{"id":478585,"date":"2026-04-03T11:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=478585"},"modified":"2026-04-09T11:08:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:08:45","slug":"cronkite-news-new-mexico-authorizes-investigation-into-sterilization-of-native-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2026\/04\/03\/cronkite-news-new-mexico-authorizes-investigation-into-sterilization-of-native-women\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: New Mexico authorizes investigation into sterilization of Native women"},"content":{"rendered":" \"New<\/a>
The seal of the state of New Mexico can be seen at the State Capitol building, also known as the Roundhouse, in Santa Fe. Photo: Joanne C Sullivan<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n
New Mexico investigation into forced sterilization of Indigenous women could be delayed\u00a0\u00a0<\/div>\r\n
Friday, April 3, 2026<\/div>\r\n
By Ellis Preston, Cronkite News <\/div>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/a><\/div>\r\n

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PHOENIX — New Mexico\u2019s investigation into the forced sterilization of Indigenous women will take longer than expected, advocates warn.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

State lawmakers approved a measure directing the Commission on the Status of Women and the Indian Affairs Department to create a \u201cstatewide plan of action\u201d to interview victims and consult with Indian Health Service to find all cases of coerced sterilization between 1907 and 2018.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

The investigation has until December 2027 to release its findings, according to the New Mexico Senate Memorial 14<\/a>, providing the team with just under two years of work time.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cDecember 2027 sounds like a far way away, but it’s not. It’s going to go really quick,\u201d Josett Monette, the cabinet secretary for the New Mexico IAD, said. \u201cSome of the investigation will be a little difficult and time consuming. I’m not sure if we’re going to get everything done in time.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Due to the investigation relying significantly on the testimonies of Indigenous people, it may take years until the community is fully comfortable sharing their stories, said Rachael Lorenzo, the executive director of Indigenous Women Rising, an advocacy group for reproductive rights within the Indigenous community.<\/p>\r\n

According to a briefing<\/a> released by the New Mexico Memorial & Truth and Reconciliation Commission, over 70,000 forced or coerced sterilizations were performed by the IHS and contracted physicians between 1960 and 1978.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cBy the mid-1970s, preliminary evidence showed that 25\u201350 percent of Indigenous women of childbearing age had been sterilized, with a disproportionate number of procedures carried out in New Mexico,\u201d according to the document.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Lorenzo said the organization was approached by Elena Giacci, a historical trauma education specialist on sexual violence, and human rights advocate Keely Badger \u2013 two researchers for Senate Memorial 14 \u2013 to assist with the project.<\/p>\r\n

\u201cConsidering the history of forced sterilization and the distrust that our native communities have of the Western medical system and doctors, it could take a long time,\u201d Lorenzo said. \u201cIt could take up to a year just to get the word out that this investigation is happening, and recruitment could take a while, getting people together to share their stories and getting them comfortable with sharing their stories.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n \"Shannon<\/a>

From left: New Mexico Sen. Shannon Pinto, Elena Giacci, Sen. Mimi Stewart and Sen. Linda L\u00f3pez at the New Mexico state Capitol building in Santa Fe on February 14, 2026. Photo courtesy of Elena Giacci<\/figcaption>\r\n

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For Giacci, \u201cthe biggest piece is to ensure confidentiality\u201d a priority to make her sources more comfortable sharing their stories.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

In addition to confidentiality, Lorenzo emphasized that speaking to victims may take time, as the stories told will contain traumatic and sensitive information.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u00a0\u201cWe believe the work goes at the speed of trust,\u201d Lorenzo said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Lorenzo expressed doubt of the IHS\u2019s capacity for efficiency: \u201cWhen it comes to any kind of government entity \u2026 that can be a lengthy process, but there are other avenues that we could come by the information we need to make decisions and hopefully make sure that this never happens again.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Monette said she was concerned how her IAD team would obtain the documents needed for the investigation, anticipating it would be a main challenge for the team. She said this may cause the department to rely even more on public participation for answers.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe’re going to need to hear from community voices,\u201d Monette said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

The IHS denied a request for comment, as they do not comment on ongoing investigations, according to a written statement sent to Cronkite News.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Giacci said she, too, was concerned about the IHS\u2019s willingness to cooperate with the investigation, because their participation is the \u201ccrux\u201d of the entire memorial.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Giacci said given the experience that Badger, her partner in creating Senate Memorial 14, had when previously reaching out to the IHS, she is expecting that they may take a long time to provide the team with a response.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThey weren’t willing to really give her any kind of information no matter what she filed,\u201d Giacci said. \u201cThat’s where we’re looking at the state or our government entities to step in and say, \u2018Look, you need to do this. You need to provide this information.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Because of the amount of public and state attention the memorial has gotten, she is hopeful the IHS will be more motivated to assist them in their search for documentation, Giacci said.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n \r\n

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New Mexico Sen. Linda L\u00f3pez, a co-sponsor of Senate Memorial 14, speaking about the investigation into coerced sterilization of Native women on March 5, 2026.<\/figcaption>\r\n

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Despite concerns about the timeline, Monette said the IAD plans to help in several steps of the investigative process, including identifying all known cases of coerced and forced sterilization, and creating an educational curriculum based off of the findings.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cThat will be really important and really great work to be able to provide these families with at least some acknowledgement of being heard or being understood, and having the opportunity, if they want to share their story,\u201d Monette said. \u201cThere might be some challenges, but I think there’s some really great things, some really great acknowledgements \u2026 that can come from the memorial.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

Monette said she plans to use other state resources if necessary.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\u201cWe have a time ticking right now, and trying to do that is going to require our team,\u201d Giacci said. \u201cEverybody that I’ve talked to is committed to trying to see this go forward, is committed to making sure that our community is aware, is committed to making sure that truth gets out.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

\r\nFor more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A>.<\/STRONG>\r\n

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This article<\/a> first appeared on Cronkite News<\/a> and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n