Lifeways Issue 10

CONTENTS

Department Message

Alice Manuel

Senior Services

Connecting Waters with Jessica Martinez

Employee Spotlight

Christopher Begay

Senior Services Here for You

Community Spotlight Sharon

Food & Nutrition

Cooking with Celinda & Toby

Cultural Connections Day School Memories

Kraft Korner

Let’s Get Krafty

Mind Teasers

9 Letter Word Square, Riddles, and More!

Community A Look Back

Department Message

Ske:g tas and Kamduum.

Greetings! Here we are, a few months into 2024, and we hope you and your family are doing well. Your Senior Services team is here to serve you with grateful hearts! As the months grow warmer, please hydrate and watch out for the critters that have started coming out of their winter hibernation. Also, remember that laughter is good medicine; take some time to chat with friends and family, tell a joke or two and just spend quality time together. Take care, and we hope to see you soon.

Sape, dai hegai!

Alice Manuel Senior Services Assistant Director

Hello all,

with Jessica Martinez

Welcome back to Connecting Waters, or welcome if you are new to this column. My name is Jessica Martinez, I am the Community Liaison for Senior Services. I use this column to answer some FAQs I receive from seniors around the community. Some range from really common questions about our services to wacky questions like: “My dog needs a haircut, can you guys do that for me?” (Yes, I’ve really been asked that question before). I am here to answer them all!

I have been having issues with finding out about my mother’s probate. Why is it taking so long and who can I talk to? Can I start making plans so my family doesn’t experience this issue if something happens to me?

I have to be honest, I am not a probate expert. What I know about probate, I’ve obtained from helping some of you. So, while I can’t tell you specifically what the issue might be, I can give you ideas. The most common issue is that there is no estate plan in place and research has to be done to determine who should receive what. I recommend reaching out to Community Development Probate Supervisor Rachel Mendoza. She will help you find out exactly where the process is and what you can do to assist.

While you’re at it, it is a good idea to make your own estate plan. There are a few options. First, come see us here at Senior Services and one of our social workers can help you get started, or make an appointment at Legal Services so they can go over options. It’s also a good idea to attend a probate planning event. Community Development hosts them so keep an eye out for those!

More questions? Contact me at 480.362.7386 or jessica.martinez2@srpmic-nsn.gov

Chris Begay

Employee Spotlight

Ya’at’eeh . My name is Christopher Begay and I am Deer Spring Clan, born for Towering House Clan, my maternal grandfather is Many Goats Clan, and my paternal grandfather is One Who Walks Around You Clan. I grew up in Chinle on the Navajo Nation with my mom and dad, three older siblings and lots of animals.

I loved my dad’s family being close by and spending summers with my maternal grandparents. I was very fond of them. My grandpa would often share his Hozho , life philosophy, with us. He’d always talk about harmony—know your past and know your present so you can make good decisions about your future.

For high school, I went to an art boarding school in Mayer. It felt like a little world in itself, very closeknit. Pottery and photography were my favorite classes. I liked throwing earthenware clay finished with Raku firing and blue glazes. I preferred abstract photography. We worked in black and white and developed our own film. Three of my photos were in Arizona Highways magazine.

Later, I went to ASU and earned a BFA. There, I was in Nations and would mentor incoming students from

reservations at risk for dropping out. I helped them adjust. Through this, I discovered I liked social work and so worked for Gila River about seven years as a behavior health mentor and intake coordinator.

I came to work for Salt River in 2016 and started my masters in social work. I joined the Senior Services Support team in 2017. I learn so much working with community seniors and appreciate the abundant resources the community elders have access to. I am inspired by the rich culture and stories I hear daily. It reminds me of my grandparents, especially hearing stories about when they were younger, their family and community history, their impact on the community, and most of all, their traditions.

Art is a hobby now and I read a lot, mostly fiction. I also like to travel.

I spent some time studying abroad in Mexico. There was a host family I became close with and I sometimes visit them. I also go up to Kayenta and Chinle to visit my family often. Right now, my nieces live with me while they go to ASU. Reminds me of my mentoring days. Ahe’hee’

SENIOR SERVICES

Senior Services provides case management and a variety of enriching and engaging programs to ensure the health, safety and independence of our community’s seniors 55+ and adults with adaptive needs. You are why we do what we do.

Nutritious Meals

Food & Nutrition creatively prepares hot, nutritiously balanced meals incorporating traditional foods for those who are unable to cook or who would otherwise not receive proper nutrition. Meals are congregate or delivered to our homebound clients.

Transportation

Professional, friendly drivers assist those who are unable to drive or who lack transportation. Rides are provided for healthcare appointments, errands, as well as congregate dining and recreational activities at locations both on and off the Community. Comfort and safety are our main priorities.

Recreation

Our friendly event-certified recreation team provides enriching experiences including organized activities, crafts, field trips and annual themed events. Our goal is to enhance the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of our participants.

Health & Wellness

This program empowers community seniors and adults with adaptive needs to improve their health through fun classes, workshops and events that educate and inspire in the five core areas of wellness: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual and Social.

Culture

Fun, informative classes, workshops and events connect our seniors and adults with adaptive needs to O’odham and Piipaash language, culture and ways of life. Through these engaging activities, we ensure that our community continues to thrive in the traditional ways of our people.

Home Care Assistance

Caring professionals provide three levels of in-home care to community residents who are homebound. Care level is based on assessment and a personalized Service Plan is developed based on the client’s unique needs. Our goal is to allow our clients to safely remain in their homes.

Case Management

Our knowledgeable, caring staff help connect those in need with vital services and programs. Assessment coordinators determine eligibility for a variety of services including meals, social worker and caregiver assignment, and home care assistance. Social workers coordinate services through referrals with our partnering resources and assure the safety and well-being of our clients.

• Medical Equipment Program

• Eye Glass Program

• Life Alert Program

Adult Protective Services

Trained professionals investigate reports received on abuse, neglect and/or exploitation. Our client- and family-centered approach assists the vulnerable member and their family and helps them to reach their potential through referrals to partnering resources.

GET THE HELP YOU NEED

It all starts with a simple call. Our intake assessment coordinator Christina Reyna will ask you some questions about your situation and about the type of help you need to connect you to the programs and services best for you.

Christina Reyna

480.362.7990

Senior Services Front Desk

480.362.6350

Community Spotlight

SHARON SELESTEWA

I grew up with my mother’s parents, Robert James ( bot ) and Edith James ( bot ). My older brother Marvin also lived with us.

There was a small sandwich house that we used as a kitchen and a larger one where we slept and used as a living room. You could drive between them into the backyard. We didn’t have running water and would haul water in metal milk cans in our buckboard wagon. There was also big barn back there with chickens and turkeys, so we always had fresh eggs.

Grandpa grew several fruit trees, including pomegranates, lemons, oranges, peaches and apricots. He worked in the fields all day and my grandma stayed home doing what women do.

I had chores. After school, I would chop wood, start beans for dinner and water for dishwashing. My brother and I would also rake the yard and pick up trash.

At the end of a hot day, my favorite thing was getting into a big barrel of water we had out back to cool down.

When it was warm, my cousins and I would walk all the way to Dobson—it seemed much further then—to swim in the canal. Sometimes the water was chilly and we’d get out and roll on the ground to warm up and then jump back in. If figs were in season, we’d climb up the trees and eat them while sitting in the branches.

Sometimes my brother and I would pick cotton and use the money we earned to go to the movies at the old

Mesa Theater. It’s a shopping plaza now.

Along with my grandparents, I had lots of aunties who gave me good advice and guided me. I had lots of cousins and our whole family would often get together. We would move our table outside under a big mesquite tree to play cards and chat. We’d also have meals together.

There was a ditch on the other side of the road from our house and we’d take turns lying in it next to each other so the water would dam up enough for us to take turns swimming. We always had fun. I remember a lot of laughter.

Mesa. I graduated from Mesa High in 1964—Go Jackrabbits! I was married twice and had three daughters.

I was out in the world living life when one night—I think I was in my 30s—I had a dream. There was a light and it had been calling my name.

“Along with my grandparents, I had lots of aunties who gave me good advice and guided me.”

I remember that the light felt so warm and peaceful. It said that I should go into the ministry.

I went to the day school until fifth grade and then I went to school in

I thought that was crazy. I had gone to church with my grandparents when I was young, but when I came of age, the church wasn’t really part of my life and I didn’t think too much of Christians. But I then I had another dream a few weeks later and then a third time, telling me I should go to Cook School and minister.

Sharon’s grandparents

I didn’t even know what Cook School was, so I went to a local pastor. He told me that Cook School was for Christian leadership and he said that I was being called to the ministry. I was skeptical.

I was working with the Johnson O’Malley Program at the time and I had mentioned my dreams to my boss and she encouraged me to go. The next thing I knew, a nice woman came to my office from Cook School. The pastor had called her and told her about me.

She explained the school and I was interested, but I wanted to talk to my daughters. They encouraged me also. They were in their late teens and said they would be fine and that there were plenty of aunties to help them out if needed. So I went. I was there for three years. We lived on campus and we traveled. There was trip to Israel and I was accepted but I had to earn the money to go. My daughters, family and friends held raffles and dinners and we raised the money.

In Israel, I saw the tomb where Jesus had risen and we attended a sermon by the Sea of Galilee as the sun was rising. It was beautiful. We stayed in a kibbutz . I earned my Lay Leadership Certificate with Cook. During the winters, some of the counselors from Dubuque University would come to Cook for a few weeks. They encouraged me to apply for the university’s 3-3 program to continue my studies. I was accepted and off I went.

“I remember that the light felt so warm and peaceful. It said that I should go into the ministry.”

I received my Bachelors in 1995 and Master of Divinity in 1996. I came home to Salt River. I was asked to teach Language & Culture at the day school. I did that from 1998 to 2002. I also worked with the students at the high school. I really enjoyed that. Sometimes people don’t think much of teens, but I enjoyed working with them and getting them to be still and quiet and take the time to observe what they feel and what is going on around them. Often when I run into them in community now, or they run into

Sharon, front left, with the civil air patrol

my daughters, they say how grateful for that lesson of peace and stillness, especially when they are making a big decision.

From 2002 to 2008, I taught language program for Cultural Resources. I enjoyed that. I made up a lot of my own teaching materials, games and activities to make learning fun and lessons memorable. I worked with people of all ages, including college student because it counted as a foreign language.

In 2008, I was ordained and stationed by the Presbytery in Gila River. I’d had a 9 a.m. service at one end of the community and then drove nearly an hour to the other end for another service. I also helped whenever there was a need for a baptism, pastoral counseling, funeral or wake, not only in Gila River, but here, Sacaton and Fort McDowell.

It has been an honor to serve through teaching and ministry.

As I look back, I am grateful for this community. I love everything about it and being brought up in the old ways—hunting rabbits and doves, picking spinach and living off the land. We always had so much fun together.

Everyone is gone now—my grandparents and aunties—and now I am the one the family comes to.

“As I look back, I am grateful for this community. I love everything about it and being brought up in the old ways.”

I have eight grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. And when I see my former students and they use the language, I feel blessed. It makes me happy that they remember it, that they use it and that they are not ashamed to speak it.

I love this community and this place I am at.

Middle front with the female CRD team

Collard greens, as with most greens, are high in nutrients and low in calories. They contain many vitamins but the two most important are vitamins C and A. They keep your cells healthy and boost your immune system. Collard greens are also rich in fiber and low in carbohydrates, making them an excellent substitution for a tortilla in this recipe because fiber helps to reduce glucose levels.

Collard greens can be used in many ways to add extra nutrients to your diet including in salads, sandwiches and wraps. It can be braised, sautéed or boiled so adding them to soups is perfect!

Low-Carb Chicken Avocado Wrap

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

Main

4 large collard green leaves

2 4oz-chicken breasts, cooked and sliced

¼ English cucumber, sliced lengthwise

¼ red onion, sliced ½ tomato, sliced lengthwise ½ avocado, sliced lengthwise

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp paprika

Dressing

1 cup Greek yogurt

2 tsp chives, fresh or dried

1 tsp garlic powder

½ tsp onion powder

½ tsp dill, fresh or dried

¼ tsp salt

¼ tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Rinse your chicken breasts and pat dry. In small bowl mix salt, pepper, garlic, onion and paprika. Rub chicken breast with olive oil and sprinkle seasoning over the front and back of the chicken.

3. Place chicken on a baking sheet and cook for 20-25 minutes or until food thermometer reads 165°F. Once done, set aside to cool then slice.

4. Wash collard leaves. Cut off the thick part of the stem.

5. Bring a pot of water to a boil add one leaf into the pot and blanch for 30 seconds then submerge the leaf

Blueberry Banana Bowl

Serves 2

Loaded with fiber, magnesium, potassium and antioxidants including vitamins C & K, this delicious little dessert bowl packs a nutritional punch.

INGREDIENTS

Serves 2

1 medium to large banana, sliced 2/3 cup blueberries, washed 1/4 cup raspberries

4 Tbs. shelled pistachios

6 small pieces of dark chocolate, broken

INSTRUCTIONS

Portion ingredients into two dessert bowls and enjoy!

in a bowl with ice water. This will make the leaf softer and easier to fold. Repeat with the other leaves. Dry and set aside.

6. Make the dipping sauce by adding all ingredients to a small bowl and mixing well.

7. Assemble the wrap by placing two leaves overlapping each other on a flat surface. Add chicken, cucumbers, red onion, tomato and avocado to the side of the leaves nearest you.

8. Fold the leaf away from you to cover the filling and fold the sides, tucking them under the filling, then roll closed. Just like a burrito!

9. Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!

To learn more about additional recipes and upcoming cooking demos, contact Celinda & Toby at 480.876.7180

Remembering the Day School Cultural Connections

We recently sat down with David Buhl, historian with Cultural Resources, to learn about the day school.

“There were actually three schools in the community. The first was a oneroom school house built around 1899 by Presbyterian missionaries at the same time they built the church,” said David.

He shared that the second school, a two-room brick building, was built in 1913 after an inspector from the Bureau of Indian Affairs condemned the old school. The one-room school was renovated in the 1960s to serve as the tribal court house. The two-room school no longer exists, but it was used as community center until it was torn down in 1971 with the opening of Pi-Copa Gymnasium.

“The construction of the third day school in the 1930s, was really an

attempt to transition away from, what is often called, the allotment and assimilation era. The emphasis on sending children to boarding schools away from their families shifted to localized education that was supposed to be more supportive of native culture and language,” said David.

The adjustments meant a larger school was needed to accommodate all of the students in the community. Completed between 1934 and 1937, the school served the community until it was closed in 2007.

Constructed in a Spanish Colonial Revival Style, the day school originally had 12 classrooms (one for each grade), open air courtyards, an auditorium,

Historical photos courtesy of the Cultural Resources Department, Huhugam Ki: Museum Collections

cafeteria, indoor bathrooms, and a teachers’ dormitory.

“About 60 students from the Phoenix Indian School were hired to help with the construction of the school as well as the finishing work. They were paid $5 a week, pretty good money at the time compared to other jobs they were assigned,” said David. “Their work became a point of pride and demonstrated the strength of their skills as students in the construction trades.”

The grade levels offered by the school changed over time. At the beginning, grades 1 through 12 were taught, but following the 1940’s, the high school grades were transitioned to public schools in the area. Eventually, by the 1960s, children from the community also attended junior high in public schools, mostly in Mesa.

“It is important to remember that all three day schools reflect the challenges of their time periods,” said David. “However, what is evident is that the people at Salt River tried to use their education to help their community, themselves, and their families—using new tools to maintain old ways.”

Today, the walls of the school still stand along with the teacher’s dormitory.

Reconstruction began in summer of 2023 to convert the buildings and grounds into the new Cultural Resources offices and classrooms, as well as dedicated ceremonial and community spaces.

“The school had a significant impact in the Community for over seventy years. We are working to document and preserve its history and are excited about its future,” said Cultural Resources Director Kelly Washington. “The school’s restoration will allow us to provide more language and cultural classes, as well as community spaces for dance, storytelling, traditional games, and other cultural activities. Our goal is to create new and positive memories, now and for generations to come.”

One-room school house built by the Presbyterians when the church was built, 1899

Two-room school used until the 1930s

Third day school completed in the mid-1930s and closed in 2007

David Buhl and Kelly Washington of Cultural Resources hold an historic photo of the day school from 1945. The school is being renovated to provide office, educational and community spaces.

Day School Memories

I remember they kept us after school one year and gathered us all on the back playground and Santa jumped out of plane! He had presents for everyone. My present was Lady and the Tramp magnet board where you could move the little dogs around. I loved it so much my mom took me to see the movie.

– Julie Gates-Davis, 1961

I liked going to school. It was fun—there were no gangs like today. I really liked the field days when we got together to do little Olympics with events like a three-legged race and who could swing and jump the farthest. I also liked writing poems, drawing, dancing and eating outside. There were cultural things we did back then too, dancing the scratch and Pima dances. Leonard Carlos was an elder, and I remember him teaching us traditional songs.

– Keith Andreas, 1970-1975

1970-1975

1970-1975

I remember the cooks Austin and Gloria. They made really good cookies from scratch. I loved the food they cooked. You could go back for seconds and if you wanted another treat they’d say we had to eat our vegetables first.

–

Lola Martinez, 1971-1978

These photos are presented in loving memory of the day school and our friends who are with us and who have gone.

Photos courtesy of the Cultural Resources Department, Huhugam Ki: Museum

Collections

My sister Kathryn tried out for a small part in a movie, Movin’ On. She was on the swing set from the playground and asking the girl, I think her name was Amy, if she was OK. It starred Claude Akins, but what I remember most were the big semis they had in the back playground. We kids were more excited to see the trucks than the movie stars.

– Kathleen Fulwilder, 1973-1979

SHRRP: Here to Help

The Senior Housing Repair and Replacement Program, SHRRP, is a partnership among ECS, HHS and Senior Services. SHRRP provides repairs and replacement for home conditions that detrimentally affect the health or safety of qualified seniors.

Though SHRRP often receives referrals from Senior Services and HHS, community seniors and adults with adaptive needs can also call into the SHRRP helpline at 480.362.7800 to see if they qualify.

Qualified individuals must be enrolled members age 55+ who have an existing home within community boundaries and have lived in that home for more than a year.

Once qualification is established, SHRRP schedules a home assessment. The assigned Customer Service Administrator visits the home to explain available services and does a

walk-through of the home to review customer concerns.

If work is needed, the CSA generates a service order. Projects are reviewed by the SHRRP committee which prioritizes projects based on health and safety needs. The committee is made up of senior peers from Salt River and Lehi, as well as representatives from ECS, HHS, and Senior Services. Once a project is approved and ready for scheduling, a CSA will contact the client.

Completion of projects is affected by the number and priority of projects already in progress, as well as technical needs.

“Some projects such as kitchen and bathroom remodels require architectural plans, permits and plan approvals before work can begin. The same for entry covers and ramps, so these projects can take longer to

complete,” said Jamie James, SHRRP Supervisor. “Projects that do not require permits or architectural plans, such as roofing and flooring can be completed more quickly.”

Services range from simple to complex projects such as renovations and retrofitting of interiors to meet health or safety needs. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Kitchen Cabinets

• Flooring

• Handicap Bathrooms

• Ramps

• Exterior Door Covers

• Roofing

SHRRP also provides day-to-day services that seniors and those with adaptive and medical needs may find challenging such as weed abatement, changing air filters, repairing exterior doors that do not close correctly or windows that do not properly seal.

Jamie is immensely proud of the program and the impact it makes in the lives of those it serves, “I like knowing that we make homes habitable based on our clients’ health and safety. They are very thankful to the program for helping them to stay safe and live a comfortable life in their homes.”

Who to Call

If you are an existing SHRRP Customer, your CSA may have changed. They are assigned based on your last name. If you have two last names such as AguilarSalazar, it is based on the last last name, in this case, Salazar.

A-Ca

Cb-Gn

Go-La

Lb-Mo A

Mp-Sc

Sd-Z

Selina Salcido

Jessica Salazar

Selena Aguilar

Angel Miles

Chad Track

Krystal Rose Coops

480.362.5752 or 480.277.1458

480.362.5729 or 480.749.8484

480.362.5778 or 480.561.9983

480.362.7459 or 623.277.9940

480.362.2686 or 480.570.4742

480.362.5993 or 480.531.4136

If you are unsure who your CSA is or you are a first-time caller, call the SHRRP helpline Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., 480.362.7800.

If you are an existing SHRRP client with an afterhours/weekend HVAC or plumbing emergency, you can call community dispatch to reach an on-call technician or plumber at 480.850.9230.

Meet your SHRRP CSA team: Chad Track, Jessica Salazar, Selina Salcido (front) Krystal Rose Coops, Salena Aguilar and Angela Miles (back).

You may be eligible for FREE eyeglasses!

If you are an e nrolled SRPMIC seniors 55+ without optical insurance and it has been more than a year since you got a pair of glasses, you may qualify!

How it works:

1. Get your prescription from a non-RPHC provider.

2. Schedule an appointment with Christina Reyna, 480.362.7990, to complete a Medical/Financial Assistance form. Bring your prescription and Tribal ID.

3. Once your form is complete and eligibility is established, take your prescription to Sundance Optics and select your frames.

4. Sundance will send the cost quote to Christina for payment.

5. Sundance will contact you when your glasses are ready.

Sundance Optics

4201 N. 16th St., Ste. 160 Phoenix, 85016

602.277.5007

To learn more, contact your social worker or Christina Reyna at 480.362.7990 .

Here is a fun and simple craft you can do at home. Make for yourself or as a gift!

Step one: Gather your supplies: Jars, paint, cabinet knobs, nail and hammer.

Step three: Insert the knob through the top of the jar and tighten the screw.

Step two: Nail a hole in the center of the jar lid. Paint the lids and let it dry.

Step four: Voila, your creation is done! Use your jar any way you wish or give as a gift.

9 Letter Word Square

Make as many words as possible from the letters below. Each letter may only be used once per word. There is one 9-letter word.

Join and compare with your friends! R F B T E K A

Riddles

1. If you have it, you want to share it. If you share it, you don’t have it. What is it?

2. What has to be broken before it can be used?

3. How many bricks does it take to complete a building made of brick?

4. What goes up and never comes down?

5. What has feet and legs, and nothing else?

6. What stays where it is when it goes off?

7. A skin have I, more eyes than one. I can be very nice when I am done. What am I?

8. How much dirt is in a hole 4 feet deep and 2 feet wide?

9. If a rooster laid a brown egg and a white egg, what kind of chicks would hatch?

10. If you were in a dark room with a candle, a woodstove, a match and a gas lamp which do you light first?

Letterblocks

Move the letter blocks around so that words are formed on top and below that you can associate with winter. In some blocks, the letter from the top row has been switched with the letter from the bottom row.

Maze

Open the Safe & Get Your Treasuse

To open the safe, replace the question marks with the correct numbers. Find it by determining the logical method of the numbers shown. This method could include calculation, inversion, repetition, chronological succession, or forming ascending and descending series.

Answers

Let’s all work together to recognize and report elder abuse!

Our client- and family-centered approach assists elders & vulnerable adults and their families to support a safe and healthy environment through Community resources. Be the One to protect our elders and vulnerable adults.

If you suspect abuse of an elder or vulnerable adult, call Adult Protective Services at 480.362.6350.