| Fort McDowell Aids Valley Native American Social Service Agencies
 FORT MCDOWELL YAVAPAI COMMUNITY, AZ—Three Valley agencies serving the nation’s second largest Native community are moving into a new, permanent home, thanks to a partnership between the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and the City of Phoenix. On Monday, Dec. 18 FMYN tribal officials formally presented the city with $164,000 to aid Phoenix Indian Center, Native American Connections and Native American Community Health Center with the purchase and remodeling of the Native American Community Service Center. The center will house the three agencies and other entities in the six-story, 85,000 square foot office building located at 4520 N. Central Avenue. The three nonprofit agencies formed a limited liability corporation to develop and operate the building and merge human resources and IT services. Altogether, the agencies serve over 15,000 unique clients in the urban Indian community, currently numbering over 90,000.
“I saw a rainbow on the way to work this morning,” said NAC Executive Director Diana Yazzie Devine, who took the phenomenon as a positive sign.
“It took us one year to complete the tenant improvements,” said Devine. “Phoenix Indian Center and Native American Community Health Center will have greater stability now that they have their own home.” NAC has long owned its two office buildings on North 2nd Avenue; however, PIC and NACHC had had to move from their leased spaces several times. “We can only imagine what it’s going to be like to provide seamless services to the community.”
FMYN President Raphael Bear said, “You’re building something [special] here,” said Bear. “I came in through the door and asked where’s the nails and hammers, let’s get to work!”
The agencies are creating a new story, said Bear. “What you do, the services you provide, who you are, what you are, why it matters” are all part of that story, he said. Bear added that Fort McDowell is “proud and happy to be part of the project.” And just as Yavapai people were never stagnant, Native people should also be willing to explore new things and ideas, he said.
“We didn’t hesitate to help when we were asked,” said FMYN Vice President Bernadine Burnette. “Our people use these services; when they had issues with housing, Phoenix Indian Center helped them We’re all touched by the same social problems.” Burnette added that Phoenix is also a long-time partner to Fort McDowell; “Phoenix gave us jobs at their old water-pumping plant,” she said. “We want to continue our partnership with Phoenix, and for Native Americans, coming to one place for services is good.”
Entering into compacts mandated by the passage of Prop. 202 was challenging, said Burnette. “But we’re making it work. We’re grateful that these agencies came to us. They provide education, housing help and behavioral help. It’s not just about the process, it’s about the people.”
Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon joked about the tangle of light-rail construction outside the front of the building, saying “Congestion brings a lot of good-paying jobs.” On a more serious note, Gordon said that the new service facility is in an excellent location. “This isn’t tucked away somewhere, where people won’t be able to see it, find it or use it,” he said. “This is an asset needed for the whole community and is in the heart of everything.” Gordon also paid homage to the site, which he said is located “very close to where the Indian community was educated at the Indian School and is close to a canal following ancient Hohokam canals.”
Phoenix City Councilman Tom Simplot echoed Gordon’s sentiments. “You have picked the perfect site to combine services,” said Simplot. The service center is in his district. “We’re also grateful to Fort McDowell for coming forward and helping our city. We’re honored to be the host city for this facility and the host for the grant.” Simplot lauded the nation for making an investment in the community. “This investment is starting to work both ways,” said Simplot, who’s also the chairman of the light rail board. And he added that it was symbolic for the new Native American service center to spring up in sight of the old Indian School site, which is now the Steele Indian School Park.
“Fort McDowell was the first nation to step up and donate to our capital campaign,” said PIC CEO Patricia Hibbeler. She also noted that the light rail will have a station right in front of the building. “Ninety percent of the customers we serve are low-income and many ride the bus. We’re going to buckle up and deal with what we need to for the next year” before the light rail is complete in December 2008.
Don Warne, board president of NACHC, said this was a special day for him. In addition to the building opening, it was also Warne’s 40th birthday. Warne, a medical doctor who hails from a South Dakota tribe said that many family members relied on NACHC for services for the past 35 years. “These three agencies have well over 100 years of service under their belts.” And Warne also warmly thanked FMYN for its assistance. “Wassaja, a Fort McDowell Yavapai who was the first Native American formally-trained physician in Arizona and a passionate advocate for Native rights was a hero of mine. The spirit of Wassaja is alive in President Bear and Vice-President Burnette.”
FMYN Councilman Paul J. Russell, who was also present was lauded for his support of the facility.
NAC has already moved its outpatient counseling services to the facility, and construction is ongoing to complete executive offices for it and for NACHC, which has not yet moved. PIC’s first day in its new home was Dec. 18, and workers were busily unpacking boxes and setting up shop in the expanded area, which will encompass the entire second floor.
Proposition 202, passed by Arizona voters in Nov. 2002 enacted new gaming compacts between the State of Arizona and Arizona tribal governments. Of the revenues that the tribes agreed to share with the state, 12 percent can be distributed by the tribe directly to local governments to benefit the general public. During the 2006 distribution period, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has also partnered with the City of Mesa in supporting Fremont Junior High, Red Mountain High School and Salk Elementary; with the Town of Fountain Hills to support tourism and education; and with the City of Scottsdale to promote joint tourism efforts.
Fort McDowell has also supported Arizona education for many years before the enactment of the new compacts, including over $1 million in grants to the three Arizona universities, which are being used to support student programs.
Phoenix Councilman Tom Simplot, PIC CEO Patti Hibbeler, NAC CEO Dede Yazzie Devine, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Pres. Raphael Bear, Vice President Bernadine Burnette and Council Member Paul J. Russell celebrate the opening of the new Native American Community Service Center on Dec. 18
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Dec. 26, 2006
Philip Dorchester, General Manager
480/837-5121
pdorchester@ftmcdowell.org
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