Deadline for Education Fixes Looms; Biz on the Rez

This week on New Mexico in Focus, host Nash Jones heads to the Mescalero Apache Reservation for a community feedback meeting organized by the state’s Public Education Department. This is one of about a dozen in-person and virtual meetings across the state this month to get input for PED’s new plan to meet compliance with court orders under the Yazzie/Martinez lawsuit.  

Democratic U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez is back in New Mexico this month as Congress is on recess throughout the month of August. While here, the congresswoman is updating her constituents on all that’s gone down this year in Washington, D.C. This week, Nash speaks with Leger Fernandez about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.

For the latest edition of Indigenously Positive — our collaborative series with nonprofit news organization New Mexico In Depth — Correspondent Bella Davis introduces us to the co-founders of Change Labs, a nonprofit that connects and supports entrepreneurs on tribal lands.  

Journalist and media executive Sara Kehaulani Goo sits down with Correspondent Russell Contreras to discuss her new book, “Kuleana: A Story of Family, Land, and Legacy in Old Hawai’i.” Goo tells Russell how the book covers both her struggles to protect land given to her family several generations ago, as well as the long history of Indigenous land rights in Hawai’i. 

Host: Nash Jones

Segments:
Education Dept Gets Feedback on Native Student Needs
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Photojournalists: Joey Dunn and RJ Torres
Guests: Ariel Aguilar (Mescalero Apache), Former student
Thora Padilla, President, Mescalero Apache Tribe
Rosalinda Baeza, Mid/High Principal, Mescalero Apache Schools
Mariana Padilla, Secretary, New Mexico Public Education Department
John Sena, Director, Legislative Education Study Committee

Rep. Leger Fernandez on ICE and Immigration Under Trump
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Guest: U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M.

Native Entrepreneurs are Changing Rez Life
Producers: Bella Davis (Yurok) and Benjamin C Yazza (Diné)
Photojournalist: Joey Dunn (Diné)
Guests: Roddell Denetso (Navajo), Black Streak Apparel Owner
Heather Fleming (Diné), Change Labs Co-Founder & Executive Director
Jessica Stago (Diné / Apache), Change Labs Co-Founder
Racquel Black (Diné), Entrepreneurship Hub Manager

Sara Kehaulani Goo on Hawai’i and New Book, “Kuleana…”
Correspondent: Russell Contreras
Guest: Sara Kehaulani Goo, Journalist and Author