Paris Wise
ICT
SANTA FE, N.M — Breakfast burritos and boisterous auntie laughs filled a room in the New Mexico State Capitol the morning of the first session on Jan. 21.
It was a celebratory gathering with friends and family for the newly sworn in state Rep. Michelle Pauline Abeyta for District 69. Abeyta is a Democrat and Navajo Nation citizen.
Her husband, children, nieces, nephews, sisters, aunties and grandma were all in attendance to show their support and it meant a lot to Abeyta.
“My family and I are very excited to be here today,” she said. “We’re honored for the opportunity to serve New Mexican citizens and to get to work and do what’s needed for our people.”
Abeyta is part of the 57th New Mexico Legislature with one of the largest female majorities in U.S. history and the first ever majority female legislature for the state.
Her decision to run for the state legislature came in the last year during her public service experience with the To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education. She wanted better for the tribal communities within her district but it wasn’t just her decision to make. Her family was with her every step of the way.
“We had a family meeting, and we discussed what this would entail, and how much work it was going to require,” said Chad Abeyta, Rep. Abeyta’s husband and former President Jonathen Nez running mate. “And so it wasn’t just me and my wife at the table. It was my kids, it was my parents, it was Pauline’s grandparents. And so it was a family (and) a community decision.”
Abeyta looks forward to serving her district “…because representation matters and having a seat at the table as an Indigenous woman is going to be crucial to making sure that our communities’ concerns and voices are heard here at the state.”
District 69 is located west of Albuquerque, and includes three pueblos, nine Navajo Nation chapters, the city of Grants and other villages. “And I look forward to amplifying those voices and finding the resources that are needed and taking them back to our communities,” she said.
Supporters, family, local organizations, and staff all filled the bustling halls of the Roundhouse.
Tribal leaders who came to visit and wish Abeyta well on her first day included New Mexico state Sen. Benny Shendo from District 22 who is Jemez Pueblo, the Taos Tribal Leadership Delegation, the governor and lieutenant governor of Laguna Pueblo, some tribal administrators from Zia Pueblo, and the To’Hajiilee Chapter vice president. Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, also came to show her support.
Open gallery seating on the House and Senate side began to fill for the swearing in and the start of the 60-day legislative session focusing on crime and public safety. On the House side, the ceremony began with a presenting of the colors from the Pueblo of Acoma American Legion Post 116.
A few returning New Mexico lawmakers included state Rep. Derrick J. Lente for District 65 from Iselta and Sandia Pueblos, state Sen. Shannon D. Pinto for District 3 from the Navajo Nation, and state Rep. Charlotte Little for District 68 from San Felipe Pueblo.
Another new powerhouse is state Sen. Angel Charley of District 30, which overlaps with Abeyta’s district. For Charley’s district it is the first time a woman, a Native woman at that, has overseen the district, she said. Charley is Laguna Pueblo, Zuni Pueblo, and Diné.
“I think about what I said on the campaign trail a lot, and it’s something that I really believe in is that women bring their communities with them when they rise,” Charley said. “And I’m excited to work with the female majority in both houses to get good policy done for our families and our communities.”
For the first legislative session, state legislators brought in special guests which included family, friends, and even constituents. Charley’s guests were her husband and her daughter. They were beaming with pride dressed in their beautiful Pueblo dresses, mantas, and moccasins.
“Well, it’s not just my daughter here, my nieces were up in the gallery. And I mean, you have to see it to be it, right? In order for us to have this representation. It was the same for me when I saw Deb (Haaland) run for Congress,” Charley said. “I hope that what this means for other young Native people out there is that you can do it. We belong in these spaces, and we have the real lived experience to bring meaningful change for our people.”
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