Leaders of New Mexico's 22 tribes celebrated the 20th annual American Indian Day at the Legislature on Friday. The theme of the event was "Water: Sustaining Life, Traditions and Culture." State lawmakers are considering a budget to fund water right settlements for the Navajo Nation and several Pueblos. Tribal leaders expanded on water and other issues, including health care, a tax break for a power plant on the Navajo Nation and their relationship with the sate. "Perhaps nowhere else in the United States is the tribal/state relationship more honored," Jemez Pueblo Gov. Raymond Gachupin said, The Gallup Independent reported. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Ute Tribe, both based in Colorado, were also represented at the event. The Utes have land on the Colorado-New Mexico border. Get the Story:
American Indian Day: Leaders push power-plant tax break (AP 2/3)
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Speaking with one voice (The Gallup Independent 2/3)
Lawmakers urged to provide state funding for Indian Health Service (AP 2/2) Relevant Links:
New Mexico Indian Affairs Department - http://www.state.nm.us/oia Related Stories:
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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)
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