Jerry Gloshay Jr., our tribal outreach director and I are hosting an event for Sen. Mark Kelly today in Whiteriver, AZ. It looks like a success, with tribal employees getting time off, buses bringing people from remote villages, lunch being served. We and the White Mountain Apaches are hoping to make it the best Kelly event of the campaign season. In the meantime, we decided to publish this piece from Jerry.
By Jerry Gloshay Jr.
Tribal Out-Reach Director
Arizona Deserves Better
Have you ever heard of an old Country Classic song from the Late-Johnny Cash
called “I’ve Been Everywhere”? I now appreciate that song greatly after I recently
went on a five-day road trip to put up Tribal Vote Awareness signs on many Tribal
homelands in Arizona. I’ve been everywhere, Man!
My supervisor and I worked from sun-up to sun-down. Time from the clock was
non-existent it seems.
In a nutshell, I passed through tall Ponderosa Pines that was NOT in White
Mountain Apache Country! West of Window Rock City Limits reminded me of
home. I was standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona! My eyes have seen a
Valley of Monuments, beautiful red rock formations north of Kayenta. I even seen
a forest of Saguaro Catcus at Tohono O’odham homelands! During the last of an
illustrious monsoon season, I saw glistering shiny flat rocks that looked like wet
tile northeast of Navajo Nation. I also saw mean looking brown gushing flood
waters and smiling Border Patrol Agents. I’ve been everywhere, Man!
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Our first stop on an early Saturday morning was near Chambers, then on to Houck,
Lupton, St, Michaels, Window Rock, Fort Defiance, Tse Bonito, Ganado,
Burnside, and then we finally crashed in Chinle all on the first day! Boy, I tell
you, that Chinle Churches Chicken hit the spot!
Day Two took us to Pinon Junction near Chinle, Many Farms, Round Rock, Rock
Point, Red Mesa, Teec Nos Pos, Dennehotso, Church Rock, Kayenta, Monument
Valley, Shonto, Kaibeto, and an evening of sliced Pork sandwich with a Live Band
in Page. I’ve been everywhere, Man!
Day Three seemed to be a wet marathon as we put up signs in Lechee, Gap
Trading Post, Cameron, Tuba City, Coalmine Canyon, Bacavi, Kykotsmovi,
Secakuku, Polacca, Keams Canyon, and finishing with an expensive rewarding
meal on a cold night at Winslow. Did I qualify for “Hazard Pay” that day?
On Day Four at sunrise, we headed east to Dilkon and then back west to Leupp
Junction off from Route 66. From there, we then went non-stop through Flagstaff
finally stopping at Camp Verde, Home of the Yavapai-Apache Nation! Thereafter,
we went to the Tonto Apache Tribe in Payson and finally rested in luxury in Fort
McDowell, Home of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation! I been everywhere,
Man!
Day Five was a beautiful day with blue skies. We started the day by putting up a
sign in the center of Fort McDowell then quickly on to Salt River Pima Maricopa
Indian Community. Thereafter, we put up a sign at Guadalupe just outside “The
City of Gold” otherwise called Tempe (Arizona State University is nearby where
maroon and gold uniforms are beautiful). Guadelupe is a small Tribal community
Home of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. From there we ended south of Maricopa City
Limits, Home of the Ak-Chin Indian Community. A few days later, we took down
our signs because we did not go through the Planning and Zoning Office. After a
fine lunch of fish, we went to Sacaton, Home of the Gila River Indian Community
and then we finished our long day at the homelands of the Tohono O’odham
Nation. In the late afternoon, we went to Chuichu, then to Santa Rosa, and
finished putting the last sign in Sells at 7:37 pm. The five-day tour of putting up
signs has finally come to an end. Thereafter, I had two tantalizing tasty Tacos in
Tucson and got back on the road home bound. I got home at 1:30 am and finally
crash around 2 am. I’ve been everywhere, Man!
Three days later, on my birthday, I woke up early and left in the dark to the
homelands of the San Carlos Apache. I put up seven signs there, including two in
Bylas. I got back home in time to receive a great birthday gift – Arizona State Sun
Devils defeats ranked Washington Huskies 45-38. I must have put up over 90
signs in Arizona Indian Country!
Why?
Because I care. I would like the Tribal members from Tribal Nations to vote. We
have a voice! We have power! Therefore, we have a powerful voice! My friend
once told me that once upon a time, he and his friend were NOT allowed to eat in a
restaurant even though they had United States Marine uniforms on. He also said
way too many Indians before him were not allowed to vote, even though they are
the first Americans or NATIVE Americans. My friend’s name was Mr. Ronnie
Lupe. I have a vision that someday Arizona Native Americans will determine
power in Arizona government. Arizona Native Americans have power!
My friend – please VOTE.
If you would like to continue to help us, please donate at ActBlue or send a check to Eric Kramer, 1910 Douglas Fir Dr., Pinetop, Az 85935.