Event
Sunday, April 22, 2018
8:30 am – Arrive; meet in Chambers
8:45 am – walk to lawn of the community center
9:00 am – Touch the Earth
9:00 am – 12:00 pm – Trash Pick-up in the Plaza
All are Welcome!
Recent News
Good Luck to our Mescalero Lady Chiefs!
New Mexico High School State Tournament
Mescalero Lady Chiefs posing for a picture after the entire school hosted a pep rally to send the team off to Bernalillo.
President, Arthur “Butch” Blazer and Vice President, Gabe Aguilar shared encouraging words to the team and their fellow peers.
Captains Katelyn, Fallon, and Tunte thanked everyone for their love and support to the team.
Before the girls started on the road, some of our tribal and cultural leaders spoke closely with them about taking care of one another and reassured them that the community is supporting them along the way.
Our Lady Chiefs will play March 6, 2018 in Bernalillo at 8 p.m. against the Lordsburg Lady Steers in the Quarterfinals of Class 2A bracket.
2018 Tribal Inauguration
Mescalero, NM
The Mescalero Tribal Inauguration was nothing short of monumental. The convention center at the Inn of the mountain gods was packed full of eager tribal members and guests wanting to welcome the newly elected tribal leadership.
This year, as a result of the 2017 general election, women are the majority within the tribal council.
General Manager of Mescalero Apache Telecom Inc., Godfrey Enjady, emceed the event. Mr. Enjady helped the program run accordingly in which he did an exceptional job. At certain points during the program, he had the chance to share anecdotal stories about some of the elected individuals. The feeling of family and community was in the air.
Mescalero’s Post 48 started the agenda with posting of the colors and as per usual, doing so with pride.
Miss Mescalero, Autumn Pilcher shared a few encouraging words and announced special guests from across the state who were in attendance.
The youth of Mescalero also helped the event to be special. Turquoi Garcia, a student at ENMU-Portales, sang the national anthem and the Mescalero boys basketball team said the pledge of allegiance.
Chief Judge Monteau
Instead of the oath of office being recited one by one, expectation took a back seat. All six individuals stood and repeated the oath of office simultaneously with the help from Chief Judge Monteau.
New and returning members of the Tribal Council, Vice President and the new President took time to speak about hopes for the tribe’s future. One occurring theme that was mentioned in each speech was unity.
Vice President, Gabe Aguilar mentioned working together with surrounding towns and villages like Ruidoso, Tularosa, and Alamogordo. Economically helping one another’s town or village may help our tribe in return.
Gabe Aguilar, Vice President
Some of the speeches were a reminder for tribal members to continue being a contributing member to the tribe in order to improve all aspects of our future. As councilwoman, Helen Klinekole said, “fulfill your responsibility as a tribal member.”
“We all have something valuable to offer to the team (tribal government and tribal members)” as stated by councilwoman, LeClaire Gayton.
The idea of teamwork was mentioned numerous of times. Council members, Vice President and the President had a collective understanding of what it takes to come together and work for the best interest and welfare of the Mescalero Apache tribal members.
Like councilman Fernando Rocha Sr. explained, “We will get our tribe back on top of the world. We will work as a team and communicate with all tribal members – we will work for you. “
Arthur “Butch” Blazer, President
When asked why Mr. Blazer competed for the seat as tribal President, he said, “It was for my love and willingness to help my people.” Mr. Blazer joins the office with a great deal of knowledge in natural resources, amongst other things. Not to mention his many business relationships with various distinguished leaders at the tribal, state and government level. “I will use the resources I know to help our tribe.” said Mr. Blazer.
The Tribal Council, Vice President and President maintain five committees within the tribal government realm: Butch Blazer is chairman of the Executive Committee, Sandra Platero is chair of the Tribal Programs Committee, LeClaire Gayton will continue being chair for Tribal Community Services Committee, Marilyn Blaylock is chair of the Tribal Resources Committee, and Pascal Enjady is chair of the Tribal Cultural Committee.
Each committee is assigned different responsibilities according to the type of committee they stand in. With exception of executive and cultural, all committees have three members.
With the new term beginning, returning and new tribal officials are eager to start helping and making decisions for the benefit of all tribal members.
Art students re-create classic billboard
Mescalero, NM
One of the well known billboards that greet visitors along the highway was recently covered with a new vinyl sign. Our high school students in Ms. Lane’s art class collaborated to redesign the classic billboard at the bottom of route 6.
The widely known billboard went through some major wear and tear resulting in the paint fading and tearing. One could say that the sign has been up for longer than 45 years; since the 70’s!
From that time, the billboard was repainted and covered with other vinyl signs. Ms. Lane and the students expect their sign to be up a lot longer.
When asked about having his art work on the recreated billboard, Nana Chee said, “It feels good.” He feels the sign will be up longer since the material is more durable to weather conditions.
When creating the billboard, the art students didn’t want to veer far from the original painting. The mountain, moon, crown dancer, and text are still apart of billboard but in a different format.
Mrs. Lane explained, “The students had to be introduced to the digital Photoshop realm dealing with computers, some students have never practiced digital formats such as the Adobe application.”
The mountains were Photo-shopped and added to an evening sky backdrop. The crown dancers were hand drawn by Nana Chee and digitally added in front of the mountains. The text, which is almost identical to the original billboard, was also digitally added. The moon and star were carefully discussed and designed according to Native tradition.
Ms. Lane plans to further the students’ knowledge in digital formatting with some help from new computers she hopes to obtain in her art classroom. Superintendant Charlie Sevedra also added that the art students will later cover the other remaining billboards located near the sawmill, Casino Apache Travel Center and on highway 244 near Cloudcroft.
Collaborative watershed restoration strategy plan signed by MAT and Forest Service partners
Mescalero Apache Tribe President, Danny Breuninger (middle) and BIA Mescalero Agency Superintendent, Charles Riley (left) with Otero Working Group and partners at the signing in Alamogordo, NM.
Alamogordo, NM
On August 23rd, Mescalero Apache Tribal President accompanied with the Superintendent of BIA-Mescalero Agency, signed the Southern Sacramento Mountain Watershed and Forest Restoration Strategy at the Lincoln National Forest Headquarters.
By signing this document, partners involved support the restoration and treatment of watersheds and forests in Otero County.
It took the Strategy Plan two years to complete by several forest service partners, including some from the Mescalero Apache Tribe.
According to the Strategic Planning document, issues such as long-term drought , fires, lack of snow melt, and higher than normal temperatures have played a huge part in the watersheds and forests overall environmental health.
Hence, the critical call for collaborative efforts to treating vegetation through thinning and prescribed burning across the Southern Sacramento Mountains.
A good portion of the priority area that is imperative to the Strategic Plan is located on the reservation as well as surrounding areas like Cloudcroft, Tularosa, and Alamogordo.
The priority project area encompasses nearly 500,000 acres.
The Department of Resource Management and Protection (DRMP), representatives from the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and Bureau of Indian Affairs-Mescalero Agency, along with other Forest Service partners, were participants in a small group that met bi-monthly known as the Planning Group.
The Planning Group would serve to identify key strategies and steps needed to help the Otero Working Group (OWG) move forward in the collaborative effort of restoring watersheds and treating forests in the Southern Sacramento Mountains.
Five areas were defined by the OWG plus an additional area which totaled six areas of high priority identified by the OWG with the aid of the Planning Group.
Mescalero Apache Tribe President, Danny Breuninger (middle) and BIA Mescalero Agency Superintendent, Charles Riley (right).
For example, an area called Two Goats-High Rolls-Maruchi area has already started the vegetation treatment with regard to watershed restoration in the southwest area of the reservation.
The series of treatments to the surrounding areas will continue over multiple years according to the high priority areas listed by the OWG. Furthermore, the western edge of the reservation, described as Tularosa Creek by the OWG, will undergo vegetation treatment following the Two Goats-High Rolls-Maruchi treatment.
With the tribe participating in the Planning Group, they assisted the Otero Working Group’s (OWG) goal in bringing together stakeholders with an interest in restoring watersheds and treating forests in the Southern Sacramento Mountains to reduce the risks associated with catastrophic wildfires.
For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/lincoln/home
“On behalf of our people, our homeland and our way of life”
In early spring of this year, the 2017 Tribal Council voted in favor of Resolution 17-51 in which the tribal council recognizes the importance of traditional blessing ceremonies to the vitality and well-being of the Mescalero Apache people.
With this, in the next four years, the Tribal Council wishes to sponsor a Blessing Feast at each sacred mountain: Sierra Blanca, Guadalupe Peak, Tres Hermanas Mountains, and Oscura Mountain Peak.
Beginning this fall, the Tribal Council will sponsor the first Blessing Feast, in regards to Resolution 17-51, at tséí chíyá (Guadalupe Peak).
To kick off the journey back to tséí chíyá, a Blessing Run will start on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Mescalero and end Friday, September 15, 2017 at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park near the Pine Springs Visitor Center.
The Blessing Run will be about 180 miles to the Guadalupe National Park and all Mescalero runners are invited to participate. With over 10 miles of trail run at the end, Mescalero’s most experienced runners are strongly invited to participate.
Meanwhile, the Blessing Feast will be September 15 & 16, 2017 at the Guadalupe National Park near the Pine Springs Visitor Center.
Although, there are no hotels or gas stations within close range of the visitor center, camping and RV camping is highly recommended. With a water station onsite, feast goers could bring refillable water bottles since there is no water for sale; extra food and snacks is encouraged.
The Mescalero Apache Tribal Council, Vice President and President urge tribal members to be involved in this spiritual journey as much as they are able to now, and in the next four years.
The Blessing Feast and Run is a chance for tribal members to reconnect with the original Apache homelands and continue the prayer strength of the Mescalero Apache people and their way of life.
“This focus will allow us to never forget its special meaning to our ancestors and to continue to pass along that meaning for our generation and generations to come.” Danny Breuninger, Mescalero Apache Tribal President.
For your convenience, below is a map of where the blessing feast will take place.
Any tribal member runners willing to participate in the Blessing Run on September 14 & 15, 2017 must sign release forms before the run. These forms can be picked up and returned to Elaina Via at the Mescalero Tribal Offices.
Also, public transportation to and from the feast grounds near the Pine Springs Visitor Center is available. Two transportation vehicles will depart from Mescalero at noon and 12:30 pm on Friday, September 15, 2017. All public transportation vehicles will return to Mescalero Sunday, September 17, 2017. Sign up is required prior to departing, please sign up for public transportation with Elaina Via at the Mescalero Tribal Offices.
Community members who wish to “send off” the runners on Thursday, September 14th are greatly encouraged to do so! All runners will be gathered at the Mescalero Community Center at 9am.
For more information about the Blessing Feast, Blessing Run, or transportation, call the Mescalero Tribal Offices at 575-464-4494.
Mescalero students observed NASA Human Rover Challenge in Alabama
NASA’s engineering design challenge focuses on NASA’s current plans to explore planets, moons, asteroids and comets — all members of the solar system family. The NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge was held March
30 – April 1, 2017, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and is open to high schools, college students and various countries. The challenge focus on designing, constructing and testing technologies for mobility devices to perform in these different environments, and it will provide valuable experiences that engage students in the technologies and concepts that will be needed in future exploration missions.
Rovers were human-powered and carry two students, one female and one male, over a half-mile obstacle course of simulated extraterrestrial terrain of craters, boulders, ridges, inclines, crevasses and depressions.
Each student team consists of six members and they are responsible for building their own rover, and the two course drivers must be chosen from the team.
Team members for next years challenge will be:
Jeremy Begay – Team Captain
Cedric Barcus
Derald Begay
Eulalia Peganse
Andrea Valenzuela
Roann Blake
Team School Sponsors: Nate Raynor and Myra Mendez
The team did an outreach to Sandia National Lab and Adamandios Manoussakis an Electrical Engineer volunteer to help our team build for next years challenge.
We will be doing some fundraising to help get the team to Huntsville next year. For more information on how to help, please contact Mr. Raynor or Myra Mendez at the Mescalero Apache Schools.
Mescalero Apache Foster Home Licensing Program
Make a Difference in a Child’s Life Today!
We are a locally operated program that equips, trains, and licenses foster parents from Mescalero, Otero and Lincoln Counties to Foster children and youth from the Mescalero Reservation.
Do you have the desire and the ability to provide a safe and stable environment to a child in need of foster care?
If so, these are the steps;
- Application – call, email, or come by our office and get an application. Fill it out and get it back to us as soon as possible.
- We will conduct an orientation with you explaining the process and what foster care entails.
- Finger prints and background checks – we are required to have all foster parents complete the finger printing process and sign a release of information for background checks.
- Home study – this is a detailed document that covers your history, your upbringing, your motivation to parent, your relationships, your home, and other information pertaining to your background and lifestyle.
- Training – all prospective parents are required to participate in the parent training. This usually starts during the home study process. The training is geared to give foster parents resources, tools and behavior management skills for parenting a foster child/children.
- License – once you have completed the requirements of becoming a foster parent you will be officially licensed.
Do you want to affect a child’s life in a positive way? Call now and begin a journey that is rewarding and will change a child’s life!
We are members of NICWA. The National Indian Child Welfare Association improves the lives of American Indian children and families by helping tribes and other service providers implement services that are culturally competent, community-based, and focused on the strengths and assets of families.
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday closed
P.O. Box 228
107 Sunset Loop Mescalero, NM 88340