by Christopher Sanchez
Daily Lobo
American Indian tribal leaders from New Mexico expressed their frustration toward UNM leaders Tuesday at a summit on higher education.
Everett Chavez, governor of Santo Domingo reservation, said young American Indians should not have to go to New Mexico State or Arizona State to receive a college education when UNM is closer to their home.
"UNM is clearly the central location for tribes around the state," Chavez said. "Sometimes being centrally located allows us to sit back a bit and think people are going to come here anyway."
The summit hosted American Indian leaders from 21 different tribes in New Mexico. The leaders voiced their concern on higher education and suggested ways UNM could help.
Chavez said universities are spreading positive propaganda about their schools throughout the reservations and UNM is not one of them. He wants to see young American Indians continuing their education at UNM because they would be closer to home, he said.
"Something UNM needs to do is start aggressively recruiting Native Americans," Chavez said.
UNM Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell, who is American Indian, organized the summit to strengthen dialogue with American Indian tribes. She said it has been more than 10 years since UNM has hosted an American Indian summit.
"I don't have very much more time as a regent," she said. "I pushed real hard to get this through."
She hopes to hold an American Indian summit once a year, and wants to have meetings with tribal higher-education directors every six months, Begay-Campbell said.
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"I want to make it a priority of getting everyone on the radar screen," she said.
Leona Morgan, an American Indian student attending UNM, said it's about time the collaboration happened.
"I think it's a big step in starting dialogue between UNM and the tribes," Morgan said. "It shows that UNM leaders are willing to take a day listening to the concerns of the elders."
One concern, which was brought up by many of the tribal leaders, was finding a way to keep their cultures alive.
Loyd Tortalita, of the Acoma Higher Education Department, said institutions are pushing Western-European education, and not enough of native education. He insisted the University find a way to further educate about their culture.
"I am worried about the language in Acoma, and the language in other pueblos," Tortalita said. "We don't talk or teach our language in Acoma anymore. We're losing who we are."
Morgan said it is good the issue was addressed.
"It's important to the elders to express the bridge gap of Western education and tradition," she said. "The fact that UNM has a bachelor's program for Native American studies is a big step for not only Native American students, but for all UNM students."
UNM regents approved a bachelor's degree program in Native American Studies in December 2004. UNM is one of 35 institutions in America and Canada that offer a degree in Native American Studies.
UNM President Louis Caldera said he plans to hold tribal summits on an annual basis. He put Pamela Agoyo, director of American Indian Student Services, in charge of convening with tribal members throughout the year, he said.
"We'll have one-on-one meetings with tribal leaders where we'll invite them to campus," Caldera said.
He wants to do a better job serving the American Indian community, he said.
"I want students to come to the University, and go back to their pueblo to make life better over there," Caldera said. "We can impact the Native American education and public services program if we work toward communication with tribal leaders."
