1 Tribal Department Contact Information Tribal Administration P.O. Box 700 825 S. Main St. Big Pine, Ca 93513 Office No. 760-938-2003 Fax No. 760-938-2942 Tribal Historic Preservation Office No. 760-938-2003 Fax No. 760-938-2942 Tribal Court Clerk/ ICWA Specialist Office No. 760-938-2003 Fax No. 760-938-2942 Environmental Department Office No. 760-938-2003 Fax No. 760-938-2942 CDD Housing Department Office No. 760-938-2003 Fax No. 760-938-2942 Education Center Office No. 760-938-2530 Fax No. 760-938-3125 BP Paiute Development Corporation Office No. 760-938-2800 Fax No. 760-938-2942 April 2014 Inside this issue Administration Department…………………………………page 1 Environmental Department …………………………………pages 2-5 Tribal Historical Preservation……………………………….pages 6-9 Economic Development Corporation……………………….pages 10-11 Housing Department………………………………………...page 12 Administration/Community ………………………………...pages13-16,18 Utility Department………………………………………….. page 14 Community Calendar ………………………………………..page 19 Munahu! My name is Rhonda Willis and I am the new Tribal Administrator. I started March 17, 2014. I have a background in Management for over 30 years. I moved to the area from Oregon in 2003 and enjoy it here. I like the dry cold much better than the wet cold. I am honored to be working for the Big Pine Tribe and I look forward to meeting every one. I will do my best to help bring growth to this community. If I can be of help then please feel free to give me a call or come by my office .
every one. I will do my best to help bring growth to
this community.
If I can be of help then please feel free to give me a call or come by my office.
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Environmental Department
Friday afternoon: Let’s Explore
April 18, 2014, 3-5 p.m. Meet at Tribal Environmental Department for easy excursion
Look at and learn about water in our environment. Family friendly! For information call Sally (760) 938-2003 ext. 233
EARTH DAY
SPRING ART CONTEST
at Spring Gathering
see article p.g. 4 for details
Household Hazardous Waste –Upcoming events:
Bishop Sunland Landfill, Saturday April 12
Big Pine Transfer Station, Saturday May 3
= $
Watching the Waste: Heading Toward “Pay as you Throw”
By Sally Manning, Environmental Director
You’ve read it before in articles by the Environmental Department: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Why is this a good idea? Be-cause it’s good for the earth and all of us! But, if you need a better reason, How About: Those who throw out more stuff will need to pay the cost$$$ of such “privilege”! Recently, Inyo County, which has been responsible for taking in and attempting to manage all the waste the people generate in this county, is taking steps toward a “pay as you throw” system. If you throw out a lot of garbage, you may pay more than your neighbor who generates less.
The State of California has alerted Inyo County that we have a number of potential violations when it comes to the handling of garbage and recycling. Too much waste is going directly into the landfill and not enough is being “diverted” which means RECYCLED. To ward off possible fines from the state, on March 11, the Inyo County Board of Supervisors:
Altered the boundaries and added new “Permit Areas.” The permit areas are now split up into jurisdictions as follows: The City of Bishop; Bishop Paiute Tribe; Big Pine Tribe; Fort Independence Tribe; Lone Pine Tribe; and Unincorporated Inyo County. The county says it needs to account for the amount of waste coming in from each jurisdiction, and each tribe is a separate jurisdiction due to its sovereign nation status. The waste haulers -- Bishop Waste and Preferred Septic -- will need to report to the county based on the new permit areas. Note that while Inyo County can regulate the waste coming from permit areas into its disposal sites, each jurisdiction has the right to regulate waste hauling within its bor-ders. Inyo County’s solid Waste personnel tell the Tribe: “how this may affect the tribes is the waste haulers can, in writ-ing, ask the Board of Supervisors for a rate change for a given permit area if they can show that it costs more to conduct service in that area. If any of the Tribes decide that they want to control the cost of waste pick up within their tribe then they have every right to do so.”
Increased some Gate Fees., Effective May 1, 2014, charges will increase for the disposal of shredded tires, for waste haul-ers on holidays, and for regular people as follows:
•A $5 gate fee will be charged for 1 cubic yard of trash taken to a manned facility (previously it was $5 for up to 3 cubic yards). One cubic yard equals 5-32 gallon trash cans. The $5 gate fee will contin-ue to allow for up to 3 cubic yards of green waste, which is approximately the size of a full pick up bed.
•There will be pricing changes to what has been classified as “Construction and Demolition” (C&D). The county advises people to separate concrete and wood. Costs will be $22 per cubic yard for separated concrete, and $14 per cubic yard for C&D that does not have concrete in it. If a person chooses not to separate the concrete or other recyclable material out of the debris, then they will be charged $50 per cubic yard for mixed C&D. The county hopes to acquire a facility to crush con-crete at the landfills for reuse.
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Environmental Department
•Charges for Curbside Containers. The county sets a minimum charge per curbside waste container. The household waste containers provided by the trash haulers are 96 gallons, and the current minimum charge is $20.29 per month. If you obtain a second 96-gallon container, you can currently get one for as little as $10.15 per month. The Supervisors wish to de-incentivize the cheap second container, so on May 1 they are raising the rate to $20.29 for a second container. To encourage smaller waste loads, they suggest the haulers offer an option for a 64-gallon container at a cost of $17.25 per month.
•Reducing the Hours at Manned Facilities. The Supervisors will allow the landfills and transfer stations to be closed additional days each week. They have not specified which places and which days. Unfortunately, this may be the action which is by far the most inconvenient for the public and haulers. Please stay tuned for further news on this!
What does this mean for you? Costs are going up, and getting rid of garbage will be more inconvenient. PLEASE Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. If you would like to begin recycling, please call the Environmental Department! Recycling is FREE
mostly. See our video on what to recycle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kjhh7-tX2xA
PULL WEEDS NOW, WHEN THEY’RE SMALL!!
The time to get control over tumbleweeds is in the spring, when they first sprout. When they first germinate, and in the first few weeks of their life, they are not prickly. In fact, they are succulent! If you systematically pluck them when they are young, they cannot grow into the big, prickly round balls that blow into ditches and create a fire hazard. Also, if you pick them young, they will not have had a chance to make seeds, so you will effectively eliminate all the progeny that might have been produced from that individual weed. Pick them at this stage:
The Environmental Department is sponsoring a made-from-garbage art contest. Open to all ages. Items should have a Spring or Easter theme!
Prizes will be awarded for Adult (17 and up) and Youth categories.
Entries are due Saturday April 12, 2014, no later than 10:30 a.m., at the Spring Gathering. To qualify, each item must be accompanied by a completed entry form. The entry form will be available at the gathering and used in judging! For more infor-mation and an entry form, contact the Environmental Department (Sally Manning, 760-938-2003 ext. 233) Rules: Entry must be made from trash; that is, things most people would be
ready to throw away or which were already thrown away or in the recycle bin. Examples include: rags, bits of glass, old magazines and
newspapers, rusty metal, grocery store plastic bags, yard waste, bro-
ken toys, etc.
Entries may fall into one of two categories: (1) “Art for Art’s Sake”
or (2) “Beautiful, and Useful Too!” Entries may be just about any-thing: wall-art, sculptures, jewelry, furniture, clothing, quilts, collag-
es, mosaics – Use your imagination.
No liquids or household hazardous waste.
It is OK to use tape, glue, thread, fasteners, a bit of paint, etc., but
high content of waste material in the entry is preferred.
Entry must be brought to the Environmental Department Booth at the
Spring Gathering.
Judging Criteria
ã Overall Creativity (judge’s perception of uniqueness, blending of skill with idea, inspiration)
ã Visual appeal
ã Spring or Earth Day theme
ã Skill/precision
ã Compliance with Rules/ Completeness of Application Form
ã Reside on Big Pine Indian Reservation
Environmental Department
Departmental News Items:
High School Environmental Intern Joey Spratt resigned last month. He’s busy and wanted to spend time on other
endeavors. We miss him! Watch future newsletters for recruitment for an intern for summer.
Various volunteers have spent time cleaning litter from some Reservation roadsides during March. As a result, and
due to the Easter holiday schedule, the Environmental Department will not host an additional Roadside Clean up this month. Please if you see an eyesore, consider rolling up your sleeves and cleaning it up. Remember, Earth
Day is April 22!
On Friday afternoon March 21, a handful of us walked and explored near Crater Mountain. Many pretty wildflow-
ers were blooming!
The Rollercoaster Passing of Rule 701 By: Jacklyn Velasquez, BPPT Environmental Technician
At a March 3rd Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD) Board Meeting, Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power (LADWP) presented in opposition to the GBUAPCD recommended adoption of
Rule 701. Named the ‘Air Pollution Episode Plan,’ the purpose of Rule 701 is to expand efforts to notify the pub-
lic of health threats due to poor air quality by defining air pollution episode criteria, providing episode notifications to the public, recommending precautionary actions to be taken during episodes, and preventing or reducing the se-
verity of episodes. The plan is described as, “A system designed to alert the public of air contaminants that may be
harmful to health and protect that portion of the population at risk.” (Rule 701) In what turned into a nearly hour long discussion, LADWP made clear that GBUAPCD should not implement Rule 701, rather they should delay the
decision until LADWP employees can offer the District advice on revisions and gain further understanding.
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When it was finally time for vote, the Board members discussed the last minute comments provided by LADWP. Mary Rawson (Alpine County) believed the Board should delay voting on the issue until Inyo County representa-
tives (Linda Arcularius and Matt Kingsley) were present; she made this motion and it was seconded by John East-
man (Town of Mammoth Lakes). Ron Hames (Alpine County) believed the Board was capable and legally able to
make this decision without Inyo County representatives present, he voted no, as did Larry Johnston and Byng Hunt, both Mono County representatives. Subsequently Larry Johnson motioned to approve Rule 701 as recommended by
the GBUAPCD Staff with both Ron Hames and Byng Hunt also approving: the Rule was passed with Mary Rawson
and John Eastman opposing. The GBUAPCD Board’s rollercoaster 3-2 vote passing of Rule 701 gave a great example of how our Air Pollu-
tion Control District should be standing up for our right to clean air and the obligation they have to make stronger
efforts to inform the public when air pollution levels are unsafe. The Board didn’t allow LADWP to succeed in their all too common argument that, ‘their staff knows best.’ I applaud the GBUAPCD Board and Staff who put together
a plan that works to continue protecting public health. You can sign up for Air Pollution Health Alerts to come via email or text message. Simply email your information and notification preference to [email protected]
Environmental Department
Getting it Done with Help from Our Friends By Alan Bacock, Water Program Coordinator
A group of around 20 students from Orange Lutheran High School came to the Big Pine Reservation in March and worked for two days getting the garden area pre-pared for planting, creating a hugelkulture mound, in-stalling an informational kiosk, placing protective bollards around the fire hydrants along Highway 395, GPSing fire hydrants, cleaning up litter along the roadways and clean-ing up around the Fandango grounds. The students shared that they really enjoyed learning about our culture and the current issues the Tribe faces as it protects the Owens Valley for future generations. Students from Or-ange Lutheran High School will be returning in the Fall to once again show love to our community through service.
Rototilling Available Spring is now here and it is a great time to prep your garden area for tomatoes, squash, chiles and just about any oth-
er kind of vegetable. The Tribe encourages households to plant and harvest their own produce for a healthier com-
munity and to provide some extra cash if you decide to sell vegetables at the seasonal farmers market. If you would
like to have your garden area rototilled by the Tribe, a sign-up sheet is located at the Tribal Office.
BIG PINE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL COMMUNITY CLEAN UP
As seen in the Inyo Register, the town and Reservation will be invited to clean up weeds, brush, and other
yard waste in an effort to reduce fuels that could lead to out-of-control wildfires. The community event is
being planned for Saturday April 12. The Reservation is supposed to receive roll off bins where green waste (only) may be deposited, free of charge. Look for flyers, news items, or call the Utility or
Environmental Department for more information.
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Tribal Historic Preservation Department
News from the Tribal Historic Preservation Office by Bill Helmer, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
Congress Approves Tribal Historic Preservation Office Budget for Fiscal
Year (FY) 2014; Program Still Remains Extremely Underfunded
The Big Pine Paiute Tribe received $51,587 for its Tribal Historic Preservation Office program, a $3,094 increase from its FY 2013 funding of $48,493. I still have an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant and a Historic
Preservation grant to help supplement funding. I am actively working on requesting increases in the FY 2015 THPO
funding.
Big Pine Paiute Tribe Requests SB 18 Consultation with Inyo County Re-
garding the draft Renewable Energy General Plan Amendment (REGPA)
SB 18 is a California law which requires local governments (such as Inyo County) to consult with California Indian tribes regarding proposed General Plan Amendments witin their county boundaries. Inyo County has proposed a Re-
newable Energy General Plan Amendment (REGPA) which would designate large areas as suitable for industrial-
scale renewable energy development, especially solar (see map below, Renewable Energy GPA).
The areas outline in blue, Renewable Energy Development Areas (REDAs), are proposed to be suitable for industrial-scale solar
energy development. They would be associated with large transmission lines for bringing electricity to Southern Cali-
fornia.
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Tribal Historic Preservation Department
The Big Pine Paiute Tribe had its first SB 18 consultation meeting with Inyo County on February 13, 2014, in the Big Pine Paiute Tribal Council Chambers. This productive first meeting on February 13, 2014, was attended by Supervisor
Tillemans and Inyo County Planning staff, and Big Pine Tribal Council members Genevieve Jones (Chairwoman),
Danelle Gutierrez (Vice-Chair), Roberta Hunter (Secretary), as well as Big Pine Tribal Council staff.
The Big Pine Paiute Tribe invited Supervisor Tillemans and Inyo County Planning Staff to meet on Friday, March
28, 2014, 5:30 p.m., at the Big Pine Paiute Tribal Council chambers to continue consultation.
The following issues would be discussed: 1. The need for including a Distributed Generation Alternative in the draft REGPA for local projects and job
creation. This alternative focuses on rooftop solar installations on houses, commercial buildings, federal, coun-ty, private lands, and Indian reservations.
2. In a letter from the Tribe to the Inyo County Planning Commission (dated February 19, 2014) it is stated: "Native American traditional cultural landscapes will be desecrated by industrial solar and wind projects if any of the proposed alternatives are adopted or pursued." This statement will be further validated by using the County's own criteria for excluding Traditional Cultural Landscapes, cultural resources, and areas with scenic values from the proposed REDAs.
Below is the Owens Valley Renewable Energy Development Area (REDA), which LA DWP proposes to build a
200 megawatt industrial solar project. A simulation of the view after the “Solar Ranch” is shown on the right.
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Tribal Historic Preservation Department
A Story about Buck Skin Joe, as Told by George Brierly The following excerpt is from a story about Buck Skin Joe, as told by George Brierly to Edith Dewey in 1935. The story
was written down in a notebook for a project sponsored by the Anthropology Department of the University of California,
Berkeley, and funded by the California Emergency Relief Administration. The original notebooks are in the Bancroft
Library, Berkeley, California. The original spelling in the notebooks has not been changed.
[154.2a-h: Ethnographic Material by George Brierly (transcribed by Edith Dewey); cover: Edith Dewey,
SERA-Inyo Hulse #32] [154.2h: Buck Skin Joe (21 pages)]
[1] Buck Skin Joe
Buck Skin Joe was born up in the Chidage county. Buck Skin Joe and family own the spring where
Jonny King has his mine, where he lives to day, Buck Skin Joe was born and raised there. and also raised
his family there. and I was also raised near the place and married one of Buck Skins Joes daughters. and came to live with him, and learned of my father in-law as he told of him self, and experience. He
was a fine man. he was good hearted strong and wealthy and smart. quick to know things he had a
power given him to be swift as a swift deer. Buck Skin Joe was one great hunter. he was my father in-law
[2] my wife’s father. I was just as good a hunter as an ordinary hunter, there were times, I brought home a
deer and times I didn’t. but I knew when we were out of meat. My father in-law went out to call the deers, and picked
out the best and larges one of them. just like a women picks out a dress, she sits and looks at the fashion girl that dis-plays the gowns and see the one she wants and buy's it. it was the way with him, if he saw the one he wants he killed it,
and brought a peice of it home with him, as he had me go after it my wife always went me to bring home the deer. Buck
Skin Joe never once came home late evening if he
[3] intended to come back with the deer, he always came home when the sun is still high in the sky and he always trav-
eled on foot but never rides horse, he had horses to ride, but he never once rode a horse in his life. if we the whole fami-ly planned to travel or move, he only planned where he would meet us, and start out in through the brush, while the rest
of us had horses to go on, and sure enough when we reach there he is either there at the spot cooking, making camp, and
all we did was get the place in order for our camp. When we moved from the Chidago hills to Long Valley for the sum-
mer
[4] he would walk and kill a deer on his way and leave it some where for me or some of us to go get, as it was quiet a
long distance from the hills to Long Valley. we people belong in through from Benton to Mammoth coutries, we were at times at Mammoth and again roamed through Casa Diablo Hot Springs. So at times we lived at the Casa Diablo Hot
Springs as it was just about time we hunt deer, as we always hunt deer in the fall same as today. but we went by the sign
of the trees in the mountains, just as soon as the trees which are called Quaken Asps turn yellow we know it is the sign
the deers are fat. so we make our camp at the
[5] Casa Diablo Hot Spring to hunt. So on this certain day my father in-law Buck Skin Joe went to hunt up on the moun-
tain just north west of Hess Lumber mills in Indian called chea-wa Towa-avi (mountain). he started out one morning to get a deer, and as he was at the top be fore he reached the place his nature or spiritual guidence di-
rected him too. he stopped looked around just to survey the country over for its beauty. he saw a figure coming toward
him he stood and looked, it was a coyote, he wagged his tail as a dog would and came over to his feet and layed down to be
[6] petted. and he knew then the spirits was playing a joke on him or trying out his courage. and at last spoke
to the coyote and said Hebā wah uhi Ma na- ca gui teh (what are you trying to do) Meu aha uhi guatah (go your way) as he knew perhaps if shot the coyote, it would be either he or one of his family he’d kill. he
knew it didn’t mean any good. but the coyote went and he went on to the spot he was to get his deer, he sat waiting a sec-
ond and wondered to him self where could they be (deer) and looked north of him and saw a fawn playing. he wondered as it was the spot where he was to get his meat and he looked away from the little deer,
9
[7] and looked back to it again and saw in place of the little deer a big deer, a large one, and lost no time he shot and killed the deer. that was meant for him as he was a man for the deer it was his gift, right away he got busy to skin the
deer, as he did so just on top of the mountains a little cloud formed and it started to spread very fast but he continued to
work on but faster and cut the meat in several pieces to hang up in the pine limbs and while he was hanging the meat, it
started to rain hard, it came with thunder and lightening, it struck just north of him. it tore the fur tree
[8] to peices like it was blasted, but it didn’t scare Buck Skin Joe he was not afraid, he belived the lightening
was trying to be friendly with him. he left the place with the deer hanging for some on to go and get. which I said my wife always went with me and we saw the tree that was struck by the thunder and lightening, at it is always the way,
when a man of the deer kills it always gives him a shower, as he is called Cea New cho yo (means gifted with some
blessings or power unusual from the ordinary person. Those gifted with this blessings are not to waste or be played with what are given them, they get them when needed only.
[9] they must not disobey and get greedy as some thing unfortunate may occure, or his skillfulness may gradually disap-
point him from time to time until he is a poor sport, can’t get so easy what he once got before. Before we brought the deer home we stopped out there where we found dry wood and made some hot charcoals and
roasted some meat and ate some before we came with the heavey load. as we could not stand the trip like my father in-
law could as I was not gifted with such spirit and strength. Many times I’ve watched my father in-law walk and won-dered how he got far so
[10] quick, so I watch him one day as he started out to bring home the deer, he started out walking, and soon as he went over a ridge or out of people’s sight, he started to trot and he kept that run all the way until he knows he would be seen
then he walked, he never gets tired some are gifted with the whirl wind, they go like the wind, reach a place quick. you
would see them sitting a round waiting at the spot where you were to see them, but now days it is hard to find them so it
is a different world all togather.
Tribal Historic Preservation Department
George Brierly
(photograph courtesy of Rob Peirce)
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Over a year ago, James
“Jimmy” Stewart had a
dream of opening his own
business. He wanted to uti-
lize his land on the reserva-
tion the best way possible,
but make some money. Jim-
my attended the entrepre-
neurial /small business class
that was held at the Big Pine
Paiute Development Corpo-
ration Office in the summer
of 2012. While it was diffi-
cult for him to attend the
weekday classes because of
school, he attended on Sat-
urdays to make up the work
he missed during the week.
Jimmy and a friend devel-
oped a business plan and
submitted it to the BPPDC
for review part of the Revolv-
ing Loan Fund, but a lot hap-
pened that put the review
and project on hold, with the
General Manager Mark Til-
lemans leaving to take over
as the Fourth District Super-
visor for Inyo County, the
changing and adoption of
the BPPDC Articles of Incor-
poration and By-laws as well
as the election of the new
BPPDC Board of Directors.
Jimmy was persistent and
kept inquiring about his loan
application with the BPPDC
Revolving Loan Fund.
At the last BPPDC Board of
Directors meeting, the Board
did approve of Jimmy to take
possession of the storage
units that had already been
purchased and stored at the
BPPDC yard. Jimmy is now
open for business and ready
to rent! We wish him the
best on his endeavors.
Local Tribal Member
entrepreneur opens Stewart
Storage business
BPPDC News/Updates and Info
Big Pine Paiute
Development
Corporation 545 Butcher Lane
P. O. Box 700
Big Pine, CA 93513
(760 ) 938-2800
Board Members:
Shannon Romero, Chairperson
Shawn Fuller, Vice Chairman
Violet Pierce, Secretary
Rhonda Brooks, Treasurer
Antonia Westervelt, Member
Ex Officio Member:
Genevieve Jones
Advisory Member:
Mark Tillemans
HOURS OF OPERATIONS:
Monday-Friday
7:30 a.m.—8:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
8:30 a.m.—5:30 p.m.
Stewart’s Storage 937 Hill Street Big Pine, CA
(760) 920-5192 Email:[email protected] 8X10 Weatherproof Storage Units
also Car/RV/Boat Storage Discounted move in rates!
Right Photo:
Jimmy Stewart
and BPPDC
General Manager
Joseph Moose
Wellness Center to host
Spring Gathering
Spring is here!! The Big
Pine Wellness Center in
collaboration with the Big
Pine Tribe’s Community
Outreach Department will
be hosting the 2014
Spring Gathering. The
annual egg hunt will still be
held on the lawn of the
Allen Spoonhunter Memo-
rial Gym at 10:00 am but
all other events, including
a fun run will be held at
the Wellness Center lo-
cated at 545 Butcher
Lane. There will be food
contest, informat ion
booths, fitness displays,
and t-shirts (while they
last). Look for the insert-
ed flyer in the newsletter.
We hope to see everyone
down here for the fun
event!
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Big Pine Paiute Development Corporation
Announcement Date: March 25, 2014
JOB DESCRIPTION (1) On-Call Custodian/Janitor
SALARY: $10 - $12/hr. STATUS: Part –Time/On Call QUALIFICATIONS: Some experience in Janitorial field
Must be able to pass background check, pre and random drug tests Prefer Valid Driver’s License & be insurable under company policy High School Diploma or GED SUPERVISOR: Lead Janitor and/or the General Manager of the BPPDC or their designee. Closing Date: Open until filled
Description: A complete Job description and applications are available at the BPPDC Office located at 545 Butcher Lane in Big Pine. (760) 938-2800
A REFURBISHED 10 SPEED BIKE WILL BE GIVEN AWAY AT THE SPRING GATHERING THAT WILL BE HELD ON
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014. YOU MUST BE IN THE FUN RUN TO BE ELIGBLE TO RECEIVE A TICKET.
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I’ve worked on the Force
Account crew for the past few
years and I’m looking forward
to serving the community the
best that I can.
Thank you!
New Housing Employees
Housing Happenings
Community Development Department
Housing Program
The Big Pine Tribe Community
Development Department Hous-
ing Program would like to
welcome two new employees.
On Monday, March 24, 2014,
Jacqueline “Danelle” Bacoch-
Gutierrez and James “Beno”
Davis began working for the Big
Pine Tribe’s Housing Program.
Danelle will be working with all
Rental Program tenants and
Ho meowners hip Progra m
participants.
Beno will be working with the
Housing Program’s Force
Account crew on the Renovation
Project.
Jacqueline “Danelle” Bacoch-
Gutierrez—Counselor/Secretary
Manuhu! My name is Danelle
Bacoch-Gutierrez and I am a Big
Pine Tribal member and reside
here on our Reservation with my
family—Ana, Sienna and
Anthony. I was recently hired as
the new Housing Counselor/
Secretary and am very happy
and ready to bring forth my
work experience to assist our
Tribe in my newly hired
position. Thanks again and see
you around!
James “Beno” Davis—Project
Manager
Hello, my name is James “Beno”
Davis and I am the Housing
Program’s new Project Manager
for the rehabilitation project. I
am a Big Pine Tribal member.
your Housing Application
has not been updated within
the past twelve (12) months,
you can be dropped from the
Rental and/or the Homeown-
ership Programs Waiting
Lists. Don’t let this happen
to you—UPDATE YOUR
HOUSING APPLICATION
TODAY!
MODERNIZATION PRO-
JECT. In 2012, the moderni-
zation work for each unit
was scaled back in order to
complete more units. The
modernization project went
from 12 homes to 36 homes
starting with the 98-07 pro-
ject that was built in 1984.
ANNUAL RECERTIFICA-
TIONS. The Housing De-
partment would like to
thank all of the Rental and
Homeownership Program
participants for returning
their Annual Recertification
packets by the deadline of
March 14th.
Housing staff is in the pro-
cess of gathering missing
information. If you are miss-
ing information to complete
your recertification packet,
you will be receiving a letter
in the mail letting you know
what’s missing.
Please be advised that fail-
ure to provide the missing
information will result in
maximum house/rent pay-
ments.
ANNUAL HOME INSPEC-
TIONS. The Housing De-
partment will be sending out
letters to notify all housing
participants of your inspec-
tion date/time. If you have a
specific date/time that works
better for you, please contact
the Housing Office.
HOUSING APPLICA-
TIONS. It is the responsibil-
ity of the applicant to keep
your Housing Application
updated on a yearly basis. If
The regular monthly Housing Committee meeting scheduled
Social Security is committed to working with Tribal Governments and respecting Tribal Sovereignty. We wanted to
let you know about our enhanced services such as the my Social Security account.
We encourage you to visit our American Indians and Alaska Natives Website at www.socialsecurity.gov/aian where you can find a
wealth of information about Social Security programs and online services available. Tribal leaders and tribal community members
can submit inquiries to our dedicated email box at [email protected]
We look forward to continued partnerships and building strong positive relationships throughout Indian Country.
UPDATE
Social Security
Administration Department
Information
17
QUARTERS DEADLINE TO SUBMIT
VERIFICATION DOCUMENTS
1st Quarter
(January, February, March) January 31
2nd Quarter April 30
(April, May, June)
3rd Quarter July 31
(July, August, September)
4th Quarter October 31
(October, November, December)
INDIAN GAMING REVENUE SHARING TRUST FUND (IGRSTF) DISTRIBUTION DEADLINES
(For College, Trade School, Technical School & Certificate Programs)
To be eligible for the IGRSTF, all students must be enrolled in at least six (6) credits/units or enrolled in an accredited college, trade/technical school or certificate program. The following documents will be accepted as
proof of enrollment: Most recent quarter/semester grades, Program progress reports, and/or official written
verification of current enrollment. Submitted documents must show the student’s name, & name of college,
trade/technical school or certificate program. Documents must be submitted to the Big Pine Tribal Office, located
at 825 South Main Street, Big Pine CA by mail, fax, email or in person.
Verification of enrollment in a College, Trade/Technical School and/or Certificate Program must be submitted to
the Big Pine Tribal Office by the following deadlines.
IMPORTANT: Failure to submit all necessary verification(s) by the above deadlines will affect your eligibility
to receive the IGRSTF distribution(s).
Who is enTouch? enTouch Wireless powered by Boomerang Wireless offers free nationwide wireless voice, and
text service on a multi-carrier network. This offering, made possible through the Lifeline supported
government benefit, is available to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. An eligible household
can receive free minutes and texts each month for local and domestic long-distance calling or texting.
For the complete Terms of Service go to entouchwireless.com or call Customer Service at 866-488-8719 or dial 611
free from your Lifeline phone.
The Big Pine Tribal office will have a sign up sheet for those of you that would like to sign up for enTouch Wireless.
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Administration Department
Committee Members gain great satisfaction from the fact that their Committee stands for a worth-
while cause and that committee members are able to make a difference by making sure that the
committee meets the needs of its community members.
Approach your appointment to a committee with a positive attitude. Remember that you were selected
for a committee because your skills and talents were viewed as being valuable to the committee. Vol-
unteer for roles you do not normally take.
The BPPT is in need of Tribal members who are interested and willing to be a part
of the following Committees:
■ Finance Committee: 2 members needed
■ Land Assignment Committee: 1 members needed
■ Utility Committee: 2 members needed
■ Enrollment Committee: 1 member needed
■ Tribal Rights Commission: 1 member needed
■ Community Emergency Response Commission: 5 commissioners needed
If you are interested, stop by Tribal office and pickup a Declaration of Intent form. Speak up and
give your thoughtful opinions about matters being discussed.
Congratulations to Cheyenne Stone! Cheyenne submitted her
Letters of Intent to run for office and was appointed to the
Enrollment and Land Assignment Committees.
Cheyenne was sworn in at the March 20, 2014 Tribal
Council Meeting.
Also Cheryl Coleman was appointed to the Finance Committee and the Utility Committee. Cheryl will be sworn in at a later date.
Photo: Chairwoman Genevieve Jones and Cheyenne Stone
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APRIL 2014
S U N M O N T U E W E D T H U F R I S A T
1
Land
Assignment
Meeting
6:00 p.m.
2
Recycle every
Wednesday s!
3 4 5
6 7
TERC Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Environmental
Advisory Board
6:00 p.m.
8 Cultural
Commi ttee
Meetin g 5 :30 p .m.
Enrollmen t
Commi ttee
Meetin g
6:00 p .m.
9
Tribal Council
Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Recycle every
Wednesday s!
10 11 12 Fire Safe Council
Community Clean
Up 8-12pm
Spring
Gathering
10:00 a.m.
ASM Gym
13 14
15
16
Special General Council
(Election)
Meeting 6:00p.m.
EDC Meeting 6 :00
p.m .
Recycle every
Wednesday s!
17
Tribal Council
Meeting
6:00 p.m.
18 19
20
21 22
Happy Earth
Day!
23
Housing
Committee
Meeting
6:00 p.m.
Commodity’s 8-12 p.m. Recycle every
Wednesday s!
24 25 26
27 28 29 30
Recycle every
Wednesday s!
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Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley P.O. Box 700 ● 825 South Main Street
