Enhanced Cultural Programming in the Mescalero Apache Tribe Office for Violence Against Women - In this proposal, the Mescalero Apache Tribe Violence against Women Program (MAT-OVW) requests five years of funding from the Indian Health Service (IHS). We request $199,260 for the first year of grant activities and $994,912 total for the five years of grant activities. Our purpose is to construct a more effective approach to the prevention of violence against women on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation of south-central New Mexico. Our intention is to expand MAT-OVW services to include prevention and advocacy efforts based in Apache beliefs, traditions, values, and culturally appropriate practices. We will collaborate in this effort with other programs, departments, and agencies that provide related services on the Reservation. We will also collaborate with other relevant stakeholders, including survivors of violence against women at Mescalero. To accomplish an effective expansion of MAT-OVW violence prevention and advocacy services, we propose to hire three new staff members -- one Cultural Programming Manager (CPM) and two Traditional Apache Counselors (TAC). The CPM will integrate Apache culture and language into MAT-OVW program planning, implementation, and evaluation. That is, he/she will ensure that Apache beliefs, values, knowledge, and practices are embodied in MAT-OVW educational and advocacy services. Traditional Apache Counselors are holders of cultural and linguistic knowledge through which individuals may acquire Apache spirituality, healing, identity, respect, and self-esteem. They will work closely with the CPM to ensure that Apache culture and language are incorporated into all MAT-OVW educational and counseling services. Gender-based proscriptions among Apache People necessitate that we hire one male and one female TAC to work with our clients. We propose each year to enhance our preventative educational services by incorporating Apache culture and language in (1) 12 one-day sessions held in the three school districts serving children and youth from Mescalero, (2) two workshops for relevant service providers at Mescalero, and (3) two Mescalero Tribal Community conferences focusing on the prevention of violence against women. Further, we propose each summer to conduct one five-day "Cultural Gathering" focusing on the prevention of violence against women at Mescalero. This Gathering will include classes concentrated on the prevention of violence against women. It will also include classes in such skills as tipi sewing, cradle making, basketry, moccasin sewing, and healing through herbal medicines. It will also include traditional games such as the moccasin game, the hoop and pole game, and the stave game. The Gathering will culminate in a two-day "Blessing Ceremony" conducted by holy "Mountain Spirit Dancers." This ceremony will instill a degree of sacredness in all our efforts. The Traditional Apache Counselors will provide advocacy services incorporating such features as ceremonies, songs, prayers, stories, healings, and cleansings. The TAC will also provide education in Apache history, customs, beliefs, and values with the intention of increasing our clients' respect for Apache culture, identity, and self-esteem. Traditional counseling will be optional for our clients. We suggest that the quality of MAT-OVW programming will be enhanced through culturally competent educational materials and advocacy services developed by Apache People for Apache People. We will evaluate our program to determine if this is so. Our evaluation plan will be based on the Kellogg Foundation's basic principles for program evaluation. We will conduct: Performance Evaluation, Process or Formative Evaluation, and Outcome or Summative Evaluation. We will develop the final form of our evaluation plan and protocols through a series of meetings with relevant stakeholders, including MAT-OVW staff (with the new CPM and TAC), the MAT-OVW Board, program clients, and our external evaluator. We will meet all IHS reporting requirements.
