Isleta Pueblo News Volume 8 Issue 8 August 2013 MA GU WAM; Infrastructure and Economic Development. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Tribal recommendations were made in Albuquerque also was launched by the 19 Greetings from each of the areas of concern to Governor New Mexico pueblos in 1976, “to showcase Governor Eddie Paul Torres: Martinez and the Departments on how we the history and accomplishments of the I hope that this News Letter finds all of can work together. It was the consensus of pueblo people from pre-Columbian to you in good health. This month has been the tribal leaders that this year's summit current time.” It features a 10,000-square- very busy for the Administration and was more productive than the last two foot museum. Program Services. First of all, on behalf of State Summits as it involved more dialogue A posting on the council’s Facebook page the Administration, I extend our sincere and networking. Thursday morning, which was quickly condolences to the families of the loved removed, said, “It’s a sad day in Pueblo ones that have passed away recently, our All Indian Pueblo Council drops Country, as of today the All Indian Pueblo prayers are with you. nonprofit business status Council is no longer!! 400+ years of tribal 2013 New Mexico State and Tribal By Staci Matlock: The New Mexican / leadership has been dissolved by the current Leaders Summit, Mescalero NM. Posted: Thursday, July 18, 2013 7:30 pm. leadership...” the council’s Facebook page Copyright © 2012 The New Mexican, was not available later in the day. On June 20-21, 2013, Governor Eddie Inc. Reprinted with permission. All Paul Torres and 1st Lt. Governor Antonio Pueblo officials later said the posting rights reserved. Chewiwi, along with Council President was incorrect. “The AIPC 501c3 has been Michael Allen Lente, Council members; The governors of 20 pueblos decided dissolved, but not the organization of James Abeita, Juan Rey Abeita, Fernando Wednesday to dismantle the nonprofit governors,” said Pojoaque Pueblo Gov. Abeita and Josephine Padilla attended the business operations of the All Indian Pueblo George Rivera, a member of the council. State and Tribal leaders Summit hosted by Council based in Albuquerque, but the The group’s website shows little activity. The the Mescalero Apache Tribe at the Inn of council will remain as a governing body. last agenda posted there is from September the Mountain Gods, Mescalero, NM. A statement issued by the council Thursday 2012. The last news release posted on the The State-Tribal Collaboration Act (SB 196) said the decision won’t affect organizations site is from December. requires the Governor of New Mexico meet overseen by the council, including the Santa The council’s incorporation was granted with leaders of Indian nations, tribes and Fe Indian School and the Indian Pueblo nonprofit status in 1969, but has not been pueblos in a state-tribal summit to address Cultural Center in Albuquerque. listed as an IRS nonprofit for several issues of mutual concern. For the second The council, which traces its roots to 1598, years. time, Mescalero was the site for the New said it had decided to return to its original Mexico State-Tribal Leaders Summit at the The council is no longer listed in GuideStar, “cultural and leadership model.” The Inn of the Mountain Gods. a website created by a group that gathers council elected governors Phillip A. Perez of information about nonprofits registered The first day included an orientation and Nambe Pueblo and Myron Armijo of Santa with the Internal Revenue Service. It’s networking session where tribal entities Ana Pueblo as co-chairmen. were provided an opportunity to meet with last 990 form available on the GuideStar “This change presents many incredible individual State Department Secretaries website was for the year 2001. The 990 opportunities for the future of Pueblo and discuss mutual concerns and issues is an annual report that certain federally that affect their respective communities people,” the statement said. “The Governors tax-exempt organizations must file with and provide resolution and or make look forward to the opportunity to re-emerge the IRS. In 2001, the council listed grant recommendations to address concerns. as an even stronger and more vibrant revenues of $4 million. About $1 million advocate for our Pueblo Nations.” went to administrative costs and $3 million The second day was the actual discussion to social service programs. with Governor Susana Martinez on the Calls to the council’s offices in Albuquerque four topic areas that all tribal entities were answered by a machine referring have concerns on from the questionnaire questions to Armijo and Perez. responses that the Indian Affairs Department The pueblo governors make up the council, Livestock Removal from all Range received: Indian Education; Health; Water which serves to administer social service Units: 2-Year Moratorium on Grazing Rights and Natural Resources; including programs for the pueblos, according to the The Pueblo of Isleta recently had a Infrastructure and Economic Development. website. As a single body representing the professional range assessment conducted Each topic area had a State official provide pueblos, the council lobbied nationally and by Prof D. Bailey of New Mexico State an update of their Departments: Secretary statewide for laws to benefit Pueblo people University. Professor Bailey is an expert on Designee Hanna Skandera presented the and other tribes. The council also worked on Rangeland Monitoring and Management, Public Education Department (PED) update; programs and applied for federal grants. as well as Livestock grazing management. Secretary Sedonie Squire presented the His assessment provided scientifically Department of Health and Human Services According to the group’s 2011 constitution defensible evidence to what we already update; Secretary Scott Verhines along with and bylaws, each pueblo paid an annual knew—our Ranges are in very poor (Governor) Tribal Liaison Myron Armijo of $4,500 membership fee to the organization. condition, despite the recent rains our the State Engineers Office presented the The All Indian Pueblo Council consists of the rangelands are on the precipice of being lost Water Rights, and Secretary Ryan Flynn governors of the pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, for generations. presented the Natural Resources updates; Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Ohkay and Secretary Jon Barela presented the Owingeh, Picuris, Pojoaque, San Felipe, San In order for rangelands to be sustainable Infrastructure & Economic Development Ildefonso, Sandia, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, the vegetation must have to establish itself update. Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Ysleta del and grow. Right now what little we have is Sur (in Texas), Zia and Zuni. being hit hard by drought and over-grazing. On the tribal side, Governor Vincent Toya The vegetation never has a chance to spoke about Education; Governor Eddie The council owns and operates the Santa establish before it is eaten or washed away, Paul Torres spoke on Health Care issues; Fe Indian School in Santa Fe. The middle the result is that when we do have rains it Former Governor Perry Martinez spoke on and high school provides education and just causes flooding, washouts and erosion; Water Rights and Natural Resources and dormitories for students with affiliations to Governor Richard Luarkie spoke on Tribal tribes all over the United States. ( Continued on next page ) Page 2 Isleta Pueblo News August 2013 and when we don’t have rain (which sadly forfeiture not to exceed $200.00, or any maintain the trust responsibility that was we have had little the past two years) we combination of the three.” Code at 30- promised and to stop budget cuts. Another have near-desert conditions on the range. 13-01. concern was for protection of Traditional The end result is the same; we end up • The removal of the livestock is the and Cultural Properties (TCPs). In the with malnourished cattle and a worsening responsibility of the Permittee, however Mt. Taylor area by Grants, Roca Honda system that doesn’t have time to heal. if assistance is needed, a request can Resources is doing some mining that is be made through the Range Section, in a TCP area. This is in the U.S. Forest Please remember that Cattle aren’t the however the Pueblo will assume no Service area and while they (USFS) don’t only animals we have to think about on the liability if livestock are injured during need approval from tribes, tribes want to be ranges, everything that lives and depends assisted round-ups. consulted; they don’t want the USFS to be on the ranges suffers as well, everything their voice. from our precious wildlife to native plants Again, please understand that we are not are at risk. Professor Bailey stated that the only entities doing this, it is a sad fact Congresswoman Lujan-Grisham stated that some of the Ranges are in such poor of life these days and this drought, in one she wants to introduce a bill that protects condition that it may take decades for them way or another, is affecting us all. I would the trust responsibility because the United to recover, maybe generations. Some of the like to extend my sincere appreciation for States Federal Government has violated other ranges are headed in that direction your support through these tough times, I the treaties and agreements that were as well, and even the ones that are in good hope and pray that this is only a temporary made “many moons ago,” but she wants to shape need rest. measure and that much needed rains will try. She will need the assistance of tribal help us out of this drought soon. Thank you leaders, federal lobbyists and attorneys This is one of the hardest decisions that we again for your support and for thinking of that work with tribes, for the framework.