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Show Thursday, May 11, 1972 The Ute Bulletin Editor - re' Maxine N&tchee Judy Cole Reporter Advisors Sponsor Carieen Ignacio, Faye Jensen Ute Indian Tribe EDDT0E1IH1L CHANGES IN ALCOHOLISM By Reynold Brown Vast changes have been taking place in the alcoholism picture among native It has been said, by many Americans. different in ways and at various people, times in the past, what the white man has failed to do In his efforts to exterminate the Indians, alcohol was sure to This picture is reversing accomplish. Itself through many programs designed to replace the hopelessness in which Indians have previously found themselves. Among these programs have been efforts to educate people on the real overall effects of extended alcohol consumption. No where have these changes been more evident than among the Ute people. A short number of years ago it was considered by many that there was no alcoholism problem on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, although there may have been a few drunks around. The attitude of many was that this was no problem, and there were some who had the attitude that "to be drunk" was "to be Indian". Extensive studies proved these attitudes and evaluations of the situation to be wrong, and it was shown that alcohol was taking a very heavy toll on our people in actual loss of life and in the waste and ruination of lives due to neglect of families and the loss of health and personal and public material resources. Upon seeing the gravity of the situation, the Tribal Business Committee recognized the necessity of inaugurating a program to combat these effects, and so the Ute Tribe Alcoholism information and counseling program came into being. There was much avoidance shown to the in its initial stages, because program many people felt to be Identified with such a program and to give recognition to the harmful effects alcohol was having upon themselves a stigma and showed signs of personal weakness and lack of character. It was not seen by them, as A. A. members see it; that is, for one to recognize that he is alcoholic is to recognize need for change, to accept help from others, and to call upon their own deepest personal resources in order to keep themselves free of the effects of one of our foremost killers. Since that time, the general attitude of the people in the community has changed. Through the alcoholism education series, and exposure to previously unknown facts about the effects of alcohol, our people are now recognizing it for the slow poison and the sly killer that it truly is. Through counseling, many people are recognizing there are better and safer ways of handling their boredom and the tensions which come from problems and frustrations. It is now being recognized there are other counseling helps available through the program besides in the specific area of alcoholism, such as marriage and family and vocational counseling. A person who drinks is not necessarily a bad person and moralizing about drinking and its efA fects often has an opposite effect. change in direction and emphais in ones life can be a show of strength rather than weakness. Through these changes has also come a reduced number of deaths due to suicide, liver disease, highway accidents, and other alcohol related causes. Families are being Material costs are reduced reunited. such as time lost from work, welfare and cost of child care and destruction of property. Of course it should be recognized many of these benefits are also attributable to the increased number of employment opportunities provided by the various new Tribal enterprises such as Ute FAB, Bottle Hollow, Ute Research Lab, etc., along with other federal training and employment programs. All of these changes, regarding the use of alcohol among our people are gratifying to see. Where once thee existed a very bleak prospect, there is now promise of a bright new day. Keep it up, people!! I INDIAN ARTISTS Students at Phoenix Indian School contributed their best Nixon. Alden Atwine, studentbody drawing and sketch as gifts for Mrs. Richard with the pictures. her president, greeted Mrs. Nixon and presented Ute Student Greets, pled meeting the first with being on national television newcasts prompted Alden Atwine to say, "Its the hlghpoint of my life!" The privileges were given to Alden because of his post as student body president of Phoenix Indian School where he is a senior. Mrs. Richard Nixon, in Arizona for the dedication of the Tucson home of a early A rare honor lady-cou- 4-- H CLUB NEWS Duchesne and Uintah Counties H groups hosted a potluck dinner last month at Todd school in honor of Miss Rodeo America, Susan Merrill. Entertainment included a marching from Myton and Indian group of dances and song presented by the Fort Duchesne Terrance Cuch, on behalf of both counties groups, presented Miss Merrill with a beaded necklace. More than 130 people attended the program which Miss Merrill stated would be among her fondest memories of her reign as Miss Rodeo America. 4-- ers Homemakers Club Meets on Tuesdays s Lake City. to attend a meeting. She was met at the airport by 10 bus loads of Phoenix Indian School students and dancers. Alden greeted Mrs. Nixon and presented her with a painting and a drawing, work of the Indian School students. After the visit Alden commented "I didnt think anything 4-- H - like this would ever happen to me. Its a hlghpoint of my life! Shes a very lovely lady." Alden is the son of Mrs. Ruby Black of Whlterocks. He has applied for admission next fall to the University of Utah, Salt territorial governor, stopped in Phoenix Members of the Fort Duchesne group participated in the recent Sew Show by modeling handmade clothing. Modeling at Roosevelt junior high school and Vernal high school were Jayleen Willie, Trudy Willie, Verlaine Cuch and Betsy and Connora Chapoose. of a new women An- mcmlx-rhomemaking group EXPLORING OURAY Versa Ji Katherine nks, Anna Appawoo,, holdLeah Angel, Appawoo, (from left) Murdock. Shelia VanderKraats and daughter. Holly. The ing Annie Angel, Joyce club meets at i):00 a m. each Tuesday. Visits with First Lady A monthly outing, cake decorating and weight control have been met enthusiastically by Fort Duchesne women who have organized a Womens Homemaking Club. Under the guidance of Joyce Murdock, Youth coordinator for Utah State University Extension, and Annette Smith Consumer Education specialist, the women are learning varied homemaking tips at their meetings each Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the USU trailer, Thunderbird Trailer Court, Ft Duchesne. Once a month the women drive to an Interesting area of the Basin to hike and explore the area. A recent trip took them to Ouray in search of petrified turtles. Membership is open to all women on and near the U & O Reservation. Interested ladies should come to the USU trailer on Tuesday mornings. NORMA JEAN GRAY . , . Appointed Associate Judge of U & O Court. Randlett Woman Appointed Associate Reservation Judge Newly appointed Associate Judge for the Uintah and Ouray Court of Indian offenses is Mrs. Norma Jean Gray of Randlett. Since her appointment by the Tribal Business Committee in November, Mrs. Gray has presided over court on Mondays and Fridays when the Chief Judge disqualifies himself or when he is out of the area. Her experience in the judicial field began when she worked as secretary and court clerk for two years. She is active in community affairs, serving as secretary-treasurer for the Avalon District Republican Party, president of the Avalon Ladies Club, and a member of the Roosevelt Business and Professional Women club. Mrs. Gray received her education at the Parks Business College in Denver, Colo.; Darrell's College of Beauty in Salt Lake and she worked for Darrell one year in Kearns. She and her husband, Charles Gray, operate their ranch in Randlett. They have three fcevs. She is the daughter of James Raymond La Rose, Sr. |
