The Sovereign Nations Service had its auspicious beginnings at the Mescalero Fish Hatchery in August of 2011,   This programs has been funded by the Corporation for National Service / AmeriCorps.  For the first year of the program we had a total of ten (10) AmeriCorps members, the majority being Tribal youth from the Mescalero Apache Reservation. 

The primary mission of the Service Corps in to implement environmental projects with benefits to the community.  Amongst our performance measures was to remove no less than 50 tons of debris and non-native vegetation for our watersheds, and from that recycle no less than 10 tons or 20% of what was removed.  We are also charged with constructing no less than one mile of trail, restore and/or improve no less than one mile of stream and 20 acres of wetlands.  In our first four months, we have continued construction of three flat-water ponds, provided over 10 cords of firewood for Tribal elders, began construction on 2.8 miles of trail, and provided more than 50,000 fish in support of Tribal fisheries programs and participated in SWTFC meetings.   More importantly, the members have received training in trail techniques, first aid/CPR, fisheries management, cold water fish culture, automotive repair and maintenance, gardening, recycling methods, and a variety of construction techniques. Our members have participated in a Halloween fishing booth for tiny tots, explained our projects before tribal council, and participated in the inauguration of our Tribal president.   Our members have taken field trips to White Sands Missile Range and Museum, White Sands National Monument, Holloman Air Force Base, stocking trips to Isleta and Sandia Pueblo, and the internment camp at Bosque Redondo.  Our members have attended college orientation at Eastern New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, and lectures by New Mexico Solar Association all designed to enlist the members on a path to propel them into college following their tenure of community service.  Our members are looking forward to doing service projects in Taos, Zuni, and Cochiti this year, and are looking for projects on other Tribes in concert with other Tribal youth as invited.  

The predecessor to the Sovereign Nations Service Corps was the Mescalero Youth Conservation Corps (MYCC).  The MYCC engaged Native youth ages 16-18 to provide service to the community by implementation of beneficial environmental projects.  Participants are recruited through local high schools and job fairs.  YCC students are exposed to many facets of natural resource management.  In addition to abstract classroom theory, participants are involved in hands-on experiential learning in real service projects.   The MYCC targets local high school students prioritizing juniors and seniors for an eight-week summer program with annual support from the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and a one-time 638 training contract from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). 

The Sovereign Nations Service Corps (SNSC) targets Native Youth 18-25 years old to provide service to the environment for the benefit of Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations in New Mexico.   SNSC members enlist for a year, exposed to in-depth service experiences in fish culture, trail building, stream restoration, fisheries management, recreation facilities development, forestry, GIS/GPS technology, and several other natural resource topics.  The SNSC is a National Direct AmeriCorps project supported by the Corporation for National Service (CNS).  

At our core, we operate the Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery (MTFH) which provides trout in support of fourteen (14) Tribal fisheries programs in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.  The MTFH is operated by the Southwest Tribal Fisheries Commission, a non-profit corporation, under an agreement with the Mescalero Apache Tribe (MAT).   The SWTFC commenced fish rearing operations in 2004 however quickly evolved into a education and training facility.  Summer youth education programs began in 2005 with 5 individuals, and have grown every year and now providing summer training and work experience for thirty (30) high school aged youth, and ten (10) high school graduates and/or college interns, most aspiring towards careers in natural resource management. 

Equally as important as the production of trout, is mentoring and development of our youth and placement in career development pathways.  One of our program graduates is a term fisheries biologist at Dexter NFH, another a wildlife biologist at Tesuque Pueblo. Another a BIA Natural Resource Specialist at Laguna Pueblo, and still another the MTFH Assistant Project Leader.   Currently we have 2 students in their junior year, 3 sophomores, and 4 freshmen attending university. We provide summer employment / work experience for all our YCC students that have graduated from high school while guiding and supporting them towards university studies. 

The current SNSC members are either working on their GED, are high school graduates, or have taken some course in college but are not currently attending college.  They have agreed to give a year of service to their community focusing on environmental improvement.  They are truly only volunteers, receiving only a modest living allowance ($250 wk) will giving full time (40 hour week) service.  After the successful completion of a year of service, CNS is providing them with a $5500 scholarship, matched by a $4500 scholarship from the Mescalero Apache Tribe, making a total of $10,000 and established contacts with a college / university of their choice.

Beginning in August of 2012 we are targeting a total of twenty AmeriCorps members.  It is our desire to have AmeriCorps members in no less than five New Mexico Tribes or Pueblos.  We are currently reaching out to Tribes to determine if any Tribe or Pueblo would have an interest in hosting one, two or more AmeriCorps members.   The AmeriCorps members could be of their choosing, hopefully targeting a Tribal members that desires to give a year of service.   The grants would pay for the living allowance for the individual selected, however transportation, work gear such as boots, and tools would be the responsibility of the host.  Additionally, the host would provide for day-to-day supervision of the AmeriCorps member, based on a contract which would outline the duties of the member.  For example, you might know of someone that is interested in your fisheries program and is currently out of school but has an interest in continuing their education. You would select this individual and we would enlist them into the Sovereign Nations Service Corps.   A contract between the SNCS and the host Tribe would be built around the duties of say, operating a recreational fisheries program.  We could provide him/her with the training necessary (e.g. creel survey, water quality, fish health) to enhance your program.  After training the member would be assigned to your facility for the remainder of the year under your supervision.  The supervisor would be responsible for maintaining time sheets, and providing a safe working environment.  At the end of the year of service, we would request that the host tribe also supplement the $5500 CNS scholarship award to provide the successful member with an incentive to attend an educational institution of their choice.  This is an opportunity to provide training and work experience to your potential future workforce.  If you would like more information regarding this offering please contact Mike Montoya at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 575.464.8768.