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 2021 |
| Facilitate Public Hearings | October – November |
| Promote Elder Issues at Tribal, State and Federal Levels | |
|
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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.
Executive Officers
President
Barbara Tinhorn, Hualapai Tribe
Vice President
Jeryle Reina, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Secretary
Martha Mase, The Hopi Tribe
Member At Large
Brenda Kyyitan, Gila River Indian Community
Board Members & Alternates
Tribe |
Board Member
|
Alternative
|
|---|---|---|
Ak-Chin Indian Community |
Mildred Narcia
|
Cleo Narcia
|
Cocopah Indian Tribe |
Cynthia Villanieva
|
Frances Evanston
|
Colorado River Indian Tribes |
Geneva Moore
|
Vacant
|
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation |
Carol Kimble
|
Margaret Bennet
|
Fort Mojave Indian Tribe |
Vacant
|
Vacant
|
Gila River Indian Community |
Brenda Kyyitan
|
Robert Luna
|
Havasupai Tribe |
Thomas Siyuja SR.
|
Daisy Bartholmew
|
Hopi Tribe |
Martha Mase
|
Karolynn Piqosa
|
Hualapai Tribe |
Bonita Imus
|
Vacant
|
Kaibab Band of Paiute Tribe |
Ila Bullets
|
Claudina Teller
|
Pascua Yaqui Tribe |
Vacant
|
Teresa Escalante
|
Quechan Indian Tribe |
Lou Jean Vega
|
Yvonne Vance
|
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community |
Jeryle Reina
|
Iris Andreas
|
San Carlos Apache Tribe |
Sally Aday
|
Vacant
|
Tohono O’odham Nation |
Mildred Pablo
|
Willard Thomas
|
Tonto Apache Tribe |
Vacant
|
Vacant
|
White Mountain Apache Tribe |
Arman Baha
|
Marvin Kessay
|
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