PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Although deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes have declined in recent years, highway safety remains a serious concern for residents of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, located in La Plata County, Colorado. County population growth has resulted in greater use of reservation roads, and increased employment opportunities in cities such as Ignacio and Durango require more employees to drive to and from their jobs each day.

According to data from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the number of tribal members killed or injured in traffic crashes is four times the national average. Impaired driving and nonuse of seat belts contribute significantly to these statistics, accounting for up to 75 percent of crash fatalities. In fact, the former director of an alcoholism treatment center on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation estimates that more than 90 percent of Tribal members' lives have been significantly, negatively impacted by alcohol use. The results of tribal surveys indicate that community attitudes are extremely tolerant of drug and alcohol abuse, and that youth are engaging in substance abuse at younger ages than comparable communities.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In an effort to decrease the number of deaths and injuries resulting from traffic crashes on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, members of the Southern Ute Safe Tribal Communities council created the Memory Tree Memorial in 2001. Objectives of the effort are to:

• Provide a culturally relevant means to focus attention on the devastation resulting from traffic crashes, especially those that are alcohol-related, and involve nonuse of seat belts
• Target the entire Tribal Community, especially teens and young adults
• Provide support to families that have lost loved ones as a result of traffic crashes
• Increase awareness among parents, care givers and Tribal Leaders

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
As part of their efforts addressing injury prevention, members of the Southern Ute Safe Tribal Community formed a partnership with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), the Colorado Parks and Recreation Department, the Los Pinos Fire Department and the Colorado Action for Healthy People to develop a memorial ceremony specifically targeting youth who have lost their lives as a result of impaired driving, and not wearing seat belts. The Safe Communities coordinator also created a new student organization, Students Taking A New Direction (STAND), to join the coalition.

Volunteers with the Los Pinos Fire Department respond to all motor vehicle crashes on the Southern Ute Reservation. To help support the Memory Tree Memorial, the fire department allowed trees and bushes honoring tribal members who had died in alcohol-related traffic crashes, to be planted on its grounds. Members of the local chapter of MADD produced invitations and information about each person who was being honored with a tree. The Colorado Parks and Recreation Department donated trees and bushes for use in the memorial.

RESULTS
On May 8, 2001, the Memory Tree Memorial ceremony was held on the grounds of the Los Pinos Fire Department. A total of 20 trees and 20 bushes were planted, and dedicated to the memory of victims of fatal crashes resulting from substance abuse and/or nonuse of seat belts. More than 250 people attended the memorial service, including approximately 150 high school students. Plaques were provided to survivors or family members to place by the tree or bush they selected to honor their loved one. The memorial service was covered by the local television station and newspaper.

The memorial serves to assure family members that their loved ones live on, and are not forgotten. It also stands as a reminder to Tribal youth and other community members, of the consequences of impaired driving and refusing to wear seat belts.