STANCAN A WITNESS PUEBLO DE ACOMA THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1985. MERLE L. GARCIA Mr. DICKS. Merle Garcia. Governor GARCIA. Thank you, Mr. Dicks. I would like to introduce a couple of people that I brought with me. One of the Tribal Council members, Mr. Gus Skeener, and my personal secretary, Mr. Linsvio, and, of course, the tribe's counsel, Mr. Sarabaca. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come before this Committee, Mr. Dicks. I am the Governor of the Pueblo de Acoma. I represent a proud and traditional tribe with a very democratic government structure. We have inhabited the village of Acoma since 600 A.D., making Acoma the longest continuously occupied site in all of North America. I might add, Mr. Chairman, that this is the first time that the Acoma people have ever made a request before this Committee. There are currently approximately 3,800 people registered on our official roles, the vast majority of whom live on the reservation. Our most pressing problem is unemployment. At the present time, 70 percent of our adult population is unemployed. For the past five years, the tribe has cooperated with outside efforts at economic development. However, we believe that our best interests would be served by an internal program of economic development. The main purpose of my presentation is to request a line item appropriation of $819,400 or, in the alternative, a specific appropriation item under Economic Development and Employment Programs of the budget of the Bureau of Indian Affairs which will be earmarked for the economic development of the Pueblo de Acoma as described below. A second purpose, which I will discuss in more detail later, is to address the critical need the childern of Acoma have for early childhood education. Our major focus of economic development will be an increase in the tourist trade. This effort will involve construction of a visitors' center and outreach effort to attract tourists. This process will provide greatly needed jobs for our people and provide the opportunity for increased marketing of our beautiful and traditional crafts. Acoma is a prime tourist attraction located about 60 miles from Albuquerque. We have made modest efforts to increase the tourist trade which, while successful, have not been sufficient to allow our historic and ancient pueblo to reach its full potential as a tourist attraction. We have been able to develop only a small visitors' center which, despite its size and lack of facilities, has attracted a number of visitors and provided a few jobs for our people. If we received the appropriation that we seek, we could vastly expand our efforts to attract tourists, generate income, provide jobs for our people and increase our chances of becoming economically self-sufficient. This is the primary goal of the tribe. Our history is the most valuable resource upon which we can build economically. Expansion of our visitors' center and our marketing efforts will let the rest of the world become aware of our proud and unique heritage, as well as benefit our people. Mr. Dicks. Mr. Garcia, you have got a minute left on your five minutes. I think if you want to summarize, the Committee understands, you know, what you are after. And I would suggest that you talk to your Senators and Congressmen from New Mexico very importantly. This is the first time you have been here. It is very important that you have the support of your delegation from New Mexico. Governor GARCIA. This is not the first time I have been to Washington. I would like to go through all the important issues thatMr. Dicks. All of this will be placed in the record. Governor GARCIA. I would like to address certain issues that I feel might be able to acquire a line item appropriation that I would like to see some to Acoma. We need this appropriation to train guides and improve our tourist trade. We have been dealing with foreign countries in respect to that, and I think that not only the tribe will benefit from it, but also the State. I would like to go to other areas, especially the educational program. And this is where I have really been involved and have every concern to address the early childhood program. Of course, the early childhood program in FY '85 has been zeroed out. I would like to go on record and state that in 1984, at the budget hearing, the Committee-this Committee directed the Office of Indian Education Programs to develop and publish standards for these programs. The OIEP Director formed a three-person task force, which included the Acoma Education Director, to finalize these standards. The Pueblo de Acoma had to pay some costs in the amount of $3,000 to do this. The final draft was presented to the OIEP Director in 1984. To date, they have not been published. I ask this Committee to continue its support for this valuable program. JOM, I am concerned, just like any other tribal leader. I am pretty sure it has already been addressed. I did provide the Congressional delegation with letters from various families from Acoma concerning the same concerns I am concerned with today. The Navajo School Board has prepared an extensive paper on this. We are looking to becoming more self-sufficient for our children and our children's children. That is why we feel economic development must be with the development of the community. I urge your careful and positive action on this request. [Statement follows:] STANGéan IIDDARIES PRESENTATION OF GOVERNOR MERLE L. GARCIA SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR April 4, 1985 Mr. Chairman, my name is Merle L. Garcia. I am the Governor of the Pueblo de Acoma, New Mexico. I represent a proud and traditional tribe, with a very democratic government structure. We have inhabited the village of Acoma since 600 A.D., making Acoma the longest continuously occupied site in all of North America. I might add, Mr. Chairman, that this is the first time that the Acoma people have ever made a request before this Committee. There are currently approximately 3,800 people registered on our official roles, the vast majority of whom live on the reservation. Our most pressing problem is unemployment. At the present time, seventy percent (70%) of our adult population is unemployed. For the past five years, the tribe has cooperated with outside efforts at economic development. However, we believe that our best interests would be served by an internal program of economic development. The main purpose of my presentation is to request a line item appropriation of $819,400, or in the alternative, a specific appropriation item under Economic Development and Employment Programs of the budget of the Bureau of Indian Affairs which will be earmarked for the economic development of the Pueblo de Acoma as described below. A second purpose, which I will discuss in more detail later, is to address the critical need the children of Acoma have for early childhood education. Our major focus of economic development will be an increase in the tourist trade. This effort will involve construction of a visitors' center and outreach effort to attract tourists. This process will provide greatly needed jobs for our people and provide the opportunity for increased marketing of our beautiful and traditional crafts. · Acoma is a prime tourist attraction located about 60 miles from Albuquerque. We have made modest efforts to increase the tourist trade which, while successful, have not Our history is the most valuable resource upon which we can build economically. Expansion of our visitors' center and our marketing efforts will let the rest of the world become aware of our proud and unique heritage, as well as benefit our people. The following is a proposed budget for expansion of our visitors' center and our increased efforts to generate the tourist trade: PRESENTATION OF GOVERNOR MERLE L. GARCIA SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR April 4, 1985 Mr. Chairman, my name is Merle L. Garcia. I am the Governor of the Pueblo de Acoma, New Mexico. I represent a proud and traditional tribe, with a very democratic government structure. We have inhabited the village of Acoma since 600 A.D., making Acoma the longest continuously occupied site in all of North America. I might add, Mr. Chairman, that this is the first time that the Acoma people have ever made a request before this Committee. There are currently approximately 3,800 people registered on our official roles, the vast majority of whom live on the reservation. Our most pressing problem is unemployment. At the present time, seventy percent (70%) of our adult population is unemployed. For the past five years, the tribe has cooperated with outside efforts at economic development. However, we believe that our best interests would be served by an internal program of economic development. The main purpose of my presentation is to request a line item appropriation of $819,400, or in the alternative, a specific appropriation item under Economic Development and Employment Programs of the budget of the Bureau of Indian Affairs which will be earmarked for the economic development of the Pueblo de Acoma as described below. A second purpose, which I will discuss in more detail later, is to address the critical need the children of Acoma have for early childhood education. Our major focus of economic development will be an increase in the tourist trade. This effort will involve construction of a visitors' center and outreach effort to attract tourists. This process will provide greatly needed jobs for our people and provide the opportunity for increased marketing of our beautiful and traditional crafts. Acoma is a prime tourist attraction located about 60 miles from Albuquerque. We have made modest efforts to STANFinn |