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Page 3 Colorado River Indian Tribal Council Monthly Updates CHAIRWOMAN AMELIA FLORES As July 2021 comes to an end, I hope this finds you all in good health and spirit. The ‘dog days’ of summer proved to be a productive July with back-to-back meetings, appointments and witnessing firsthand the accomplishments of our tribal depart- ments and enterprises. I am reminded, it’s not about how you start the month and finish but it is how you continue, and I am very optimistic about what the rest of the year holds for us. It is with continued perseverance and strong work ethics of our employees and your Tribal Council that we will continue to be productive. My special Tribal Council meeting attendance for June will be correctly reported as 100% and for July, I attended all eight tribal council meetings; I also was invited to a luncheon with our new Farm Manager Josh Moore and the employees of CRIT Farms, and was able to witness the start their relationship with open communication and listen to their exciting plans for the future as a vital economic driving force for our reservation. Understanding that to grow, we need a workforce, and this work- force needs accommodations. I approved many new hires and look forward to working with a tribal council committed to hiring people and opening communica- tion. For your information in June, I received and sent around 1,469 emails. There are days when I can’t get to read each one but I do eventually, should you send me an email, I highly recommend to cc Executive Secretary Tashina Harper. Along with the regular updates from our CRIT PD, I also continue open communi- cation meetings with Indian Health services CEO Barbara Asher, and BIA Superintendent Davetta Ameelyenah. As a board member, I attended my first Governor’s Water Augmentation, Innovation and Conservation Council meeting on July 15th. On July 21st, I was able to see CARES monies being spent to better our community by inspecting a new 1,000 gallon Fire truck received recently by the CRIT Fire Department. I also was able to actively participate in collaborated efforts for COVID 19 education and awareness that is so vital now more than ever. And, on July 27th your Tribal Council approved 56 higher Ed student applications to various jun- ior and university colleges. Good Luck to students of all ages, from pre-school to col- lege who will be returning back to school locally this week and in the follow month. I am proud to report on a commitment made to my constituents when I came into office; a team of women which I was part of completed and submitted to the American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Native Language Funding an incredible lan- guage grant for all four tribes of CRIT —the team comprised of Grants and Contracts Regina Fuller, our Budget Officer Jackie Humeumptewa, Attorney General Rebecca Loudbear, Linguist Consultant, Dr. Susan Penfield and myself. This grant will provide resources and documentation, instruction, technology and infrastructure, planning and intergenerational engagement. These funds will help create a department that will ensure our four languages' survival and continue vital- ity during and after this public health emergency - Covid 19. As of this report we continue to patiently wait for a favorable award announcement. In addition, I am pleased to announce on behalf of the CRIT Broadband Team the California Public Utilities Commission Tribal Technical Assistance awarded CRIT with a Tribal Technical Assistance grant. Funding will be used for a Feasibility Study Scenario Planning, Business Plan, and Legal Policy Assessment. Furthermore, it allows CRIT as a two state tribe to continue with confidence to apply for all of California and Arizona Broadband Technical Assistance grant funds. Congratulations to the CRIT Broadband Team! On July 27th, I participated by zoom in a small discussion with Senator Mark Kelly on tribal issues hosted by the tribes’ lobbyist Devin Rhinerson. Senator Kelly led the discussion by underlining his deep commitment to addressing the health and eco- nomic disparities that are prevalent in Indian country during his short time serving in the United States Senate. He also spoke of his support on securing $600 million for clean drinking water on Indian reservations and working on securing the $30 bil- lion in flexible funding for tribal government relief in the American Rescue Plan. As Chairwoman, I updated the Senator on the status of COVID in the community, the Tribes’ vaccination efforts and its ongoing effort to secure federal legislation that would better maximize the economic benefit of our water. Senator Kelly expressed his support for the legislation. I was joined in the zoom meeting by President Martin Harvier of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community, as well as another lob- byist representing tribal governments in Michigan and Connecticut. Moving forward, a special election is in the works to replace a member of our team – Vice Chairman’s seat; the election is scheduled to be on Saturday, September 18th and if you choose to vote by absentee ballot, please return your request form no later than August 27th, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. Everyone’s vote is important so don’t forget to vote for the candidate of your choice. We will get busier as things strengthen in the community, but we must reverse the up-rise in new COVID cases NOW. We must keep up the COVID 19 protocols and make good decisions to ward off the delta variant. Now is the time to do your part by choosing to get vaccinated. At the recent COVID-19 Pop-up Clinics held on July 29th there were approximately 79 adults and teenagers vaccinated. Thank you to all who came forward and received a vaccination, you not only did it for yourself but for your family and community. I would like to acknowledge the following: MOCHEMHONA Senior Center and CRIT Farms for hosting two of the events, and providing the meals; Border Health, La Paz County Health Department, Parker Indian Health Service, CRIT DHSS for collaboration efforts; all the volunteers and staff; and Homeland Security Director Tina Evans for spearheading the event. You all made this a successful turnout. Look for future free vaccination clinics and free COVID -19 testing. Thank you for allowing me to serve you, I shoulder this responsibility with the utmost seriousness, and I appreciate each and every one of you. I wish you good health, be safe, make good decisions, and practice secure Covid protocols. Our future depends on it. Remember - There is only one you and there will never be another – get vaccinated Yours in service and God Bless – Chairwoman Amelia Flores TREASURER ANISA PATCH Hello to All Members of the Colorado River Indian Tribes! I hope you are all doing well and doing what you can to protect yourselves from COVID-19 and its danger- ous variants. The first half of 2021 has been trying and there is so much work to be done. We have a new Chairwoman and two council members as well as the heart- breaking departure of our constituent and council member and recent resignation of the Vice Chairman. Both have done great work for this tribe and it was an honor to work alongside them. To recap my experience, I spent two years as a council member when the tribe was at the peak of helping chip away some of the roadblock’s that kept us from exerting our full rights as a sovereign nation with the direction of former Chairman Dennis Patch. This included being awarded smart water grants that were previously not available for tribes to apply for, only becoming available with a big push from CRIT. CRIT became the key player in the destiny of our water rights by participating in conservation plans and the Drought contingency plan that is now in place. The tribe continued to press forward with planning of federal water legislation boldly going where no tribe has ever gone before. Along with this work being done, the road was getting clearer for the Tribe’s to go forward with other enterprises such as hemp pro- duction and making the decision if marijuana was going to be a lucrative and smart venture. Currently, in 2021 all of this work has stopped where much of this current year ven- tures that the prior council was working on became stalled. Having experience working for the tribe as a long-time employee and now council member, its clear to see what has affected movement such as micromanagement or even understaffing. It is my hopes that once the Vice Chairman seat is filled, a full council can begin to pick back where we left off and we continue forward with more economic ventures and investments for our future. My goal is to continue to push for grant funding for a rehabilitation facility to be built on our reservation, including a senior care home. Healthcare has been a big push behind my pursuit of a council seat to change the norm and improve quality of life for the membership. COVID-19 has impacted many families and members with pre-existing health issues. Unfortunately, we even lost family members to the failed health services and lack of treatment options including health issues that arose from COVID-19 infections. To respect and honor the lives of those lost, we must push harder for change in healthcare on the reservation. At the first tribal council meeting of the year, I was appointed tribal treasurer by the tribal council at the beginning of 2021. To say it has been an eye-opener, however I have continued to push through and shed light on financial issues that have not been addressed before. I have pushed for realistic budgets to be prepared to assist depart- ment heads and managers to operate more functional and also meet the minimum wage hourly pay of $15.00. CONTINUED PAGE 4