7-02-2024 5:54pm

Mescalero Apache July 4th Fireworks, Rodeo, Parade and Entertainment Cancelled

Chris Edwards Editor

As a result of the recent fires and flooding in and around Ruidoso and the Mescalero Apache Reservation with damages and ongoing efforts at containment and recovery the Tribal Council was forced to make hard choices and cancelled most public events for this upcoming July 4th holiday weekend of 2024.

In conjunction with the July 4th holiday weekend the tribe traditionally hosts a rodeo, a parade, fireworks and a variety of public activities and events. Each of these events bring thousands of people onto the reservation and drive revenue opportunities, celebrations and joy to a broad range of of diverse communities together in celebration with Tribal culture and traditions. Unfortunately for the safety of everyone most of those events are cancelled this year.

A statement was released by the tribe explaining their actions and encouraging the community to work together in recovery and also announcing that the Coming of Age ceremonies that were planned will still happen but are limited to local members of the tribe and outsiders are encouraged to stay away from the reservation at this time of recovery.

Travel by outsiders onto boundaries or the reservation is prohibited. Travel by locals within the reservation should be limited. All camping, hunting, fires etc within the are prohibited. At this time the public is requested to allow FEMA and reservation authority to work on cleanup, fire containment, flood prevention and control and recovery.