DJ BGS here!  Over the past couple of days on Kwatsan Radio’s Facebook wall, you can find mention of the Quechan Indian Band and a documentary film, “Sousa on the Rez”, which looks at Indian bands of the past and present.  These subjects interest me as an old band geek, and I’m inspired to share a little clip of my trombone playing.  Sure, it’s a little rusty, but go ahead, have a listen!  Can you name that tune?

If you haven’t yet heard about “Sousa on the Rez”, you can learn more about this movie and its planned release in late 2012 on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SousaOnTheRez) or at www.sousaontherez.com.

Do you play a band instrument?  Shake the shyness and share a snippet of your talent, right here on Kwatsan Radio!

Dustin Warner is a Quechan/Navajo Indian whose love for playing music is currently expressed through Selanum, a hard rock band that he’s played with since 2010.  DJ BGS recently caught up with Dustin in cyberspace and wanted to know a bit more about him, his band, and his music.  Here’s what went down during our digital conversation.

DJ BGS:  Hey, Dustin!  Let the people know something about you and your music.

Dustin:  Sure, DJ BGS!  I am Quechan and Navajo on my dad’s side and French, German, and English on my mom’s side.  I live in Riverside, California, which is just a few hours from the Rez.

DJ BGS:  Cool!  How about this rockin’ band?  What’s going on with that?

Dustin:  My band is called Selanum. They formed in early 2010 and I joined in late 2010, with me playing bass and providing back-up vocals. We are a hard rock group and our songs and lyrics are pretty much an open forum. No topic is off-limits!

DJ BGS:  Wow!  Sounds like something expressive and real.  Something we need more of.  Tell us more about your songs.

Dustin:  Personally I tend to write songs that deal with personal, sociological, or political fallacies that I feel need to be addressed in order to progress the human race.

DJ BGS:  You also enjoy performing and playing live shows, right?  Any special places you’ve performed at with Selanum?

Dustin:  Playing live is what it’s all about.  We rocked the infamous Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood last year.  Now that was a cool gig!

DJ BGS:  Has music always been a part of your life?

Dustin:  Oh, yeah.  I began playing music in the 5th grade (17 years ago), and I played through high school. While there, I got to play in different parts of the US as well as Australia. In those years, I was exposed to all kinds of music from all kinds of people. From classical to rap to rock to metal to bird songs, I listened to it all and just took it all in. All of that influences me one way or another. Music is a huge part of my life and I embrace it fully.

DJ BGS:  It’s clear that music truly affects you.

Dustin:  For me, it’s the best way to communicate ideas and emotions because I’m not very good otherwise.  Hahaha!

DJ BGS:  Hahaha!  I hear you on that, Dustin!  Okay, Dustin.  Thanks so much for talking with me and helping Kwatsan Radio fans learn more about some of the amazing Quechan artists we’ve got out and about in the world.  Best of luck to you!

Dustin:  Thank you, DJ BGS.  Kwatsan Radio ROCKS!

There you have it, Kwatsan Radio fans!  Check out Dustin’s band Selanum on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/selanum.  They’ve got music there, as well as more about the band and upcoming shows.

We’ve also got a couple of Selanum’s tunes RIGHT HERE for you!

“Trust”

“My Day”

Kwatsan Radio is pleased to share with you some of wonderful flute music being made by Fredrick Andrews, a Quechan/Hopi Indian who is also the owner of Yaapa’ Studio, based in Second Mesa, Arizona.  Fredrick recently spent some time on the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation to visit family and he made a point of contacting Kwatsan Radio’s very own DJ BGS so we could let everyone know what Fredrick and Yaapa’ Studio is up to these days.

DJ BGS:  Hi, Fredrick!  Please tell me about yourself, your Tribal background, your music, and your studio.

Fredrick:  Hello, DJ BGS!  Glad to have a chance to share with you and the Kwatsan Radio fans.  I am Quechan and Hopi, and I live out in Hopi Country, Second Mesa, Arizona.  My Grandmother is Myra Andrews.  I have a couple of CDs to share.  The first CD is entitled, “Yoi Mas-sa, Wings of the Rain”, and it contains my original flute music.  The other CD, ”Break-up to Make-Up”, features the music of Edward Nequatewa, a nephew of mine who is also from Hopi Country.  Edward is Hopi, 20 years old, and sings with the Hopi pow-wow group, The Sun Star Singers.  And ladies, he’s single!  He has been singing for about 8 years.  This is his first solo album and is working on his second.

DJ BGS:  How about sharing a little bit about your studio?

Fredrick:  Okay!  I have started up a little recording studio out here in Second Mesa called “YAAPA STUDIO”. It’s already been going for 3 years now.  I have recorded an artist by the name of “Moontee Sinquah”, and I just recently worked with the pow-wow group, “Cathedral Lakes Singers”.  My studio has a page here on Facebook, so be sure to “Like” it!

DJ BGS:  I really enjoy your music.  Have you been playing long?

Fredrick:  I have been performing for nearly 18 years and have performed at the University Of Notre Dame in 1997, then in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 2004, and also performed for Bishops of the Catholic Church, Tibetan Monks, and Tribal dignitaries.  In March 2012, I will be traveling to Osaka, Japan, to perform at the Minpaku Museum of Ethnology.  Oh, and remember that CD of mine I shared with you?  That CD is my second, and I’m currently working on my third CD, and it’s scheduled to be released in 2012.  I would like it if you did put up a clip from each of CDs I left with you.

DJ BGS:  You got it, Fredrick!  Thanks for the info and the music.  I’ll try to get this written up in the next few days and posted.

As I explained on our Facebook Fan site, I guess that’s the beauty of Kwatsan Radio. We are strictly volunteered based. We provide as much content as we can to you our faithful Kwatsan Radio fans because we have a passion to do so. But like most of you we get caught up in our daily Kwatsan life’s especially during the holidays with work, holiday school recitals, and community events. Needless to say I have pushed through all my commitments and have finally wrapped this interview up…..enjoy!!

Kwatsan Radio: We have never heard our Tribal government support or endorse anyone politically when it comes to US politics. Now we have heard other tribes, they do it every election term; they have a stance whether it is democrat, republican or indifferent. Where do you guys stand on helping to either motivate the tribal membership or the council in general to say we back President Obama or don’t back President Obama? We know Tribes have already endorsed him and will continue to endorse him but I have never heard our Tribe ever do such a thing. What are your thoughts?

Vice President Aguerro: I was telling Virgil that in the Daily Sun that Amanda Aguirre is going to be in the hunt for Congressman Grijalva’s seat and so Virgil and I were talking informally, of course, and he goes should we come out publicly and say we support Amanda?

Councilman Smith: I believe we had a tribal member tell us that one of our tribal member’s was going to do an internship with Grijalva, so you know everybody was like “cool, wow” and we would have a tribal member interning with him and so its kind of the same thing. I think I did ask that, having these tribal leadership meetings that he was the only President (Obama) that has incorporated it and because of him it’s still going. If he goes away, does that mean it stops? And the next person doesn’t even care to have us Tribal leaders come over to Washington and have that communication. So with that part, that’s a big positive for him that he has made the effort to recognize the tribes. We can’t speak for the whole council but for myself I support him. It is a big plus for me, for him.

Vice President Aguerro: And I think it is something that we need to start developing that report and again that is all about building relationships. Actually in our case, rebuilding relationships. So you know we are trying to move in that direction. So we just need to continue, we are slowly putting our foot back into California and we are doing that with Councilwoman Miller who is going to be representing our interests in California right now which is education because she is the education liaison. Just this Tuesday, or Wednesday, she travelled to the Morongo Tribe where they were talking about developing within the state of California their own college, their own Indian college. The steps to take that and what can be done, and how can they fund this and what is possible. So she seemed really enthused about it and there was a secondary meeting sometime next week I believe on the 14 in that was in San Francisco, it’s all about rebuilding bridges. We know, we have been told bluntly that prior administrations have just burned us. Burned off every relationship we have had. Yeah and so when we talked to ITCA that first time to John Lewis and when he asked us that question, we are just starting from scratch. Quechan is rebuilding from the ground up on every avenue, I said we’re subterranean. You know we are clawing our way through here and hopefully within time we will be at ground level and hopefully we can build from there.

Kwatsan Radio: In the six months that you have been in office, what changes have been implemented that have been beneficial to the tribe and what key problem needs to be fixed and addressed other than the casinos?

Vice President Aguerro: The one thing I think that we have seen our shift and we have been vocal about it, our need to have open communication. To not be afraid of those questions that are being asked to us and I know that in the past as a tribal member attending the meetings the response that you always got to a question was “we will look into it” and “we will get back to you” and nobody ever got back to you. So you went to the next meeting, and you asked your question and then you went to the next meeting and you asked your question without ever getting an answer. I’m going to say that the change that we have seen is when we say we are going to get back to you; we are going to do our best to get back to you.

Besides changes that have been implemented in the last 6 months within this council, one thing that VP Aguerro hopes for the future is to renew a policy on Social Service.
Vice President Aguerro: We need to make it not as easy for an individual to come in and tap into tribal Social Services. Month, after month, after month. Normally my answer to them is what are you going to do about next month or the month after that? You’re coming to me today asking about assistance with rent, electrical services, food, clothing, hygiene products. What’s going to happen next month? We need to create a rule, a policy that is equal to every tribal member. Because we have tribal members who are here every month and we have tribal members who never come for help. Never, they simply do without. They find another way but we have some tribal members who have been, for lack of a better word, “trained” to come up here and expect to be helped. When we move into 2012, we will readdress that policy again and we are going to make it more cohesive so that when we have tribal members who are in Boston and are struggling and need our help, they should be able to come to us and get our help. Just like everyone else on the reservation does, just because they are living off reservation does not make them any less special and it doesn’t make them any less of a tribal member.

Kwatsan Radio: How do you as a council “retrain” or “provide” financial literacy?

Councilman Smith: In instances where they have come to council, I think one of our directions that kind of fell through the wayside was that ok we’re going to help them, give them that assistance but they need to go to a budgeting class. Learn how to budget, learn how to do this stuff. Learn how to budget and not just for the month, for the whole year. For some of them that have big families, how do you maintain yourself? How do you maintain that you’re able to make it to the next month, and the next month after that? There’s budgeting classes, using the programs that are available and parenting classes, whatever there is available out there for them. We can use them to implements those programs to help them to kind of give them some education. To give them that piece of mind that the world is not going to end. They will be able to move on; they need to make some concessions here and there.

Councilman Smith then put his perspective on the need of the people and their regard to social service.

Councilman Smith: The situation that we are in, I was kind of looking for a silver lining in the whole thing and to me maybe these things happen for a reason. That all of us, in our own way became so greedy and its all about me, me, me and what I get that we forgot who we are as a people and when this happened to us and it’s going to be back to basics for a lot of us. We are going to look at one day; we are going to have to remember when we didn’t have what we have. When the casinos weren’t here and we were a poor nation. We’re kind of coming back to that full circle and its going to take the memberships to take care of each other. And in a way, maybe that’s what we needed. Maybe that is why this happened to us. Looking at it in a bigger picture, a bigger scale, maybe we need to go back to the basics and remember who we are as a people. So that way when we do get on our feet again and times are good, we will remember these times. Remember that it can go away just like that.

Vice President Aguerro: When we were successful and had money in the bank and there was just money here and money there. We were spending without thought. There was no plan for the future, there was nothing. We were just living in that moment and now we are suffering from that hangover. We are going to struggle through this affect. Answering, how can we help you? What can we do for you? And how can you help us? You know there has to be some return here. I would hope for that return cause it’s been too much of we have it, let’s spend it. And I think that we are looking at a different council and we are looking at a different way of thinking. We are actually trying to shift into that position and let’s start planning for the 5, the 10, the 15, the 20 years from now because you know we are here today and gone tomorrow. And we have to leave something behind, something positive. So when the next council comes in its not that empty warehouse with papers just kind of floating around, we will have begun that foundation and the rebuilding of that foundation and the next group will come in and keep building on that foundation until we are successful.

Kwatsan Radio: When you guys did transition and you came on council, was there any type of learning or communication with the exiting council?

ALL: NO, NO… VP Aguerro and Councilman Smith: NO!

Councilman Smith: Councilman Felix Montaque did ask, “can we call them in and have them give us a where they left off kind of thing and what was pending?” and I think President Escalanti said that was never really done before and I don’t think it would happen. We just kind of all said well ok. We didn’t push the issue, we didn’t ask why; we all in our own minds had a general idea why.

Kwatsan Radio: Did it feel like you were starting at an abandoned building that was built on a cliff?

Vice President Aguerro: Like the roof was crumbling, waves were hitting it and it was ruining the foundation? Yes, in a quick response to that we had a former council member say to us that we should have known the issues, we should have attended all of these meetings, we should have been aware, we should have known what we were getting into. And that upset me. I was mad and I do my best to contain myself, and they are the tribal membership and they are entitled to say what they need to say and how they want to say it regardless if it is hurtful or if it is not the other shoe dropping or whatever cliché you want to throw in there. But it really pissed me off. And it was like, no, I don’t think we could have known what was going on as a membership because that control was so tight that nothing flowed and we were being told this by different groups that came to see us that all information flowed through one person and that one person was the former president.

Councilman Smith: And it was not to go through anyone else. And we were getting emails saying for instance, from our new historic preservation officer, was working with BLM and trying to get information and he forwarded us an email from BLM saying ok we can give you information but prior council goes through one person and one person only. So your new council has to write a letter stating we can release the information to you. And that wasn’t just the first case. Also with our bonds for the casino we faced the same situation. They asked, how is this going to work now, we only dealt with one person? Our answer was “no, you’re going to release it to all council and to the CEO that was President Escalanti’s directive to them.” And the bond holders said, “thank you we are so relieved to hear that. It is very hard to deal with one person and just one person only and we don’t know if the information is getting to where it needs to get to.”

VP Aguerro then made mention to our tribal debt which is still coming to light even six months into her term.
Vice President Aguerro: Right now Rich Williamson is our acting comptroller as Mr. Espino resigned and he’s looking at our tribal budget and he’s just shaking his head because he is seeing all the areas already as he flips through the budget where we can start cutting costs and start reducing our tribal budget and still meet the needs of the community membership but start reducing those costs because any savings that we have goes to our debt. And I think a lot of the tribal membership has been told that this money is ours. It should be given to us in the form of per capita, but I don’t think the membership was fully aware of the magnitude of the debt that we carry and I think that slowly and surely as we reinforce that message to them that the debt is for real. We can’t pretend it doesn’t exist and that we cannot pay it. Monumental things will happen if we take that head in the sand perspective and say it’s not there, it’s not the monkey on our back. We need to continue to speak to the membership and let them know that it is there. We can’t run away from it.

Kwatsan Radio: Had the change in council not occurred would the prior administration have been able to maintain the path that they created?

Vice President Aguerro: No, I honestly and wholeheartedly believe it would have caught up to them eventually. If not in six months, a year, there’s no way the way the tribe was spending money and distributing it in the forms of per capita and assistance, there’s no way they would have made it. I firmly and truly believe that now that we have sat down and looked at the picture with Sovereign Finance and Matt Eden, looking at everything that has been done with Brian Parish and Rich Williamson from the Q having the input from Keeny Jr. and Charles from Paradise and then looking overall about what we are doing here, tribal budget, I mean… everything you had, you had a house of cards. And you had somebody who was doing this shell game with our money and told us, “Don’t worry, it’s all in my head, I know what I’m doing, I know what I’m doing,” And so if the new council had not been sworn into their office, I firmly and honestly believe 6 months to a year we would have defaulted… I don’t know if the whole council has that opinion and I told the tribal audience constantly and tell your listeners that too, I am one person on this council and I don’t speak for the entire council.

Kwatsan Radio: How is this council trying to save money to pay off these future balloon payments that we owe toward our casino?

Councilman Smith: Put money aside and restrict it, and restructure our accounts just so that it is a piece of mind for us. He (Comptroller Espino) kind of was wish washed around it so when we did talk to Sovereign Finance and they did come down and we did have them in the side chamber. We did talk to President Escalanti about this and we told him we want to get a second opinion about this, we are going to go ahead and ask him and he said “yeah go for it, see what you guys get” and we did. And they (Sovereign Finance) looked at each other and they smiled at each other and they said “that would probably be the best thing that you guys could ever do. It could even change some of the outlook of what would happen because it shows to them (bond holders) that you are serious and that you are well aware of your debt.”

Vice President Aguerro: And when we talk about restricted accounts we aren’t talking about just an ordinary account, it would be a high yield savings account to where we hope to put in at least $7.5 million and every quarter, every six months, every year, where the interest builds. And we did get the second almost third opinion and it was this will help you so much, because again the bond holders to this council saying they want to be responsible, they are aware of their obligations and they are taking the steps necessary to insure they do not default cause that was something we kept hearing from Fitch “our worry is that you are going to default.”

Currently our Tribe is at “Stable” in regards to the Fitch Rating.

Kwatsan Radio: What are your thoughts on the Kwatsan Youth and the rise of drug use within the Youth of Indian Country?

Councilman Smith: Unfortunately we have been caught up with these financial issues we haven’t been able to address the Youth more. I know Darnella has a major interest in the youth and we hope to do more for them in 2012. Like mentoring programs or workshops ran by us. For myself I am out of touch with the youth but committed in wanting to do more.

Vice President Aguerro: We do have a problem. We do have drug trafficking coming through our borders and being used and sold right here on our reservation and we as a Tribal Government must ask ourselves what can we do to stop this. We can’t just say we have ADAPP and move one. We need to find ways to meet the need of the youth. We need to solve our community struggle and every family is affected by it. For instance we need to stop the growing Meth use we have within our community…It has to start with the family…then the schools. There are no easy solutions, it’s very difficult.

Councilman Smith: Parks and Rec needs to get more involved and not just with sports but find others interest within the entire community. Also Park and Rec has a committee and if there aren’t doing anything they need to start or find new members to help reactivate that committee. Don’t get me wrong they are doing a lot but more is needed.

Vice President Aguerro: We need to be more proactive with Parks and Rec and to let them know we do support them and find ways to improve it.

Kwatsan Radio: Where does this council sit when it comes to Culture? Not just Preservation but Practice?

Councilman Smith: Being the cultural liaison I sit on the Cultural Committee and I attend Mr. John Norton’s group as well. From the Cultural Committee stand point I feel confident in working with that group on the upcoming issue when it comes to projects within our ancestral lands. And for Mr. Norton’s group they discuss what they feel we are losing and want to help bring back like Respect, the Singing, Language, and the Language was a big thing for me and Dan Golding who was present as well. We both feel like a lost generation because we are old enough where we should know the language but we don’t. We understand something’s but don’t speak it…what might turn off a lot of youth and young adults from learning the language is having older people telling them that what they are learning is wrong. And if we can’t get the elders to agree than what chance do we have? But we need to and it’s very important. And I am thankful to see there are still people trying to caring on traditions like our songs and beliefs but we need more.

Vice President Aguerro: We all have the potential to learn but I don’t know why we don’t. We all can say we don’t have time, or I have children that take up all our time…but our children are learning. Slowly, but they are learning. But we all have the potential to find one family member who can help teach us. We have to learn it’s our responsibility because when the time comes for us to have to know our culture (Like in the funerals) our parents or older relatives who know might not be there.

Kwatsan Radio: Last question, if you had to give Kwatsan Radio a grade what would it be?

Vice President Aguerro: I don’t know about that DJ BGS guy?? He seems pretty radical (said with laughter)… No really, the only time I have ever been disappointed with Kwatsan Radio was when a question was asked that felt it just stirred the pot when the pot didn’t need it. I was like “why did they ask this question? This wasn’t needed” but on the other side we want to see those questions. We want to see the reactions.

Councilman Smith: Seeing those questions and answers helps gain perspective. I do think you do a good service to our membership by informing them. I know we have our newsletter but Kwatsan Radio is made by natives for natives and I think they trust you more. You guys ask questions that we feel the people want to ask. So for me I would give you a B+ and I know I read your posts and love seeing the reactions from the membership.

Vice President Aguerro: My grade is an A-, I am happy with Kwatsan Radio. Because I remember when you guys put on that festival for hope and even when the powers that be didn’t want it you did it. And it was fun to see one cohesive group putting an event that stuck its thumb to the established government and said we don’t care what you think and you did it and it was great. Then it continued and progressed and became more but it was something that was done together not just one person did it a group did it and its still there. For instance we have heard the negative words when it came to Pipa a’Koots but I feel Kwatsan Radio helped possibly change that perception by showing who they really are. A group who wanted to share their views on our culture. You helped show that they weren’t one family against another it was one Quechan group who wanted to help educate out tribal culture. Because at the end of the day We Are All Quechan and you can’t take that away. Kwatsan Radio has help show that by saying no matter who you are and what you do You Will Always Be Quechan…so I am happy for that.

Councilman Smith: I felt it was history in the making when you guys asked to stream the inaugurations and that was the first time through technology we as Nation were able to that. That was one of the coolest moments for me that I got to be a part of that history! And allowing that to happen has a council I feel that was our way of saying we support Kwatsan Radio.

Vice President Aguerro: I like that you stand by what you post. And you don’t hide and you mean what you say…there’s no foolery, no slant in either direction it is what it is and I like it.

So with all that being said we Thank Vice President Aguerro and Councilman Smith for their time and their words. Usually this would be the time for us to give are parting thoughts on the interview but we feel the words speak for themselves and we hope we can continue to provide our fans more content like this in the future and to continue the conversation here on our website or on our fan page on Facebook because Together We Connect!! – Nyuunthxa!!

Allows us to set the mood for you first. Our interview was conducted in the Tribal chambers which has undergone a beautiful Christmas makeover. The atmosphere simply felt warm and inviting. Which to me (Kenrick Escalanti)  is a major change for our Tribal chambers.

Our first questions was: How was your trip to Washington D.C.? What did you take from the 3^rd annual Tribal Leaders Summit held by the Obama Administration? 

Councilman Smith:“It was an experience, this was my first time in lobbying and it was a bit nerve racking but I was able to meet with State representatives to share our needs for a Tribal Clinic.”

Councilman Smith then went on to share that the Quechan weren’t alone in lobbying for the clinic but in fact Cocopah representatives were there as well and met briefly with each other to utilize their schedule meetings with the D.C. representatives with a joint message. Another point councilman Smith brought up was when he asked the representative if in the past has our Tribe had a presence here with their office.

Councilman Smith:“I did enquire on how many times a Tribal councilman or Tribal representative had visited and the answer was hardly ever and its been a while and they were glad to see us and at the same time having Cocopah there was hopefully a double whammy by having both us there fighting for the same cause.”

This led to another question about the relationship with Cocopah and moving forward together in a partnership in making a new clinic a reality?

Councilman Smith: “I think we are in a good place, we believe both sides are willing to sit down on the issue. The main thing we needed to do was get caught up to speed to where there were at and now we are and its our intention to meet with them and move forward.”

Vice President Aguerro:“It’s not uncommon to receive a text from President Cordova (Cocopah) on what’s our schedule and can we meet on this issue.”

The VP then went on to say that Cocopah took a wait and see approach letting us “Catch a breath” with the contesting of our Tribal Elections and they didn’t want to encage to much with council until they were all sworn into office.

Vice President Aguerro:“So I want to say, Yes I think we can now look forward to having a more positive footing with the Cocopah and we look forward to meeting with them. Its now a matter of When, the Where has yet to be determined if they are willing to come here (Ft.Yuma) or if we are going to them or like how President Cordova likes to joke somewhere in between.”

The Vice President then chimed in on her experience to the 3^rd Annual Tribal Leaders Summit. She started by explaining how this was her second trip to D.C. as a representative of our Tribal Nation. The first time was as a councilwoman with former councilman Emilio Escalanti and former President Courtney Coyle regarding Indian Pass. During that trip she was schooled on how to dress, communicate, and where to go and not to go. This helped her in her second trip when advising first timer Councilman Smith. In regards to the summit VP Aguerro pointed out that the closed sessions for the leaders were very packed and was not allotted adequate time for so many representative of Indian Country. What she did take from it was that Indian Country  is dealing with major issues as a collective when it comes to Education, Economic Development, Job Creation, Health Care and Health Care Facilities, Water Rights, Entitlements/Settlements, and True Government to Government Consultation.

Vice President Aguerro:“The panel we spoke to were a mixed group but overall all departments that spoke to us gave us all similar answers which were quite vague”

Even though the VP felt that the panel were vague in their answers. She left feeling like they were willing to open the door to communication but it would take the initiative of the Tribal Government to make a face in Washington by expanding their 2012 budget for D.C. travel to consistently remind the Washington bureaucracy that the Quechan Nation is alive and has a voice, a voice seeking help and partnership.

Vice President Aguerro:“To have a first name relationship with the Department of Interior. That’s what other Tribes have and that’s where we fall behind.”

THE OBAMA MOMENT

Vice President Aguerro:“He is exactly how you see him on TV, mannerisms, appearance, voice, and the message…To have true interaction with Tribes and continue to see change.”  

“It was a real rock star moment, stars in the eyes… oh my gosh!”

But after it all settled in the Vice President closed her thoughts on D.C. with this,

“We are not nearly recognized as other Tribe as we need to be…It is up to all of us as a Council not just our President, we all take that responsibility and we all agree on that…We have lived long under it is a one man rule that we need to shift away from that thought and it needs to be a whole relationship developed by this council and councils to come…And the membership must also remember that we ALL need to be heard and with all the infighting among us with Petition here and Petition there our voice gets left behind.”

At this moment VP Aguerro was speaking on the bigger picture. The idea of “The one man rule” administration was over and that moving forward with this new leadership would be a collective leadership and that it would also take a Tribe as a whole to achieve positive momentum. The biggest point we took from all this was our fighting among each other must stop. Because while we continue are battles outside life is moving on without us.

Last bit of info on our future IHS Clinic:“We have missed the funding for our healthcare facility for 2012, 2013, but for 2014 ITCA and IHS have invited Tribal leaders to Phoenix on the 19^th, 20^th to begin the process to discuss Tribal needs for 2014…I am curious to see about if we can actively pursue other grants or loans to do this ourselves, to get this built and to say to IHS to fill in the gaps…There needs to be alternative thinking.” Vice President Ronda Aguerro

This covered only a portion of our interview, in our part two posting of Trekking the Journey we will focus on questions straight from KR’s fans and to provide some insight on how these two members of council feel about us Kwatsan Radio.

Be well family.

“Songs of the Colorado” describes the songs and singers of several of the Yuman Tribes along and near the Colorado River.  It is being screened on 11/09/2011 at the 36th Annual American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco.  Another screening will occur on 11/19/2011 at the LA Skins Film Festival in Los Angeles.

If Ocotillo Express, LLC, the proponent behind the proposed Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility, has its way, this is what the valley floor surrounding Ocotillo on the western edge of Imperial County would look like in a few years.

The Draft EIS/EIR for the proposed project is now available for public review.  The visual simulation pictured above is one of many figures included in this extensive report.  Under federal and state environmental and related laws, the backers of the wind energy facility must analyze the impacts likely to be caused by the proposed project, relative to other alternatives including the “no action” alternative.  This process is important because it provides the public with the opportunity to review the Draft EIS/EIR and to offer comments and criticism to help the proponent and the federal, state, and local agencies better understand the costs and benefits that woud likely result from the proposed project.

What some Kwatsans may not know is that this project is just down the road from the Tessera Solar’s Imperial Valley Solar Energy Project that came to a halt as a result of the Quechan Indian Tribe’s lawsuit.  The Ocotillo area is not only a relatively undisturbed desert region, but it also is replete with cultural resources—artifacts, trails, circles, and the like.  If you care about cultural resources of the Hokan people and their friends, we invite you to take a look at the Draft EIS/EIR and share your thoughts.  The Bureau of Land Management has established 10/06/2011 as the deadline for written comments.

Here’s the link to the Draft EIS/EIR at the Imperial County Planning & Development Services’ website:  http://www.icpds.com/?pid=2843.  You can also access the Draft EIS/EIR at the Bureau of Land Management’s website:  http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/nepa/ocotillo_express_wind.html.  Don’t worry…both of these links take you to a page from which you can choose the chapter or Appendix of the Draft EIS/EIR that you want to look at.

Also—for you newshounds—here’s a Reuters story published on 06/03/2011 about Tessera Solar and its sale of the Imperial Valley Solar Energy Project to AES Solar:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/03/idUS37305160020110603.

Hello!  DJ BGS here, letting you know about Show 4, originally broadcast on 04/26/2010 — only on Kwatsan Radio — is now available on our website for you to access any time you need to satisfy your fix for some of the best and freshest alternative indy rock out there.  So listen up, share it with your friends, and let us know how we’re doing!

Part 1:  “Neon Noose”, by Golden Triangle; “Mary Entertaining”, by Rob Laufer; “Surrender”, by Cheap Trick; “Drunk Girls”, by LCD Soundsystem.

Part 2:  “Killing Kind”, by Shark Speed; “See Waves”, by Nice Nice; “Transparent”, by Awesome Color; “May Day Revisited”, by Mojib.

Part 3:  “Tongue Twister Typo”, by Black Market; “Alright (Sha-La-La)”, by Burnt Ones; “Mixtapes”, by Plushgun.

Part 4:  “Come Saturday”, by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart; “Process of Elimination”, by The Endtables; “Dark Days”, by Chin Chin; “Ceremony”, by New Order.

Keep checking in with us here at Kwatsan Radio!  We’re bringing you more of what you want — more music, more culture, more news, and more more!

Here is the text inscribed on each of the markers:

California State Historical Landmark #350 – Mission La Purísima Concepcion:

“In October 1780, Father Francisco Garcés and companions began Mission La Purísima Concepción. The mission/pueblo site was inadequately supported. Colonists ignored Indian rights, usurped the best lands, and destroyed Indian crops. Completely frustrated and disappointed, the Quechans (Yumas) and their allies destroyed Concepción on July 17-19, 1781.”

California State Historical Landmark #921 – Mission San Pedro y San Pablo de Bicuner:

“To protect the Anza Trail where it forded the Colorado River, the Spanish founded a pueblo and mission nearby on January 7, 1781. Threatened with the loss of their land, the Quechans (Yumas) attacked this strategic settlement on July 17, 1781. The Quechan victory closed this crossing and seriously crippled future communications between upper California and Mexico.”

Although 230 years have passed, the need for vigilance remains, as we are subject to incursions upon our territory and soveriegnty every day.