\n MEDIA ADVISORY &ndash\; PRESS CONFERENCE
\n\n JULY 30TH 2021 - 10am
\n\n
\n 2401 12th St NW\, Albuquerque\, NM 87104Albuquerque NM &ndash\;
\n\n \;
\n\n The All Pu eblo Council of Governors (APCG) calls upon the State of New
\n\n Mexico to end systemic racism for Nat ive students in the state&rsquo\;s public schools. In a resounding\n
\n voice\, the Pueblo Governors sa y Native children are the key to maintaining our Indigenous
\n\n cultures\, languages\, and traditional ways of life both now and into the future. Tribal leaders
\n\ n believe that systemic racism in public schools today is tied to the history of boarding schools
\n\n established across the country to intenti onally kill the cultural identity of Native children. They
\n\ n contend that public education policies of forced assimilation have been used historically to that
\n\ n end and still affects tribal communitie s and their children today.
\n\n &ldquo\;The New Mexico legislature and public education policymakers n eed to know that a strong
\n\n cultural identity is important for our children&rsquo\;s academic progre ss. In addition to math\, reading\,
\n\n science and the arts\, our children need to know about their h istory\, traditions\, Native languages\,
\n\n and tribal laws\,&rdquo\; said APCG Chairman Wilfred Herr era. &ldquo\;The Legislative Education Study
\n\n Committee has a responsibility to shift the paradigm and that begins by removing its
\n\n controversial Director.&rdquo\;
\n\n To improve the educational outcomes for Native children\, the tribes insist the state must invest in
\n\n the Tribal Remedy Framework\, a comprehensive set of r ecommendations and solutions
\n\n developed by tribal advocates and education experts in response to th e historic Yazzie/Martinez
\n\n lawsuit. Democratic Representative Derrick Lente of Sandia Pueblo has l ed the way by
\n\n persisten tly introducing legislation the past three sessions using the Tribal Remedy Framework
\n\n as the basis .
\n\n &ldquo\;My constituen ts\, who come from communities of color\, are demanding nothing less than
\n\n excellence in education\ ,&rdquo\; said Rep. Lente. &ldquo\;They are tired of seeing their children at the bottom
\n\n on state and national rankings. It&rsquo\;s time for a change because our children d eserve it.&rdquo\;
\n\n Trib al leaders say they have an inherent obligation to protect their children a nd communities--
\n\n that S acred Trust must be upheld. Acoma Pueblo Governor Brian Vallo said\, &ldquo \;We have a chance
\n\n to b end history\, to make it different\, to create change\, so that our future generations of Native
\n\n c hildren have it better than we do. It will take acts of courage and a colle ctive belief that the
\n\n h istory of Native People will be shaped by what we do today.&rdquo\;< /p>\n
\n The All Pueblo Council of Gove rnors invites members of the media to a press conference
\n\n on Friday July 30th at 10 am at the India n Pueblo Cultural Center on 12th St. in
\n\n Albuquerque\, NM. This gathering is an unprecedented comin g together of tribal leaders\,
\n\n legislators\, education advocates\, leaders of major organizations\ , advocacy groups\, and
\n\n community members who will be attending this event.
\n\n Press Contacts
\n\n Jonathan Sims &ndash\; (505) 681-4009\,< /strong>
\n\n\n Teran Villa &ndash\; (505) 301- 906 2
\n\n \;
\n\n DTEND:20210730 DTSTAMP:20260929T173417 DTSTART:20210730 CLASS:PRIVATE LOCATION:Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Courtyard 2401 12th St NW\, Albuquer que\, NM 87104 SEQUENCE:0 SUMMARY:Protecting the Sacred Trust A Gathering of Tribal & Community Voice s UID:2026-09-29T17:34:17-04:00_672095368@ncai.org END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR