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THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2003

The following is a press release from the White Mountain Apache Tribe of Arizona. For more information, contact Chadeen Palmer, public information officer for the tribe, at 928-338-4346, extension 373, or chadeenpalmer@wmat.nsn.us.

Whiteriver, Ariz., March 5 -- The Whiteriver Unified School District Governing Board welcomed the Show Low Unified School District Governing Board in a joint Board meeting to discuss the recent controversy surrounding racially motivated comments and actions of spectators attending basketball games between the two schools on February 4 of this year.

Show Low Superintendent Norlis McKay and Show Low High School Principal Ken Van Winkle opened the meeting with formal apologies extended on behalf of the school and governing board. Johnny Endfield, Vice-Chairman of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, formally accepted the offered apologies on behalf of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and urged the two schools and communities to move forward and build the working relationship they established after the fires of last summer.

Erwin Thompson, President of the Whiteriver Unified School District Governing Board, accepted the apology of Show Low on behalf of the Board, stating, "It is good we are here, because we are the first teachers of our children."

Each of the elected leaders of the White Mountain Apache Tribe present at the meeting encouraged the schools and communities to avoid letting the fence lines which separate the two communities become racial divisions in the hearts and minds of the people. "We are all equal before God, we are all precious jewels in His eyes," commented Councilman Jacob Henry of Cibecue, the community directly impacted in the recent Rodeo/Chediski Fire.

In closing the meeting, Mr. Thompson added, "This is a good start. We need to learn to get along and work together. We need to have more media coverage of the accomplishments of our children."

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

Related Stories:
Effects of fire still felt by Apache tribe (3/3)
Tensions flare between Apache tribe and locals (02/20)