Facebook Twitter Email
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2003

The worst fire in Arizona history destroyed more than half of the Fort Apache Reservation last summer but for members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the effects are more than just economic and environmental.

Tribal members say they face regular discrimination in the nearby town of Show Low, whose white families received most of the media attention. The tribe has set up a hotline to deal with complaints.

The Show Low High School will formally apologize to the tribe this week for an incident that occurred at a recent basketball team. Show Low students chanted "We pay taxes, yes we do, we pay taxes, how about you?" to members of the tribe's basketball team, a chant they apparently learned from their parents.

The tribe is also having difficulty with the federal government. President Bush promised emergency aid but it has been slow to arrive.

Get the Story:
Difficult race relations continue between Apaches and Whites (The Arizona Republic 3/3)
Apaches seek more fire aid from feds (AP 3/1)

Relevant Links:
White Mountain Apache Tribe - http://www.wmat.nsn.us

Related Stories:
Tensions flare between Apache tribe and locals (02/20)