Native American

The 2025 session of the New Mexico state legislature is nearly over and it was a first for a number of newly elected lawmakers, including Rep. Michelle Pauline Abyeta (D-To'hajiilee) who is Diné. Her large district encompasses six counties west of Albuquerque, from White Rock all the way to Alamo Navajo Reservation. Abeyta told KUNM her priority for this session is to have bills that touch every demographic in her district.

There’s been a recent surge in authentic depictions of Native American people and stories in pop culture. In honor of Native American Heritage Month, KUNM discussed this shift with author and filmmaker Ramona Emerson, and the struggle she faced as a Diné writer to get her debut novel published.

Former President Donald Trump traveled to New Mexico last Thursday in a final attempt to rally voters in the state. He focused the rally on Hispanic voters, but there were also a number of Native Americans at the event.

Monday October 14th is Indigenous Peoples Day and a new campaign will use the holiday to encourage Native people to go to the polls.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first public safety town hall is tonight in Las Cruces. While some members of the public are seemingly unaware of the community discussion, community organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, plan to attend.

On Monday, the New Mexico Supreme Court heard arguments from a 2018 lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) over the behavior of a high school teacher towards Native American students.

A new documentary highlights the Pueblo of Santa Ana buying back their ancestral lands and using traditional knowledge and Western science to protect Tamaya Kwii Kii Nee Puu and restore the landscape.

Organ donations and transplants hit an all-time high in 2023, according to New Mexico Donor Services. Still, over 640 New Mexicans are sitting on a waitlist hoping to find a match before it’s too late. Donor Services, along with recipients and waitlisters themselves are undertaking efforts to get more New Mexicans with organ failure life-saving transplants.

Literary giant N. Scott Momaday has died at his home in Santa Fe. He was 89. The novelist, poet, essayist and painter was the first Native American to win a Pulitzer Prize and he ushered in a renaissance in Native American literature.

On this episode we talk with Professor Emerita Gloria Valencia-Weber. She recently received the Pierce-Hickerson Award from the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association. The award honors law professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement or preservation of Native American rights.