Arizona Indian Council on Aging

The Arizona Indian Council on Aging (AICOA) currently serves as the Advisory Council for the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., (ITCA) Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Region 8.  AICOA is organized to promote and advocate for the interests of the elderly population of the member Tribes of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc.

The formation of AICOA originated in 1976, when the first national Indian conference on aging was held on June 15-17, in Phoenix, Arizona.  It was here, American Indian Tribes and urban Indian organizations recognized the need to maintain a continuing advocacy effort on behalf of their elderly, by establishing the National Indian Council of Aging (NICOA) on June 17, 1976.

AICOA meets on a quarterly basis and its Advisory Board is comprised of ‘Board Members’ and ‘Alternate Board Members’ from each of the 21 Member Tribes of ITCA.

AICOA ACTIVITIES
Quarterly Meetings March, June, September and December
29th Annual AICOA Conference The next conference is scheduled for 2023
Facilitate Public Hearings October – November
Promote Elder Issues at Tribal, State and Federal Levels
  • Monthly Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging (GACA) Meetings
  • January – Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day
  • March – ITAA Congressional Week

THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965—Important Policy for Elders

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA), Area Agency on Aging (AAA), Region 8 is a designated “Agency” under the guidelines of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (OAA).

  • This law empowers the Agency to assess the needs of older persons within the planning service area.
  • This law enables the Agency to receive state and OAA funding: Title III, Title VI and Title VII.
  • This law allows the Agency to subcontract with member Tribes of ITCA to provide services for Title III and Title VII elders age 60 and over, disabled individuals and family caregivers residing in Arizona.
  • This law supports the Agency to subcontract with member Tribes of ITCA to provide services for Title VI Indian elders who are 55 and over.

AICOA Bylaw

Executive Officers

President

Brenda Kyyitan, Gila River Indian Community

Vice President

Jeryle Reina, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Secretary

Vacant

Member At Large

Sally Aday, San Carlos Apache Tribe

Board Members & Alternates

Tribe

Board Member
Term

Alternative
Term

Ak-Chin Indian Community

Mildred Narcia
2018-2022

Vacant
-

Cocopah Indian Tribe

Cynthia Villanueva
2019-2023

Frances Evanston
2018-2023

Colorado River Indian Tribes

Vacant
-

Vacant
-

Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation

Carol Kimble
2020-2024

Margaret Bennett
2020-2024

Fort Mojave Indian Tribe

Vacant
-

Vacant
-

Gila River Indian Community

Brenda Kyyitan
2017-2021

Vacant
-

Havasupai Tribe

Vacant
-

Daisy Bartholmew
2020-2024

Hopi Tribe

Martha Mase
2019-2023

Vacant
-

Hualapai Tribe

Barbara Tinhorn
2021-2025

Carrie Imus
2021-2025

Kaibab Band of Paiute Tribe

Ila Bullets
2018-2022

Claudina Teller
2018-2022

Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Vacant
-

Teresa Escalante
2019-2023

Quechan Indian Tribe

Lou Jean Vega
2018-2022

Yvonne Vance
 2018-2022

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Jeryle Reina
2018-2022

Iris Andreas
2018-2022

San Carlos Apache Tribe

Sally ADay
2019-2022

Vacant
-

San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe

Vacant
-

Vacant
-

Tohono O’odham Nation

Leticia Laborion
2021-2025

Amelia Miguel
2021-2025

Tonto Apache Tribe

Vacant
-

Vacant
-

White Mountain Apache Tribe

Arman Baha
2019-2023

Vacant
-

Yavapai Apache Nation

Vacant
-

Vacant
-

For more information on the Arizona Indian Council on Aging contact:

Roxanne Thomas, AAA Program Specialist II
Roxanne.Thomas@itcaonline.com