Mescalero, NM. Engineering for US All (E4USA), a national initiative to bring engineering courses to high school students, is expanding its reach for the 2020-2021 academic year. Last fall, E4USA launched a novel engineering curriculum in high schools across the United States. This multi-institutional effort was initiated by five universities: Arizona State University, University of Maryland, Morgan State University, Vanderbilt University, and Virginia Tech. Mescalero Apache High school has recently become the newest E4USA high school partner and plans to bring the design based introductory engineering course to its students this fall.

The E4USA program aims to expand access to engineering for high school students, encourages them to see themselves as engineers, and helps them recognize the role of engineering in their everyday lives.

“I’ve learned the problem solving process, which is applicable to any field,” says one E4USA student at Brentwood High School in Tennessee. “I’ve also learned about working in teams.”

Although the program’s pilot year is still in progress, E4USA students are already positively impacting their communities. Students in one Pennsylvania high school have partnered with a local elementary school to make education more accessible for students. “My students and I have benefited greatly from our experience,” says their E4USA teacher, Jim Muscarella.

The E4USA program also fills a current gap in engineering education training by recruiting high school teachers of all disciplines. No prior engineering experience is required to become an E4USA teacher. In addition to intensive online and in-person professional learning opportunities for participating teachers, E4USA uses a partnership model that pairs high school teachers with engineering professors at local universities to provide support for the instruction of the course. Mescalero has partnered with University of New Mexico (UNM) to support Mr. Nate Raynor who will be teaching the inaugural E4USA course at Mescalero for the 2020-2021 school year.

I can’t wait to bring this program to our students. It will be a great learning tool for them, even if they decide not to go into the Engineering field, said Mr. Nate Raynor, Mescalero Apache School Science lead.

The E4USA curriculum is available to schools free of charge. Participating pilot teachers receive a stipend as well as funds to purchase classroom materials.

This year, E4USA has reached over 400 students, including several seniors who plan to study engineering and have been accepted to colleges like Drexel, NYU, Penn State, University of Tennessee, Auburn University, Temple University and Lehigh University. As a new E4USA high school partner, Mescalero Apache High school will help E4USA reach over 2,000 students in the 2020-2021 academic year.

E4USA is supported by the National Science Foundation. To learn more about E4USA, please visit e4usa.umd.edu. If you or your child is a student at Mescalero Apache School and would like to enroll in the E4USA course, please contact Nate Raynor at (575) 464-4431

Email: nraynor@mescaleroas.org

About Mescalero Apache School

Mission

The mission of the Mescalero Apache School is to execute a comprehensive educational program by placing strong emphasis on academic curriculum as measured by state, national, and Bureau of Indian Education standards, and to infuse the Apache language, culture, and traditions of the Mescalero Apache tribe.

In addition, the Mescalero Apache School will foster an environment where students, parents, staff, and the community are partners in the educational process and support system that will ensure that all students are prepared for post-secondary education and/or gainful employment upon graduation from the Mescalero Apache High School.

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MESCALERO, NM.

May 4, 2020.

Late last week, United States District Court Judge Ellen S. Huvelle issued an opinion upholding the National Indian Gaming Commission’s (“NIGC’s”) determination that the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma was not eligible to game in New Mexico. Fort Sill is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in Oklahoma that has land at Akela Flats, near Deming, New Mexico.

The Akela Flats land was donated to Fort Sill in the late 90s. Fort Sill tried to open a small casino on the land in 2008. The casino was shut down quickly by the NIGC. The NIGC determined that Fort Sill did not qualify under any of the exceptions to the general prohibition against tribes gaming on lands acquired after 1988 in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was enacted by Congress. After many years of arguing that they should be able to game at Akela Flats, Fort Sill took the NIGC to court because the NIGC would not reverse its decision. District Court Judge Huvelle dismissed each argument made by Fort Sill. As a result, Fort Sill will not be gaming in New Mexico any time soon.

President Gabe Aguilar commented: “We have a shared history as Chiricahua Apache but they chose to stay in Oklahoma and lost their connection to New Mexico. IGRA was not intended to allow tribes like Fort Sill to game hundreds of miles away. Fort Sill promised Mescalero they would not game here.” President Aguilar continued: “It is hurtful because we respected their decision to stay in Oklahoma. We always tried to help them because they lost so much of their culture. They know that a casino at Akela Flats would hurt us and yet they do not seem to care. And – they have a casino in Oklahoma already – how fair would it be to let them game here?”
The Chiricahua Apache were taken as prisoners of war in 1886. In 1913, the Chiricahua were given a choice: stay in Oklahoma or return to their homelands. The vast majority returned to New Mexico to live on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation and became a part of the Mescalero Apache Tribe. The Chiricahua that remained in Oklahoma became the Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma.

President Aguilar stated: “Fort Sill will probably appeal. But the Tribe is pleased with the court’s decision. With everything else going on…with the major economic pressures facing us given the coronavirus pandemic, Mescalero is relieved for this bit of good news.”

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More official Mescalero Apache Tribe COVID-19 updates here.

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13 weeks of extended Unemployment benefits now available!

All CARES Act benefits are 100% federally funded. Read more here.

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On April 27th, the Mescalero Apache Tribe President, Gabe Aguilar, wanted to help the Navajo Nation President Nez, Vice President Lizer and their people.

President Aguilar recently donated 2,000 masks on behalf of the Mescalero Apache Tribe to the Navajo Department of Health in Window Rock, AZ.

At the beginning of this month, the Tribe received thousands of masks with the help of Inn of the Mountain Gods and were fortunate enough to distribute those masks to Mescalero tribal members who were in need.

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please, continue to stay home and practice social distancing.

For official Mescalero Apache Tribe COVID-19 updates, click here.

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(April 27, 2020)– The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department Forestry Division, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service emphasize the importance of fire prevention and preparedness.

Know before you go. When planning your outdoor adventure always check for local closures and restrictions, which can change regularly. Variations in policies and mandates between tribal, federal, state, and local governments can cause some differences in the way restrictions are implemented. Visit nmfireinfo.com for current fire restrictions, as well as prevention and preparedness tips, and fire information. 

Do your part. Don’t let a wildfire start. The public plays a valuable role in preventing wildfires. On average in N.M., human-caused wildfires make up nearly half of all wildfire occurrences annually.  Many of our wildfires initiate from vehicle and equipment use as well as campfires, or debris burning on private property. Use and maintain spark arresters on equipment. Check with your local fire department or County Fire Marshal’s Office before burning and keep up to date with current conditions and weather forecasts. Only have campfires where they are allowed and put them out completely and only leave when it is cold to the touch. When target shooting, choose areas clear of dry grass and shrubs. Secure tow chains and check the condition of tires and brakes. Never pull your vehicle off the road into dry vegetation.

Prepare your home for wildfire. As we find ourselves spending more time close to home, take the time to evaluate the risk around your home and prepare for future wildfires. Taking individual responsibility to reduce flammable materials around homes and communities before a fire occurs can help keep property, the public, and firefighters safe. Rake up dead leaves or needles, pull weeds and mow lawns, trim up your trees, and move anything that will burn away from your home. Creating a buffer between your home and trees, shrubs, undeveloped spaces or other wildland areas, is essential to improving your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Not only can this space help slow or stop the spread of wildfire, it also provides a safe place for firefighters to defend your home if conditions allow.

It is up to all of us to make a difference. Contact your local fire department or land-management agency for more information or resources.

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The following are some general questions you might have.

Q: How often should a lawn be watered in summer?

A: 20 minutes, 3 times per week will get an inch of water on your lawn. 30 minutes 3 times per week will get 1 ½” water on the lawn.

Q: Is it OK to water lawn in the heat of the day?

A: Rapid evaporation makes watering in the middle of the day wasteful. The best time to water grass is in the early morning. Wind and heat are usually minimal at this time, and the majority of the water will reach the lawn.

Q: Why is watering grass at night bad?

A: If you water lawn at night in summer, the lack of evaporation provides time for the pathogens to infiltrate your grass. Morning watering allows time for evaporation and soil absorption, keeping foliage dry overnight. Overwatering any time of day, however, causes major lawn problems.

Q: Should I water my grass every day in the summer?

A: For best results, water your lawn thoroughly three times a week if we do not get significant rainfall. In hot, dry weather, water shrubs and flowers daily. Morning, around 6 to 8 a.m., is the best time to water.

Mescalero Utilities Department is asking tribal members to use water wisely when watering their lawns. If not, we can drain our storage water tanks rapidly which will take a couple of days to refill. This would also cause low water pressure and water shortages for the communities.

If you see a water break, please report water breaks to Mescalero Utilities Department at 575-464-4311.

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10% DISCOUNT offered on ALL GROCERY AND DELI SALES at the Mescalero Tribal Store during the furlough period.

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Staff at the Mescalero Tribal Administration offices touched the earth at 9 AM MT to honor Mother Earth.

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