>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> Lou: THIS WEEK, ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, A LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT A SECOND TRUMP TERM COULD MEAN FOR NEW MEXICO'S INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

>> Griswold: FOR CERTAIN TRIBES WHO HAVE POLICIES OR INTERESTS THAT COULD BE COMPLETELY DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON, THEY WILL SEE A HIT TO THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.

>> Lou: AND REIMAGINING COLUMBUS, FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE.

A NAVAJO ARCHITECT EXPLAINS HER APPROACH AS SHE LEADS A PROJECT TO REPLACE COLONIAL MONUMENTS IN OHIO'S CAPITAL CITY.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.

I'M SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DiVIZIO.

WE RETURN TO A NUMBER OF INDIGENOUS STORIES THIS WEEK THAT WE'VE COVERED THIS YEAR, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE WORK OF CONTRIBUTOR ANTONIA GONZALES.

FIRST, WE LOOK AHEAD TO INAUGURATION DAY.

JOURNALIST SHAUN GRISWOLD HOSTED LIVE COVERAGE OF ELECTION NIGHT FOR INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY AND FIRST NATION'S EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH ANTONIA.

RIGHT NOW, SHAUN JOINS ME IN STUDIO TO CONSIDER WHAT'S NEXT FOR INDIAN COUNTRY AS WE PREPARE FOR A SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

GREAT TO SEE YOU, SHAUN.

>> Griswold: HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> Lou: NOW, I WANT TO START WITH HOW THIS ELECTION RESULT WAS RECEIVED BY OUR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

WHAT WERE YOU HEARING DURING YOUR COVERAGE AS IT BECAME CLEAR THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS GOING TO WIN?

>> Griswold: YEAH, THE FOCUS WAS REALLY ON THE SWING STATES INITIALLY, AND SEEING HOW INDIGENOUS NATIONS COULD IMPACT SWING-STATE VOTING IN PLACES LIKE ARIZONA, MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, WHICH HAS A PREDOMINANT NATIVE AMERICAN POPULATION IN ALL THOSE STATES.

THE MARGIN OF ERROR FOR TRUMP AND HARRIS AT THAT TIME, PEOPLE THOUGHT, WAS GOING TO BE ENOUGH THAT THE NATIVE VOTE COULD IMPACT THAT WAY, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO PROMINENT INDIGENOUS VOICES AND SUPPORT, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAD SIGNIFICANTLY MORE PEOPLE FROM NATIVE NATIONS AND NATIVE TRIBES ENDORSING THE HARRIS TICKET.

BUT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN DID HAVE SOME NUMBER OF NATIVE PEOPLE, NATIVE VOICES, WHO ARE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

THE MOST PROMINENT ONE BEING OKLAHOMA SENATOR MARKWAYNE MULLIN, WHO HAS NOT ONLY CAMPAIGNED WITH TRUMP, BUT ALSO WAS HOSTING AN INDIGENOUS FORUM AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

I WAS THERE, AND SOMEBODY ELSE THAT WAS ALSO THERE WAS NAVAJO NATION VICE PRESIDENT MYRON LIZER.

MYRON WAS ALSO GIVEN A SHOUT OUT BY TRUMP WHEN HE CAME TO VISIT IN ALBUQUERQUE.

HE SPOKE AHEAD OF THE EVENT.

AND AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH CABINET MEMBERS AND PICKS -- EXCUSE ME -- CABINET NOMINEES LIKE ROBERT KENNEDY, JR., ELON MUSK AND SAYS TO HAVE TRUMP'S EAR.

>> Lou: OKAY.

YEAH, WE HAVE A CLIP FROM YOUR COVERAGE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PLAY RIGHT NOW.

>> Lizer: I THINK INDIAN COUNTRY, THIS IS WHERE WE LET THE WORLD KNOW WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

THOSE THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROGRESSIVE, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

WE NEED THE JOBS, WE NEED THE RESOURCES, AND WE DON'T ALWAYS WANT TO GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH OUR HAND OUT.

WE NEED MONEY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH WE DO.

WE NEED MONEY FOR EDUCATION, WHICH WE DO.

WE'VE ESTABLISHED THAT ON THIS CALL.

I THINK WE WOULD LOVE TO BE SELF-RELIANT AND SELF-RESILIENT, WHICH WE ARE SELF-RESILIENT.

THE SELF-RELIANT PART IS WE'RE DEPENDING ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR TOO MANY THINGS.

I THINK OUR TIME HAS COME WHERE WE START BRINGING WORTHWHILE PROJECTS TO THE MASSES.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO RESHORE, COME TO NORTH AMERICA.

MUCH MORE, COME TO INDIAN COUNTRY.

I THINK WE CAN HELP THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE OPEN TO WORKING WITH US.

AND WE CAN ADVANCE OUR MEASURES ON MANY FACETS, MANY FRONTS, MANY SEGMENTS.

>> Lou: NOW, SINCE THE ELECTION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED, IT'S BEEN A FEW WEEKS, BUT WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS, OR MAYBE HOPES LIKE WE HEARD FROM MR. LIZER, FOR THIS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN FOR INDIAN COUNTRY?

>> Griswold: IT'S FASCINATING THAT THEY START -- THE HOPES AND THE CONCERNS ARE IN THAT SAME PLACE FOR A LOT OF NATIVE PEOPLE.

SOMEBODY LIKE LIZER SPEAKING THIS VERY PRO-BUSINESS APPROACH, EVEN THE CONCEPT OF THE DRILL, BABY, DRILL ELEMENT SPEAKS TO THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TRIBES LIKE THE MHA NATION IN NORTH DAKOTA, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR A THIRD OF OIL AND GAS IN THAT STATE, IMMEDIATELY BENEFIT.

THEIR TRIBAL CHAIRMAN CAME IN SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S INTERIOR SECRETARY NOMINEE, GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM, FROM NORTH DAKOTA.

THOSE TWO HAVE HAD A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP IN A TRIBAL GOVERNMENT TO GOVERNMENT RELATIONSHIP, EVEN.

SO, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING TRUMP, WHO ARE GOING TO LINE UP TO SUPPORT THE MAGA POLITICS FOR TRIBAL NATIONS, IT'S GOING TO START WITH BUSINESS AND IT'S GOING TO START WITH ENERGY EXPLORATION.

NOW, THAT IS ALSO THE CONCERN FOR A LOT OF TRIBAL NATIONS AS WELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT DRILLING IS GOING TO DO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS THAT A LOT OF OUR PROTECTED LANDS -- AND I SAY US NOT ONLY AS NATIVE PEOPLE BUT U.S. CITIZENS, THERE'S A POTENTIAL CONCERN THAT THE DRILL, BABY, DRILL APPROACH IS GOING TO, ONE, CAUSE FURTHER POLLUTION TO OUR AIR, WATER, OUR OVERALL LAND, BUT ALSO COULD BE A DETRIMENT TO SOVEREIGNTY.

BECAUSE IF THERE'S GOING TO BE COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH -- YOU KNOW WE CAN SPEAK TO WHETHER THEY'RE OIL COMPANIES OR ANY OTHER LARGE MULTI-INTERNATIONAL COMPANY THAT WILL BE WORKING IN A TRIBAL COMMUNITY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK HAND AND HAND WITH THE RULES AND GOVERNANCE OF THAT SOVEREIGN TRIBE.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH ENERGY TRIBES, I LIKE TO DESCRIBE THEM, TRIBES WITH HEAVY ENERGY PORTFOLIOS IN THEIR INVESTMENTS.

THESE ARE THE ENTERPRISES THAT CAN HELP FUND TRIBAL OPERATIONS, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.

SOMETIMES THOSE TRIBES MAY BE MORE THAN WILLING TO LEAN INTO WHAT THE CORPORATE INTERESTS ARE.

AND THAT COULD, AS WE'VE SEEN MANY TIMES OVER, LEAD TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND DEGRADATIONS OF OUR WATER AND AIR.

AND THAT IS A SUPREME CONCERN.

NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY, THE MOST INITIAL CONCERN IS GOING TO BE A COMPLETE REVERSAL OF THE POLICIES UNDER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND HIS INTERIOR PICK, SECRETARY DEB HAALAND.

WITH THAT COMES CONCERNS FOR PROTECTING SACRED SITES LIKE BEARS EARS, CHACO CANYON, FURTHER PROTECTIONS IN THE GRAND CANYON THAT WERE UTILIZED WITH THE ANTIQUITIES ACT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REVERSED UNDER A TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FIRST LINES OF REVERSAL OF THE ANTIQUITIES ACT IN THE PROJECT 2025 PLAN, WHICH WE'VE SEEN IS BECOMING VERY REAL.

>> Lou: OKAY.

NOW, YOU MENTIONED SOVEREIGNTY.

WE'VE HEARD TRIBAL LEADERS BRINGING UP SOVEREIGNTY AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS HEADING INTO 2025 TO PROTECT IT, ENSURE TREATY AND TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES ARE KEPT.

ARE THOSE REALLY IN JEOPARDY UNDER TRUMP?

>> Griswold: THEY COULD BE.

THEY ALSO COULD ALSO ENHANCE, BUT ULTIMATELY NO PRESIDENT HAS EVER MET THE TREATY OBLIGATIONS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES HERE.

THAT'S EVERY PRESIDENT GOING BACK TO WHEN WE STARTED TO ENACT THESE TREATY OBLIGATIONS OVER 100 YEARS AGO, JUST ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO TO BE EXACT.

THIS IS A REQUIREMENT TO PROVIDE HEALTH, EDUCATION, ACCESS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND THE SUPPORT OF TRIBAL GOVERNANCE.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF STRIDES MADE IN THAT SPACE, BUT FOR CERTAIN TRIBES WHO HAVE POLICIES OR INTERESTS THAT COULD BE COMPLETELY DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON, THEY WILL SEE A HIT TO THEIR SOVEREIGNTY.

FOR OTHER TRIBES LIKE I WAS JUST DISCUSSING, FOR INSTANCE, THE MHA NATION IN NORTH DAKOTA, THEY WOULD SAY THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IS ACTUALLY GOING TO INCREASE UNDER TRUMP BECAUSE THEIR PRINCIPLES AND INTERESTS LINE UP WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAGA POLITICS OF DONALD TRUMP.

THAT'S THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT SOVEREIGNTY.

AS ALL NATIVE PEOPLE, IT'S NOT JUST A SINGULAR EVENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE BROAD.

SOME WILL BENEFIT, SOME WON'T.

I THINK WE MAY SEE, DEPENDING ON THE POLICIES, IF IT'S FOCUSED ON ENERGY, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE PREDOMINANT WINNER RIGHT THERE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME POSSIBLE GAINS POTENTIALLY BEING MADE IN EDUCATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL POLICIES THAT ARE BEING PUSHED BY REPUBLICAN CONGRESS AS WELL AS DONALD TRUMP.

HIS EDUCATION SECRETARY PICK, LINDA McMAHON, HAS BEEN SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN SPEARHEADING A LOT OF FEDERAL CHARTER SCHOOL INITIATIVES THAT ACTUALLY IS BENEFITING TRIBES IN SOME SPACES.

WE CAN LOOK LOCALLY HERE IN NEW MEXICO AT THE CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATIONS JUST IN ALBUQUERQUE ALONE, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT ARE TRIBALLY FOCUSED THAT BENEFIT FROM THAT CHARTER SCHOOL STRUCTURE.

YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD ACTUALLY BENEFIT, BUT IT'S ANOTHER POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY THAT SOME TRIBES ARE LOOKING AT OF HOW DO WE WORK WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION.

BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHIFT FROM WHAT WAS OPERATING UNDER BIDEN.

>> Lou: SURE.

NOW, JUST LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FORMALLY ACKNOWLEDGED AND APOLOGIZED FOR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FOR DECADES, THEY SEPARATED CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN DIED IN THAT PRACTICE OF FORCED ASSIMILATION.

WHEN DONALD TRUMP TAKES OFFICE IN JANUARY, WHAT MIGHT CHANGE ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL POSTURE TOWARDS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS LIKE THAT, AND THE PROCESS OF BOARDING SCHOOL RECONCILIATION?

>> Griswold: YOU KNOW, I CAN PREDICT THAT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE'S GOING TO PROBABLY BE SOME INITIAL OPPOSITION TOWARDS IT IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I CAN IMAGINE SOME STATE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND IF IT POTENTIALLY REACHES CONVERSATIONS AT A FEDERAL EDUCATION LEVEL.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ANTI-DEI INITIATIVES, TEACHING HISTORY, TEACHING THE HONESTY OF HISTORY, BOARDING SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY SHIELDING FROM AND TRYING TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ON FOR GENERATIONS.

SO, FOR A FORMALIZED GOVERNMENT REPORT TO BE AVAILABLE, THERE'S A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT STEPS THAT CAN HAPPEN AND THE REPORT ITSELF OUTLINES CLEAR IDEAS OF WHAT'S NEXT.

A NATIONAL MONUMENT, LET'S BUILD CURRICULUM TO START TALKING ABOUT THESE TOPICS.

LET'S DO LANGUAGE REVITALIZATIONS AND LET'S SUPPORT TRIBAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CAN DO ALL OF THAT IF IT WANTS TO, BUT WHAT IT MAY END UP DOING, AND WE'VE SEEN THIS WITH SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT COME WITH THE COALITION BEHIND PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP IS A COMPLETE REJECTION OF CERTAIN TYPES OF HISTORY.

IF IT MAKES WHITE PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE LIKE THIS RESIDENTIAL BOARDING SCHOOL DOES AND SHOULD, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO COMPLETE SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT WOULD BE A HINDRANCE TO THE HISTORY AND TO US RECONCILING AND HEALING FROM THIS TRAGIC ERA THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY WHEN IT COMES TO HOW PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH THE GENERATIONAL TRAUMAS OF BOARDING SCHOOLS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO DETERMINE IF IT WANTS TO CONTINUE GOING FORWARD.

IF IT WANTS TO SUPPORT ONE OF THESE EFFORTS, YOU START BY GOING THROUGH THE LIST, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER.

LET'S ESTABLISH A NATIONAL MONUMENT.

LET'S AT LEAST CONTINUE THE PROCESS THERE.

WHY NOT BOOST FEDERAL DOLLARS FOR TRIBAL LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT TRIBAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS?

THAT COULD THEN TAKE TRIBES OUT OF HAVING TO DEPEND ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT ITS SCHOOL MODELS.

BUT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, AND IT BECOMES THIS SORT OF POLITICS OF LET'S ARGUE OVER WHAT THE FACTS OF THE TRUTH ARE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO MUCH FURTHER.

>> Lou: ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY WORK BEING DONE BY EITHER TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS OR ADVOCACY GROUPS TO PREPARE FOR EITHER OF THOSE TWO POSSIBILITIES?

>> Griswold: YEAH, THE CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS IS CONTINUING ITS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

SO, WHILE THAT IS AN ENTITY THAT DOES RECEIVE FEDERAL SUPPORT, IT DOES ALSO HAVE FINANCIAL BACKING FROM VARIOUS TRIBES.

SO, THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE HEALING COALITIONS THAT ARE ALREADY ACTIVE LOCALLY.

THERE ARE SOME EFFORTS RIGHT NOW TO RETURN REMAINS OF BODIES THAT ARE BEING DISCOVERED AT BURIAL SITES TO TRIBAL NATIONS.

THAT IS STUFF THAT CAN AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE, BUT GOING FROM THERE IT'S REALLY UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT COULD HAPPEN NEXT.

>> Lou: OKAY.

NOW, THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN WATCHING AS TRUMP MAKES HIS CABINET PICKS, MANY OF WHICH YOU JUST MENTIONED.

SOME OF THOSE PICKS DO HAVE TIES TO INDIAN COUNTRY.

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN IN THAT PROCESS?

>> Griswold: LIKE I MENTIONED, WE COULD JUST START IN THE DAKOTAS.

GOVERNOR DOUG BURGUM FROM NORTH DAKOTA WAS ELECTED THERE IN 2019.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ACTIONS HE HAD TO TAKE AS GOVERNOR WAS CONFRONT THE STANDING ROCK PROTESTS THAT WERE HAPPENING OVER THE DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE.

AND WHILE HE DID NOT RECEIVE A LOT OF TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THE TRIBES WHO WERE PROTESTING AT THAT TIME, THE ENERGY TRIBES IN THAT AREA DEFINITELY SUPPORTED WHAT HE DID TO CONTINUE THE BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN THAT SPACE.

WHAT THAT DID FOR BURGUM, GOING FORWARD, IS IT DID LEAD TO TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS, TRIBAL SUMMITS.

THERE ARE SIX TRIBAL NATIONS IN NORTH DAKOTA.

HE HAS A FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH ALMOST ALL OF THEM THERE.

NOW, YOU GO DOWN TO SOUTH DAKOTA WHERE YOU LOOK AT KRISTI NOEM WHO WAS APPOINTED FOR HOMELAND SECURITY, THIS IS SOMEBODY WHO CAMPAIGNED HEAVILY ON SAYING RESERVATIONS IN HER STATE ARE HARBORS FOR CARTEL ACTIVITY.

SAYING THAT DRUGS AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IS ALL HAPPENING ON RESERVATIONS.

SOME REALLY CLEAR, FULL RHETORIC THAT PROVED TO BE UNTRUE.

SHE WAS AWARDED WITH THAT POST TO HELP LEAD HOMELAND SECURITY.

BUT BEFORE THAT, SHE'S ALSO BEEN BANNED FROM VISITING ANY OF THOSE TRIBAL NATIONS IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

JUST RIGHT THERE AT THE DAKOTAS YOU HAVE ONE THAT HAS A FRIENDLY, COZY RELATIONSHIP WITH ENERGY TRIBES THAT'S GOING TO REALLY ENACT THE DRILL, BABY, DRILL PHILOSOPHY.

AND FOR ANY TRIBES THAT WANT TO JOIN THAT, COULD POTENTIALLY BENEFIT.

AND DOWN BELOW, YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE KRISTI NOEM WHO HAS MUCH DIFFERENT CIVIL UNREST RELATIONSHIP WITH THE TRIBES WHERE SHE'S FROM.

BUT IT ALL DRIVES BACK TO -- I MEAN, THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, NOEM IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL TO HELPING SECURE A LOT OF THE MULTI-INTERNATIONAL PIPELINES THAT COME THROUGH THE DAKOTAS.

BURGUM IS JUST GOING TO BE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING SURE THE FEDERAL LANDS ARE GOING TO PROTECT THAT BUSINESS.

>> Lou: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE, SHAUN.

YOU MENTIONED EARLIER DEB HAALAND, NEW MEXICO NATIVE.

SHE'S THE FIRST INDIGENOUS CABINET SECRETARY.

SHE, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE ON HER WAY OUT.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND TRIBAL NATIONS?

>> Griswold: YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE -- MANY PEOPLE IN THE INTERIOR RIGHT NOW ARE DEFINITELY A LITTLE BIT UPSET WITH THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION.

THEY'RE CONCERNED THAT THE POLICY INITIATIVES THAT CAME FROM SECRETARY HAALAND ARE JUST GOING TO BE COMPLETELY REVERSED.

THERE'S CONCERN THAT THE GAINS SHE MADE OF JUST HAVING THE PRESENCE OF AN INDIGENOUS PERSON, A PERSON WHO IS FROM A NATIVE NATION, WHO KNOWS HOW NATIVE NATIONS OPERATE, CLEARS UP SO MUCH OF THE FRONT-END WORK THAT HAS TO BE DONE WHEN IT COMES TO ENACTING ANY TYPE OF POLICIES.

WE ALL LIKE TO CALL THIS, SORT OF, INDIAN 101.

LIKE, THIS IS WHAT SOVEREIGNTY IS, THIS IS WHAT THIS TRIBE IS.

WE'RE NOT ALL THE SAME.

DEB DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THAT.

SHE ALREADY WALKED IN WITH THAT WORK.

AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT OF LIKE, WELL, ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THAT AGAIN.

THAT'S WHY THERE'S POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY OR AT LEAST SOME OPTIMISM WITH BURGUM IS THAT HE DOES HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRIBES.

BUT THE SADNESS THAT ALSO COMES FROM SECRETARY HAALAND'S TENURE IS SHE ALSO REPRESENTS A PARTICULAR NATIVE-VIEW PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT COMES TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS.

WHILE SHE DID STEER THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AS IT DID REACH RECORD, YOU KNOW, OUTPUT AND INPUT OF OIL AND GAS, AND HELP BOOST THE UNITED STATES DOMESTIC ENERGY POLICIES TO RECORD LEVELS THAT IT'S BEEN AT, SHE DID SO WITH AN EFFORT TO TRY AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT TO DO SO IN A WAY THAT WOULD EVEN CLOSE DOWN SOME SITES AND DO SOME CLEANUP EFFORTS IN SPACES.

NOW, PEOPLE AREN'T EVEN SURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO, ON TOP OF THE BOARDING SCHOOL STUFF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW DOES THE COUNTRY HEAL FROM THAT, THERE'S IDEAS THAT COULD BE FOLLOWING THE CANADA MODEL WHEN IT DID ITS TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION FOR ITS BOARDING SCHOOLS THERE.

POTENTIAL BILLIONS OF INVESTMENTS FOR CHILD WELFARE, AND IT'S VERY UNCLEAR IF THAT'S EVEN GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE ANYMORE.

>> Lou: OKAY.

I UNDERSTAND.

JOURNALIST SHAUN GRISWOLD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> Griswold: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Lewis: IDENTITY PLAYS A BIG PART IN WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO EMBRACE YOUR NATIVE CULTURE.

THE DIFFERENT TRADITIONS OF CULTURES THROUGHOUT ALL OVER THE WORLD, BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY AT THAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE AS A YOUNG ADULT TRYING TO FIND A SENSE OF WHO YOU ARE, AND I THINK KNOWING YOUR ROOTS, YOUR LANGUAGE, YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR COMMUNITY PUSHES YOU TO MOVE PAST THAT UNCERTAINTY.

>> Lou: ANTONIA TAKES US INSIDE THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPICS IN A LITTLE OVER A HALF-HOUR.

PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS AROUND COLONIAL ATROCITIES AND CULTURAL OPPRESSION HAS GROWN DRAMATICALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN RECENT YEARS, INCLUDING IN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS'S NAMESAKE CITY IN CENTRAL OHIO.

A STATUE HONORING COLUMBUS WAS REMOVED FROM CITY HALL THERE IN 2020.

NOW, A NAVAJO ARCHITECT FROM NEW MEXICO IS WORKING ON A REPLACEMENT.

IN THIS INTERVIEW THAT FIRST AIRED ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY, ANTONIA SITS DOWN WITH INDIGENOUS DESIGN AND PLANNING INSTITUTE FOUNDER TAMARAH BEGAY TO ASK HOW HER TEAM IS APPROACHING THE PROJECT.

>> Antonia: TAMARAH, WELCOME TO NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS.

>> Begay: THANK YOU, ANTONIA.

>> Antonia: LET ME SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

IN 2020, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS REMOVED A 20-FOOT, MORE THAN 3-TON, BRONZE STATUE OF COLUMBUS AT CITY HALL.

AND THE CITY SAYS, AMONG THINGS, THE STATUE REPRESENTS OPPRESSION AND DIVIDES PEOPLE.

SINCE ITS REMOVAL, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED?

>> Begay: I GOT INVOLVED ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

THERE WAS A COMPANY OUT IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, CALLED DESIGNING LOCAL.

AND THEY REACHED OUT TO ME AND THEY SAID, OH, WE'RE DOING SOME RESEARCH TO FIND AN INDIGENOUS FIRM THAT WE COULD CONNECT TO HELP WITH THIS PROJECT.

SO, THEY INTRODUCED ME TO THE PROJECT AND LIKE THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS LIKE OH, WOW, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO, LIKE, REDESIGN OR PUT SOMETHING BACK IN ITS PLACE FOR THE STATUE.

I WAS LIKE, WELL, THAT'S A BIG UNDERTAKING.

AND IT IS ALSO A VERY CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT.

SO, I TALKED WITH THEM AND I REALLY KIND OF EMPHASIZED OUR APPROACH WHICH IS, LIKE, DIFFERENT FROM A LOT OF ARCHITECTURE FIRMS.

AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT LISTENING TO PEOPLE'S STORIES.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON, LIKE, HOW WE COME UP WITH OUR CONCEPTS IS REALLY ABOUT LISTENING TO PEOPLE.

AND I ALWAYS SAY, YOU REALLY HAVE TO LISTEN BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST LIKE, OH, HOW'S YOUR DAY.

BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERLYING TRUTHS ABOUT PEOPLE'S STORIES.

SO, THEY LIKED THAT APPROACH.

AND ONCE WE GOT INTO THE PROJECT WE HAD TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF GROUPS.

SO, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, YEAH, THIS IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT, IN A WAY.

BUT REALLY HOW WE WON THE PROJECT WAS BASICALLY EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO THE VOICES.

AND ALSO, INCORPORATING SOME OF THIS INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW INTO OUR THOUGHT PROCESS.

SO, THEY REALLY LIKED THAT IDEA.

AND IT WAS DIFFERENT, AND ALSO DIFFERENT FOR A CITY.

>> Antonia: AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS PROJECT WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY.

AND THE AREA WHERE THIS STATUE IS GOING TO BE, IT COULD BE A NEW STATUE, ART WORK, LANDSCAPE, OR EVEN A BUILDING.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON YOUR APPROACH AND THE INDIGENOUS VIEW?

>> Begay: YEAH, SO OUR APPROACH IS, FIRST, IS THAT WE WANT TO -- IT'S CALLED THE PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PROCESS.

SO, TYPICALLY WHEN YOU GO TO ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL THEY CALL IT -- WELL WE'RE GOING TO HAVE COMMUNITY MEETINGS.

AND USUALLY THERE'S A TIME FRAME.

THEY'RE LIKE, WELL, WE HAVE A WEEK AND A HALF TO GET PEOPLE'S COMMENTS, AND WE CAN INCORPORATE IT INTO THE DESIGN.

BUT OUR PROCESS IS, LIKE, WE GO IN AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO LISTEN.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHAT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE.

I THINK, LIKE, IN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL THE WAY WE'RE TAUGHT IS, WELL, YOU'RE THE PROFESSIONALS.

YOU TELL US WHAT WE NEED.

BUT WHAT WE DO IS WE LISTEN TO THOSE STORIES, AND WHAT COMES OUT OF IT, AND WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT IT IS WE COME UP WITH THE DESIGN PRINCIPLES.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT.

FOR THE PROJECT, WE HAVE ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT SITES.

AND ONE IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE RIVER.

ONE IS CLOSE TO A VETERANS MEMORIAL BUILDING.

AND ONE IS A PARK.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND WE'RE GOING TO USE IT, AND WE'RE GOING TO COME UP, ONE WITH A BUILDING, ONE WITH A LANDSCAPE, OR ONE WITH AN ART PIECE WORK.

SO, YOU CAN TAKE THAT, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE UNIQUE BECAUSE IT'S A CITY, A VERY CITY-URBAN PROJECT.

AND TO HAVE THE CITY OF COLUMBUS THINK ABOUT THESE INDIGENOUS IDEOLOGIES IS UNIQUE BECAUSE I DON'T SEE THAT IN AREAS THAT HAVE A REAL HIGH POPULATION OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

SO, THE INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW IS INCORPORATED.

IT'S ABOUT REALLY HAVING THAT CONNECTION TO, LIKE, MOTHER EARTH AND FATHER SKY.

AND REALLY APPRECIATING -- BECAUSE SUSTAINABILITY WAS REALLY NOT PART OF -- LIKE EVERYONE TALKS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY, AND I SAID THERE'S NO WORD.

LIKE INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE CULTURES FOR SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO LISTEN TO THE EARTH.

WE'RE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE WINDS.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SEASONS.

AND WE CORPORATE THAT IN A VERY COLLABORATIVE AND A VERY DEMOCRATIC AND A VERY MATERNALISTIC APPROACH, RATHER THAN HOW WE WOULD LOOK AT A DESIGN PROJECT, WOULD BE REALLY OPPOSITE OF THAT.

>> Antonia: AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LISTENING TO ALL VOICES, THE PROJECT ALSO AIMS TO AMPLIFY VOICES THAT ARE NOT MAYBE SO HEARD, MARGINALIZED, AND FOR TELLING HISTORY.

THAT INCLUDES THE INDIGENOUS VOICE.

SO, WHEN YOU APPROACH THIS PROJECT, WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT, AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON, TO BE PART OF IT?

>> Begay: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND WHAT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE, I WAS REALLY DRAWN TO THE PROJECT WAS THAT I REMEMBER, YOU KNOW, AT A YOUNG AGE.

AND I THINK WE ALL CAN GO BACK TO GRADE SCHOOL WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT COLUMBUS.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.

I REMEMBER ALL THE EDUCATIONAL BOOKS, THE HOLIDAYS, WERE LIKE CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA.

AND IN, LIKE, IN THIS INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW WE KNOW THAT LAND REALLY CAN'T BE OWNED.

LIKE LAND IS SHARED, SO THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT YOUR LAND IN A WAY.

SO I'M LIKE, WELL, WE NEED TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE HEAR THE VOICES OF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE DURING THIS PROCESS THE INDIGENOUS VOICES HAVE BEEN ALWAYS TAKEN OUT.

AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN HEAR WHAT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE HEARD.

I MEAN, WE OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DID NOT DISCOVER AMERICA.

AND THAT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS COMING OVER.

I MEAN, HE WAS TRYING TO HAVE -- THE WAY THAT I THINK OF IT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS MORE, YOU KNOW, INDIGENOUS WORLD VIEW IS THAT HE WAS TRAVELING TO FIND A BETTER PLACE.

NOT JUST FOR HIM, NOT JUST FOR HIS FAMILY AND HIS PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS LIKE HE IMMIGRATED TO HERE.

AND WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION NOW ABOUT IMMIGRATION, RIGHT?

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS, LIKE, YOU KNOW PEOPLE WERE HERE, YOU KNOW, TO DISCOVER THINGS AND IMPLEMENT THINGS, IN A WAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN MAKE TRADE -- THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'M LIKE, WELL, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THEIR VOICES BECAUSE WE WERE HERE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE LIVED OFF THE LAND, AND YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO MAKE THIS PLACE HOME.

AND THEN PEOPLE CAME IN AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, DID ALL THE BAD THINGS THAT WE HEAR AND BASICALLY CHASED US OFF, YOU KNOW, THE LAND.

NOW IT'S LIKE WE HAVE TO LIVE INTO THESE DIFFERENT RESERVATIONS.

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO NOT HAVE A CONVERSATION THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HISTORY, AND I THINK IF WE COULD IMPLEMENT SOME OF THESE INDIGENOUS VALUES, YOU KNOW, IN OUR DAILY THINKING AND OUR LIVES AND IN THE BUILD ENVIRONMENT, THAT MAYBE WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE, YOU KNOW, CRAZY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT, OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, RIGHTS.

PEOPLES RIGHTS.

OR SUSTAINABILITY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS I FEEL LIKE INCORPORATING INTO, YOU KNOW, A BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

THESE INDIGENOUS VALUES.

I THINK IT'S VALID.

WE NEED TO LEARN FROM OUR PAST.

>> Antonia: AND, OF COURSE, TALKING ABOUT HISTORY AND COLUMBUS, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON'T WANT CHANGE.

THEY DON'T WANT STATUES REMOVED.

THEY DON'T WANT COLUMBUS DAY REPLACED.

SO, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THE PROJECT REALLY HAS WORKED ON BUILDING AN UNDERSTANDING AND CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY?

>> Begay: A LOT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH, ONE, YOU'VE GOT THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY.

THEY ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR HISTORY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT THE STATUE REMOVED.

BUT I THINK THE UNDERLYING STORY AND THE COMMONALITY BETWEEN THEM AND ALSO AFRICAN AMERICANS TOO, HISPANICS, THE ASIANS, WITHIN THE COLUMBUS AREA IS THAT WE HAVE TO THINK OF IT, YOU KNOW, AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST A STATUE BECAUSE IF THAT STATUE WAS NOT THERE, IT'S OUR VOICES THAT ARE GOING TO CARRY THAT HISTORY.

AND I ALWAYS TIE THAT TO THIS INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW.

IT'S LIKE, WELL, A LOT OF OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE IS PASSED DOWN THROUGH VOICES BY GENERATION TO GENERATION.

IF THAT STATUE WAS THERE AND IT WASN'T THERE, WE STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

AND WE CAN BE PROUD NO MATTER WHAT.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T REALLY -- ARE EDUCATED ABOUT.

ESPECIALLY LIKE THE CODE TALKERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES THAT HELP WITH THE CODE.

AND THEY WERE INSTRUMENTAL ABOUT THIS HISTORY AND HOW WORLD WAR II WAS WON.

SO, I THINK -- LIKE WHEN I WENT IN AND HAD MEETING WITH THE ITALIAN COMMUNITIES, THEY WERE UP IN HAND AND THEY WERE VERY UPSET BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO SEE THE STATUE BE TAKEN DOWN.

I WENT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND DID A PRESENTATION, AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM THIS INDIGENOUS WORLDVIEW PROCESS THAT EVERYTHING'S CONNECTED AND IT'S ALL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RESPECT.

IT'S ABOUT RESPECT, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES, BUT FOR THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE.

AND AT THE END OF THAT COMMUNITY MEETING SOME OF THE ITALIANS THAT WERE VERY UPSET, THEY CAME UP AND THEY BASICALLY LIKE JUST CONGRATULATED AND GAVE ME A HUG.

AND THE TEAM MEMBERS WERE LIKE AT AWE, LIKE, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

AND I SAID, WELL, IT'S JUST YOU KNOW, I THINK, HAVING THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT BEING RESPECTFUL, YOU KNOW?

AND, YOU KNOW, THAT RESPECT GOES A LONG WAY.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM DIFFERENT SIDES BECAUSE THE INDIGENOUS WAY, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY.

YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM THE ITALIAN COMMUNITY, BUT IN COMMON, IT'S LIKE RESPECT.

AND HOW DO WE TAKE THAT RESPECT INTO A DESIGN THAT IS GOING TO BE A DESIGN FOR EVERYONE, FOR EVERY CULTURE?

SO THAT IS GOING TO BE -- THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CHALLENGE.

AND YOU SEE THAT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICANS.

THEY DON'T WANT THEIR HISTORY TO BE ERASED EITHER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WITH INDIGENOUS PEOPLE, WE TALK ABOUT COLONIZATION, RIGHT?

AND THEY SEE THAT AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT FOR THEIR OWN CULTURE AND THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

I GET IT.

SO LET'S COME TOGETHER AND FIGURE OUT SOMETHING SO THAT WE CAN TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT THE HISTORY AND REALLY THE UNDERLYING STORY.

>> Antonia: WELL, WHERE IS THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW?

AND WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF IT?

>> Begay: SO THE PROJECT RIGHT NOW, WE'VE DONE A YEAR-LONG OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS.

AND, SO, WE JUST FINISHED UP COMING UP WITH A DESIGN PRINCIPLE.

WE PRESENTED THE DESIGN PRINCIPLE, AND THEN WE JUST FINISHED UP SOME SITE ANALYSIS.

SO, IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO WE'LL ACTUALLY GET INTO THE DESIGN PIECE.

AND THE DESIGN PIECE, AND I REALLY THINK THAT THIS THREE AREAS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND PUTTING THOSE DESIGN PRINCIPLES, YOU WOULD SAY, LIKE, IN THIS KIND OF WESTERN WORLD, IT COULD BE A MUSEUM, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A MUSEUM JUST YET.

BECAUSE I WANT TO NAME IT LIKE A PLACE FOR PROMISE.

OR, YOU KNOW, A PLACE FOR BEGINNING, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND MAKE THAT CONNECTION TO THE EARTH, MAKE THAT CONNECTION TO THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT MEANS LIKE THE TWO-LEGGED, THE FOUR-LEGGED BEINGS, THE WATER.

MAKE THAT CONNECTION BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT PIECE.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY UNIQUE PROJECT.

>> Antonia: THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON NEW MEXICO PBS.

>> Begay: THANK YOU.

>> Lou: THE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES DEPARTMENT AT THE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO IS MARKING 20 YEARS SINCE IT FIRST BEGAN OFFERING A BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE.

THE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATED WITH A SYMPOSIUM THIS SPRING ON CAMPUS IN ALBUQUERQUE.

IN A DISCUSSION THAT FIRST AIRED IN APRIL, ANTONIA TALKS WITH A PROFESSOR AND A GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM ABOUT SOME OF THE SUCCESSES AND PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Antonia: NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE AT UNM FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, BUT STUDENTS DID NOT START EARNING DEGREES UNTIL YEARS LATER.

JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND HOW ITS EVOLVED IS NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES CHAIR AND PROFESSOR DR. TIFFANY LEE, AND GRADUATE OF THE PROGRAM, REBEKAH HORSECHIEF.

WELCOME.

>> Horsechief: THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> Lee: THANK YOU.

>> Antonia: TIFFANY, GO AHEAD AND START US OFF AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> Lee: YEAH, AS YOU SAID, IT'S OVER 50 YEARS OLD.

IT STARTED IN 1970, REALLY AROUND STUDENT ACTIVISM.

STUDENTS WANTING TO HAVE THEIR EXPERIENCES, PERSPECTIVES, HISTORY EMBEDDED MORE IN THE CURRICULUM.

SO, NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES WAS BORN OUT OF THAT ACTIVISM FROM STUDENTS.

HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T REALLY -- IT WAS JUST SORT OF A PIECEMEAL PROGRAM WITH FACULTY TEACHING.

IT WAS ACTUALLY A STUDENT CENTER, MORE OF A STUDENT AFFAIRS TYPE OF ORGANIZATION IN THE BEGINNING.

WE DIDN'T GET A MINOR DEGREE UNTIL 1999, MANY YEARS LATER.

AND THEN, BECAME A DEPARTMENT ONLY UNTIL 2018 WHEN WE MOVED INTO A NEW COLLEGE.

BUT SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERAL DEGREES.

THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE, AN ONLINE BACHELORS DEGREE, B.A.

TO M.A.

SHARED CREDIT PROGRAM, THE M.A., AND MOST RECENTLY OUR Ph.D.

PROGRAM.

>> Antonia: AND WITH THIS MILESTONE BEING MARKED THIS YEAR, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU TO BE CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WITH THE BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAM?

>> Lee: YEAH, IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE TIME HAS REALLY FLOWN SO FAST.

YOU KNOW, I STARTED IN NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES AS POSTDOC FELLOW IN 2003.

AND THEN WE GOT THE PROGRAM APPROVED IN 2004.

IT'S JUST BEEN -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OVER, I THINK, ABOUT 135 B.A.

GRADUATES AND THE SAME AMOUNT OF MINORS.

SO, 270 B.A.

AND MINOR DEGREE GRADUATES OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, MOVING ON.

REBEKAH, THE FABULOUS REBEKAH, WHO WAS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US GET OUR DEGREE APPROVED AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> Antonia: WELL, REBEKAH, WHAT DREW YOU TO PURSUE A DEGREE?

>> Horsechief: I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, NOW THAT I'VE LISTENED TO TIFFANY TALK, IT REMINDED ME THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN AROUND AND KNOWING ABOUT AND WANTING TO BE A PART OF THE NATIVE STUDIES PROGRAM SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I REMEMBER WHEN THE NATIVE STUDIES CENTER WAS THEN WHERE THE BUSINESS SCHOOL IS.

OF COURSE, SOME OF THOSE CENTERS WERE TORN DOWN TO MAKE ROOM FOR OTHER PROGRAMS, BUSINESSES, BUILDINGS.

IT WAS THEN MOVED TO MONTE VISTA HALL.

SO, I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1995, DID A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM, DID SOME OF MY ASSIGNMENTS AT THE THEN NATIVE STUDIES CENTER THAT IS WHERE THE BUSINESS SCHOOL IS NOW ANDERSON.

AND THEN I GRADUATED WITH THIS BRIDGE PROGRAM, AND ACTUALLY, TIFFANY WAS ONE OF MY PROFESSORS THROUGH THIS BRIDGE PROGRAM BETWEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.

AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS.

AND WE FOCUSED ON NATIVE STUDIES, AND ENGLISH, AND MATH.

SO, REALLY CORE SUBJECTS.

AND NATION-BUILDING.

SOME OF THESE CONCEPTS WERE REALLY NEW AT THAT TIME.

THIS IS BEFORE WE ACTUALLY HAD NATIVE AMERICAN BANKS, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THEN.

BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MY EXPERIENCE AND MY HISTORY WITH NATIVE STUDIES HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

I'M SO PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM.

AT THAT TIME, BEFORE IT BECAME A DEGREE PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO, THROUGH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE -- SO I'M AGING MYSELF NOW BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A DEGREE THEN.

I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE THROUGH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, AND I DESIGNED MY OWN DEGREE WHICH WAS ESSENTIALLY NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES.

BUT IT WAS POWER, SOVEREIGNTY, AND SELF-DETERMINATION.

AND THROUGH THOSE COURSES, WE WERE ABLE TO -- I WAS ABLE TO TAKE NATION-BUILDING, FEDERAL INDIAN LAW, LEARN ABOUT OTHER COMMUNITIES NATIONALLY.

LEARN ABOUT FEDERAL-TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS, LEARN ABOUT POLICIES, LEARN ABOUT EARLY INSTANCES OF ACTIVISM BECAUSE WE WERE CROSS-LISTED WITH A LOT OF THESE TENURED TRACK POSITIONS, WE HAD PROFESSORS FOR FILM, WE HAD PROFESSORS FOR HISTORY, WE HAD PROFESSORS FOR MUSIC.

I MEAN, I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT WAS AN EARLY RENAISSANCE FOR THE UNIVERSITY, FOR THAT DEPARTMENT.

AND WE WERE LEARNING ABOUT EARLY INSTANCES OF INDIGENOUS ACTIVISM LIKE PRE-COLONIAL -- SORT OF POST-COLONIAL SETTLER INSTANCES.

FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE HADN'T THOUGHT THAT THERE WERE EARLY RESISTANCE ACTIVITIES TO COLONIAL SETTLERISM.

AND THAT'S THE THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, AND PONTIFICATING ABOUT, AND HAVING BIGGER, LARGER DISCUSSIONS ABOUT.

AND I COULD JUST GO ON, BUT I'M STILL PROUD OF BEING A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY, SPECIFICALLY, THAT PROGRAM NOW DEPARTMENT.

AND IT'S OPENED SO MANY DOORS FOR ME PERSONALLY.

TIFFANY AND I MET FOR COFFEE BEFORE WE CAME OVER HERE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, DR. LEE, WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY TOGETHER, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I CAN SAY IS EVERYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT AND HOW WE -- OH, MY GOSH, I'M EMOTIONAL.

HOW WE ENGAGED IN THOSE COURSES IS EVERYTHING I'M DOING NOW AND WHO I WANT TO BE WORKING WITH AS FAR AS TRIBES AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.

AND I'VE TOUCHED ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE AREAS THROUGH SELF-GOVERNANCE, LAW, EDUCATION, AND NOW ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

SO, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR IN THE WEEDS.

>> Lee: IT MADE ME THINK OF THE STRENGTH OF N.A.S.

IS INTERDISCIPLINARITY.

WE HAVE TENURE LINES THAT ARE SPECIFIC JUST TO OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT THE FACULTY HAVE BACKGROUNDS IN HISTORY, SO WE LOOK AT ISSUES AROUND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AROUND ENVIRONMENT, AROUND COMMUNITY BUILDING, LEADERSHIP, LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION, JUST THE WHOLE GAMUT.

BUT AT THE CORE, IT'S REALLY ABOUT SERVING COMMUNITY AND DOING RESEARCH THAT'S RELEVANT AND IMPORTANT AND MEANINGFUL AND THROUGH A RECIPROCAL RELATIONSHIP AS WELL.

SO, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO CHANGE, I THINK, WHAT ACADEMIA IS.

WE'RE NOT SITTING IN AN IVORY TOWER ANYMORE.

WE'RE REALLY EMBEDDED -- ALL OF US IN NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES, ALL OF OUR FACULTY, ARE NATIVE AMERICAN AND WE ALL COME FROM THE SOUTHWEST.

SO, WE HAVE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND RELATIONSHIP AND VALUE FOR DOING IMPORTANT WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, SERVES OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE THE SAME.

THEY ALL -- THE MAJORITY ARE NATIVE AMERICAN, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT WE DO GET SOME WHO ARE NOT BECAUSE THERE'S A ROLE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN PLAY TO SERVE THE INTERESTS OF NATIVE AMERICANS AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

>> Antonia: CAN YOU EXPAND ON -- I KNOW THE STUDENTS LIKE REBEKAH ARE THE BIGGEST SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON A LOT OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING AT THE CELEBRATION SYMPOSIUM YOU HELD THIS SPRING, TALKED USING THEIR DEGREES.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY EARNING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, WRITING, CAREER SKILLS, BUT AS NATIVE PEOPLE, A LOT OF NATIVE PEOPLE WANT TO GO BACK AND USE THEIR EDUCATION TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?

>> Lee: YEAH, SURE.

SO, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ALWAYS GET IS WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES DEGREE.

SO, I TRY TO PUT THAT BACK AND REFRAME IT.

LIKE, WHAT SKILLS HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR DEGREE THAT YOU CAN THEN APPLY TO A CAREER OR TO MOVE INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL OR LAW SCHOOL?

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE DEGREE, OF COURSE, OURS IS -- NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES IS A VERY SPECIFIC FIELD.

BUT IT'S THE SKILLS THAT THEY LEARN WITHIN THAT DEGREE THAT THEY CAN APPLY TO ALMOST ANY CAREER THAT THEY WANT.

THAT'S WHAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE DONE.

THEY MOVE INTO A LOT OF GOVERNMENT CAREERS.

TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THAT'S THE RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S IMPORTANT AND A NECESSARY RELATIONSHIP THAT OUR TRIBES HAVE WITH THOSE THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENTS THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND CONTRIBUTE TO, BUT THEY ALSO MOVE INTO NONPROFIT INDUSTRIES.

THEY GO INTO EDUCATION, THEY START THEIR OWN NONPROFITS AS YOU SAW AT THE PANEL.

THEY MOVE INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL AND A LOT OF STUDENTS MOVE INTO LAW SCHOOL.

I THINK WHAT THEY TAKE IN THOSE POSITIONS WHEN THEY MOVE INTO CAREERS AND FURTHER EDUCATION IS THAT FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY OF SETTLER COLONIALISM, THE IMPACT THAT'S HAD AND THAT CONTINUES TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, THE POLICIES THAT STILL, YOU KNOW, HAVE REPERCUSSIONS AND HOW TRIBES ARE EXERCISING THEIR OWN SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF-DETERMINATION TO TRANSFORM OR CREATE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE AND THAT REFLECT WHO THEY ARE.

>> Antonia: REBEKAH, YOUR THOUGHTS ON, YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO TIFFANY TALK ABOUT STUDENTS AND GOING ON.

EVEN WORKING IN THE GRASSROOTS, LOCAL LEVEL AT THEIR COMMUNITIES, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN EARNING A NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES DEGREE?

>> Horsechief: I WOULD SAY IT'S ONE OF THE BEST DEGREES YOU CAN HAVE UNDER OUR BELT.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING WITH A NATIVE STUDIES DEGREE.

I'M PROOF OF THAT.

A LOT OF OUR PEERS FROM OUR GRADUATING CLASS ARE PROOF OF THAT.

WE'VE GONE ON TO LAW SCHOOL, NURSING.

THE PRACTICALITY OF THIS DEGREE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES, HONESTLY.

BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY, AS TIFFANY MENTIONED, WE WERE ADVOCATING, WE WERE DOING THE RESEARCH, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE POLICIES, WE WERE WRITING THE RESEARCH PAPERS, WE WERE PRESENTING AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES.

YOU KNOW, IN SOME INSTANCES, SOME OF THE THINGS WE WERE DOING WERE REALLY UNIQUE TO BOTH THE UNIVERSITY AND TO OUR GROUP.

IT'S NOT UNIQUE NOW, OF COURSE, WE'RE OLD HEADS.

WE STARTED A NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES INDIGENOUS RESEARCH GROUP, WHICH WAS PRETTY PROFOUND FOR US AT THAT TIME.

AND WAS REALLY HELPFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, GOING TO LAW SCHOOL.

REALLY HELPFUL FOR DOING THE RESEARCH.

REALLY HELPFUL FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CONTACTS AND COLLABORATING.

COLLABORATING IS HUGE.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW IMPORTANT OUR CONNECTIONS -- THE CONNECTIONS THAT WERE MADE AT THE UNIVERSITY ARE ALSO, YOU KNOW, LIFELONG AND HAVE BEEN SO TREMENDOUSLY IMPACTFUL.

OF COURSE, I'M A LITTLE BIASED, BUT I CAN SAY THAT I KEEP COMING BACK.

EVEN IN MY CURRENT ROLE, I AM THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO NATIVE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION.

SO, I KEEP FINDING WAYS TO COME BACK AND BE INVOLVED AND GIVE BACK TO THE STUDENTS.

AND TALK, CHEER, CHEER ON THE NATIVE STUDIES PROGRAM AND RECRUIT FROM THEIR GRADUATES AND RECRUIT FROM THE AMERICAN INDIAN STUDENT SERVICES COHORT AS WELL.

SO, I'M JUST SO THANKFUL.

I THINK EVERY TIME I SEE DR. LEE, AND IF WE'RE MEETING, WHETHER IT'S PROFESSIONAL OR WE'RE MEETING PERSONALLY OR WE'RE OUT SOCIALLY, I'M ALWAYS JUST THANKING HER FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LEARNED FROM HER, TO HAVE HAD THOSE EXPERIENCES AND JUST TO BE, YOU KNOW, MINGLING PROFESSIONALLY NOW.

IT'S JUST EVERYTHING TO ME.

IT'S BEEN EVERYTHING FOR MY PROFESSION.

I WORK FOR THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF INDIAN AFFAIRS RIGHT NOW.

BRYAN NEWLAND, WHO IS RIGHT UNDER DEB HAALAND WHO IS OUR SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

I GET TO WORK WITH TRIBES AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES ON, I WOULD SAY, SOME OF THE BIGGER PROJECTS THAT ARE ON THE HOT SEAT WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO, LIKE, LIVING LANGUAGES, TRIBAL TOURISM, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, INDIAN BUSINESS INCUBATORS, TRIBAL ELECTRIFICATION.

I LOVE IT.

FOR THE DEGREE, TIFFANY AND I WERE TALKING -- I JUST WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT.

TIFFANY AND I WERE TALKING AT THE CAFE EARLIER.

SHE REMINDED ME THAT WE DID SOME LOBBYING, SOME EARLY LOBBYING AT THE CAPITOL.

SO, IT WAS MYSELF AND A COUPLE OF OTHER STUDENT GROUPS.

AND WE WENT UP TO SANTA FE, AND I DIDN'T REALLY RECOGNIZE IT AS THAT AT THAT TIME, BUT AFTERWARDS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

WE SHARED WITH THE LEGISLATORS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PROGRAM, TO OUR STUDIES, TO OUR PROFESSIONS, AND TO YOUR FUTURE.

SO, WE WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL BECAUSE IT'S ONE THING TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO NATIVE STUDIES DEGREE, BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WHO ARE THESE STUDENTS?

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO WITH IT?

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?

SO, THAT'S IMPACTFUL.

IT WAS IMPACTFUL.

>> Lee: YEAH.

THAT'S WHY I WAS SAYING EARLIER THAT SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN REALLY HELPING US TO GET OUR DEGREE APPROVED BECAUSE WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS PROCESS OF UNM, BUT ALSO THROUGH THE STATE SYSTEM.

AND STUDENTS BEING THERE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF NATIVE STUDIES WAS REALLY, REALLY ESSENTIAL TO THAT GETTING PASSED.

I THINK THE PROMISE -- THE STRENGTH AND THE PROMISE OF NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES REALLY IS ITS STUDENTS.

THE ONES WE HAVE NOW, AND THE ALUMNI, BECAUSE THEY REALLY DEMONSTRATE WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A NATIVE STUDIES DEGREE, BUT ALSO HOW TRANSFORMATIVE THAT KNOWLEDGE CAN BE.

YOU CAN APPLY IT IN SO MANY WAYS.

IF YOU HAVE THAT FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING, THE CRITICAL AWARENESS, AND YOU'RE IN TUNE WITH HOW THE CURRENT SOCIO-POLITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT IS AFFECTING YOUR COMMUNITY, THEN YOU KIND OF KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THAT, AND HOW TO EDUCATE OTHERS ABOUT IT.

IT WAS GREAT, THAT PANEL YOU CAME TO EARLIER CELEBRATING TWENTIETH, WE HAD ONE OF THE PANELISTS WHO WAS SAYING SHE'S LEARNED A LOT OF ISSUES THAT COME UP IN HER WORK NOW SHE THINKS BACK TO HER -- WHEN SHE WAS IN N.A.S.

AND SHE WAS SAYING THERE'S A CLASS FOR THAT.

AND WE'RE LIKE THAT'S SUCH A GREAT LOGO, WE NEED TO PUT IT ON A T-SHIRT.

BECAUSE EVERY ISSUE, THERE WAS A CLASS THAT ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE OR THAT, YOU KNOW, TOPIC IN ONE OF THE CLASSES.

>> Antonia: WELL, LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE, I'LL ASK BOTH OF YOU.

REBEKAH, GO AHEAD AND GO FIRST.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES LOOKS LIKE AT UNM IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS?

>> Horsechief: OH, IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR OWN BUILDING.

THERE'S GOING TO BE EVEN MORE FACULTY AND ADJUNCT FACULTY AND ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT.

IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPANDED PROGRAM.

I'M HOPING THAT THE STATE WILL CONTINUE TO FUND IT, MEET IT AT ITS LEVEL OF NEED.

AND THAT THERE WILL BE THE OTHER PHILANTHROPIC INTERESTS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING AS WELL.

I HOPE THAT ALUMNI CAN, YOU KNOW, ENGAGE TO GIVE BACK IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TOO.

IT REALLY KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES OTHER THAN IF PEOPLE JUST STOP SHOWING UP FOR WORK, WHICH I DOUBT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

REALLY, THINK ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS TOO, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE EXCELLENT AT AS WELL.

SO, I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>> Antonia: TIFFANY.

>> Lee: WELL, IN 20 YEARS, I SHOULD BE RETIRED.

NO, AS REBEKAH SAID, WE ALREADY HAVE GROWN SO SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS, BUT REALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

I REALLY SEE HOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE A Ph.D.

PROGRAM ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE B.A.

AND MINOR DEGREE, JUST THE BREADTH OF WHAT OUR STUDENTS CAN DO IN THE COMMUNITIES.

AND I SEE -- I'M HOPING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS NOW, IS REALLY DEVELOPING AND BUILDING STRONGER LONG-TERM COLLABORATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT'S ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL, TO REALLY CREATE IMPACTFUL CHANGE THROUGH RESEARCH AND THROUGH TEACHING AND THROUGH SERVICE.

>> Antonia: I WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

AND CONGRATS ON THE 20-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

>> Horsechief: YAY.

>> Lee: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Lou: THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPICS IS HELD EACH YEAR, ALLOWING YOUNG ATHLETES TO COMPETE AND DEVELOP ABILITIES THROUGH COMPETITIONS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO HELP ADVANCE THE STRENGTH AND SKILL NEEDED TO SURVIVE DAILY LIFE.

THE HEAD OF THE PROGRAM AT JUNEAU, ALASKA SCHOOLS BROUGHT A TEAM OF SIX ATHLETES HERE TO NEW MEXICO THIS SPRING.

THEY STOPPED AT SANTA CLARA PUEBLO TRIBAL SCHOOL, THE SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL, AND THE INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN INDIAN ARTS TO TEACH SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL EVENTS.

COURTESY OF THE KOAHNIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION, ANTONIA TAKES US TO THE ANNUAL NATIVE OLYMPIC GAMES IN ANCHORAGE.

IN THIS CLOSING SEGMENT THAT FIRST AIRED IN JUNE, WE'LL HEAR FROM YOUNG ATHLETES WHO ARE ENCOURAGED TO STRIVE FOR THEIR PERSONAL BEST WHILE KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH TRADITION.

>> Tahbone: WE KNOW THAT LEARNING THESE GAMES ARE HEALTHY FOR US.

THEY ARE HEALTHY FOR OUR BODY, OUR MIND, AND OUR SOULS.

AND IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO BE HAPPY, HEALTHY THRIVING PEOPLE WHEN WE ARE ENRICHED WITH OUR IDENTITY OF WHERE WE COME FROM.

SO, THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO DO THESE GAMES, LEARN ABOUT THEM, TEACH THEM AND CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPICS.

>> Antonia: ATHLETES, GRADES SEVENTH THROUGH 12TH, FROM ACROSS ALASKA TESTED THEIR SKILLS IN 11 DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS.

LIKE THE SCISSOR BROAD JUMP, ESKIMO STICK PULL.

AND ONE-HAND REACH.

>> TAHBONE: THIS IS A COMPLETELY UNIQUE SPORT, RIGHT.

YOU SEE TOTALLY AWKWARD POSITIONS LIKE THE ONE-HAND REACH.

LIKE, WHAT THE HECK?

THEY'RE DOING THIS CRAZY YOGA POSE, TRYING TO REACH UP AND TOUCH THIS BALL.

LIKE, WHERE DO THESE COME FROM?

AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT OUR ANCESTORS LIVED IN A TIME WHERE OUR CONDITIONS WERE HARSH.

WE HAD HARSH LIVING CONDITIONS.

ICE COULD BREAK UP IN A MATTER OF SECONDS AND YOU AND YOUR BODY HAD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU OUT OF THOSE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

AND SO, REALLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE GAMES WERE JUST TO ALLOW US TO KEEP OUR BODIES READY FOR THAT ENVIRONMENT.

IN THE WINTERTIME, ESPECIALLY IF IT IS STORMY, YOU ARE JUST KIND OF HANGING OUT IN THE KAGUYAK, IN OUR TRADITIONAL HOMES, AND THOSE ARE SMALL SPACES.

SO, PLAYING THOSE GAMES NOT ONLY KEPT OUR SPIRITS UP, BUT ALSO ALLOWED US TO KEEP OUR BODIES NICE AND FIT FOR HUNTING AND SURVIVAL.

>> Antonia: THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPICS ARE LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY TO MANY PARTICIPANTS.

SOME ARE NEW TO THE GAMES WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

>> Johnston: I GREW UP AROUND THESE GAMES.

THERE IS PICTURES OF MY MOM PREGNANT WITH ME COMPETING.

SO, SINCE BEFORE I WAS BORN, I HAVE BEEN HERE WITH THE GAMES.

I REALLY LIKE KNEEL JUMP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK OVER.

BUT, IT IS JUST COOL TO SEE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUMPING 40, 50 INCHES, I THINK EVEN IN THE 60'S.

AND IT IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS PLAYED IN THE MORNING WHEN THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SPECTATORS.

I ALSO REALLY LIKE ONE-HAND REACH BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF DISCIPLINE AND PRACTICE AND JUST SELF CONTROL.

THOSE TWO ARE PROBABLY MY FAVORITE.

>> Antonia: THE GAMES TEACH PAIN TOLERANCE, AGILITY, BALANCE, CONCENTRATION.

THERE ARE ALSO FRIENDLY COMPETITIONS WHERE ATHLETES CAN BE SEEN COACHING EACH OTHER.

CHEERING ONE ANOTHER ON AND GIRLS AND BOYS COMPETE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Johnston: I THINK IT IS REALLY BENEFICIAL TO JUST THE COMMUNITY OF THE GAMES TO HAVE THE YOUNG ATHLETES INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER, TEACHING EACH OTHER RESPECT AND COMPASSION.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE GUYS ARE KIND OF LIKE -- GIRLS ARE KIND OF PUSHED TO THE SIDE AND PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION TO THE GUYS MORE AND WHEN THEY ARE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE GUYS ARE COMPETING RIGHT ALONGSIDE THE GIRLS, I THINK IT GIVES THE GIRLS MORE OPPORTUNITY TO BE, LIKE, LOOK AT US, LOOK WHAT WE ARE DOING.

IT ALSO GIVES ATHLETES, THE MALE ATHLETES AND FEMALE ATHLETES, A CHANCE TO COACH EACH OTHER WHILE THEY ARE COMPETING.

>> Antonia: ABOUT 450 ATHLETES FROM 57 TEAMS FROM ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATED IN THE 2024 GAMES.

>> Moonin: TOE KICK, IT IS LIKE YOU JUMP, YOU KICK THE STICK BACK AND THEN LAND.

YOU HAVE GOT TO KEEP YOUR FEET TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THEY ALIGN WITH THE STICK.

I PRACTICED IN A GYM LIKE THIS AND JUST KEPT KICKING, KEPT MEASURING.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY SUPPORTIVE, ALWAYS HELPFUL.

I LIKE WHEN THE CLAPS GO.

I LIKE THAT.

>> Antonia: AMONG THOSE CHEERING ON THE ATHLETES ARE THE COACHES.

>> Wilson: I HAVE BEEN COACHING SINCE 2013 SO 11 YEARS.

AND THEN I STARTED COMPETING WHEN I WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, SO INVOLVED WITH THE GAMES FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

I MAINLY COMPETED IN THE STRENGTH EVENTS, SO, INDIAN STICK PULL, ESKIMO STICK PULL.

THAT WAS MY THING.

SO WE PRACTICE MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

I GET THERE AT 4:00 AND I GO UNTIL 6:00, BUT THEY GET THERE BEFORE I DO, BUT WE USUALLY GO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT IS HOW MUCH WE PUT IN WITH THESE GUYS.

>> Lewis: AFTER OUR SEASON ENDS, AND AFTER OUR REGIONAL EVENT IN ANCHORAGE AND TRADITIONAL GAMES EVENT, WE FOCUS ON STATE PRACTICES WHERE WE LOOK THROUGH OUR JUNEAU ATHLETES TO SEE WHERE THEY PLACED AT TRADITIONAL GAMES.

AND THAT IS HOW WE PICK OUR STUDENTS, AND WE DO AN EXTRA HOUR-LONG PRACTICE AND WE DO IT FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT.

WHEREAS, WE FOR LIKE A REGULAR SEASON, WE ONLY MEET TWICE A WEEK FOR HALF AN HOUR.

>> Antonia: THE GAMES SHARE ALASKAN NATIVE CULTURE.

BOTH NATIVE AND NONNATIVE STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND COMPETE.

THEY ARE ALSO HELPING TO RECONNECT WITH THEIR NATIVE ROOTS.

>> Lewis: I COME FROM A SMALL COMMUNITY IN BETHEL WHERE THE YUPIK PEOPLE ARE FROM AND, SO, I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN JUNEAU, WHICH IS A DIFFERENT CULTURE FROM YUPIK.

SO IT'S TLINGIT, HAIDA, AND TSIMSHIAN.

I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY YEARS WHERE EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T THERE TO EXPERIENCE IT IN PERSON, YOU FEEL IT.

THE TRAUMA IS PASSED ON GENERATIONS THROUGH GENERATIONS AND SO MY UPBRINGING WAS PRETTY TOUCHY IN TERMS OF CULTURE AND LIKE IDENTITY.

IDENTITY PLAYS A BIG PART IN WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO EMBRACE YOUR NATIVE CULTURE, THE DIFFERENT TRADITIONS OF CULTURES THROUGHOUT ALL OVER THE WORLD.

BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY AT THAT POINT IN YOUR LIFE AS A YOUNG ADULT TRYING TO FIND A SENSE OF WHO YOU ARE AND I THINK KNOWING YOUR ROOTS, YOUR LANGUAGE, YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR COMMUNITY, PUSHES YOU TO MOVE PAST THAT, LIKE, UNCERTAINTY.

>> Antonia: FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS OFTEN CONTINUE TO PRACTICE AND PLAY THE GAMES.

AND TAKE PART IN THE NATIVE YOUTH OLYMPICS AS VOLUNTEERS AND OFFICIALS.

>> Alverts: I LIKE LEARNING ABOUT BASICALLY WHAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN DOING FOR ME FOR SO LONG.

IT IS LIKE, THIS IS A LOT OF WORK, I AM REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS.

SO I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO PUT IN SOME TIME AS WELL.

I FEEL LIKE IT IS KIND OF LIKE, KIND OF GIVING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

IT IS JUST REALLY FUN.

I HAVE BEEN PRACTICING WITH SOME OF THE ATHLETES AT THE COMMUNITY PRACTICE.

I SEE THE HARD WORK OF EVERY ONE.

>> Antonia: AS THE GAMES CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE THERE IS A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

>> Villa: I HOPE THAT NYO IS IN EVERY COMMUNITY.

I HOPE THAT EACH COMMUNITY CAN LEARN HOW TO HAVE THEIR OWN GAMES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BE ABLE FOR THEM TO HAVE THOSE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEIR YOUTH WHO ARE INTERESTED, WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE A TEAM OR A COACH, SO, I HOPE THAT NYO IS EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE STATE.

NOT ONLY IN THE STATE BUT ACROSS THE LOWER 48 AND, I MEAN, THE GLOBE.

I HOPE NYO EXPANDS ALL OVER.

IT'S ADDICTIVE.

>> Tahbone: TRADITIONAL GAMES WILL ALWAYS LIVE ON.

IT HAS BEEN REVITALIZED.

WE HAVE IT.

IT IS HERE.

IT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN OUR COMMUNITIES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE TWO GENERATIONS AGO WASN'T ABLE TO SAY.

SO, WE DID IT IN THAT WAY WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO REVITALIZE IT AND SO MY HOPE IS TO CONTINUE THAT PATH, AND ALSO TO GROW TO OTHER PLACES THAT MAY NOT TRADITIONALLY HAVE HAD THESE TYPES OF GAMES BECAUSE THESE GAMES REALLY ARE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, RIGHT, FOR US TO BE THRIVING TOGETHER AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

SO, REALLY THAT IS THE HOPE IS THAT WE CAN GET IT THROUGH ALL THE COMMUNITIES.

PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED TO PLAY THESE TRADITIONAL GAMES AND CONTINUE THAT.

>> Antonia: IN ANCHORAGE, I AM ANTONIA GONZALES.

[ CROWD CHANTS "NYO" ] >> Lou: THANKS TO ANTONIA FOR ALL OF HER WORK.

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.