News Release
State of New Mexico Indian Affairs Department
Leaders from New Mexico’s Nations, tribes, and pueblos met with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and her administration for the annual State-Tribal Leaders Summit (STLS) on Thursday. State and tribal representatives from across the state attended the Summit to discuss and address the most urgent issues affecting New Mexico’s tribal nations.
The annual summit was established in 2009 under the State Tribal Collaboration Act (STCA) to ensure that tribal priorities guide state-level policymaking and funding priorities. The STCA provides the framework for the state and tribes to work together to develop successful programs and services to benefit New Mexico’s Native American citizens. The Act requires cabinet-level agencies to develop policies that promote beneficial collaboration between the state and tribal governments; designate agency tribal liaisons; provide culturally appropriate training to state agency employees who work with tribes and provide annual reporting that accounts for each agency’s accomplishments pursuant to the Act.
“Every year, the State-Tribal summit provides a necessary space for discussion and collaboration with New Mexico’s tribal leadership on policies and strategies to uplift Indigenous communities,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “This year, we kept up that momentum, meaningfully addressing issues ranging from Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Relatives to water issues to cultural education. This gathering laid the groundwork for continued progress on our shared goals.”
“At the State-Tribal Summit, leaders authentically evaluated the progress we’ve made across various agencies and voiced ideas on how to better tackle pressing issues facing nations, tribes, and pueblos around the state,” said New Mexico Indian Affairs Departmen Cabinet Secretary Lynn Trujillo. “Under the Lujan Grisham administration, New Mexico’s Indigenous communities have had more opportunities to collaborate on state policymaking, and we are confident in the state’s commitment to continue strengthening our government-to-government partnerships.”
Topics of discussion at this year’s summit included:
- State Tribal Collaboration Act
- Shared Victories: A Review of the Administration’s Accomplishments and Delivering on Commitments — Honoring State Tribal Collaboration
- Summer Outlook — Water, Drought, Wildfires — High level briefing on current conditions, future projections and how the state and tribal nations are working together.
- Tribal Leadership State of the Nation Addresses
“Although the resiliency of nations, tribes and pueblos has been proven time and again, Native communities need a tremendous amount of support if we are to truly overcome the long-standing issues that our communities and people face,” said Pueblo of Sandia Governor Stuart Paisano. “The Lujan Grisham administration has broken the cycle of historic neglect, and with the 2022 Summit, we are hitting the start button on numerous programs that will create opportunities for our people.”
“This annual summit is critical to strengthening the government-to-government relations between tribal nNations and the state of New Mexico. I appreciate Governor Lujan Grisham and Secretary Trujillo’s commitment to working with tribal nations to resolve issues and partner to build stronger communities. We look forward to this year’s summit as we address many pressing issues and initiatives together,” said Navajo NationPresident Jonathan Nez.
The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department convened the in-person event with the goal of strengthening relationships between sovereign tribal governments and the state of New Mexico. Governor Lujan Grisham reemphasized her commitment to honor and enhance the government-to-government relationship with New Mexico’s 23 sovereign Nations.
Since 2003 the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) has implemented groundbreaking state-tribal policies intended to improve the quality of life for the state’s Native citizens. Our initiatives are designed to strengthen tribal and state relations and address the challenges we face in our communities; challenges such as economic development, infrastructure improvement, the protection of our cultures and languages, health care accessibility, and educational opportunities for our most precious resource — our children. Learn more at www.iad.state.nm.us.
