On a cool evening, crickets chirp in tall grass. A fresh breeze carries the songs of cicadas, and as members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe come together, a murmur of voices can be heard. Several dozen men, women and children form a circle around tribal elder Lenora Ethelbah, and she begins to pray. Eyes close and heads bow as they silently remember why they are here, and for whom. Each year, the White Mountain tribe holds a suicide prevention walk to help raise awareness of a problem that disproportionately affects Native Americans across the country. The event is sponsored by an outreach program of the Apache Behavioral Health Services called Nowhi’ Ida’ Bagoye’ – Life Is Precious.
