We are encouraging everyone to participate and honor our women…
The Parade Committee is still accepting parade entry forms for the 40th Annual Mescalero Apache Ceremonial Parade.
Download and print here >>40th Annual Parade Entry Form
Summer Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program would like you to know they are providing free meals this summer!
Starting June 3, 2019 through July 26, 2019
A & B Side ~ Lunch ~ 12pm-12:45pm
**Carrizo Comm. Center ~ Lunch & Snack ~ 12pm-12:45pm & 3pm-3:30pm
Carrizo Trails ~ Lunch ~ 12pm-12:45pm
**Mescalero Comm. Center ~ Lunch & Snack ~ 12pm-12:45 & 3pm-3:30pm
Pena Housing Playground ~ Lunch ~ 12pm-12:45pm
White Mt. Subdivision ~ Lunch ~ 12pm-12:45pm
**PM snack 3pm-3:30pm
Give Mescalero Boys & Girls Club (575-464-9212) or Carrizo Boys & Girls Club (575-464-6814) a call for more info!
New Event
Come Join Us in Mescalero!
Meeting with New Mexico Congress
National Congress of American Indians – Tribal Nations Policy Summit
The NCAI held the Tribal Nations Policy Summit in Washington D.C. early this year. Many tribes from across the Country attend in efforts of improving services and programs throughout Indian Country. Some of the Mescalero Tribal Council members attended and participated discussions and decision making.
Topics such as Native Vote, ICWA, Indian Energy Bill, Environmental Health, National Indian Education Association are just to name a few.
Tribal Fundraiser for New Mexico Representative Xochitl Torres Small with special guest Congressman Raul Grijalva from Arizona who is the House of Natural Resources Committee Chairman was held around the Capital Hill area. Some Tribal Council were in attendance at this fundraiser to continue their support for Rep. Torres Small and her hard work. Her efforts for our tribe and other tribes in New Mexico is non-stop, she is helping the tribe establish good working relationships with other non-Native services.
Meet and Greet with Democratic Senatorial Campaign
At the morning meet and greet with a few Senators, tribal leadership is welcomed to D.C. at the Stanley R. Crooks Tribal Leaders Conference Center in Capital Hill. Pictured is Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (middle) from Nevada. She introduced herself to the President, Councilman Brusuelas and Councilwoman Hosetosavit expressing her willingness to help our tribe and engaged in a discussion about tribal issues.
Early morning meeting with Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, Dept. of the Interior, Tara Sweeney
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs oversees and protects more than 55 million acres of trust land held by the U.S. for Native American and Alaska Native tribes while ensuring the federal government’s legal and treaty responsibilities to those tribes. This meeting was to discuss the planning steps of constructing a detention center. Having a detention center in Mescalero will make it more effective to use our own resources and, more importantly, help our people. This is what the President and Tribal Council members expressed to the Assistant Secretary. Moving forward, she encourages the construction of the detention to be done the right way and safe. “We want to be partners and you have my commitment.” Said Tara as the meeting came to a close.
Meeting with Senator Martin Heinrich
- Energy & Natural Resources Committee
- Armed Services Committee
- U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
- U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich is a positive role in helping the tribe improve. Recently, the granted 2018 Farm Bill provisions that will benefit the tribe was due, in part, to his active efforts in ensuring New Mexico tribes would be positively affected by the Farm Bill. He is also encouraging our efforts to host this year’s Blessing Feast near Oscura Mountain Peak, which is one of four sacred mountains. This year will be the third year, of four, in the Blessing Feast series. Senator Heinrich is also assisting the tribe in accommodating Mescalero BIA police with housing so that more applicants can be hired.
Meeting with Representative Xochitl Torres Small
- Armed Services Committee
- Homeland Security Committee
Representative Torres Small is also supportive in the tribe’s effort to hosting a Blessing Feast at each of the four sacred mountains. Rep. Torres Small gives her full support in helping the tribe work alongside other entities like the White Sands National Monument to help make this year’s Blessing Feast another success. She is also helping the tribe gain more knowledge about economic enterprise and what more the tribe can accomplish.
Meeting with USDA Undersecretary Jim Hubbard
Now that the 2018 Farm Bill is passed, it is time to do some work. Meeting with the USDA ensures the discussion and implementation of the 638 forestry provisions are going well and benefiting the tribe. Both the tribe and USDA are ready to hit the ground running on starting 638 projects. With the help from USDA on forest restoration and many other projects, more of our tribal members will be employed.
Meeting with Congressman Ben Ray Lujan’s Office
- House Energy & Commerce Committee
- Health Subcommittee
- Consumer Protection & Commerce Subcommittee
- Communications & Technology Subcommittee
Congressman Luján’s concern is making sure the USDA is knowledgeable about the provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill, specifically 638 contracting, that will benefit the tribe. After all, the tribe and Congressman Lujan wants success in the provisions. Having a detention center located in Mescalero is also rather important. Congressman Lujan is well aware of the tribes efforts to getting the detention center built and his goal is to have it done in a timely manner. He is also aware of the four year Blessing Feast series and is in support of the tribe hosting and gaining professional relationship with other entities. Congressman Lujan’s office feels the armed services and staff near Oscura will be more than willing to work with the tribe. Lastly, one of Congressman Lujan’s staffer created a task force to bring voting awareness to tribal communities in New Mexico – Mescalero included. If you recently became a registered New Mexico voter, his office may have helped you!
Meeting with Congresswoman Deb Haaland
- Vice Chair of Committee on Natural Resources
- Chair of Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
- Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States
- House Armed Services Committee
- House Subcommittee on Readiness
- House Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Congresswoman Deb Haaland continues to be a supportive role in the tribe’s efforts on forest restoration, Farm Bill 638 contracting provision, Blessing feast near Oscura Mountain Peak, detention center being built in Mescalero and the hiring of more BIA police at the Mescalero agency.
Meeting with Senator Tom Udall
- Appropriations Committee
- Foreign Relations Committee
- Commerce Committee
- Indian Affairs Committee
- Rules and Administration Committee
Senator Udall’s office is aware of the Farm Bill provisions and is providing any assistance to the tribe when needed. One of the goals the tribe has is to be the header of implementing the provisions and the tribe is happy to have Senator Udall’s support in doing so. The tribe can look to him for help on wildfire programs, youth in wildfire jobs, detention center being built in Mescalero, accommodating BIA police with housing in order to hire more officers, 2019 Blessing feast and tourist attractions during busy seasons at the Inn of the Mountains Resort & Casino and Ski Apache.
Are you an entrepreneur seeking funding? Don’t miss this opportunity!
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the stops for this year’s SBIR RoadTour. The Road Tour connects entrepreneurs working on advanced technology to program managers and program directors from the federal agencies that fund through the SBIR or its programs. If you are working on an innovative idea, and need to find funding to bring your innovation to the commercial market, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with key decision makers.
The NM FAST program is also proud to announce that Albuquerque will be one of the stops on this year’s tour. We’re planning a power house day of events and activities for August 14th, so check back for more information soon.
To learn more about the Road Tour, visit the site at: http://www.sbirroadtour.com/
Courtesy NM Fast Facebook page.
Tribal Education Program
VAWA Program receives FBI award
The Albuquerque FBI Division has presented the 2018 Director’s Community Leadership Award to the Mescalero Apache Tribe Violence Against Women Awareness Program (VAWA).
Started in 2015 as part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the program provides services to victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes as well as implements educational programs about domestic violence and human trafficking.
Each of the FBI’s 56 field offices annually selects an individual or organization to receive the award, which recognizes efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America.
VAWA Director Lola Ahidley has been invited to a ceremony in Washington, D.C., where FBI Director Christopher Wray will present her and other recipients with crystal awards.
“The Mescalero Apache Tribe Violence Against Women Awareness Program has greatly increased awareness of domestic violence and other crimes,” Albuquerque FBI Special Agent in Charge James Langenberg said. “The FBI is proud to recognize the hard work of those who are improving communication among victims, families, law enforcement, and the courts to help break the generational cycle of violence.”
Ahidley, who is Mescalero Apache, works with two assistants to offer free counseling to domestic violence victims and conduct no-cost community prevention and education on bullying, elder fraud, sex trafficking, and domestic violence.
VAWA meets regularly with U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) victim services specialists to staff cases and to provide for immediate needs not funded under BIA or FBI programs, such as lodging, clothing, hygiene items, and cellphones for victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.
VAWA attends arraignments for domestic violence victims in Mescalero Apache tribal court, and successfully requested to have an ordinance passed by the tribal government to allow advocates in court at the request of a victim.
The program recently sponsored a two-day “women’s self-defense training” seminar that was so popular that Ahidley has been asked to repeat it.
VAWA is conducting a program to raise awareness of human trafficking, especially around the tribe’s casinos and truck stops. They offer training for employees of those businesses and have put messages on billboards throughout the reservation.
More information about VAWA can be found at: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/mescalero-vaw/
AmeriCorps Vista members contributing to the community
Mescalero welcomes two AmeriCorps Vista members – Meredith and Hannah. They will be around the Mescalero community working and helping on several projects with some of our tribal departments. You may have already seen Meredith walking her dog!
Hi! My name is Meredith Bottino and I’m an AmeriCorps VISTA member working with Native Food Sovereignty Fellows. I’m originally from Connecticut but will be here in Mescalero for one whole year. I’m working with the Department of Resource Management and Protection and looking forward to getting to know this land and its people.
My goals for this year are to make traditional Mescalero Apache foods and healthy foods easier to access on the reservation, as well as to evaluate what the Mescalero community feel about food access. I hope to later start programs on the reservation to help allow the Mescalero Apache people to grow their own food, as well as make historical diet and food preparation common practice again. Traditional Native foods have been shown to be far healthier than diets introduced after the reservation system was enforced; so rebuilding that connection to the Mescalero Apache diet will not only improve health but also help preserve cultural knowledge. Food is power and a great way for a community to grow stronger is to work together to feed themselves with independent and sustainable food systems.
I want to know what food sovereignty means to you! Please reach out to me at [email protected], or come by DRMP if you would like to talk about food access or if you have any ideas about how to make your community and culture healthier through food. I’m very interested in learning how traditional meals are prepared and what traditional plants you would like to see made available on the reservation. If you have a recipe to share, I’d love to learn!
Thank you Meredith, lastly here is Hannah from Arizona.
My name is Hannah and I’m from Mesa, AZ. I’m very excited to be spending the next year here in Mescalero as an Americorps Vista volunteer. As a member of the Ancestral Lands program I’ll be working with the tribe, White Sands National Monument, and other agencies to ensure that the Apache people are able to manage and access their land in a way that best supports their wants and needs. I recently graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in English and Art Studio, but I focused my writings on environmental health. My interest in this area peaked at a young age when I learned about chemical dumping in the Tucson area. My mom grew up on a ranch in South Tucson, where the area was mostly rural and was used by multiple corporations as a dumping grounds. A toxic chemical got into the water supply of my family’s ranch and because of this my mom developed a brain tumor later in life. As a child this impacted my family and me greatly. It also made me aware of the connection between the environment and our health, and instilled in me the importance of giving the people a say in how their land is treated. I think a big part of ensuring that environmental degradations like this continue is creating a connection in our younger generations, instilling in them the benefits of healthy lands. During my time at UNM I learned about how these environmental health issues disproportionately impact Native communities. This year I hope to learn more about the people of Mescalero, their connection to the earth, and how I might be able to advocate with and support a community like this in my future career. If you have any ideas or questions feel free to reach out to me! You can contact me at [email protected].
What a great time to be an AmeriCorps Vista member – welcome to our community, ladies!
Let’s explore!
