Show Apache in Our Midst By BV Myrna Myma T. T Borg Most of the Indians hereabouts are Navajos Utes and However enrolled as a student at this year is an Pueblo Apache Indian named Clyde Vicenti He was raised on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in Dulce New Mexico attending school there He later left to attend school in Albuquerque From there he moved about working here in Salt Lake and in California When he decided to return return return re re- turn to school he chose to come comeback comeback comeback back to Salt Lake because he liked it when he was here before His main course of study is in the building trades but he is also working hard on an English composition course because he has something to say that may be of interest to many people and he wants to get it down on paper and perhaps published He has strong memories of what it was like to grow up on the reservation and has many stories to tell from an insiders insider's point of view Page 4 One sad reality that concerns him is the extent to which alcoholism is a problem on the reservation Kids begin drinking by experimenting and some are addicted at a very early age In the past it was necessary to go off the reservation to get liquor but in the a liquor store was opened up upright upright upright right on the reservation greatly increasing the problem by making it more readily available Vicenti says that since it was there probably not even one young person failed to give it a try Alcoholics came right to the reservation and opened an office offering help to anyone who wanted help There were not too takers disappointing disappointing disappointing dis dis- many takers only only a appointing few The liquor store is still there and AA is still there plus a detoxification detoxification detoxification de de- center to deal with the problems of combining the use of drugs and alcohol This has come about during the last decade Liquor is involved in any social get together although the tribal leaders ask members not to drink or to be under the influence at important important important im im- social festivals Although the Indians have lost many of the old ways they do not want to be integrated They appreciate the security of the reservations reservations reservations re re- particularly the old people who could probably not have the comfort and safety of a ahome ahome ahome home elsewhere There have been oil wells on the Jicarilla Reservation for nearly 20 years The Indians are trying to develop oil and gas so that they will willbe willbe willbe be supporting self-supporting and in in- in dependent Clyde Vicenti has tried going back to the reservation but it is not easy after being away for a time Jobs are scarce and only give a barely sustaining wage He felt very limited or penned in He may not return to the re reservation reservation reservation re- re but he has brought his memories with him and hopes to put them together in one book at some future time |