New Tohono O'odham leader wants to heal nation

Wednesday, May 30, 2007  

Ned Norris, the newly elected leader of the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona, wants to spend the next four years healing his tribe.

Norris, a former social worker and former tribal judge, wants to improve education, housing and living conditions on the reservation. "You're talking about substandard housing, communities that don't have infrastructure, don't have running water, don't have electricity," he tells KOLD News.

Norris, who recently worked at the tribe's casino, also hopes to lure business to the reservation. "We really need to begin the process of creating other opportunities to generate revenue for the nation," he says.

Norris said he wants the federal government to address border and drug policy. "People are not feeling safe anymore within their own community," he says.

Norris takes office June 11. He defeated incumbent chairwoman Vivian Juan-Saunders for the post.

Get the Story:
Newly Elected Tohono O'odham Leader Talks With KOLD About Tribe Issues (KOLD News 5/30)

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A new leader for Tohono O'odham Nation (5/29)
Tohono O'odham Nation to hold general election (05/01)
Tohono O'odham Nation vice chairman to resign (6/28)