Moapa Band of PaiutesPresenting a history and brushing the surface of the Moapa People.

Moapa Band of Paiutes

The Moapa people reside on the Moapa River Reservation

58 miles North from the Greater Las Vegas Area Recognized Indian tribe on April 17, 1942 1874 the tribal lands consisted of 2 million acres

1876 they were reduced to a 15 hundred acres

1980, an additional 70,000 acres were provided Total: 71,954

Tribal Council Members:

William Anderson – ChairmanEric Lee – Vice ChairmanAnthony Frank- Tribal SecretaryAletha Tom- Tribal Council MemberDeloras Simmons-Tribal Council MemberRichard Fisher– Tribal Council Member

Governed by Tribal Council

325 current enrolled members

Moapa’s Business Enterprise

Moapa Band of Paiutes Travel Plaza

• K-Road Solar Project

(process of construction)

• Moapa Farm

Moapa Band of Paiutes Business Administration Building & Tribal Store

Moapa’s DepartmentsMoapa Social Services

Moapa Vocational RehabilitationEnvironmental Department (includes air/water quality & waste)

Education Specialist DepartmentMoapa Education Center (MESC)

Moapa Police DepartmentMoapa Tribal Courts

Senior CenterOlivia Tom Headstart Program

Irene Benn Medical CenterOlivia Tom Headstart Program

Moapa Education Center (MESC)

Senior Center

Irene Benn Medical Center

Moapa Police DepartmentAlso houses: Tribal Courts

Social Services& Education Specialists

Moapa Vocational Rehabilitation Offices

Moapa Location Las Vegas Location

Successful Consumer Businesses on the

ReservationStyles By Stephanie Wash My Pony

Owner: Stephanie Osborne Owner: Ural Begay

History of the Moapa

people• Referred as Moapats

(moe-pats) & the Nuwuvi (nu-wovie)

• Adapted by: farming, hunting, and gathering.

• Strong with traditional beliefs and funeral

sings • Highly devoted to bloodline and family

ties• Slowly deteriorating

native language

Historical Life of Moapa

Basketry Cradle boards Cooking stones Seed beaters Made gourdes (rattles) Use in animal skins &

medicinal uses for plants

Living Quarters of the Moapa People: A Wikiup

Real Time photo of their wikiup shack like homesPhoto of a wikiup*

Pronounced: Wik-i-up

Traditionally made with willow and young cottonwood which

form into a hut.

Meaning of MoapaPronounced:

Moe-Ah-Pa

Pa: Meaning water

Some dispute over the initial meaning being

“spinning water” or “bitter water” by current elders.

Pictured: Topsy Swain

Hope Lies Behind These BarsA True success Story

My Name is Kevin Norton

• Born in California

• Raised on 2 Reservations

• Hopi/Sho-Pqai

• Hopi Tribal Member

• 15 years incarceration

First Arrival at the VR Office

First impressions of VR: What is this place? I arrived with the clothes on my back. Ex-felons have gone through a variety of programs supposedly “rehabing them.” I thought this was another hoop for me to jump with no result, boy was I wrong.

Process of VR: If I want freedom I can have it, informed choice. My VR counselor reemed my mind with that. It’s on you now I will provide the tools to get you where you want to be, if you want that. Well I did and still do. This is not an easy program and it took a lot of work, research, planning and commitment to get me to where I was supposed to be. But she (my counselor) would not take no for an answer and never gave in to me even when I wanted too. But after all that I made it, thanks Moapa VR.

Personal StruggleDisability: I have been a substance/alcohol abuser for most of my life. This is what contributed to my many years behind bars. I am not the same person under the influence. Feelings of fear and anxiety plagued me upon my release, which I now know was PTSD. Bottom line is I do not and di not want to die in prison. I have things to do here in this world. A chance is all I needed.

Redtail Tree Service

Kevin Norton continues to thrive and offers a great

example to many Native’s interested in becoming self

employed.

Through Kevin’s business he has the capability to

help and inspire people who are now facing the

obstacles he once faced.

Kevin is no longer a labeled a ex-felon in the eyes of his

peers, he is now a successful man with his own business living in

society.

The Man In Action

Work & Finished

Product

No Fear As a woman counselor

FEAR was a factor I had to overcome in dealing with an ex-felon, men might feel the same. It’s an unknown for a lot of people, prison life and/or dealing with people released from the prison system. Trust Grandfather will guide you through and if it is meant to be it will BE! Leave the stigma’s you have learned behind and give the person a chance.

Fear

feeling of anxiety: an unpleasant feeling of anxiety or

apprehension caused by the presence or anticipation of

danger

frightening thought: an idea, thought, or other entity that

causes feelings of fear

reverence: respect or awe for somebody or something

Synonyms: terror, dread, anxiety, horror, distress, fright, panic,

alarm, trepidation, apprehension

Acceptance

Remember to remind these men and women that they are important and not just a number to us

Incorporate traditional practices ej: smuding, attending Pow wow’s, sweats and talking to an Elder an hour a week! (this works they come back in amazement with what of some our elders tell them, I make it a requirement to receive services)

Be strong and staight forward, set the guidelines before even meeting, know your client.

Partnerships

You know the saying, “ It’s not what you know but who you know.” This is true, and we do not want to sacrafice anymore to the government, but we must conform for just that moment to fully help our consumer’s in this position.

Urban or Reservation offices , here are some resources I try to utilize in both offices: Chamber of Commerces Prominment businesses

or business owners Other non profit agencies Other Tribes Consumer’s suggestions

on who’s hiring

Just to name a few……………

PTSD

On personal expierence I don’t think I have dealt with one ex-felon that does not suffer from this. Famaliarize yourself with this disability if you have not when helping ex felons coping with Freedom.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you have gone through an extreme emotional trauma that involved the threat of injury or death.

PTSD can occur at any age. It can occur after events such as:

• Assault• Car accidents• Domestic abuse• Natural disasters• Prison stay• Rape• Terrorism• War

There are three types of PTSD symptoms:

1.  Reliving the event, which disturbs day-to-day activity

Flashback episodes in which the event seems to be happening again and again

Repeated upsetting memories of the event

Repeated nightmares of the event

Strong, uncomfortable reactions to situations that remind you of the event

2. AvoidanceEmotional numbing or feeling as though you do not care about anythingFeeling detachedNot able to remember important parts of the eventNot interested in normal activitiesShowing less of your moodsAvoiding places, people, or thoughts that remind you of the eventFeeling like you have no future

3.  Hyperarousal

Always scanning your surroundings for signs of danger (hypervigilance)

Not able to concentrate

Startling easily

Feeling irritable or having outbursts of anger

Trouble falling or staying asleep

You may feel guilt about the event, including survivor guilt

Sources:

Moapa Band of Paiutes. "Moapa Paiutes, Moapa Travel Plaza, Fireworks, Las Vegas." Moapa Paiutes, Moapa Travel Plaza, Fireworks, Las Vegas. MRG Design & Aztec Communication, 2007. Web. 11 June 2013.

Historical information about the Moapa Band of Paiutes was shared by an elder of the Moapa Band Community, Olivia Tom.

All current photographs taken by Ashly Osborne.Antique photographs provided by Moapa Band of PaiutesPhotograph of the Tribal Chairman William Anderson provided by the Sierra ClubImage of the single wikiup was provided by Nathan Cowlishaw’s blog - http://talkingtree.org/images/20070911100924_wikiup.jpgAll Redtail photographs are provided by Kevin NortonRam provided by Clipart. Bing Dictionary. U.S. National Library of Medicine - The World's Largest Medical Library

Slide Show written/created by Kena Adams and Ashly Osborne, Moapa Band of Paiutes Vocational Rehabilitation.