A few years back I was the News Director at a radio station near the Arizona San Carlos Apache Rez. During my time there I met many of the local Apache leaders.
One of my favorite discussions was with Ola Cassadore Davis. She was quite vocal on Apache issues and traveled internationally. In one conversation I was elaborating about border issue between Mexico and the USA. She responded, "You are both theives!"
I covered many meetings and events in Arizona during my tenure at the radio station. When I tried to cover a Rez council meeting, the leadership would immediately cancel the session. My experience dealing with Rez NDNs was confrontational to say the least.
I met several San Carlos Apache Rez leaders who had large ranches and all the material trappings. Others who were just on the dole. My time in the region taught me a lot. One is that being a Chicano doesn't gain me entre into the nations. Many prefer that you stay far away. That you stay apart. #apache #SanCarlosApache #rezlife
