Posted by Martha Serda - email
The financial crisis has impacted every segment of the community, including the Pascua Yaqui Nation.
KOLD News 13 was granted exclusive access to the reservation to look at how the nation is caring for their own in this time of need.
Angelique Valenzuela, Social Services,"The poverty and the recession have a big impact on the young generation that can't find jobs."
The Pascua Yaqui Nation has seen a record increase in the number of families asking for help, especially the need to put food on the table.
Angelique Valenzuela, "Our numbers fortunately last month were a reflection of that. Normally we would service as many families where as this month we went back to kind of look at our numbers, we found an increase."
In the 3 counties they service, Pima Maricopa and Pinal, the Tribe has had close to 700 requests for help with food, mortgage payments and utilities last month alone, compare this to 500 the same time last year.
The Yaquis are a proud people and asking for help doesn't come easy.
Angelique Valenzuela,"You see the emotional and the turmoil. Coming in with the feeling they need and as they leave you help them see the hope."
In all, the Pascua Yaqui Nation care for more than 16,000 members.
Tucson members are spread out all over the Reservation on Tucson's Westside, Plus Old Pascua in Midtown, Barrio Libre in South Tucson and Marana.
The casino revenue pays for most of social services.
Elsa Valenzuela,"If the tribe, Tribal Council, if we didn't have these services I think a lot of Seniors would have to go outside to seek that need and a lot of them would not because of the cultural sensitivity. They know that their people are serving them and we're willing to go that extra mile for them."
Angelique Valenzuela, "A number of different calls coming in. A lot of times it's the same predicament. They're seasonal workers, construction trade. Folks who had a job with companies for an umber of years and they're getting laid off. Businesses are closing and it's impacting the tribe as a whole."
The Tribe has also prepared for the Baby Boomer Generation.
Elsa Valenzuela,"Because of the cost of the rising cost of food, seniors need more hot meals."
More than 350 Seniors living on and off the Reservation take advantage of the Senior Center every single day.
Elsa Valenzuela, "Culturally sensitive also to be one-on-one with the seniors. They really don't like to do things online or anything or over the phone. We want to reach out to them."
A little help goes a long way.
The center provides a daily workout and two hot meals a day. {
David Dominguez, Head Chef, "Today is our traditional meal. Trying to keeping our seniors happy. We give them the quality of life."
"We have the traditional red chile con carne. We have the rice, the beans and we have the traditional black eyed beans."
David Dominguez is the head chef and prepares the daily meals.
And although today is traditional food day, a special treat, the rest of the week's food is made special for those living with Diabetes, a disease predominant among Yaquis.
The nation says they also been bombarded with calls from others in the community looking for help. But the Nation can only help Tribal members when it comes to financial assistance.
Here's the financial break down per household, per year.
Tribal Members can receive up to $300 in food vouchers.
$150 for utilities. Exceptions are made for medical emergency situations involving homes with life-saving medical equipment.
And rent or mortgage assistance.
Each case is evaluated individually. Tribal Members work with community organizations to get families back on their feet.
