Hewel Ni’ok Network

KOHN 91.9 Sells
KOHH 90.7 San Lucy
KOHF-LP 101.1 Florence Community
KWAK-LP 102.5 San Xavier Community

Hewel Ni’ok manages and operates the Nation’s licensed radio stations through educational, cultural and local programming. Local programming provided by Hewel Ni’ok enhances the preservation of the O’odham himdag through the use of our language in public service announcements and community events; showcasing waila music; and engaging the Nation’s citizens in the governmental process with gavel to gavel coverage of the Tohono O’odham Legislative sessions.

Senior Management Staff of Hewel Ni’ok

The senior management staff of Hewel Ni’ok can be reached at:
Hewel Ni’ok
Post Office Box 837
Sells, Arizona 85634

Telephone: (520)361-5011
Fax: (520) 361-3931
Email: kohn@tonation-nsn.gov

General Manager – Sial Thonolig, sial.thonolig@tonation-nsn.gov

Station Manager, Full Power – Leeroy Antone, leeroy.antone@tonation-nsn.gov

Station Manager, Low Power – Maria Donahue, maria.donahue@tonation-nsn.gov

Governing Board

The Nation is a native sovereign nation governed under an adopted constitution. The constitutional government of the Nation is of a tri-branch system consisting of an Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branch. The Executive Branch operates under the direction of a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson elected at large by the citizens (members) of the Nation. The current Chairman and Vice Chairwoman of the Nation are:

Verlon M. Jose, Chairman
Carla L. Johnson, Vice Chairwoman

Both can be reached at:
The Office of the Chairman and Vice Chairwoman
Post Office Box 837
Sells, Arizona 85634
Telephone: 520-383-2028
Facsimile: 520-383-3379

The Legislative Branch consists of a Legislative Council, its Officers and associated staff. Legislative Representatives are elected at large from 12 separate political districts, two representatives per district. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Legislative Council are elected from within the council membership and additional officers may be appointed from outside of the body. For a complete list of the Legislative Representatives and contact information, please visit the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council web site at tolc-nsn.org.

The Legislative Council provides legislative oversight over the Executive and Judicial Branch through established committees. The Legislative Oversight Committees for Hewel Ni’ok are the Culture Preservation Committee for general issues and the Budget and Finance Committee for fund appropriations and fiscal matters. The complete listing of Oversight Committees and members can be found here.

Open Sessions of the Tohono O’odham Legislative Council

The Tohono O’odham Legislative Council meets as a full council during the first full week of each month, and then recesses to committee sessions for the rest of the month. The Legislative Council may, by legislative order, convene into special session. The current session calendar is available here. All issues relating to broadcast operations are addressed in open sessions and broadcast on Hewel Ni’ok Network.

Community Representation Statement

Hewel Ni’ok, operators and managers of the Tohono O’odham Nation’s licensed radio stations, is committed to representing the many voices of the Tohono O’odham Nation through entertainment, information and locally produced programming. While providing for these programs, the Hewel Ni’ok Network strives to reflect the cultural, musical and social nature that is the Tohono O’odham Nation. To meet these goals, Hewel Ni’ok will:

• Continue to assist in the preservation of the O’odham language with the production of local programming using the language in its interviews of citizens and community leaders;
• Continue to coordinate with the Nation’s departments, programs and communities to promote local cultural events, both in modern and traditional practices;
• Hire and employ staff fluent in the O’odham language to provide immersive language use in its daily programming;
• Hire and employ a staff with qualified knowledge of O’odham culture to give guidance on permissible cultural programming;
• Support the individual pursuit in academic, arts and sports achievement and recognition by showcasing these efforts on its Voices of the People programming.

Donor Privacy Policy

In accordance with federal and state laws regarding donor privacy and data security, Hewel Ni’ok, managers and operators of KOHN FM and KOHH FM, does not disclose donor information to third parties nor rent donor information to, or exchange such information with political organizations and/or candidates.

CPB Transparency Reports

Completed audits and CPB Annual Financial Reports are also available for public inspection during business hours at Hewel Ni’ok’s main studio located at Arizona State Route 86, milepost 92.4, Covered Wells, Arizona or can be requested by mail at the following address:

Contact Us

Hewel Ni’ok
KOHN 91.9 FM, KOHH 90.7 FM
Tohono O’odham Nation
Post Office Box 837 Sells, AZ 85634