Page 4 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - March - April 2020

4

Corrections a big step toward reaching goals

By Frazier Myer in the jail, Boyd without actually hurting him. He
has had the worked out and prepared himself
Chehalis tribal member Samuel opportunity to ‘If I can change one person’s every day while at academy. That,
Boyd started his career with the give advice to combined with cutting out sweets,
Public Safety Department after inmates and help life, then that makes the caused Boyd to lose 20 pounds
he was sworn in by Chief of Police them out. job worth it. One thing I try while in New Mexico.
Kelly Edwards on March 3. “It’s the small Something else he did every
Boyd grew up a majority things that I to tell inmates is to take day was make friends and create
of his life on the Chehalis Samuel enjoy,” Boyd things day by day.’ relationships with other officers.
Reservation. He played numerous Boyd said. Even if it’s Boyd was sent to the academy with
sports for Oakville High School just trying to fellow Chehalis Tribal Corrections
and represented the tribe in help someone that is expressing Artisia, New Mexico. Officer Althea Youckton.
tournaments. He has held many thoughts of doubt or depression, His biggest takeaway He said that during the time
different jobs for the tribe. which is common for people in from academy is to never get there, they became really good
On the government side, he jails. complacent or overconfident. Even friends. Boyd and Youckton
worked at the Community Center “If I can change one person’s though he is in the position to help became friends with two other
and convenience stores. He also life, then that makes the job worth inmates, he isn’t there to make officers at the academy. The four
worked at Lucky Eagle Casino & it. One thing I try to tell inmates friends and knows he must keep of them still talk every day.
Hotel in food and beverage for is to take things day by day,” Boyd his guard up at all times. Boyd hopes to one day become
many years. said. While at the Federal Law a police officer for the Chehalis
Boyd was manager at a Panera He said his personable skills Enforcement Training Center, Tribe.
Bread restaurant prior to coming help things operate easier within Boyd struggled at first. He had His work as a corrections
back and working for his tribal the jail and allow him to gain to remind himself that, “things officer is helping him gain
people. He was encouraged by a the respect of inmates. Boyd has are only as hard as you make it.” experience and knowledge. He
friend at a different facility to enter worked in the jail since July 2019 He took everything day by day views this opportunity as a step
the field. Boyd has an outgoing and said that his personality, to avoid becoming overwhelmed toward reaching his goals.
personality and loves working with physical structure and cultural during the six weeks. Everyone at the department
people. He wanted to find a way to knowledge make him a good fit for Boyd was exposed to defense has been instrumental in helping
use those qualities to help people in the job. He was able to add onto spray, stunned with a Taser and him improve every day and give
his own community. those skill sets during six weeks of learned various techniques to him the tools to handle situations
During his short time working training at the police academy in physically control an inmate that might occur in the jail.

Full-blooded Hopi: Time with tribe a privilege

By Frazier Myer an answer back is grateful for the opportunity to
from the Hopi work for the Chehalis Tribe and
Officer Jamie Lomahoynaya Rangers for a ‘It was always a goal of learn about its traditions and
became a member of the month or two, ways of life.
Chehalis Tribe Police so he decided to mine to pursue a career “I feel it is a privilege to get to
Department after his swearing- join the military. in law enforcement.’ know a different culture and the
in ceremony on March 3. Ironically, people,” Lomahoynaya said.
Lomahoynaya is a member the rangers He understands the
of the Hopi Native American Jamie accepted him miles and has a population of significance of different tribal
Tribe in northern Arizona. He Lomahoynaya when he was nearly 10,000 people. ceremonies that tribes hold
served in the U.S. Army until already about to When he started his job and is looking forward to
his retirement from the military leave for the Army. with the Chehalis Tribe, learning about practices held by
in 2013. The Army veteran was He followed through on his Lomahoynaya said his first indigenous people in the Pacific
deployed four times during commitment and joined the impression was that “it’s really Northwest.
his time of duty – twice to Army, but being a police officer small compared to the Hopi Because he works on
Afghanistan and another two still remained a goal in the back Reservation.” reservation lands, he says it’s a
times to Iraq. of his mind. He sees a lot of differences privilege to be able to do this.
“It was always a goal of Lomahoynaya explained that between the Chehalis Tribe Lomahoynaya is new to the
mine to pursue a career in law he already sought and applied and where he comes from. In region and would like to get
enforcement,” Lomahoynaya said. for a job with the Hopi law the professional realm, he is to know more about the area
He said that on the Hopi enforcement agency on his own learning tribal laws specific to and the native people. He looks
Reservation, they had a program reservation just before retiring the area; in the personal realm, forward to working for the
called the Hopi Rangers, a group from the military. He was offered he is enjoying the cultural and Chehalis Tribe and learning
similar to patrol work that deals and accepted the job opportunity tribal community. its ways. He said community
more with laws pertaining to where they serve and protect his Lomahoynaya acknowledges members should feel free to ask
cattle and livestock. homelands. The area is spread and respects that all tribes are him questions about the Hopi
Lomahoynaya didn’t receive out over more than 2,500 square unique and can be complex. He Tribe and its traditions.