Gabe Aguilar takes oath as Mescalero Apache president

Also raising their hands to be sworn in were the vice president and four tribal council members

Beginning his two-year term as president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe Friday, Gabe Aguilar told the crowd of tribal members and visitors at the Inn of the Mountain Gods he was honored to lead.

"What I said from my heart was that I am honored to have been elected five times," he said during an interview after the inauguration. "My wife, Robyn, and I were talking and believe the reason is that I built a relationship with the elderly, with the youth and with the people one-on-one, taking time to listen to them."

His November victory as president was the fifth time tribal members elected Aguilar, first as tribal council member, then as vice president and now as president.

Mescalero Apache President Gabe Aguilar speaks at the inauguration to the people he will lead.

"They trust me, where they feel they can come and tell me anything whether it is medical or something else where they need help," Aguilar said. "Not everyone gets elected this many times. I said in my speech that you have to say no sometimes, but I do it respectfully, not in a way that is mean. I do it in a way to help them understand why I can't do something."

When he was listening to other members of the tribal council and the vice president recite their oaths, Aguilar said he thought of his time serving in two branches of the military.

"I was thinking as everyone took their oath that I took an oath twice for two different branches of military to defend the constitution of the United States," he said. "I was sworn to protect my country and my people, just as I was today."

More:Mescalero President Arthur "Butch" Blazer resigns

Aguilar served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005, and the U.S. Army Reserves from 2006 to 2012. He also completed two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ceremony

The day began with a new cast of snow on the reservation land that adjoins the Village of Ruidoso.

"It was a great turnout," he said, and congratulatory calls were received from members of New Mexico's congressional delegation. "About 100 people couldn't make it. Some tribal leaders and state representatives texted me saying due to weather they couldn't make it."

Taking their oaths of office with Aguilar and speaking to those attending the ceremony were Vice President Eddie Martinez and tribal council members Merilee Garcia, Alfred LaPaz, Fernando R. Rocha Sr. and Frederick Chino Sr.

They emphasized that continued success and accomplishing goals for the tribe will require teamwork.

"One of the future challenges for the tribe will be housing," said Aguilar, who has served as president since October when former president Arthur "Butch" Blazer resigned. "We're in a housing shortage. I'm going to set a goal of building at least one home a year and to look for more funding. We were awarded a grant ($4 million in mid-December) to bring 26 modulars to Mescalero. It will be phased, but there will be 26 families who will have homes."

Another renewed enterprise will be the opening of a new jail for the tribe on the reservation, designed to house up to 20 men and 20 women, Aguilar said.

Tribal members want to keep those in their families who are charged with a crime and waiting for trial or serving a sentence closer to home, he said. They now are transported to the Lincoln County Detention Center in Carrizozo. The Village of Ruidoso does not operate a jail.

Taking their oaths of office were Mescalero Tribal Council Member Fernando R. Rocha Sr., President Gabe Aguilar, Council Member Alfred LaPaz, Vice President Eddie Martinez and Council Member Frederick Chino Sr. (not shown was Council Member Merilee Garcia).

"We had a jail about 10 years ago and it closed down,"Aguilar said. "We have always been lobbying to try to find funding. In 2014, we told (federal officials) how we were sending tribal members to Carrizozo and it's a long drive. Some of our inmates when released would have to walk home or hitchhike. We told our story in Washington, D.C. and there was some funding that became available for a modular jail. We were approved for $6 million, but when they tested the design, they found some things wrong with it so (the project was voided)."

But the tribe is moving ahead.

"We're now in the architect phase and hope to start construction in October," Aguilar said. "We hope to  bring jobs with the jail, and rehabilitation. Most of the people are in jail because of alcohol or drugs, so we hope to help our people."

The tribe also is looking at a solar project and possibly bringing a franchise into the reservation, such as Dairy Queen, to provide more jobs,  he said.

"The feasibility is being studied," he said.

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As he recited his oath of office, Aguilar was surrounded by his wife, daughter, mother, father, cousins and other family members. With his wife, Robin, Aguilar held a shawl as he uttered his words of commitment.The shawl was given to him by a cousin and belonged to his grandmother, the late Ollie Chino, an elder who prayed for the tribe and its future.

"It was something to honor her," he said. "I am humbled for the opportunity to lead my people."

Dianne Stallings can be contacted at dstallings@ruidosonews.com.  This coverage only is possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a subscription to the Ruidoso News.