Show I Lions Club Hears Ute Indian I Alcoholism Program Efforts Judge Henry of the Ute Tribe told Vernal Lions members at their regular luncheon luncheon lunch lunch- eon meeting Wednesday of last week that the Indians on the Uintah and Ouray reservation do not know how to drink liquor they haven't learned to drink socially like the whites they gulp their liquor down The Indian people are just I learning about alcohol stated Judge The Ute Tribe is the first Indian tribe to establish establish es es- an alcohol program and finance it themselves it was pointed out It was stated that had been given by the Ute Tribe to support the alcoholism alcoholism alcohol alcohol- ism program since its inception I less than a year ago THE DIRECTOR of the Ute Indian Alcohol Program Reynolds Reynolds Rey Rey- Brown addressed the group stating that the leadership leadership leader leader- ship in the Ute Tribe is pro pro- gressing He lIe stated that when the law was changed permitting free access of alcohol to the I Indian people the Tribe also came into a lot of money in a 19 million law suit won with the government This combination brought about many problems previous previously ly Iy not experienced by the Indian Indian In In- dian people Drinking became an escape from their their problems problems and the model became formed of excessive drinking Director Brown stated that the Indian people have a difficult difficult dif dif- time in expressing themselves themselves them them- selves to the white people They are always a step b behind hind and andas andas andas as a result feel and Inferior in coping with the complex society of the white people As an outlet they turn to drink which removes their inhibitions of self confidence and gives them a feeling of satisfaction satisfaction satis satis- faction Mr Brown stated THE UTE TRIBE alcohol program program pro pro- gram was begun in August of 1968 and first Implemented in October Mr Brown noted At present it is an and major program on the reser reser- va tion It was pointed out that about 35 per cent of the total adult Indian population on the reservation were alcoholics Group meetings are being held with the Indian people to educate them of the the harmful effects of alcohol and to stress the benefits of sobriety Most adults are now aware of the Ute Indian alcohol program exclaimed exclaimed ex ex- claimed Director Brown IN SUMMARY it was stressed stress stress- ed that money plus time plus alcohol equals problems for the Ute Indian people Hyrum Byrum Toone director of the Vernal Welfare Department introduced introduced in in- the two speakers Donnell Wardle chairman of Ballet West project gave a are re report re- re port portion porton on the success of this event He reported that the club had cleared 55 with the project The Lions Lion's barrel project was reported by Glade Watkins He reported the club has collected over 55 gallon 55 gallon drums to tore tore- resale re reo sale to the Smith Chemical Co bringing in about to the club VERNAL'S bid for the 1970 state Lions Lion's convention was reported reported re reo ported by Karl The bid will be made at the state convention in St St. George May 1 2 and 3 President Chad Orton reported that members of the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo met with the Lions Lion's directors asking asking ask ask- ing for support with the ticket sales at the rodeo July 17 18 and 19 The directors agreed Dez Murray son of Mr and Mrs Ward Murray was was' honored honor honor- ed as a Junior Lion for the month from the Uintah High School A musical number was presented presented pre pre- by Art and Gene Jones with their electric electric electric elect elect- ric guitar and mandolin |