D3 Elder Honored called a ‘Grandmother to Everyone’

January 20, 2017

Mikhail Sundust

Gila River Indian News

Corinne Escalante of District 3 was honored at an Elderly Concerns Meeting, held at Vee Quiva Casino, Jan. 11.

Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said Escalante “is someone who everyone calls their grandmother” and “the backbone of our community in District 3.”

Lewis commended Escalante for her volunteerism, helping with elections and being a leader in her church community.

“She’s been a die-hard supporter of our church, Sacaton Presbyterian Church,” he said before a room full of elders.

Escalante remains an active elder, who plays chair volleyball. Lewis said she is a great example to the youth, “to stay active, to enjoy life, to be a role model.”

Gov. Lewis presented Escalante with a Pendleton blanket and sealed it with a hug while her fellow elders stood in applause.

“I just want to give her a small token of appreciation [to show] how much she means to all of us, how much she means to her community.”

Humbly accepting the governor’s praise, Escalante said, “The only person that I can thank is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He’s the one that brought me here. I’ve been through cancer, I’ve been through deaths of my family, and He gave me the strength to go through all this. And I just praise Him and thank Him.”