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Show Pag t SOCIAL ILLS CAN BE MEASURED The Ute Bulletin Editor .. Maxine Natchee Associate Editor Judy Cole School New Carleen Ignacio Gloria Arrowgarp Ute Indian Tribe Sponsor Subscription rates: . , Mail correspondence to: Free to Ute Tribal members f 3.50 per year to others The Ute Bulletin P.O.Box 129 ' Fort Duchesne, Utah 84026 Member of the American Indian Press Association EDITORIAL STOP! THINK! AND VOTE! The focus this spring is on the election of three Tribal Business candidates have been nomiated Committee members. Twenty-nin- e but only three can be elected to fill the expiring terms in the tribal government. We have noted several close relatives opposing each other for council seats on the same band ticket, more women are listed on the nomination list, and the age group is more representative. This month will be filled with campaign activity. Campaign promises will be made by the different candidates. Traditional political handshakes and kissing babies will.be evident as March 23 draws close. Each candidate will no doubt make their own platform of issues they feel are important. As promises are made, we feel careful scrutiny should be made regarding the candidates ability to fulfill his campaign promises. It takes a quorum to make a decision and cannot be done by one person alone. The candidate's sincere interest in helping the tribe as a whole and not for their personal glory or, looking out for relatives only, should be examined. The decisions made by the Business Committee not only affect the present enrolled members but it also affects all future generations of Utes. Careful consideration should be made regarding the integrity of each candidate befo e casting the final vote. Not only will they represent themselves, but will also represent us, the tribal members, in their business transactions here at home and when they travel and meet with other tribes and agencies. We have heard complaints relative to the Business Committee travels. This will no doubt be an issue. We feel if travel is in the best interest of the tribe, then reports should be made to the tribal members to eliminate suspicion and misunderstandings. We feel this is an obligation owed to each tribal member. But it is also our obligation to support whomever we elect to office. First, however, we have to exercise our privilege as a voting member and cast our vote for the candidate of our choice. The candidate we can entrust with our future arid who we feel will do the right job for us, our children and our reservation. Is it a true representative government when a candidate wins withunly 20 votes? The important thing is to vote on March 23 and then work together as a team to make this reservation a better place to live. M.M.N. Guest Editorial A SOCIAL WORKERS JUSTIFICATION By Dee C. Wilcox am writing in response to your editorFebruary issue of the Ute Bulletin concerning social work on the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. . First of all, I am confused as to how you identified 25 social people working on the Reservation. There are actually, only three social workers who e have responsibility for providing social services id Indian people. It is true there are Other social workers who serve Indians, and I refer to social workers connected with the Dlvlsiori of Family 1 ial in the . work-oriente- d Invaders, which appeared in the The editorial, Social Ills-t- he Feb. 8 issue of the Ute Bulletin identified approximately 25 social d working with Ute people on this reservation. We did not state all 25 had degrees in social work. This figure included and staff who provide services professionals, on the reservation. Our questions have been answered in generalities. We want statistics showing the decline of arrests since the Alcoholism program was started, the number of marriages saved as to the number of divorces, the decline of suicides, and the decline of cirrhosis victims. We did not mention housing problems existing on this subject in a previous covered this reservation since we editorial. We, too, are tired of hearing about the high welfare rates, high unemployment rates, the high dropout rates among Indians whenever someone gives a report. What are these people recommending to solve the plight of the Red man? Just recently we were contacted by a university professor for statistics on the economic and social changes on the reservation within the past few yean since the last study was made. We are sure numerous seminars across the Country know of the economic plight of the Utes. The professor stated he published a study several years ago oh the Utes' economic status but admittedly has never visited the reservation. We did not imply the social workers were responsible for the nigh dropout rate. But how much are you doing to counsel students? , We did not state the social workers brought social problems to the Indians. We stated progress has brought social problems, such as, alcoholism, unemployment, school dropouts, as these things have been inherited by the Indians in the process of civilizing him. One of the biggest existing problems is alcohol, which did not exist in the good old days of long ago. The Utes still had problems of illegitimacy, as did European groups. We are not that naive to think some social problems did not exist then. It has been reported marijuana is becoming a big problem on the reservation. Even a few years ago, glue sniffing and gas sniffing were the popular ways to get high. Why wasn't a prevention program started then by educating young people through films and lectures instead of waiting for the bigger problem to be upon us? Our readers have indicated statistics would mean more to them than generalities. This does not mean revealing confidential files or names, but numbers showing the decline of the problems. work-oriente- para-professiona- ls, sub-standa- rd . full-tim- Thursday, March 1, 1IT3 Th Ute Services and to the University of Utah Social Work Training Center. However, to these people do not devote deal and some work on the Reservation not at all with the Indian population. full-tim- e There are also several para professional Ute people working on people programs" but they are not social workers and their assignments are limited to some rather specific respoonsibilities. At any rate, social work seryour statistics regarding vice are very misleading. Your question about what is being sic- . complished by social workers is not untypical. This question is raised from time to time by people who are unfamiliar with the profession wherever it is practiced. Unfortunately, there are very few measuring devices which really tell what has been accomplished. For instance, a social worker may see a married couple four times about marital problems. They resolve their marital conflicts and never seek help again. The world never knows that a social Worker helped save a mar-ragIt is not the kind of thing you can advertise in t he paper such as the construction of a building, the sale of cattle, or the drilling of an oii well. And so, unfortiinately, many many accomplishments by social workers are never recorded. You will hear about the alcoholic who deserts his children, but you won't hear about the one who has achieved 60 days of sobriety. You will hear about the divorces, but never about the marriages saved. You will hear about the boy picked up on drug charges but not about the one who didn't get picked up because a social worker offered him a more constructive activity. I grow a little tired of hearing the same old statistics used by everyone who gives a speech or writes an article about Indians. They speak of high welfare rates, substandard housing, high unemployment rates, the high dropout rate, etc. For the most part these statistics just don't fit the residents of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation. The Ute Tribe has taken some significant steps to solve these problems and great progress has been made.. For of the Ute Tribe example,' in 1969 34 welt uependent upon the State Welfare Department for financial support. In 1972 required such assistance. Ceronly 17 hn indication of progress. During tainly the past five years unemployment on this Reservation has virtually ceased to be a problem. Generally speaking, work is available for those tvhd Waht to work. e. While the school dropout rate is high, the number of Utes who are enrfolled in post high school education has increased from 7 to 37 in four years and educational opportunities for Indians are unlimited. Substandard housing is nearly nonexistent now with either new or renovated houses available to most Ute families. In addition to these statistics, this Reservation has perhaps the most advanced social service programs to be found on any Indian reservation. The Alcoholism Program is one of the first ever developed and it has been a model for many such pro- grams throughout the country. This Reservation is one of three in the United States which has a Suicide Prevention Program. A drug abuse prevention program will be a reality in the next year. And social workers are deeply involved in the development of youth programs on the reservation. While these few statistics and programs are indicative of progress they don't begin to tell the real story of the numerous individuals who are living life more fully and making real contributions to society as a result of help received from social work people. Unfortunately these people never call attention to themselves as do the alcoholics, and other "problem people. The high dropout rate continues to be a problem with Lite students. Certainly social workers are concerned with education problems but I question your implication that the social work profession is responsible for, the school dropout problem. I believe there are quite a number of on-oriented staff members as well as parents who must share the blame in this are. Nevertheless, social workers have made significant contributions in education programs for Ute students. For example, a social worker played a majoy role in bbtalning a $i40,000 Title HI grant. educati- (Continued on Page ) |
