Jeanette DeDios

On Tuesday, District 6 members will come together to celebrate a new grower’s market in the International District as well as host a community workshop to hear ideas about spending district funds next year.

New Mexico – and the United States are one step closer to having the first female Native American governor as former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland beat out her Democratic opponent Sam Bregman with 72% of the vote Tuesday night in the primary election.

The national arts advocacy organization Americans for the Arts will be hosting its annual conference in Albuquerque from June 2-5, 2026. Among the speakers will be 1980’s famed actress Molly Ringwald, as well as national and local officials focused on the importance of arts and culture in communities.

Native American youth make up 15% of the total child population in New Mexico, and they often face more challenges around things like economic wellbeing. A new report called “Being a Good Relative” highlights how these can impact academic achievement, and why more holistic approaches can help Native students succeed. The study was created by One Generation. KUNM spoke with Tracie Benally, who is Diné and director of community insights with One Generation.

The National Trust of Historic Preservation has placed the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape on this year’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The nomination came from the All Pueblo Council of Governors, which supports the preservation and cultural significance of the landscape in the face of increasing threats.

In January, at least five Native American men were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during raids in Minneapolis. It was one of a number of instances where Native Americans were mistaken for undocumented immigrants by federal authorities. In response, lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to improve the Department of Homeland Security’s interactions with Native Americans when they’re proving citizenship.

Across the United States, there are over 575 federally recognized American Indian tribes. According to the U.S. Census, Native North American language use fell by 6% from 2013 to 2021, but among those who spoke a Native language nearly half spoke Navajo.

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival begins today with various conversations with local and visiting authors from across the country. KUNM’s Jeanette DeDios spoke with Laura Paskus, an environmental writer and former “Our Land” host for New Mexico PBS. Paskus told KUNM’s Jeanette DeDios that people’s perspectives on environmentalism has changed since she first started reporting in 2002.

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival begins this Friday and among the authors on the schedule is Navajo Nation Poet Laureate Jake Skeets. KUNM spoke with Jake Skeets, who just released his sophomore collection of poems titled “Horses.” It explores the meaning of the end of the world through a Navajo lens, and Skeets said he started writing it during the pandemic while teaching at Dine College in Arizona.

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival begins next weekend from May 15-17 and among the array of authors speaking; screenwriters will also be in attendance discussing how books get adapted from print to the big screen. KUNM spoke with Diné screenwriter, filmmaker and actor Dezbaa’ who plays Helen Atcitty on AMC’s Dark Winds. Dezbaa’ said she started out working as a geologist and earning her degree as a screenwriter before she got her big break.