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The Jicarilla Apache Culture Commitee

Standing together for a living culture: "Díí mił daadntł’ás !” 

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Our Story

History

The Culture Committee, est. 1993, was a group of elders over the age of 60 who represented the diversity of tribal families, clans, groups and leaders.  Former Vice-President Wainwright Velarde saw the need to enlist and request the aid of elders who were key to providing interpretations and historical knowledge regarding traditional cultural properties and sacred sites on the Jicarilla Apache homelands.  The need was evident from the passage of federal laws including the National Historic Preservation Act and the Native American Graves and Repatriation Act, among a few.  In response to the growing need for representation at federal and state consultation meetings and the need for support for the Culture Committee, the Jicarilla Apache Culture Affairs Office and then later the Jicarilla Apache Historic Preservation Office were established.

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SCOPE

As meetings occurred over the years, the elders recognized the importance of passing on traditional knowledge to the young people and therefore expanded their scope of work to include sharing and providing advice on matters that concerned the well-being of the people.  Their vision was to enhance the life of all Jicarilla Apache Nation members and their families by standing together for a living culture and advocating language use as it is learned or taught in communications, rich in traditions and ceremony. "Díí mił daadntł’ás !” 

 

Their primary purpose was to to perpetuate the Jicarilla Apache way of life and to represent the Nation as the holders of traditional knowledge. 

 

Past Projects: The Culture Committee who acted an advisory role for the Jicarilla Apache Cultural Affairs and the Nation accomplished the following goals from 1993 to 2010: 

OUR SUCCESSES!

  1. Culture Camps 

  2. Restoration of the historic building: BIA Superintendents home 

  3. Restoration of the historic water tower along Navajo River 

  4. Established the Tribal Historic Preservation Office 

  5. Established a Historic Office that was changed to Language Preservation

  6. Initiated the Elder’s Trust Fund 

  7. Provide advise to the Nation on issues pertaining to use of land by other entities 

  8. Class room teaching, storytelling and language 

  9. Established a language certification process for fluent speakers to teach in the schools 

  10. Organized and promoted the horse back ride to Go-jii-ya 

  11. Numerous tribal, state and federal consultations regarding traditional cultural properties 

  12. Set up a gift shop with local artisans selling arts on consignment 

  13. Set up a loan system for tipis, grills, and tipi poles to support keesdas and bear dances 

  14. Made available ceremonial paints and corn pollen for the people 

  15. Re-connected with the Taos Pueblo and Picuris people, ex: horseback ride to Taos

  16. Provided two language teachers in the Public School educating over 300 students a year 

  17. Created the Do ach’i t’ii handbook

  18. Language contests for fluent speakers to encourage speaking words not commonly used 

  19. Provide cultural competency training for non-tribal members who work in the community as teachers, doctors, nurses, law and order, etc. 

  20. Created a Strategic Plan for Moving Ahead and submitted numerous grant applications 

  21. Initiated the Jicarilla Apache language and culture curriculum for the public schools 

  22. Provided buffalo meat, hides and education about the uses of buffalo 

  23. Serve as the representative to NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and
    Repatriation Act), Section 106 of the NHPA (National Historic Preservation Act), the Inter Tribal Buffalo Council and the Tribal Advisory Council for THPO (Tribal Historic Preservation Office)

  24. Created a tribal department from a budget of $5,000 to over 1/2 million with 13 employees, all dedicated to preserving language and culture

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Projects (that were unaccomplished): 

  1. Become established as a Committee under the President/Government's chain of command.

  2. Amend By-Laws

  3. Four Jicarilla Language Contests 

  4. Establish a working relationship with Taos and Picuris to bring back songs and dance 

  5. Create an Memorandum of Agreement with the Cultural Affairs Office 

  6. Re-instate honorariums 

  7. Update the Do achii t’ii handbook 

  8. Provide support and involvement with finalizing the Apache curriculum for the Public School. 

  9. Promote new ways of learning the Jicarilla Apache language including utilizing social media and other latest technologies. ​​​​

                                                *  Please Note   *

Since its inception, the Cultural Affairs Office’s existence was predicated on the advisory capacity of the Culture Committee. Therefore, the Office’s accomplishments were the Committee’s accomplishments. Successes were achieved as one entity, not separate. 

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