From the Office of the Governor:

MESCALERO – Leadership from New Mexico’s 23 Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos met with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, Cabinet Secretaries and Tribal liaisons for the annual State Tribal Leader Summit, held July 5-6, 2023.  

The annual summit was established in 2009 under the State Tribal Collaboration Act to ensure that Tribal priorities inform state policy. The Summit was convened by the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department with the goal of strengthening relationships between sovereign Tribal governments and the state of New Mexico. 

Representatives from tribal communities throughout the state attended the summit to discuss a wide range of issues, including public safety, Tribal Infrastructure funding, health care delivery and access, state and tribal natural resources, state and tribal economic investments, and education. Gov. Lujan Grisham emphasized her commitment to maintaining good connections with the Tribes and continuing to give the skills and resources needed for self-governing and self-sufficiency. 

“These meetings give us, as leaders, the opportunity to engage in productive conversations around pressing issues that impact daily life for the 23 Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos in New Mexico,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “I am proud to work alongside other leaders as we strengthen our relationships to better collaborate on improving life across our state.”

“There has been an unprecedented amount of support and reinvestment in our Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos under the Lujan Grisham administration,” Indian Affairs Department Secretary Designate James R. Mountain said. “Tribal communities in New Mexico have had greater opportunities to participate in state decisions, and we are confident in the Governor’s commitment and the state’s commitment for honoring and promulgating our government-to-government relationships. The Lujan Grisham administration remains committed to ensuring better outcomes for every Tribal community in the state. Stronger Tribal communities’ results in a stronger New Mexico.” 

“Mescalero is honored to be the host tribe for the New Mexico State Tribal Leaders Summit this year, ” Mescalero Apache Tribe Vice President Bernalyn “Gina” Via said. “There was much information shared between the State and Tribes, Nations & Pueblos. These collaborative engagements between tribes and the state are important as we share many of the same concerns in each of our individual tribes. This is a great opportunity to have this dialogue with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Not only is information shared but there is also an educational aspect involved – we continue to learn from one another. We are grateful for the time and effort put forth from the Indian Affairs Department in putting this together so that all the tribes of New Mexico have the opportunity to speak on behalf of their tribal membership.”