January 8, 2024 All Tribal Employees can go home due to the weather.

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Indian Health Service and the National Cancer Institute’s Smokefree.gov Initiative, have launched SmokefreeNATIVE — a new, free text messaging program to help American Indian and Alaska Natives to quit smoking commercial tobacco. 

Mobile health tools like SmokefreeNATIVE are advantageous as they have the potential to reach more people than other behavioral interventions and are often less costly. SmokefreeNATIVE was culturally adapted from SmokefreeTXT, a text message program that has been used by more than 480,000 people who want to quit smoking.

It was developed by and for Native people to offer a culturally aligned, digital resource to improve access to evidence-based smoking cessation support. SmokefreeNATIVE braids together smoking cessation support with key themes and content reflecting American Indian and Alaska Native cultural experiences, worldviews, and traditions. 

SmokefreeNATIVE offers 6 weeks of smoking cessation assistance and support with up to two weeks of preparation messages. People who smoke and are ready to set a date to stop can enroll online or by texting NATIVE to 47848. Participants will receive three to five messages each day with culturally-relevant information, encouragement, and support to help guide them on their journey to a smoke-free lifestyle. More information is available in the IHS Blog.

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Conservation Officers Ryan Martinez and Christian Silva participated in the “Shop with A Cop” this past Saturday at Walmart in Alamogordo. This event was sponsored by Southern New Mexico Thrive Program and local Otero County Law Enforcement Officers. Awesome job, officers!

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, December 12, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) announced a $480,000 investment for the Mescalero Apache Tribe from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program to improve wildlife crossings along US-70. 

“I am so pleased to welcome this investment that will allow the Mescalero Apache Tribe to improve safety and reduce dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions along US-70. Most every New Mexican welcomes the chance to see wildlife from their car window. But none of us want to experience that heart-stopping moment when a large animal darts in front of their car,” said Sen. Heinrich. “Building overpasses and underpasses specifically designed to give animals a safe place to cross busy highways has proven to be an effective way to reduce dangerous vehicle-wildlife collisions. Projects like this are exactly why I worked so hard to establish a first-of-its-kind $350 million Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program when Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.” 

“It is critical outdoor spaces are made with wildlife and public safety in mind,” said Sen. Luján. “That’s why I’m proud to welcome this investment to the Mescalero Apache Tribe to develop and maintain wildlife crossings. Wildlife plays a significant role in our state’s natural landscape and culture, and by investing in conservation efforts, this helps ensure the health and future of wildlife populations.”

“Coexisting with wildlife in mountainous regions, national forests, and Tribal lands means that we must reduce the chances of accidents and fatalities that often end in tragedy or unnecessarily reduce wildlife populations,” said Rep. Vasquez. “I’m pleased to announce $480,000 that will go directly to help the Mescalero Apache Tribe reduce these collisions and conflicts and protect people, wildlife and property from dangerous and far-too common vehicle collisions.”

In April, Sen. Heinrich welcomed U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to New Mexico, where he announced that his agency was opening up applications for the $350 million Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program that Heinrich helped to secure as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This project also builds on Rep. Vasquez and Sen. Heinrich’s efforts to address wildlife corridors in the upcoming Farm Bill. Vasquez and Heinrich are working on legislation that allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide more resources and incentives for land stewards to increase habitat connectivity and wildlife movement as well as build off successful virtual fencing initiatives. 

DOT awarded a total of $480,000 in funding to the Mescalero Apache Tribe US-70 Wildlife Vehicle Collision Mitigation Feasibility Project. The project represents a much-needed investment into wildlife corridors to help prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, support animal migration patterns and reduce habitat fragmentation. 

“I want to thank President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for making this important investment in the Mescalero Apache Tribe,” said Mescalero Apache President, Gina Via. “Our Tribe has always prioritized public safety and promoted balance in living with our four-legged brothers and sisters. This cost-effective funding will reduce wildlife-related vehicle collisions and improve safety for our residents, visitors, and our wildlife.”

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Mescalero’s BIGGEST party is coming very soon!

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For December 13, 2023: $500 per tribal member

Checks will be distributed on the following schedule:

Deductions up to 50% of this dividend will be taken for CHILD SUPPORT in arrears and HARDSHIP LOANS past due.  

Check mailing information:

• Checks will be mailed on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 2:00 pm
• Checks will be mailed to out-of-town residents only
  • if you reside in Mescalero, Ruidoso, Tularosa or Alamogordo (locals) and would like your check mailed, please notify the Finance Department no later than Wednesday, December 13^th by 4:00 pm
• If you are an out-of-town resident and do not want your check mailed, please notify the Administrative front desk receptionists no later than Wednesday, December 13^th by 4:00 pm.  All address changes will need to be made with Crystal Lester as soon as possible
• Once the checks are placed in the mail, they become property of the US Postal service- we cannot go back and request for a check to be pulled or recovered

Returned checks:

• All returned checks will go directly to Tribal Finance
  • Please call Crystal Lester with any address changes
• Tribal Finance will then contact Crystal Lester for an updated address
  • If an updated address is not received, the check will remain in Tribal Finance until a new address has been received
• Once Tribal Finance receives the updated address, the check will be mailed out the next business day

Lost/stolen checks:

• If you lose a check or it is stolen, you will need to notify the Tribal Finance Department
• A request to place a stop payment will need to be completed. There is a $35 stop payment fee
• The stop payment takes approximately 3 business days
  • Once the stop payment has been approved, it will be re-issued the Friday after

Things to remember:

• Notes are accepted only with the approval of the President, Vice-President or designee.
• Please have an ID available, as the individuals distributing dividend may not know you and will need to verify your identity
• If you are under the influence, your check will not be distributed to you
• Early check releases cannot be accommodated

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding.

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