The Next Four Years
My Plan and Priorities
“The masters tools of colonization will not work to decolonize what the master built. Our challenge is to fashion new tools for the purpose of decolonizing and Indigenous tools that can revitalize Indigenous knowledge.” (Newcomb, 2008)
I often return to this quote because it inspires me, I hope it inspire you too. It's about self determination, sovereignty, the values and knowledge of our ancestors. As part of the new council, I plan to utilize the logic of this quote in my work ethic to fashion new tools and revitalize our Indigenous knowledge. Let's not restrict ourselves, or allow ourselves to be governed by the parameters the feds or others try to confine us to. We can do things the Yaqui way, it has been demonstrated that culture and identity can have beneficial healing and protective factors. Let'a create the tools that will protect our community against disease, violence, climate change, and threats to tribal sovereignty and the wellbeing of our society. Let’s do it our way, the Yaqui way. Hantevu! Let's go! Vote Minnie!
I am excited about the work to be done! In the next four years I plan to continue ensure that our gaming enterprises are thriving. Its important to our economy, it funds most of our programs and services. I will continue to work on the key areas that affect us like our health and social services programs, education, public safety and housing. Furthermore, I will also address our Tribal enrollment and take the necessary steps towards changing the criteria for enrollment, its crucial to our Yaqui lineage for the next 7 generations.
I also plan to continue and expand upon the following projects I have been gaining momentum during my time on Council.
Diabetes, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, & Prevention and Cancer: Without our health what do we have? There are so many things to address but diabetes continues to be a big problem for us and it often becomes debilitating robbing us of our mobility, sight, and quality of life we used to know. But it does not have to be that way, it can be better. I plan to continue supporting the work on Diabetes prevention and interventions, and look at new ways and innovative ways to treat it. What can we do different? I also will work to expand more prevention Guadalupe with opening of the health center with community based interventions in early childhood programs. I will also address mental health, substance abuse and preventions services to develop more prevention and treatment models in substance and mental health services using our traditional healing practices, land healing, and active lifestyles. Finally, its important we talk about cancer. We can develop a Cancer plan and work with our community, this will get us to the next steps and help facilitate the path towards addressing it. This year I worked with the UA Cancer Center to host a Cancer Conference. I also worked with Dr. Felina Cordova at the UA College of Public Health to introduce our Youth Move leaders to scientific research and methodology around the topic of breast cancer with Indigenous people. It's vital that our young leaders have opportunities to learn and grow with us, I work to create it for them.
PYDC and SPC: I have been serving as President of the Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation since 2019. Within PYDC is Sonoran Pueblo Contracting (SPC). I have been an advocate for both through its ups and downs because I believe in them. We are the only Tribe in Arizona with a Section 17 corporation and 8A status. We can bid for federal contracts that others can’t and we are landing them. We have contracts across the other Tribal nations, locally and the opportunities are great. We are creating jobs the skilled workforce, future careers for architects, project managers; and we are helping Indian owned entrepreneurs and small businesses through subcontracting with them. As a Nation, we must diversify our economy beyond gaming and think big! When we invest in diversification, and we must stick to the investment for the long term, because that investment is an investment in our people. They will be successful, do not doubt our Yaqui determination and the will of our workforce. PYDC and SPC are on the cusp of greatness, and we should be there with them! I look forward to working with them and on their expansion with economic development.
Yaqui Vote: I plan to continue building the momentum and culture of voting, I am passionate about this, because elected offices create polices, decide budgets, and pass laws that affect our lives. Elected leaders in D.C., the statewide, and in all areas of the public sector should understand tribal sovereignty, self-determination and tribal consultation. In 2016, I helped organized and lead the Yaqui Vote campaign, registering voters, providing voter education presentations and taking every opportunity to get out the Yaqui Vote for the general election. I believe in our Yaqui voice, they should be heard, honored and respected. Our votes, tell a story, make a difference, and shape our future.
Rising Stars: This project is a partnership with the UA, Learning Undefeated, Education and Health Division. It's an early intervention educational program aimed at developing a pipeline for future health professionals. This project introduces a Yaqui Indigenous knowledge based STEAM curriculum. In October 2023 we held an event to showcase the project, and invited high school and middle school students to learn more about the project and the mobile lab from Learning Undefeated. The mobile lab will allow us to teach these Indigenized science courses at any of our communities encouraging students into STEAM careers. Introducing STEAM to the middle school is a win win, regardless of their ultimate career choice. The pipeline of medical providers doctors, pharmacist, nurses, public health experts and other medical professionals will improve our health status, I believe representation matters! We must invest in STEAM education for the next generation, we need them, they will be our healers, our care takers, making decision with us about our health. They will be responsible for our healthcare, let's hope the work we invest in today, we can rest assured that the health care is balanced with state of art science and culturally appropriate practices in medicine.
Pathways to Better Health: With the support of the Tribal council, I have been working with Lawerence Middle School, Community Development, Pima County and other partners to develop the Black Wash Flood area into a Green Space learning area. This came out of a conversation with the principal to improve safety for the student walking to school. The intent is to respect the natural environment, and use its value as a learning space to teach our students. It is full of beauty and wonder. Last year, we had a clean up, and people shared heart felt stories about going to the Wash at their lowest points in life. But at the clean up, they experienced something different. They experienced the healing power of the land. The desert welcomes you. The aromas of the plants will lure you in, and its sandy riparian trails curving under canopies of mesquite trees will lead you to a places of good medicine. Take the time to take it in. Listen, appreciate, the sound of birds, bees, or nothing at all. There is a lot to be learned from our land. We must to protect it so our next generations can experience this medicine too. That's why, I will continue to work on this project, and propose to do more like this. Go outside, know your environment, respect it, and share it for our future generations.
Climate Resiliency: Climate, Food, Energy and Water
Data Sovereignty, Research, Innovation and Technology
About Minnie
About Minnie
About Minnie
About Minnie
Ms. Herminia “Minnie” Frias was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona with her parents the Juan and Lupe Frias, five siblings Juan Jr., Ramon, Dolores, Lupe and brother Gabriel (Gavey). Her father died in March 2020, and Gavey, her brother died by homicide on January 1, 2007. They are both very much missed.
When Minnie is not working, she loves to unwind by spending time with her family, riding her bike, exploring the desert, or taking walks with her dog Petri. She also likes to read to learn new stuff or historical novels.
Education
About Minnie
About Minnie
Minnie was the first of her family to graduate college with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry in 1999 and Master of Public Health in 2008, both from the University of Arizona.
She is an advocate for education, and believes that different types of education and training are necessary to build a thriving society and robust economy. Therefore professional degrees along with skilled labor certificates should be encouraged and financially supported.
Early Federal Experience
Early Federal Experience
Early Federal Experience
Minnie loves learning. After graduating from college in 1999, she was proud work with her nation, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe as a social worker. From 2002 to 2003, she was one of three Native Americans selected nationwide to participate in the Kaiser Family Foundation Health Policy Fellowship Program. This was a prestigious professional development program aimed at introducing participants to federal policy, analysis, and advocacy. She spent a year working with Congressman Tom Udall (today Ambassador Udall) as a Congressional Fellow,
experiencing the federal policy process in Washington, D.C. Her experience inspired her to return home and combine her passion for public health with policy leading her to dedicate her life to public service.
Work Experience
Early Federal Experience
Early Federal Experience
Her love of learning has allowed Minnie to successfully adapt to change. She was honored to serve as Chairwoman for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe from 2004-2007. During her work as an administrator for the University of Arizona and Executive Director for Native Images, Inc. she has become seasoned in executive management, project management, fundraising, and non-profit administration. In 2010, she joined the Native Nations Institute (NNI) for Leadership, Management and Policy team. At NNI, she worked with the 23 Native Nations of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota in governance systems analysis, constitution reform, and leadership development. Later, she joined Blue Stone Strategy Group, a consulting group, where she worked primarily with Native Nations from Arizona, Florida, Oregon and Washington assisting them with organizational analysis and strategic planning. Before being elected to Tribal Council, in worked for the Arizona Oral Health Initiative promoting oral health with the Tribal nations throughout Arizona.
Boards and Committees
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
For the past 8 years I have served as the Chairwoman for the PYT Health Oversight Committee. This is the largest division within our government and it has providing a wide range of direct and preventative services. Most recently, the PYT Health has begun the construction of a health care center in Guadalupe expected to open in September 2024. It's needed to address the growing population and the dire needs to for diabetes, nursing, dental, a fitness room and prevention services. We have also taken over our Pharmacy, opened up the New and Improved Boys and Girls Club, and are opening the Micro Market in New Market to have fresh produce and affordable available on reservation. This is just the beginning.
President PYDC
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
The Pascua Yaqui Development Corporation (PYDC) was established in 2018 by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe as a federally chartered Section 17 corporation. Its purpose is to diversify and strengthen the Tribe’s economy.
NIH THRO Tribal Advisory Council Chair
Pascua Yaqui Health Division Oversight Chair
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
The NIH Tribal Health Research Office is dedicated to building research partnerships for healthy Tribal Nations. In all we do, we acknowledge the enduring hope, resiliency, wisdom, and strengths of American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country.The NIH Tribal Health Research Office is dedicated to building research partnerships for healthy Tribal Nations. In all we do, we acknowledge the enduring hope, resiliency, wisdom, and strengths of American Indian and Alaska Native communities across the country.
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
CDC/ATSDR strongly supports and respects tribal sovereignty and self-governance for tribal nations in the United States. The CDC/ATSDR TAC advises CDC/ATSDR on policy issues and broad strategies that may significantly affect AI/AN communities.
TIBC Western Area Delegate
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
Eller Executive Education Advisory Board
The Tribal/Interior Budget Council (previously the Bureau of Indian Affairs/Tribal Budget Advisory Council) was established in 1999 to facilitate tribal government participation in the planning of the BIA budget and includes two tribal representatives from each of the 12 BIA regions.
The mission of the TIBC is: to provide an advisory government-to-government forum and process for Tribes and the Department to develop budgets that allow for the fulfillment of tribes' self-determination, self-governance, sovereignty, and treaty rights, as well as sufficient levels of funding to address the needs of Tribes and their tribal citizens
Eller Executive Education Advisory Board
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC)
Eller Executive Education Advisory Board
As the fastest progressing, globally ranked executive education provider in the Financial Times rankings, we’re passionate about disrupting traditional executive education. By exploring the latest science in leadership development, modern business management theory, and contemporary learning design, we help organizations discover new ways to lead, manage, and innovate.
IRes Advisory Board
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
Vision: We see a world in which Indigenous communities are thriving and adaptable to meet environmental and societal challenges.
The Indigenous Resilience Center (IRes) is supported by the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice. IRes is part of the Arizona Institute for Resilience and aims to position the University of Arizona as a world leader in Indigenous resilience research, education, and outreach. Dr. Karletta Chief (Diné), Director of the Indigenous Resilience Center, explains, “The Indigenous Resilience Center is the University of Arizona’s commitment to giving back to local tribes who have stewarded this land for millennia. Tribes have endured and sacrificed so much in terms of land loss and social and environmental impacts, much at the hand of the United States. Universities have benefited from this through their physical infrastructure and have a responsibility to be a bridge — to ethically address the challenges those communities face in ways that build trust and transparency.”
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
The SW CASC acknowledges that Tribes not only in the Southwest, but across the nation are leading the way in addressing climate change through adaptation planning and mitigation efforts. The innovative strategies influenced by traditional knowledge will advance the actions taken to address climate change. The SW CASC continuously works to collaborate, partner, and support Tribes in their efforts. We describe our strategy for collaborating with our Tribal partners in our Tribal Engagement Strategy. Additionally, an incredible resource for anyone working with Tribes is a recently published guide to Building Authentic Collaborations with Tribal Communities. This guide was developed by SW CASC partners at the Climate Science Alliance (CSA), and was created from conversations at SWAF 2021, which was co-hosted by the SW CASC and CSA.
Wassaja Advisory Center
SWCASC UA, Advisory Board Member
Wassaja Advisory Center
The Wassaja Carlos Montezuma Center for Native American Health is an Indigenous-led framework to empower and heal Indigenous families using a culturally appropriate holistic approach. Indigenous knowledge and data will be protected through law and policy. We envision engagement and understanding between European Centric and Indigenous systems to advance health and social justice outcomes for Indigenous peoples.