TR 45 & TR 40 @ Y - Tata Mel (POI Signage)

April 2023

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 3

Scholarship Criteria for the 2023-2024 Tibien

(Elk Mountain) College Fund]

Purpose:

In honoring the memory of our son and nephew, Aaron

Robert Dailey, the Tibien College Fund will award one

$1000 scholarship for the 2023-2024 school year to a

college-bound or college student.

Criteria:

Students eligible to apply for the Scholarship are

graduating high school seniors or persons who

graduated from high school within the last 4 years from

he date of application, who are enrolled in a federally

recognized tribe in New Mexico or California,

and pursuing a college degree. Consideration will be

given to academic achievement and the student’s

community service record. Students should submit a

scholarship application.

Amount:

One Scholarship of $1000 will be disbursed in two

equal installments in August 2023 and January 2024.

The disbursement will be made to the Financial

Aid office of the recipient’s college.

Guidelines:

The recipient must continue to attend classes and

maintain a 2.5 grade-point average each semester.

Deadline:

The application deadline is August 3, 2023.

Applications must be received by that date to

be considered. The award will be made no later

than August 31, 2023.

Application Process:

Call (505) 376-6844 or email swlopc@outlook.

com for an application.

Submit applications by August 3, 2023 to:

Sh’eh Wheef Law Offices

P.O. Box 167

Isleta, New Mexico 87022

or swlopc@outlook.com

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 4

Job Postings

Visit us online at

http://www.isleta.com/career-opportunities.aspx

Fax: 505-244-8232

April 2023

OUR LOCATION

Isleta Resort and Casino is located 7 minutes south of

downtown Albuquerque at Interstate 25 and Hwy 47, exit

215. The Human Resources office can be found on the east

side of the building through the Employee Entrance doors.

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 5

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 6

April 2023

Pueblo of lsleta Career Opportunities

Position Posting

Office Location

Closing Date

Position Posting

Office Location

Closing Date

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 7

Census/Tribal Enrollment Department

Address Updates:

Please make sure to update your address each time

you move so our office has the most current information

on file. We have noticed a lot of address issues within

the Census and Treasury department during the past

three distributions. Our office is the main source that

other departments use to verify information. You may

also call our office to verify your information regularly to

avoid any issues.

Tribal Identification Cards:

Tribal Identification cards will be issued every Tuesdays

and Thursdays by appointment.

Reminder** ALL TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS

HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE OF FIVE (5) YEARS.

**ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE ON FILE

WITH THE TRIBAL ENROLLMENT/CENSUS OFFICE

PRIOR TO RECEIVING A TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION

CARD. **

Birth and Certificates:

State of NM Birth Certificates may be obtained through

the Census/Tribal Enrollment Department. We will

continue to make monthly visits to New Mexico Vital

Statistics on behalf of tribal members. An Authorization

form must be signed and notarized at the Census/Tribal

Enrollment Department giving Director or Enrollment

Clerk authorization to obtain Birth Certificate on behalf

of Tribal Member. The cost for each certified certificate

is $10.00 each with cash, check or money order

payable to: NM Vital Records Office. P.O. Box 25767

Albuquerque, NM 87125

Death Certificates:

There have been many questions regarding the death

certificate process. As a reminder, the Pueblo of Isleta,

Census/Tribal Enrollment Department will kindly assist

family members in the completion of death certificates of

all Tribal Members. Paperwork needs to be completed

by the family before starting the process on the state

system. Paperwork can be picked up at the Census

office.

Once the death certificate has been approved and

registered with the NM State Vital Statistics Office, An

Authorization form must be signed and notarized at the

Census/Tribal Enrollment Department giving Director

or Enrollment Clerk authorization to obtain Death

Certificate on behalf of the family.

All Certified Death Certificate copies are $5.00 each

with cash, check or money order payable to: NM Vital

Records Office. P.O. Box 25767 Albuquerque, NM

87125

Residence Ordinance:

Any non-tribal member wishing to reside on the

reservation must have a residence ordinance application

on file. Applications are available for pick up only at our

office. This ordinance is being enforced by Governor’s

Office and IPD, please make sure your application is

up-to-date. Due to delays in background checks, this

application can take up to 6 weeks or longer to complete.

Note: only one non-tribal member can be sponsored

by enrolled tribal member (over the age of 18) per

household. Any minor non-tribal members do not need

an application. Please verify with our office the status of

your application or any concerns you may have.

Please contact the Pueblo of Isleta Census/Tribal

Enrollment Department at (505) 869-9766 if you have

any questions.

Census/Tribal Enrollment Staff,

Nanette Coriz, Director

Ashlee Abeita, Enrollment Clerk

Linda Sue Dawn LeBeau, File Clerk

Page 8

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Public Works Employees express their condolences

to the family and friends of Esquipula Augustine

Lucero (“Augie”) on his passing. Mr. Lucero was

a long time employee of the Pueblo of Isleta Public

Works Department. Augie worked in various Public

Works Divisions during his employment with the

Pueblo. Augie always put in his best effort as he

served his community. He had a smile for everyone

he met and was friendly to all. Augie provided all

of us that knew him with wonderful memories – his

Spirit will be with all of us for years to come.

Public Works is sharing some photos we have of

Augie taking care of the water systems here on the

Pueblo.

Augie obtaining a total coliform sample for SDWA

Compliance purposes. Augie testing the drinking

water chlorine residual at a well house.

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 9

TRUANCY

Spring Greetings,

We hope you had a fun and safe spring break, and

we hope you are comfortable with the current time

change. Many of us are enjoying more of the sunlight

and are ready to be more active with our families.

Before you know it Graduation will be upon us. We

hope you are prepared and excited for this wonderful

time in your life. As you are counting down the days,

remember to enjoy every single moment.

With over a month left of school remember not to

lose focus and attend school DAILY and be on

time! There’s so much information to absorb to be

successful.

TIME TO PREPARE FOR GRADUATION!

Keep Studying:

With graduation just around the corner you might

think that keeping up with homework or studying

is not that important. Remember that the final

exam grade is an important part of your overall

GPA.

Sports:

If you play sports, keep in mind that college

recruiters not only look at your athletic

performance but they also look at academic

success and attendance.

Return items to avoid paying any fees:

Be sure to return items that belong to the school,

such as library books, uniforms, MacBook’s/

Chromebooks, along with charging cords.

Look over your social media platforms:

As we all know, everyone is on social media such

as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok.

While most of us do forget what was posted on

our social media accounts, it is a good idea to

clean up your social media. Keep in mind that not

everything you are doing needs to be posted.

The Truancy Department hopes you have a safe and

fun reminder of the school year!

Submitted by,

Jared C Jojola

Administrative Assistant

ST. AUGUSTINE

PARISH ONLINE GIVING

St. Augustine Parish is now offering online

giving services to better serve our parishioners.

We are providing this option in addition to

cash or check donations. You can still give

through traditional methods, but now you can

make recurring or one-time gifts online with a

credit/debit card or electronic check.

To give online through our new platform, visit

our giving page on our website https://www.

isletachurch.org/. You can also give through

text message by sending “Give” to (505) 2074077.

This program is beneficial to you, in that you

do not need to worry about having cash or a

check on hand at Mass, and it benefits the

Parish by reducing the time needed to process

donations and run financial reports.

Page 10

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

assignment is due, this will help you ensure

that the assignment is completed with plenty

of time to spare. Also, take advantage of your

resources that your school has to offer. When

you take advantage of the resources that are

being offered you are not navigating college

alone! If you need assistance in accessing

your school resources, please reach out to

our department. We will gladly assist you.

Online tutoring is available to college

students as well. Tutoring is done by Varsity

Tutors and you can sign yourself up at https://

isletapueblo.formstack.com/forms/doe_

afterschool_tutoring.

Michelle & Jolynn

The Department of Education would like

to recognize Ms. Tiffany Jiron. She is an

ambassador for New Mexico Highlands

University serving as one of four of the

2023 Legislative Leadership Fellows! This

fellowship helped her develop leadership

skills and enhanced effective communication

skills. Through this experience Tiffany gained

legislative knowledge and worked with a

team to lobby for $750,000 in Capital Outlay

requests during this legislative session to

enhance Mental Health Services at the

NMHU.

In addition to the fellowship, Ms. Jiron has been

awarded the Facundo Valdez Exemplary

Student Award from New Mexico Highlands

University. Please join us in recognizing the

hard work of Ms. Tiffany Jiron. We are proud

of Tiffany, her achievements and outstanding

representation of our Tribe.

ACADEMIC SUPPORTS

The Department of Education Academic

Success Team would like to wish you all a

happy and safe month of April. April means

that we are officially closer to the end of the

school year, and warmer weather. This time of

the year students think they can slack off with

their schooling, but now is the time to actually

buckle down and earn the best grade you can

possibly get for each of your classes. The

Department has been hosting “Homework

Help” evenings in addition to its regular tutor

sessions held Monday through Thursday from

2-5pm. On “Homework Help” evening tutors

are available to 7pm. Students who have been

attending are taking advantage of our onsite

tutors and getting the support they need to

complete homework and increase their grade

averages.

It is very important for parents and guardians

to be on top of your child’s grades, this will

help with the shock of finding out at the end of

the semester that your child did receive credit

for his or her class. If you need help getting

access to your student’s grades, please reach

out to our program and we can assist you.

The program does offer online and in person

tutoring for your student, you can sign up your

child at https://isletapueblo.formstack.com/

forms/doe_afterschool_tutoring

Upcoming Events:

- April 3rd Homework Help 3pm – 7pm.

- Los Lunas April Break – April 7th & 10th

- NACA April Break – April 7th & 10th

College Updates:

Freshman college students, you are in the

final stretch of your first year in college!

Remember to write down all your assignment

due dates and do not be a procrastinator. Give

yourself a deadline date before your actual

MORE ON TUTORING

The Department of Education Tutoring

Program is continually providing tutoring

support for K-12 grade students from Los

Lunas School District, Albuquerque Public

Schools and other schools attended by Isleta

students. We are currently providing support

for over 25 students through After School

tutoring and Varsity Tutors. In addition, we

also provide support for college level courses.

We will continue to share updates from the

Education Department on our webpage https://

www.isletapueblo.com/tribal-programs/

educational-services/ , Library Facebook

page, or posted on Pueblo of Isleta Facebook

page. If you have any questions or regards,

please contact the Department of Education

at (505) 869-9790.

TIWA LANGUAGE

If you are a Tribal Member interested in

improving your usage of our Tiwa language,

please contact our department (505)8699790. Open classes occur on Tuesday

and Thursday from 5:30-6:30pm at the

Department of Education/Library Complex.

In addition, we are also offering classes via

our Pilot Program. For the Pilot Program you

must be willing to commit at minimum of 2

hours per week.

From DOE- Higher Education Team

Educational/ Career Goal: Law School

Thinking about a career or entering law

school? 2.1% of Native American applied into

law school, 1.8% of Native American students

are attending law school. The need for Native

lawyers is still in demand. Native lawyers are

in need to cover legal rights, settlements,

treaty rights, environmental rights and

expand diversity in a legal profession that is

disproportionately underrepresented.

The Higher Ed team attended the 2023

Pathway to Legal Profession: Pre-Law

Advisors Training Conference which

helps the staff identify, advise, and support

Native American students who are in prelaw or entering law school. This conference

attended by the DOE team aims to increase

the number of competitive Native law school

applicants to support the next generation of

Indigenous attorneys.

These sessions included identifying native

students for law school, advising students

on law school selections, helping with

personal statements and resumes, financing

a law school education, and asking current

Native students questions about their own

experience in their law school journey.

April 2023

During the Q&A with the current Native

students who are in their first, second and

third year of law school, the first questions

asked was “What or who encouraged you

to apply for law school?”

•

Student 1 (Female, 2nd year law

student at University of Arizona James E.

Roger College of Law): Tribal Community,

PLSI, American Indian Law Center staff,

and lawyer from tribal nation encouraged

me to go into law.

•

Student 2(Male, first year student

at Michigan State University College of

Law): Tribal attorney from my community.

Encouragement from one of the former

tribal chiefs, PLSI/pathway involvement

with staff and professors, and the need for

Native lawyers in this field.

•

Student 3 (Male, third-year student at

UC Berkeley School of Law): My parents.

Mentors from my undergrad studies, tribal

lawyers from my community. To be a

positive influence to help native students

and native communities.

Another question asked during this student

panel was “How do you keep your culturalidentity?”

•

Student 1: Native community was a

part of her school selection, strong Native

law program, sense of community, and

adapting to that community.

•

Student 2: Tribal community, always

remembering “why and who I am here

for?”, and learning how to have thick skin

in a community where I might be the only

Native in my program.

•

Student 3: Being grounded on why I

am here, and being an advocate for Native

communities.

An important question asked was “What was

the greatest challenge in applying for law

school and what piece of advice would

you give a Native American student who is

about to apply for law school?

Isleta Pueblo News

•

Student 1: Writing about self on

personal statement, she questioned herself

on “what did the office of admission want

to hear” My advice would be to go to PSLI

(Pre-Law Summer Institute for American

Indian & Alaska Natives).

•

Student 2: Competitiveness and the

work put into the application. Also, the cost

of applying for law school. My advice is be

prepared; the struggles are worth it.

•

Student 3: No roadmap to success

in applying to Native law, I learned from

organizations and alumni who attend law

school. From my own experiences, feel

empowered and confident to speak up.

For more information about Native American

law or those who are interested in pre-law or

law school, visit these websites or institutions:

Page 11

• https://law.asu.edu/pathway-to-law

• https://www.ailc-inc.org/

• https://www.ailc-inc.org/plsi/

• https://law.asu.edu/

• https://www.law.msu.edu/indigenous/

center-clinic.html

• https://www.law.berkeley.edu/

• https://lawschool.unm.edu/

• https://sjquinney.utah.edu/

Pueblo of Isleta Scholarship application is

now open! The Application deadlines to turn

in an application are

• Summer Term/Semester – April 1st 11:59pm

• Fall Term/Semester – July 1st 11:59pm

The Supporting Document Deadlines are

• Summer Term/Semester- May 31st 11:59pm

• Fall Term/Semester- August 31st 11:59pm

Page 12

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

Higher Education

Students applying for the Pueblo of Isleta Scholarship

are required to respond to a few questions. Below

you will find responses to the question, “What advice

would you give to an incoming high school student?”

Advice from Pueblo of Isleta

Higher Education scholarship recipients to High

School Students

Advice from Graduate Students

“To incoming high school students is to stay focused

and don’t lose sight of your dreams. College can be

challenging and may seem like it is never going to

end, but it will, and you will succeed as long as you

keep pushing through.” -UNM Graduate Student

“To any incoming high school students would be to

discover your passion and stay curious. I would say

to be a sponge and soak up knowledge. Stay inspired

and never stop exploring.” –

“In terms of advice to younger students entering

college, is to focus on one task at a time, there may

be times that the workload may be immense or

you just may simply not want to focus on work, but

completing one task at a time and not worrying about

other assignments at the same time has brought me

academic success and lowered my stress levels.

Continuing on in schooling to obtain a degree is one

of the smartest choices that an individual can make

in their life, and because the Pueblo of Isleta is so

generous in helping pay towards your future and

future success it would be a waste of your time and

the Department of Education's time and resources by

not putting all your effort into school work. The harder

an individual works, the better the outcome as well

as the greater chance of having a successful future.

Also on a side note, by all means, never give up and

always give 110%!”

- first year of grad school at UNM

Advice from a Doctorate student

“The first piece of advice that I would give to an

incoming high school student would be to buckle

down and work hard through high school and develop

good study habits. It’s really hard on some students

when they graduate high school and go to college

because they don’t have parents or teachers hovering

over them to make sure the student gets their work

done. The best way to help the transition from high

school to college is to have good study habits and be

responsible. In college most of the professors aren’t

going to be very understanding of missed or late

assignments and they certainly don’t like excuses.

They’ve heard them all. You’re on your own when you

go to college. Be independent and take responsibility

for your classes and grades.”

Advice from College Freshmen

“To any incoming student, to be patient and open

minded about their future.” –Metropolitan State

University of Denver student

“To any high school student, my advice would be to

remain grateful for what they have, and make the most

of it. Always make the most of any situation you’re put

in and own it.”

–New Mexico State University student

“I would like to tell a high school student to start planning

for college and apply for as many scholarships as they

can. There is a lot of support in them when going to

college. I would like them to take advantage of that

support, learn to manage their time, and enjoy being a

college student while obtaining their degree.” – CNM

student

“If I were to give advice to an incoming high school

student, I would tell them to focus on grades above

anything else. To me, grades are the most important

part of high school because of how much value those

little numbers and letters hold. These will be the start

to your college career. Knowing this very early in

high school is the biggest advantage you can have

compared to your peers. If you know early on how

much your grades mean and how they can affect

you in the future, it would encourage you to do better

and to try harder. When I was going into high school

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 13

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Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

Public Works Department

Project Update

505-869-5170

The Public Works Department will be busy with new

projects the next few months and through the year, we

ask to please be careful when traveling in these areas

and watch out for the construction crew and equipment.

●

Progress on drilling two new water wells on

the Eastside water system continues

●

Dirt work is near completion

●

Fence for security will be installed

●

Well drilling will begin end of April

beginning of May

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

ENVIRONMENTAL

Monthly surface water quality results

*Water quality samples are collected from the Rio Grande except

240 Wasteway, Indian Interior Drain at the 240 Wasteway, and

Albuquerque Riverside Drain.

- Dash in data table indicates sample not collected.

“MPN” is a unit of measure that stands for most probable number.

MPN is equivalent to colony forming units (“CFU”).

The Pueblo of Isleta’s most stringent surface water quality standard

for E. coli bacteria is 88 MPN/100 ml at all times and at all flow

rates.

On September 30, 2022 one sampling event was conducted to

measure the concentration of pesticides and herbicides at 4 sample

locations: the drain near NM 45 and Interstate 25, Atrisco Riverside

Drain, NM 147 and the Albuquerque Riverside Drain near the

Northern Boundary. All results were non-detect.

On March 20, 2023, E. coli concentration at the Acequia Madre

sample location near the Pueblo’s northern boundary was 64

MPN/100 ml. Irrigation waters on the west side were shut off

around March 22, 2023 for flushing.

If you have questions about surface water quality, contact Ramona

Montoya, Water Quality Control Officer, at 505-869-7565.

Page 15

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 16

April 2023

Pueblo of Isleta Public Library

April has arrived with beautiful spring weather and the time when the Easter bunny will make

an appearance. It is also National Library week where libraries across the country celebrate

the contributions of libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. There will

be lots to do this month with fun runs, baseball and community events, but don’t forget to stop

by the library to take advantage of all our FREE resources and services.

News

In observance of Good Friday on April

7th the library will be closed from 8am to

12pm along with other POI departments.

All library media checked out on

Wednesday, April 5th will have a due

date of Monday, April 10th. We apologize

for any inconvenience this may cause. We

will resume regular business hours on

Saturday, April 8th.

Tax Season is upon us and the 2022 New

Mexico Taxation and Revenue form packets

are now available here at the library. Other

Federal Tax and Revenue forms will need to

be downloaded from the Internal Revenue

website irs.gov. Make sure and stop by the

library and pick up a packet before the tax

deadline.

The library now has “STEAM to GO Kits”

that include Learn to Move, Emotions,

Outdoor Adventure just to name a few are

now available to check out. Patrons now

can have the convenience of STEAM to

GO! Kits were designed for preschool age

children; each kit features two fun games

that encourages children to explore different

subjects in STEAM. These games help

develop gross motor skills while children

have fun in the process. These kits will be

located in the general area of the library by

the parenting books, and kit policy will be

posted to view before checking out. If you

have any questions, please speak with a

staff member.

Join us every Wednesday at 10:30am and a

library staff member will read a story and

do a small activity or craft with the families

and children who attend. Family Story

Time is geared towards children 16 months

to 5 years old but everyone is welcomed! No

sign up is required and monthly calendars

will be available for story time here at the

library. For more information on the story

and activity for that day, please call the

library at 505-869-9808.

Summer Reading Program

Registration will be Friday, May 5th

starting at 7am.

Registration will be a first come, first serve

basis. We will once again have one single

line for registration for youth and junior

groups. This will ensure that priority is

given to those whom showed up early for

registration. We will try our best to get

in and out as soon as possible, but please

be patient with staff during this time.

Summer Reading Program Calendars

and descriptions will be available during

registration.

Some reminders to keep in mind before

registering:

•

Only Parents/Legal Guardians of

students are allowed to sign up students

for the Summer Reading Program.

•

3-year old’s MUST be potty trained.

•

We will be asking for BASIC

information on the registration form

along with a list of allergies.

If you have any questions regarding our

Summer Reading Program, please give us

a call at the Library and speak with a staff

member at 505-869-9808.

Upcoming

The Youth Summer Reading Program

group descriptions are out. We will feature

4 different curriculums to choose from.

There will be 5 spots available for each

group. Descriptions will be available at the

library to pick up and will be posted on the

library’s social media pages and website.

Both Junior and Youth calendars will be

available to be picked up at the library

and will be posted on the library’s website

page. https://www.isletapueblo.com/tribalprograms/library/

Please go over the descriptions and calendars

with your child(ren) before registration to

get a better idea if our program will be a

good fit for both parents and children. If you

have any questions regarding our Summer

Reading Program, please give us a call at

the library and speak with a staff member.

Library staff is currently in the process

of working on upcoming programs for

children, teens, adults and families. Please

follow us on our social media accounts for up

to the minute announcements on programs

and events. We will also be posting flyers

throughout the community so keep a look

out for that.

Exotics of the Rainforest presentation for Spring Break!

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 17

Tall Paul performing his magic show here at the library!

Storyteller Indiana Bones here at the library for Spring Break!

Recap

On Tuesday, March 14th the library hosted

a magic show with Magician Tall Paul who

put on an educational and entertaining show

for everyone here at the library. It was a

fun evening with lots of magic with parents

and children laughing and enjoying their

time here at the library. This was a FREE

family event and one of three performers

we had at the library for Spring Break. We

would like to thank Tall Paul for putting on

an excellent magic show and everyone who

attended.

Next on our list of performers for the Spring

Break was Exotics of the Rainforest which

was on Thursday, March 16th. Participants

got to enjoy a presentation featuring live

parrots, reptiles, and amphibians from

the tropical rain forests and deserts of the

world. The audience also got to participate

by holding a parrot and even a snake.

Everyone had an amazing time and we

would like to thank Exotics of the Rainforest

for presenting an informative presentation

of their animals and all the participants

who showed up.

Audience participation as Tall Paul performs his magic!

For our final performer we had Indiana

Bones on Thursday, March 23rd. Storyteller

Indiana Bones with his companion Draco

came to the library to tell tales of myth and

wonder as they transported the audience

back in time. Stories were based on ancient

myths and legends from around the world.

It was engaging evening and we would like

to thank Indiana Bones and everyone who

participated in this event.

After School Program students have

been doing outstanding this school year

and we couldn’t be happier. With good

Parent Teacher Conference feedback and

all students coming in daily, completing

homework and reading. Students are also

earning points for their next incentive field

trip to Elevate, for every 20 minutes of

reading or 1 sheet of homework students

will earn 1 point towards their field trip.

Library staff also took students to the Zoo

along with a picnic during their Spring

Break and we couldn’t have asked for

After School Students enjoying their Spring Break at the Zoo!

better weather. We would like to give a

shout out to library staff members Kyle,

Kimberly and Elena for making our After

School Program a success. They work very

hard planning activities, crafts, calendars,

shopping list, making Walmart runs and

so much more. The After School Programs

student attendance has been on point all

year and has remained full with no student

disenrollments. If you have any questions

regarding this program, please call the

library at 505-869-9808 and speak with a

staff member.

Isleta Pueblo News

Editor:

Nathaniel Lujan

Asst. Editor:

Diane Abeita

Published By:

Valencia Express

Page 18

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT

April here we come! The months keep flying

by and we keep plugging away. We’ve

been busy in all areas for the department.

Recreation is working with our youth. The

Aquatics Center is doing their thing with the

swimmers. Parks Maintenance is sprucing

up our parks and fields and they are already

looking great. The Fitness Section at the

Recreation Center and at Pickle Heights

is busy helping tribal members with the

fitness needs and wants, and the Sports

Section is having a blast with all the sports

activities, leagues and tournaments!

lessons, water aerobics and other aquatic

programming please call Josh or Connie at

505-869-9783.

FITNESS SECTION

RECREATION SECTION

Summer Program News – We will

be accepting children’s names in to our

Summer Recreation Program Lottery

Drawing, you can submit your child’s

names the whole month of April. Please

come by the recreation center and enter

your child’s name at the front office. We

are anticipating around 100 to 120 slots for

this summer’s recreation program; the final

number will depend on the exact number

of recreation aides we are able to hire. For

more information regarding the Summer

Recreation Program, you can contact

LeeAnne Zuni at 505-659-0092.

Highlights of Spring Break Week

at Isleta Recreation Center – The

Recreation program had Spring Break in

March; the students that participated had

a fun filled week of activities. They went

on various fieldtrips: Chill’s Ice Cream at

the casino, they went to watch the Shazam

movie and had some playtime at Urban Air.

Children also did activities at the recreation

center such as making nutritious snacks

with strawberries & Nutella, building

towers with shaving cream and enjoyed

swimming days and legos!!

Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to

Know About TRX But Were Afraid to

Ask

By Anne Asman (she/her)

If you have ever noticed the straps hanging

from the ceiling in the New Recreation

Center aerobics studio and have been

confused about what they are, how they are

used, and what the benefits are, well read

on!

AQUATICS SECTION

Isleta Aquatics hopes you all had a great

start to your spring season! This year we

are hoping to have summer session group

swim lessons starting in May! This will

be a great way for us to fit more students

in swim classes this year! Registration

forms are available at the front desk of the

Recreation Center and registration is open

to kids 6 and up. If you were previously

in swim lessons with us, please get us an

updated registration form so we can be

sure to have updated swimmer information

and emergency contact info. If you have

smaller children and are interested in our

parent and tot class please reach out to

Connie or Josh at 505-869-9783. We have

sessions available from 6:00am-8:30am as

well as 3:30pm-7:30pm Monday through

Thursday and 6:00am-8:30am and 3:30pm5:30pm Fridays. We will close mid-day to

accommodate swim time for youth programs

as well as daily pool maintenance. We are

also offering our adults only lap swim on

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from

12pm-1:30pm. All three types of swim

sessions can be reserved in one and two

hour increments at the front desk of the Rec

Center. Swim lesson registration forms

are available at the front desk at the Rec

Center or contact Josh or Connie at 505869-9783 for more details on availability

and registration. Isleta Aquatics is still

looking for Lifeguards and Aquatic Aides,

previous experience is welcome but we

can train and certify those that need it

and qualify. Schedules are flexible and

work around school and extracurricular

activities. If you know, anyone interested

in becoming a Lifeguard please call or visit

the POI website for the job posting! For

anyone interested in information about

Lifeguard certification, child or adult swim

TRX is a suspension trainer designed

to help strengthen the body using bodyweight exercises. Designed by Randy

Hetrick, a retired navy seal, the suspension

trainer has achieved overwhelming success

because of its portability, versatility and

effectiveness. In other words, you can take

it anywhere and do countless upper and

lower body exercises thanks to the handles

and foot pedals, all while getting stronger

and more mobile.

On the TRXTraining.com website, Hetrick

says:

“If you go on an operation for a couple

weeks, no one’s bringing treadmills,”

Hetrick explains. “You would end up

down there doing bear crawls, crab walks,

plyometric star jumps, and probably more

push-ups that you can shake a stick at. If

you’re really lucky, you find some place you

can hang off and do pull-ups.” The benefit

of bodyweight exercises is that anyone can

do them anywhere. The drawback is that

SEALs need more intense challenges to

train for their grueling missions.

Now granted, Hetrick talks about the

intense movements that are possible

using the suspension trainer, however, I

have found the magic in this innovative

equipment is in its benefits for functional

movement. There is literally something

for everyone at every level of fitness using

the TRX Suspension Trainer, and if I can

note one of my favorite benefits—it helps to

strengthen key muscles of the core, as well

as balance.

If you have not tried using the TRX

Suspension Trainer before, I highly

encourage you to set up a time with us

to learn. As a certified TRX Suspension

Trainer instructor, I’d be more than happy

to take you through a workout to learn the

various movements. Give us a call: 505869-9777.

April 2023

Congratulations to the Silver Eagles

Our recreation and fitness challenge for

tribal members who are 50 years and over

is a tremendous success and we could not be

more excited to see the level of participation,

not to mention the results. So way to go to

everyone who has not only signed up but

also for consistently attending classes,

using the pool and of course playing sports.

Remember, a body in motion, stays in

motion. I’m sure I speak for everyone at the

New Rec Center when I say, we are loving

seeing all of you getting stronger, having

fun by being more active and of course—

your glow!

So far, quite a few participants have received

the first incentive, which is a sweat towel.

Others have received their heart trackers,

which by the way, quite a handy little

gadget—it counts walking steps, tracks

heart rate, blood pressure and temperature

and blood oxygen. It also counts calories

burned based on the activity you are doing.

As for other prizes, it will not be long before

some of you receive the massage gun,

T-shirt, and hoodie. Yes, hoodie! Immense

thank you to our comrades at the Elderly

Center for sponsoring the prizes and for

supporting this wellness program through

member participation.

One more thing, if you intend to compete in

the Senior Olympics this summer, be sure

to get with Coach George to set up times

to practice your sport and your swim times

with pool staff (505-869-9783). He will tell

you more about that for sure. In addition,

we on the fitness team are offering sports

conditioning for senior athletes. Call us to

learn more 505-869-9777.

Until next time,

Namaste.

Anne is a fitness instructor at POI Recreation

Center and is a certified personal trainer by

the American Council on Exercise and a

registered (RYT-200) Yoga Instructor with

the Yoga Alliance.

SPORTS SECTION

It is springtime so let us get this show

on the road and let you know what took

place in March in the Sports Section! The

Volleyball League went really well and we

have yet to have the tournament. Our top

two teams are #1 SERVE-IOURS and #2

is PRACTICE SAFE SETS, we have a few

other teams that should make a solid run at

the top two this year. We will update you

on the winners in our next newsletter. Our

Corn Hole League ended and it was lots

of fun, and the tournament is in full play

now, once again we will update as to who

won in our next newsletter. The leagues

and tournaments have been very exciting

and it has been wonderful to see everyone

having a blast. I have also been working

with some elders on getting them ready for

the Senior Olympic Games. This has been

a great experience for me to interact with

some great athletes. Pickle ball, Corn hole,

the Frisbee and Softball toss are just a few

of the sports activities that will be offered

at the games this year. I am calling out all

you senior athletes to come to the Rec center

so we can help, and learn more about the

events you will be participating in. We are

also having Sign-ups for a Men’s basketball

league. The games will be on Sunday 10-4

pm starting May 7th so get a team together

to show your skills. Hope to see you at the

Rec Center soon. Looking forward to seeing

you here at the Recreation Center!

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 19

Page 20

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 21

Did you know?

F-104A Starfighter Crash Site

On March 21, 1958 F-104A Starfighter

crashed on the reservation when there

was an engine malfunction. The pilot

ejected from the plane safely and landed

successfully.

The crash caused a crater in the ground

that was 6-feet deep that is still visible

to this day!

The debris from this crash is mostly

aluminum, steel, Plexiglas, and plastic

with sizes as large as four square inches.

Pictured on the far right is the Pilot

who was flying the Starfighter when it

crashed, Frederick Voorhies.

Have you been told a story of a plane

crash on the reservation? If so, we would

love to hear it and investigate the story.

Please contact the UXO/ HAZMAT

Department at (505)869-5748 with any

tips or findings.

Page 22

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

ISLETA ELDER CENTER - ADULT DAY

SERVICES

Adult Day Services Program (ADS) is a comfortable and safe

environment for elders, managed by an effective Elder Center

Director and maintained by staff members who are accustomed

to providing quality, timely care.

ADS is a place where elders can spend the day participating in

activities, while their caregivers are at work, running errands,

or enjoying a well-deserved rest and relaxation. The program is

designed to provide some activities and connections for elders.

Services include daily breakfast, activities, exercise, monitoring,

snacks and congregate lunches.

ADS operates 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Friday. The

ADS Assistant provides rides to and from the Elder Center,

shopping/errands, facilitates field trips and drives elders to offsite medical appointments.

This is just a glimpse of a typical day at ADS. We are flexible

with the activities and events on a daily basis, and we also put

an emphasis on allowing elders a great deal of freedom when it

comes to choosing how they want to spend their time.

We also provide support services for caregivers in the form of

education and support, such as caregiver workshops, lectures,

and support groups.

Here is what a typical day might look like from the perspective

of client.

9 am Arrival

ADS begins at 9:00 in the morning and offer transportation

services for elders who cannot drive themselves or who don’t

have someone to drop them off.

9:15 am Breakfast

Elders are accompanied to the group dining area. ADS generally

offers a variety of healthy and traditional food options.

9:30 am Current Events

Every morning, a staff member will read newspaper articles

aloud for those elders who cannot or do not want to read the paper

on their own. Elders are encouraged to discuss these headlines

while they enjoy morning breakfast.

10 am Exercise and Body Strengthening

Daily exercise activities have become an important activity in

ADS. Exercises are offered at different times throughout the

day. Popular offerings include chair exercises, body stretching,

walking, balance exercises, swimming, sitting in the jacuzzi at

the Recreation Center and more.

11 am The Great Outdoors

ADS features a patio area or other outside spaces where elders

can spend time outdoors, weather permitting. Elders can get

some sun, take a walk, birdwatch and enjoy the fresh air.

12 pm Congregate Lunch

In addition to providing hot, nutritious meals on-site, ADS offers

nutrition counseling that enables elders to eat better at home

with monthly visits by the Isleta Health Center Dietitian. Staff

members can organize grocery shopping trips and even help

elders plan menus and find recipes for simple homecooked meals.

1 pm Afternoon activities

The hustle and bustle of everyday life can sometimes be too much

for an elder. Quiet areas are generally set aside for those who are

not feeling well, who wish to take a nap, or who just want some

peaceful downtime.

Participating in arts and crafts is an excellent way for guests to

connect with one another, reduce stress and anxiety, and make

creations they are proud of.

2 pm Snack time and Socialization

Friendships between elders are encouraged. Getting to know

elders on an individual level is integral to providing personalized

quality care.

3 pm Departure

Elders are transported back home and are encouraged to get a

good night’s rest.

You can learn more about the services and schedules at ADS by

obtaining brochures and even visiting in person. Getting a feel

for the facility, the staff and the other elders your loved one may

be interacting with will give you a good idea of what we have to

offer. Please contact Evangeline Lente, Manager at (505) 8699770.

Pueblo of Isleta WIC Program

The weather is getting warmer and school is out. You may be thinking

of some new recipes to try this summer, and the POI WIC Program

is here to give you some ideas! Please give us a call to check your

eligibility for WIC. (505) 869-2662

Fresh Tomato Salsa: this salsa is a refreshing addition to any meal

or snack! Ingredients in bold can be purchased using WIC benefits.

Ingredients



















1 cup tomatoes, finely chopped (or ½ can, about 8

ounces, low-sodium diced tomatoes)

½ cup apple, peeled and finely chopped

¼ cup onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons lime (or lemon) juice

1 teaspoon garlic, finely chopped

½ teaspoon vegetable oil

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon fresh parsley or cilantro, finely chopped (if

you have it)

1 tablespoon cayenne pepper or jalapeño chilies,

chopped (if you have it)

Directions

1. In a medium-size bowl, combine tomato, apple, onion and lime

juice (or lemon juice). Mix well.

2. Add garlic, vegetable oil, and salt to bowl. If using parsley,

cilantro, cayenne pepper, or jalapeño chilies, add them too. Mix

well.

3. Cover bowl and refrigerate 15 minutes. Serve cold. Serves 6.

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 23

Public Works Department

SEPTIC SYSTEM INFORMATION –

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT

Your septic system consists of a service line, cleanouts, septic tank and leach field. The service line

brings the sewage from your home to the septic tank.

From the tank, the treated liquid will either gravity

flow or be pumped to a leach field that disperses

the liquid into the soil for further treatment and

disposal. Any solids that enter the tank will fall

to the bottom of the septic tank. These solids

are necessary to help treat the incoming sewage.

Pumping out the tank too frequently removes these

solids and has an impact on the efficiency of the

treatment process occurring inside the tank.

The Public Works Department has several systems

that are currently failing. Some of the systems have

leach fields that are over-saturated with water.

Once the leach field is saturated, the soil cannot

absorb any more liquid, resulting in over-flowing

septic tanks and back-ups into the home.

One cause of this is plumbing fixtures inside the

home that leak – sending clean water into the

system. Constant flows from toilets can fill up a

septic tank in a matter of days. Over time, so much

water is wasted into the tank and leach field that

the entire system fails. Once the system fails, the

septic tank has to be emptied on a routine basis to

prevent over-flowing. Each time the septic tanker

has to empty the tank, a cost is incurred to the

Pueblo.

All Tribal members need to be aware of any leaking

fixtures in their homes. A lot of water is wasted

from leaking fixtures and can quickly ruin a septic

system or send higher flows into the treatment

facilities. The cost to produce the drinking water

and the cost to treat the wastewater goes up as

water is utilized. If every resident takes the time

to look for and repair the leaks in their homes, the

Pueblo could save thousands of gallons of water

each month, lowering the cost to provide you with

drinking water and the cost to treat the wastewater.

There are approximately 50 septic tanks that are

currently being pumped out on a routine basis.

Problems with the systems are due to the age of the

leach field or tank, some leach lines are packed with

tree roots and some systems have been damaged by

being repeatedly run over, equipment parked on top

of them, and buildings built on top of the tank and/

or leach fields.

Homeowners need to know where their septic

tank is at, where the leach field is and avoid

building anything on top of, or close to, any of these

structures. Do not park on top of your tank (you

can crush the tank), do not drive over the service

line, tank or leach field as this causes damage to the

system that can cost thousands of dollars in repair

work.

Take care of your system to prevent damage. Do not

plant trees anywhere near your septic system. Tree

roots grow inside the pipes, creating blockages; the

roots spread throughout your septic tank, growing

and damaging your tank. Roots grow inside the

piping that is part of your leach field, growing

quickly and blocking the pipe or breaking the pipe,

rendering the leach field in-operable.

If you have any questions, please call Public Works

at 505-869-5170.

Page 24

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 25

News from Isleta Social Services

The month of April is dedicated to the

campaigns of Child Abuse & Neglect and

Sexual Assault. First, let’s talk about Child

Abuse & Neglect. This can include but is not

limited to:

-physical abuse:

-emotional abuse

-sexual abuse

-educational neglect

-physical neglect

The victimization that plays a vital role in

looking at the protective capacity is looking

at how the parent/s and/or guardians have

against keeping their children safe from

violence. For example, domestic violence is

prevalent in the Isleta Pueblo community.

This means that if there are any children

present, they too are victims and they are

silent witnesses.

If you or someone you know is in an

unhealthy relationship, and would like

assistance and support in creating a safer

environment, please contact Isleta Social

Services to work with a Team Member.

Next, April is also Sexual Assault Awareness

Month (SAAM). Sexual assault is a crime. The

Pueblo of Isleta Social Services is working

continuously to stand with and support the

victims and survivors of sexual assault in and

around our community. We want to empower

those who have been taken advantage

of, help support the healing process and

remind the community that our bodies are

sacred, therefore, consent is a vital part of

communication.

Sexual assault causes a vast array of trauma

that can lead to a lifetime of healing. If you or

someone you know has been sexually assaulted,

please call your local law enforcement to report

as soon as possible.

We, at Isleta Social Services want our

community members to feel supported

through the process of healing from any type

of trauma. Healing from trauma can cause

distress, uncomfortable feelings, emotions that

have been suppressed and masked by various

coping mechanisms for many people. We are

here to support and prevent the disruption of

the family units. If you have any questions,

or would like assistance, please feel free to

contact our office at 505-869-2772.

If you are having symptoms of uneasy and

uncomfortable feelings as we raise awareness

and discuss sexual assault, child abuse,

domestic violence or any other form of trauma,

please contact 988 for mental health support.

Our 2023 Calendar of Events

is as follows:

Tuesday, April 4, 2023: National Day

of Action-Sexual Assault Awareness

Month. Virtual Proclamation Signing

Tuesday, April 11, 2023: Wear Teal

Tuesday

Wednesday, April 12, 2023: Child Abuse

& Neglect Awareness-Grocery Bingo

@ Isleta Recreation & Fitness CenterGymnasium from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023: Wear Teal

Tuesday

Tuesday, April 25, 2023: Wear Teal

Tuesday

Wednesday, April 26, 2023: National

Denim Day

Page 26

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

Pueblo of Isleta Elder Center Efforts to Help

our Elders with Loneliness

We are providing our elders with important

data regarding the impacts of isolation and

loneliness. Following the article below,

please read about the efforts put forth by

the POI Elder Center to combat Isolation

and Loneliness.

such as living alone, the loss of family or

friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.

Health Risks of Loneliness

Although it’s hard to measure social

isolation and loneliness precisely, there is

strong evidence that many adults aged 50

and older are socially isolated or lonely in

ways that put their health at risk. Recent

studies found that:

•

Social

isolation

significantly

increased a person’s risk of premature

death from all causes, a risk that may

rival those of smoking, obesity, and

physical inactivity.

Loneliness and Social

Isolation Linked to Serious

Health Conditions

National Academies of Sciences,

Engineering, and Medicine. 2020.

Social isolation was associated with about

a 50% increased risk of dementia and other

serious medical conditions. Loneliness and

social isolation in older adults are serious

public health risks affecting a significant

number of people in the United States

and putting them at risk for dementia and

other serious medical conditions.

A report from the National Academies

of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

(NASEM) points out that more than onethird of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely,

and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65

and older are considered to be socially

isolated.1 Older adults are at increased

risk for loneliness and social isolation

because they are more likely to face factors

•

Social isolation was associated with

about a 50% increased risk of dementia.

•

Poor

social

relationships

(characterized by social isolation or

loneliness) was associated with a 29%

increased risk of heart disease and a

32% increased risk of stroke.

•

Loneliness was associated with

higher rates of depression, anxiety, and

suicide.

•

Loneliness among heart failure

patients was associated with a nearly

4 times increased risk of death, 68%

increased risk of hospitalization, and

57% increased risk of emergency

department visits.

monthly Tribal Newsletter and an added

bonus for coming in for lunch is a full salad

bar every day.

Activities & Field Trips: an activities

calendar is also posted in the monthly

Tribal Newsletter with various types of

opportunities for engaging and socializing.

General Meeting: a gathering for our

seniors to learn more about various types

of benefits and resources. The meeting

happens every 3rd Wednesday of the

month at 1pm. Come join us for lunch and

stay to listen to guest speakers.

Golden Eagle Challenge: the Elder

Center and the Recreation Center is

partnering to offer our seniors exercise

programming. You will receive a punch card

for every Rec Center visit and be rewarded

at certain intervals of participation, which

also leads to winning the grand prize at

the end of the year. What a great way to

stay healthy, socialize and engage with

members of the community and staff.

Sr. Olympics: Another way to stay

The POI Elder Center is a great place to

start exploring resources for seniors, right

here in your own backyard!!

fit, connect with friends and relatives by

participating. Many events are offered

throughout the year, such as: Practice

Dates to learn a sport/event or hone your

skills in your area of sport interest: Local

Games and/or All Indian Game Daycompete with other tribal communities;

State Games compete with Seniors across

the State of NM; and when you are at the

top of your game represent the POI at the

National Games.

Daily Congregate Meals: come join

your friends and/or relatives for lunch

M-F 12-1pm. The menu is posted in the

For more information contact Katrina

Transcosa, Activities Coordinator at (505)

869-9770

What Can You Do If You Are

Experiencing Loneliness?

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 27

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Isleta Behavioral Health Clinic

Phone: 505-869-5475

April is Alcohol Awareness Month and an important

time to be aware of how alcohol affects our community.

Alcohol is the most frequently misused substance

and is one of the top leading causes of death within

our community. More than half of alcohol-attributed

deaths are linked to health effects that are caused

from drinking too much over time, which can induce

multiple types of cancer, liver disease (cirrhosis),

and heart disease. Lives that have been lost due to

alcohol can also include deaths due to poisonings that

involve other substances such as, (drug overdose),

suicide, and motor vehicle crashes. So many lives

are negatively influenced by alcohol misuse… elders,

mothers, fathers, children, family and friends can

all suffer from one or more individuals who misuse

alcohol, but the negative consequences that stem from

alcohol misuse can be prevented. Every human has

the capability within himself or herself to overcome

difficult times.

The Isleta Behavioral Health team are here to provide

the help necessary to guide you to find your inner

ability to overcome any struggles you may be facing.

Whether it be someone struggling with a substance

use disorder, a person living in recovery or searching

for help to maintain recovery, someone who may have

had a setback and wants to get back on track, or

someone who may be affected from a loved one who is

struggling with a substance use disorder. Our team

is here to help you in any way that we can, if you have

questions please reach out and contact us. We all have

the capability to be resilient and our team is here to

help you increase your overall social, mental, and

physical well-being.

Please contact Isleta Behavioral Health with any

questions you may have or if you would like to schedule

your first visit with us at 505-869-5475.

Page 28

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

Isleta Health Center Optometry Department

Eye Health for Adults Over 60

See your eye doctor regularly!

First and most important, it is

recommended that you have your

eyes examined by an optometrist or

ophthalmologist at least once per year.

You will be screened for eye diseases such

as glaucoma or macular degeneration. If

these are identified early, you can work

with your eye doctor to preserve your

vision for many years to come.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle!

Conditions such as Diabetes and High

Blood Pressure can affect your eyes.

It is very important to work with your

Primary Care Doctor to maintain

healthy blood sugar and blood pressure.

A healthy lifestyle not only helps the

body, but also helps the eyes.

Use the right eye drops!

Dryness of the eyes is very common with

age. It is recommended that you use

eye drops for lubrication, also known as

“artificial tears”. Avoid drops that say,

“get the red out” as these can actually

make the eyes feel more dry. Instead,

look for drops that say “lubricating” or

“moisturizing”. If you are not getting

sufficient relief, talk to your eye doctor

about other options.

quality lighting will improve your ability

to read and do other near tasks.

Be aware of normal aging changes

to your vision!

The eyes change with time. Driving

at night and moving from dimly lit to

well-lit areas become more difficult. Be

extra cautious while driving, especially

at night. You may also find that good

*If you would like to schedule your

Wear Sunglasses!

Good

sunglasses

with

UVA/UVB

protection will help to slow the

progression of cataracts and other eye

damage that can be caused by UV light.

Wide-brimmed hats can also help to

decrease the UV light that enters the

eyes.

routine eye exam appointment

please give us a call at

(505) 869-4080*

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 29

WE HAVE MOVED THE ISLETA TIWA AA

MEETING TO:

B’EEH-K’OO-EE WELLNESS TRAINING CENTER

(01 SAGEBRUSH ST. SW

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87105)

OUR MEETINGS ARE GOING WELL.

KEEP COMING BACK.

PLEASE, DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL

THE MIRACLE HAPPENS!

(ANY QUESTION CALL 505-907-5994)

Health Beat: Heart Disease

Stephanie Barela, Health Educator

www.CDC.gov www.webmd.com www.

goredforwomen.org

Phone: 505-869-4479

February is HEART DISEASE AWARENESS

MONTH.

Heart Disease, also known as

cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of

death in the world, and accounts for one in three

deaths among women each year and more than ½

of the deaths in men. Here are things we can do to

LOWER our Risk of Heart Disease:

QUIT SMOKING COMMERCIAL TOBACCO.

Contact Stephanie Barela (869-4479) to learn

about the Isleta Health Center’s quit smoking

programs.

EAT HEALTHY.

Eat more

•

Healthy fats, such as raw nuts, olive oil,

fish oils, flax seeds, or avocados

•

Colorful fruits and vegetables—fresh or

frozen, prepared without butter

•

High-fiber cereals, breads, and pasta made

from whole grains or legumes

•

High-quality protein, such as fish, poultry,

and lean meats

•

Organic dairy such as eggs, skim or whole

milk, or unsweetened yogurt Eat less

•

Trans fats from partially hydrogenated or

deep-fried foods; saturated fats from

fried food, fast food, and snack foods

•

Packaged foods, especially those high in

sodium and sugar

•

White or egg breads, sugary cereals,

refined pastas or rice

•

Processed meat such as bacon, sausage,

and salami, and fried chicken

•

Yogurt with added sugar, processed cheese

GET ACTIVE

Get moving and increase your heart rate. Try for

30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS

o

Deep Breath

o

Take a Break

o

Exercise

o

Write in a Journal

o

Talk to someone (Friends/Family)

o

Make an appointment with Isleta Behavioral

Health (505-869-5475)

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

BLOOD PRESSURE

•

Keep it below 120/80.

BLOOD SUGAR

•

Keep it below 6% (100mg).

BLOOD CHOLESTEROL

•

LDL is “bad” Cholesterol--Keep it less than

100mg.

•

HDL is “good” Cholesterol--Keep it higher

than 60mg.

•

Triglycerides--Less than 150mg.

BODY WEIGHT

•

Keep your Body Mass Index between 18.6

and 24.9.

Page 30

Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER

Know Your Numbers, You Are

Important, You Are Worth It

Weight, BMI, and Waist

Circumference

Andrea Wilson, Fitness Instructor

Phone: 505-869-4595

References: cdc.gov nhlbi.nih.gov

uofmhealth.org

Weight, waist measurement, and/or BMI are

different measurements used to measure the

health of an individual. Being overweight or

obese increases your risk for developing health

diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood

pressure, high blood cholesterol, and many

others. If you are overweight and/or obese,

losing a small amount of weight (between 5-10%

of your current weight) will help you lower your

risk for developing these health diseases. The

best way to lose weight is by eating a healthy

and balanced diet, and by exercising at least

150 minutes per week.

Weight

The ideal weight for males and females can differ.

It also depends on factors such as: age, height,

fat and muscle composition, frame size, etc. It is

important to know how much we weigh, that way

we know our risk for developing health diseases.

If you are overweight and/or obese, you are at a

higher risk for developing health diseases such

as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some

types of cancer. You can maintain a healthy

weight by exercising regularly, and eating a

healthy and balanced diet. One way to determine

a healthy weight is calculating your BMI.

BMI

BMI is known as Body Mass Index. BMI is

a measurement of body fat based on an

individual's height and weight. It is important to

note that BMI does not consider muscle mass,

and for this reason individuals with a high muscle

mass may have a high BMI. In this specific case,

the individual would have a high BMI, but have

a healthy-looking physique. There are different

BMI categories, which include: Underweight=

<18.5, Normal weight= 18.5-24.9, Overweight=

25-29.9, and Obesity= BMI of 30 or greater.

For example, if you are 5'5" and you weigh

170 pounds, your BMI would be 28. A BMI of

28 would place you in the overweight category.

In order to move into the normal weight BMI

category, you would have to lose about 30 lbs.

Let's say you lost 30 lbs. and you now weigh 140

lbs. Your BMI would be 23, which is considered

a normal weight. You can calculate your BMI

through various websites, InBody, handheld

body fat analyzers, body fat scales, bod pods,

and skinfold calipers. You can decrease your

BMI by exercising and eating a healthy and

balanced diet in order to lose weight. A decrease

in weight results in a decreased BMI.

Waist Circumference

Your waist size is also another way in which

you can measure your health. A large waist

circumference is associated with an increased

risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high

blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

You can measure your waist circumference by

placing a tape measure at the top of your hip

bone, then bringing the tape measure all the way

around your body, level with your belly button. A

healthy waist measurement for males is less than

40 inches, and a healthy waist measurement

for females is less than 35 inches. You can

decrease inches from your waist measurement

through calorie deficit and exercising often.

April 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 31

Isleta Health Center Information

Isleta Health Center (IHC) is preparing for an

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care

(AAAHC) site visit on April 26-27, 2023. Ambulatory

health care facilities that earn AAAHC certification

demonstrate a dedication to best practices to help an

organization improve its care and services. Patients

with appointments or engaging in services on these

dates may encounter an expert surveyor inspecting the

facility, interviewing providers, staff, and patients. I

thank those in advance who volunteer to engage in

our site visit, either by voluntarily engaging in an

interview or by reaching out to AAAHC directly.

A request to present or report information may be

communicated in writing by mail to the address

below; email to feedback@aaahc.org; or by telephone

as listed below.

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health

Care, Inc.

5250 Old Orchard Road

Suite 200

Skokie, IL 60077

Telephone: 847.853.6060

Patients, dental/health care providers, and staff

are encouraged to engage in this review period by

contacting the AAAHC directly to provide feedback

associated with the Isleta Health Center. Your

participation will contribute to the expert surveyor’s

final report to IHC leadership, which will guide

changes toward evidence-based clinical practices,

ongoing performance improvement strategies, and

an effective organizational infrastructure aimed at

providing safe and effective care.

Be well community members! My next post will be

updating you on the final report—exciting!

Karen Lucero, CEO

Welcome Letter from the New

Director of Public Health Services

It is with deep gratitude that I have the privilege

to start in my role as the Director of Public Health

Services of the Isleta Health Clinic (IHC). It is my

hope and intention to elevate the health, safety,

and welfare of the community by providing quality

services, outreach, and education through Emergency

Medical Services (EMS), the B’eeh K’oo-ee Wellness

Center, Diabetes Prevention, Community Health

Workers and Representatives, and Public Health

Services.

My personal and professional background have

prepared me for this truly remarkable opportunity

to serve as the Director of Public Health Services for

the IHC. I was born and raised in Valencia County

and graduated from St. Pius X High School before

going to obtain my Bachelor’s degree at St. Edward’s

University in Austin, Texas. After opening and

operating several restaurants in Texas, I returned

home to Los Lunas to work in the public sector. In

2017, I became the Director of Senior Services for

Valencia County, where I realized my passion for

working for and with the community. I took on the

role of Community Development Director, which

allowed me to expand my work to comprehensive

planning, stakeholder collaboration, grant writing,

and policy development. While working at Valencia

County, I pursued and obtained a Master’s degree in

Public Administration from the University of New

Mexico, where my studies focused heavily on public

policy, tribal governance, and network collaboration.

I look forward to all the meaningful work that is yet

to come and all of the exciting things that are already

happening here at the Isleta Health Clinic.

Sincerely,

Nancy Jo Gonzales

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Isleta Pueblo News

April 2023