The following is the second of a two-part series recapping the year that was in the Moccasin.

July:

After three years of partly failing air conditioning, the old Alternative High School modular building underwent an electrical and AC renovation. Additionally, the schools were reorganized from the high school/junior high school combination, intended to concentrate and focus on students who have trouble in the regular schools, as well as on the high achieving students. 

New offerings at the school included life skills courses to students in the new alternative middle school.

The Arizona Department of Health Services advised there was a statewide rise in animal rabies cases and encouraged communities to follow prevention guidelines to stay safe from the disease. 

According to ADHS, as of May 31, 2018, there were 77 rabid animals reported in 2018 compared with 54 at the same time in 2017, with the majority of animals identified in rural counties in the state. 

The San Carlos Unified School District Board and administration spent the summer of 2018 preparing for new innovations as well as tending to the nuts and bolts of district administration. 

To further improve safety and the learning environment, the board approved a dress code for the elementary and middle schools, which they expect to expand to the high school. In addition to restrictions on gang colors, or hyper-revealing clothing, expensive artificially distressed jeans are banned. 

San Carlos Apache Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler and Vice-Chairman Tao Etpison held the third of four district community meetings at the Exhibit Hall in Bylas on July 22. The pair spoke about ongoing efforts to improve public safety, sanitation service and education on the Reservation. While he praised the contribution of the casinos, Rambler warned that the exclusive right that tribes have to run gaming facilities in the state may not last, as the State of Arizona might legalize gaming in the future.

August:

Eric Shin and his wife spent four afternoons at the Boys and Girls Club in the Gilson Wash Activity Center teaching Brazilian Jujitsu to kids from ages 6 to 13.

During the summer, the Peridot district lacked water, but bottled water was made available by staff members from various Tribal programs such as the SC-DHHS, Tribal Security, SC’s General Manager, SCAT-PD, Health Care Corporation, Colorado River Indian Community, and others. Volunteers distributed bottles directly to community homes. 

San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation welcomed new chief medical officer Anthony J. Santiago, M. D., a nationally-recognized clinical expert in neurodegenerative disorders, and highly regarded investigator for both publicly funded and sponsored research. 

September:

The Apache Kid’s sister said that he was a good man and that his troubles started when someone killed his father. Anna Logan said she is the sister of Apache Kid, but Veronica Belvado and Lillian Dewey Dillon said Anna is not a birth sister of Apache Kid, but rather may have been a close relative addressing Apache Kid as a brother. Apache Kid, Ha go isse and Goise were from the Tse binest’ ihe clan. Other notable people of this clan are Shirley Wiley, Gretta Gilbert, Lambert Noline, Ruth Stewart, John Antonio, Jr. and Josephine Aday.

Chris Flores and his daughter Cynthia brought clothes, blankets, toys and jackets for tribal members such as Grace Dosela and Frieda Hinton. Flores and his daughter are members of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians of California. Their tribal land base is in the San Jacinto mountains, just east of Palm Springs, Calif. 

San Carlos Technical Institute graduated 25 students on Sept. 14 in skills ranging from fixed plant maintenance, fixed plant operations, heavy equipment maintenance and heavy equipment operation to welding. The auditorium at the Training Institute was full of the students’ family and friends.

The San Carlos Apache Veterans Association held its second Annual Vereran’s Celebration at the Apache gold Casino Pavilion on Sept. 22. A hearty breakfast started things off after prayers. A number of items were raffled off, including Army surplus cots.

More than $8.2 million awarded to nine tribes in district of Arizona from the U.S. Department of Justice. Grant awards were intended to improve public safety, serve victims of crime, combat violence against women, and support youth programs in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The San Carlos Apache Tribe received two grants for a total of $1,495,190. One is in the amount of $756,246 for public safety and community policing. The second is for $738,944 for justice systems and also for alcohol and substance abuse.

October:

Four candidates faced off in Gilson Wash general election: Garnering 202 votes, Simon Hooke finished 85 points above his nearest challenger, Durena Thompson who got 117 votes. William Belvado was close behind with 116 votes. William Astor, with 112 votes. Wilbur Benally, Jr. with 74 votes was eliminated. Voter turnout was only 20.42 percent.

Among the candidates attending the San Carlos High School Homecoming parade was Edith Starr, a former Miss San Carlos, who ran for the Peridot council seat. 

Starr cited a number of issues she feels are important to members of the Peridot community including abuse of drugs and alcohol, trash cleanup, and housing. 

With the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) covering the cost of training and providing safety gear for participants, dozens of members of the Yavapai-Apache Nation completed a construction academy that helps them launch careers in transportation.

Arizona Lutheran Mission School’s 125th birthday celebration was held on Oct. 27. Lutherans from San Carlos, White River and the Valley came together for good food and the opportunity celebrate faith and the Apache Culture at the school that Chief Cassadore donated to the missionaries to use for a church and school. 

The City of Globe celebrated Apache culture on Oct. 20 with the 35th annual Apach Jii festival. Pictured: Anaya Brown sung the national anthem in the Apache language, during the opening ceremonies of Apache Jii.

November:

The San Carlos Apache Veterans Association organized its 52nd Annual Veterans Day parade to honor those who served in the U.S. Armed Services. 

A third victim died after the Nov. 11 mass shooting in downtown Globe that originally left two people dead and two others critically injured. The extradition hearing for 22-year-old Sterling Randall Hunt, of Globe, was held Nov. 15 in San Carlos and extradition was granted by the Tribe.

A series of public meetings about proposed per capita (per cap) payments opened a debate about the best use of Tribal resources and whether there should have been a payout of $500 per Tribal member before Christmas or if the money should be used to fix many problems facing residents of the Reservation.

In Peridot on Nov. 29, a standing-room only gathering of Tribal members at San Carlos High School heard Tribal Chairman Terry Rambler and Vice Chair Tao Etpison explain the payout that went before Tribal Council on Dec. 4.

December:

After the inauguration of the new members of Tribal council, the full council met and in a unanimous vote, approved Per Capita payments for all Tribal members.

The first payment took place on Dec. 21, leading to long lines at the casino and local area banks. Tribal members waited for hours to receive payments.

Another payment is scheduled for mid-July 2019 and another next December, according to Peridot District Councilmember Dr. John Bush.

“I voted for it because the people need it for Christmas, but the decision was made because of the election,” Bush told the Moccasin. “We’re taking some of our savings but our people need the money.”

The per capita payments will come from a $63 million settlement with the U.S. Government for mismanagement of natural resources. Bush said the payouts will cost about $27 million in total when the final payments are made.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to replenish it,” he said. 

A festive atmosphere featuring traditional drumming and singing, mixed with contemporary music, greeted the new San Carlos Apache Tribal Council, which was seated on Dec. 4 at the Apache Gold Casino Event Center during the 2018 inauguration ceremony.

The stands were packed with Tribal members from the four districts who showed up in support of their council members. There were also dignitaries from local, state and federal level including members of the Globe and Miami councils: Miami Mayor Darryl Dalley, Globe Mayor Al Gameros, City Manager Paul Jepson and Economic Development Director Linda Oddonetto.

The First Things First (FTF) San Carlos Apache Regional Partnership Council hosted community leaders from San Carlos recently to learn how high quality early education makes a difference in in the lives of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. 

San Carlos Apache Healthcare Corporation CEO Victoria Began and members of its board of directors, Kathy Kitcheyan and Rachael Keefee toured Apache Kid Childcare in San Carlos on Dec. 11.