The two top officials for the state of New Mexico's Indian Affairs Department tendered their resignations last week, The Santa Fe New Mexican reports.
In letters to Gov. Bill Richardson (D), Secretary Bernie Teba and deputy director Sam Cata did not explain why they were resigning. When contacted by the paper, Cata declined to comment.
In his letter, Teba requested a transfer to another state position.
Teba and Cata were among the wave of tribal members appointed to top positions by Richardson, who elevated the Office of Indian Affairs to the Cabinet level.
Get the Story:
Two Resign Top Indian Affairs Positions
(The Santa Fe New Mexican 1/29)
Related Stories:
N.M. law elevates Indian affairs
position (04/09)
N.M.
governor signs Indian education act into law (4/7)
Tribes and states stress cooperation
not conflict (02/28)
A
record number of Indians on governor's list (02/04)
N.M. governor seeks full
partnership with Natives (01/22)
Indians take top posts in N.M.
government (01/06)
N.M. Indian affairs officials unexpectedly resign
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Trending in News
1 Tribes rush to respond to new coronavirus emergency created by Trump administration
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'
2 'At this rate the entire tribe will be extinct': Zuni Pueblo sees COVID-19 cases double as first death is confirmed
3 Arne Vainio: 'A great sickness has been visited upon us as human beings'
4 Arne Vainio: Zoongide'iwin is the Ojibwe word for courage
5 Cayuga Nation's division leads to a 'human rights catastrophe'