Events Page

December 2, 2009

FOCUSED COMMUNITY MEETINGS

Through a series of focused group meetings, the Cultural Affairs Office desires to develop initiatives that preserve the Jicarilla Apache heritage for the upcoming year.

Six meetings are being held in the community of Dulce and invitations were sent out to a cross section of community members. The intent is to set priorities from community input for the Cultural Affairs. Another goal is to share the outcomes from the meetings with other departments and the participants who are willing to share in the responsibility.

It is expected to have a complete report for Legislative Council review by next year.

RARE BREED OF BUFFALO

In a historic effort, the Cultural Affairs Office with the support of the Apache Indigenous Defenders, Inc. (AID, Inc.) submitted hair samples from 14 buffalo that are currently being housed at the Lodge at Chama to a DNA laboratory in California. The effort is to determine whether these buffalo are genetically pure and free of cattle genes.

The results showed evidence of no cattle genes and now the goal is to find a location for the pure bred buffalo that will isolate them from other herds. The Cultural Affairs Office is seeking partners who own grass lands off the reservation.

There are few locations where genetically pure buffalo are: one is Wind Cave National Park and the other Yellowstone National Park. With this herd, the Jicarilla Apache Culture Community and AID, Inc. is seeking to grow the herd and obtain recognition as a pure bred buffalo herd.