Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 13

Through Education, Closer Family Ties Women Strive to Preserve Native Cultures Z71 SUNDAY Nov. 7, 1971 B-l Worn there were so many other tribes of Indians in the United States and I never knew they were so different," said Mrs. Margaret Jojola, historian for the national association and a resident of Isleta Pueblo. She was a main instigator in convincing the board to hold the 1972 convention in Albuquerque. By learning how they are different from and similar to other Indians, they are better equippped to define their own culture.

They realize which traits are peculiar to their tribe and which are part of the Indian culture as a whole. And by defining their individual cultures, they believe they are better able to teach them to their children. THE INDIAN women are also finding that the problems they have in their own homes drugs, delinquency and alcoholism are shared by other Indian women across the country. And because the problems are finally being brought to light by those most affected by them, concentrated efforts are being organized to find solutions. They agree that any solution needs to begin at home.

"If women can stress the family relationship and devote more time to showing concern within the family, then we can make the home the most important place for solving and preventing these problems," said Mrs. Agnes M. Dill, another Isleta resident who attended the executive board meeting. THEY ALSO realize they must educate themselves about drugs, modern sexual morality and alcoholism before they can understand how to cope with the problems and find solutions to them. The organization is new.

To date, little concrete action has begun since the NAIWA is still in the formative stages. The organization was conceived in June of 1970 when Indian women leaders from across the country were brought to Ft. Collins, for a seminar sponsored by the Country Women's Council. ALTHOUGH THE seminar was a one-time-only thing, the women took advantage of the opportunity, chose a slate of officers and formed the North American Indian Women's Assn. The organization is unique in that it is taking shape from the top down.

Since it started as a national group, state and local chapters are just now beginning to form. New Mexico followed Oklahoma and Arizona by having the state group officially chartered. Mrs. Cox signed the charter when she was in Albuquerque Friday. Although a constitution and statement of purpose have been drawn up and approved, there are some different opinions being expressed as to the overall worth of the North American Indian Women's Assn.

MRS. DILL said she believes the organization would best be an outlet for women to get involved in the political fife of their tribes. "For centuries, the home has always been the woman's domain. She has not ventured beyond her door to get involved in politics and civic life. "But now we have been given the vote and we are beginning to take a leading role in many community activities." She believes the association will provide a foundation for women to organize their efforts.

THE PRESIDENT, Mrs. Cox, sees the association as more of a central planning office for reinstituting the traditional Indian culture into the everyday life of the tribal communities. "We must stress the positive sides of Indian life. We get the negative without even trying," she said. "Our role in the association is strictly a woman's role.

We will work within the home to enrich our culture. "WE STRESS that we are not a women's lib organization. We favor the Indian councils and wouldn't do anything to shatter them. If we lose our tribal government, then we lose our tribal identity." On the other hand, Mrs. Dill thinks there is room for improvement in the tribal governments.

"So many of those who are called by Washington to help make decisions say they speak for all of their people. As I talk with many of my people, I find they do not agree with their leaders. "The Indians in the tribe are not consulted or informed at all about what goes on and the leaders represent only a small portion of the people." Mrs. Dill believes that women, if they were to get S. i Margaret Jojola "Gaining Identity" Marie Cox, a Comanche from Midwest City, Okla.

BASICALLY, the group aspires to better the home and family life of all Indian peoples and to upgrade the educational systems and health care facilities that serve them. They plan to reach the Indian community through its women. "We believe that if you educate a woman, you educate her entire family," said Mrs. Verneda Bayless of Corrales, extension home economist for Southern pueblos and a coordinator of the meeting here. One of the group's main objectives is to stop the so-called watering down of Indian culture and traditions.

By associating with Indians from many other tribes, the women are seeing their own tribes and cultures in perspective. "UNTIL I started attending our meetings, I had no idea South Vietnam general well-being of Indian people." Mrs. Neldean Gallaher, a Choctaw from Norman, and parliamentarian of the group, said, "All of us are different. We have to go about solving our problems in our own individual ways." Miss Pat Littlewolf, secretary and the youngest officer in the organization, added, "Nothing gets done overnight, but I think we are going in the right direction." The woman arrived in Albuquerque Tuesday night and spent Wednesday morning in an informal discussion session. After a luncheon, they drove to Santa Fe where they spent the afternoon.

AFTER AN all-day meeting Thursday, they visited Isleta Pueblo where they were entertained with a feast complete with many traditional Indian dishes. They gathered with the leaders of the tribe, male and female, to explain what their organization is seeking to achieve and to discuss the details of what the organization could do for Isleta Pueblo itself. The women have apparently been well received by the tribal councils they have approached and some of the councils even financed the transportation for selected women residents to the first more involved in tribal affairs, could open up lines of communications throughout the Indian community. THE PREAMBLE to the group's constitution leaves room for all of these opinions. It states: "We, the North American Women with quiet dignity and pride inherent with our racial heritage, unite with the determination to promote through unity of purpose the Marie Cox "Preserve Culture" I Tr ii- 1 1 3 urn w-'imca- Naomi Shephard "Strengthen Family" annual convention of the association held in Lawton, in June.

The planning session adjourned Friday. The NAIWA meeting had no connection with the National Indian Education Conference also held here this week. It is also a separate organization from the New Mexico Council of Indian Women formed by Mrs. Rita Cortez. mmmmmm MMmmwmmmmmmmmmmm oh-Poohs Thought Indian By GRACE M.

PRATHER Leading Indian women from Icrosj the country will direct flieir efforts toward "survival Through Education" during gie coming year. The phrase as chosen as the key theme the 1971-72 session by the Executive board of the North American Indian Women's ssn. which met in Albuquerque last week. Representatives from eight tribes in seven states met at the Desert Sands to make plans for their 1972 national convention to be held in Albuquerque in June. The association, believed to be the only national Indian "Women's organization in existence, already boasts a' membership of more than 500 accumulated in its 17 months of existence.

"And we haven't even begun a membership drive yet," said president Ruth Littlejohn "Organize Energies" Prefers Hazards in By PATRICIA McCORMACK NORWALK, Conn. (UPI) Mile. Ghislaine de Ficquel-njont is a sturdy Frenchwoman who has been directing aid programs in South Vietnam since 1966. One of her field workers was killed last June. She says she has lost many friends associated With voluntary self-help programs in the last five years.

So it was natural when she ckecked in with her bosses at the Save the Children Federation (SCF) in Norwalk, the other day that "hilly" as friends call her would be offered the op-pbrtunity of accepting a less hazardous assignment. HBut this woman who was decorated for her heroism with tke French underground during World War II, pooh-poohed the idea, saying "The South Vietnamese people expect me 6j return. I am going back. love these people and U)eir tenacity for life. They are trying hard.

I would be ejhamed to be doing less than tern because so many of them fe doing so much more." "JOF COURSE, anyone can die tSiytime in South Vietnam violent causes. But danger relative, according to Mile. iicquelmont. ahe put it this iv in an interview: a hundred yards yay is really distant. Shoot-jig within a few inches? Now Uat is 'really clow'." The Save the Children self-help projects reach 127 com- unities and include such ings as the reclamation of ffasteland, draining of aiarshes, improving methods 4 animal husbandry, Jiirchasing livestock, constructing roads and Mtablishing small businesses ahd workshops.

Making ponds fnd stocking them with fish re a means of providing Milages with a protein supply. de Ficquelmont's staff made up of 20 South Viet- amese. She has nothing but -aise for them. "If they Weren't capable and running lie program, I wouldn't be i5 mil FEDERATION since it fas founded in 1932 has irated on the self-help prin- ile, especially in community ivelopment projects. The ganization aids children, sir families and com- inities in the Southern Ap- ilachian Mountains, on lerican Indian reservations id in many countries verseas.

SOn her way back to Viet- 'jfv' I i 'GhillyPo Of Taking Easy Assign to mi: Neldean Gallaher "We're AU Different" merit we do to help. No one told them to come and help. "They're doing it because they want to just like the American soldiers I saw in France during the liberation. "THE AMERICANS, kids and old people, medics, soldiers and chaplains. Good, kind hearted people who give up days off to help It is something that happens everyday," Mile, de Ficquelmont said civilians in Vietnam know that you can die anytime.

"What keeps you going is the thought that it is going to happen to someone else and never to you," she said. "Death is not for me, it is for others," Dr. Christiane Granger, a French doctor, told Mile, de Ficquelmont one day in 1969 when the two were riding in a jeep over a road that had just been cleared of mines. A week later, on another road the doctor, 45, laughed and looked back at the soldier who told her to wait until the road was cleared of mines when she started out one morning. Waiting for a road to be swept by the mine sweeper was a daily ritual She drove on ahead.

Her car hit a mine and blew up. Dr. Granger was killed. BEFORE SHE hit the mine, according to Mile, de Ficquelmont, Dr. Granger said to the soldier: "Maybe it would be good to be killed.

The story would be on front pages and people would hear of my work and send money to complete the hospital something I haven't been able to accomplish." The story was on front pages of papers in Italy, France, Spain. Mile, de Ficquelmont said money did come in, enough to complete the hospital in the Dakto district It was as Dr. Granger had predicted, given in her memory. But the hospital Isn't operating as a hospital. It is a refugee center.

No one took Dr. Granger's place. Mile, de Ficquelmont said there are no more big battles in Vietnam, just little episodes in the area in which she operates. What will happen when there is a cease-fire she doesn't know. "We have to trust the Vietnamese people," she said.

"And I draw hope from what an American soldier told me. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He told me things were in a worse mess in Korea and now they are improved." People, Parties Thanksgiving Anticipated Anticipating the forthcoming holiday season, Mr. and Mrs. Frank A.

Cronican, 3117 Hyder SE, are planning a family houseparty for the Thanksgiving holidays. Mrs. Cronican's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.

W. Bates, of Tulsa, are arriving for a several days visit. Joining the Cronican's for Thanksgiving are Mr. and Mrs. Edward Montgomery of Athens, with their daughter and son.

Miss Meador Montgomery is driving in with her parents from Texas. Pete Montgomery, a newcomer to Albuquerque, now lives at Cedar Crest. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery are long time friends of the Cronicans from a tour of duty with the Air Force during the war years.

Completing the family houseparty are the Cronicans' children, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Cronican Jr. and children John and Jay; Peter Cronican, a student at UNM, and Mrs. Cronican's brother and family, Mr.

and Mrs. W. C. Bates, 1601 Los Alamos SW, with their son Bill, a student at New Mexico State, Las Cruces, and daughter, Dolly, flying in from Pine Manor College, suburban Boston. City Man Presents Charters Mr.

and Mrs. Richard W. Thome, 1331 Park SW, have returned from a trip to Las Cruces where they were honored guests at a dinner party. He presented charters to Las Cruces Lodge of Perfection and Las Cruces Chapter of Rose Croix, officiating in his office as the sovereign grand inspector general of New Mexico on the Scottish Rite Supreme Council. Mr.

and Mrs. Thorne attended a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite last week in Washington, D.C., where he was elected to the office of active sovereign grand inspector general of the Scottish Rite on the Supreme Council, from New Mexico. Following the chartering of the two bodies In Las Cruces, Thorne installed the new officers of both groups. Attending the chartering ceremonies in Las Cruces were Mr. and Mrs.

Merritt Oldaker, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Feak, Dr. Jan Ydens, Mr. and Mrs.

James Stanley, all of Albuquerque, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allen and Mr. and Mrs. Howard Sleeper, Santa Fe.

Mrs. Lenihan to Honor Three Mrs. R. C. Lenihan, 609 11th NW, will entertain with a coffee Thursday morning honoring her daughter, Miss Katheryn Lenihan and Miss Ann Hall, both of Indianapolis, and Mrs.

Jere C. Corlett, Santa Fe. Mrs. Corlett is the newly appointed president of Province 16, Alpha Chi Omega. Miss Lenihan is executive secretary of Alpha Chi Omega and Miss Hall is editor of The Lyre, national magazine of the sorority.

Miss Lenihan and Miss Hall are attending a national Panhellenic conference at Mount Shadows, Scottsdale, and will arrive Wednesday in Albuquerque for a four-day visit with Miss Lenihan's mother before returning to Indianapolis. Fall flowers will be used in the centerpiece for the refreshment table, where Mrs. Roy Johnson is invited to preside at the silver service. Guests invited are officers of Beta Gamma Beta alumnae chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, its advisory board and building board. Lattanzas Mark Anniversary Mr.

and Mrs. Roger C. Lattanza, 1921 Conita Real SW, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a dinner party at Albuquerque Country Club. Continued on B-5 nam, Mile, de Ficquelmont will stop in Paris for a month, looking in on a federation program she directs in France also. "When I get back to Qui Nhon, with the luxury of motels and my Paris apartment fresh in memory, I'll say to myself 'you'll never make it'," she said.

"When I have water in Vietnam there is no electricity to bring it up. The next day there will be electricity but no water in the well. The third day there will be electricity and water but the drains won't be working and I still won't be able to take a bath. "BUT AFTER two weeks I will adjust and forget the luxuries I have seen outside of Vietnam. We do what we have to in Vietnam because we would be ashamed not to.

Too many other people are doing more especially the little people of Vietnam. "Despite horrible conditions keep going on, starting over again many times. Despite constant harrassment on the part of the Viet Cong, they hold on and try to improve." Tran Dang Van was the field worker who was captured and killed last June. A 71-year-old man who came to his defense also was killed. The charge against both, according to Mile, de Ficquelmont: "Being agents of the American im-peralists." After Van's funeral, the other Vietnamese on the staff wanted to know should they be killed, would their families be taken care of.

They were assured. "I TAKE RISKS," Mile, de Ficquelmont said, "but I don't know if I had f6ur kids like the man who was killed, or had children like the other staff members, I don't know if I would take those chances. It's asking a lot. They give a lot. I could tell reports of heroes for hours.

"What angers me is that we hear a lot over here that the Vietnam people are corrupt. We are told they are lazy and disloyal. Some of that goes on, of course. But rarely do we hear of the other side the good things about both the south Vietnamese and the American people there." "I want to say this. If the Americans hadn't helped me I couldn't do anything.

I was just one person there in 1966. They came and said what can v.v V. sfci i vs tary and civic activities, including two college scholarships and contributions to the Braille Service of New Mexico, Albuquerque Mental Health Head Start, YMCA, Girl Scout and Boy Scout camper-ships, Air Force Aid Society and the Veterans Hospital. Mrs. Donald Fox is decorations chairman for the ball.

(Journal photo by Ray Cary), MAJOR EVENT: Appointments and costumes will glitter at the Charity Ball of Kirtland Officers Wives Club on Saturday in the Officers' Club. Cocktails at 6:30 will be followed by dinner at 8 p.m. Discussing arrangements are Mrs. R. C.

W. Blessley left, and Mrs. Hugh Baker, general chairmen Keyed to the theme "A Night in Las Vegas," proceeds will benefit the welfare fund for mili.