-= NMSU PANORAMA - Summer 2005 =- Alumni Update: Alumni Help Guide NMSU President on Native American Issues

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Alumni Help Guide NMSU President on
Native American Issues

By Julie M. Hughes '95

President Martin (third from right) stands with members of the President's Council on Native American Relations at a recent meeting in Albuquerque. From left to right are Sherry Rita Allison, Tsosie Lewis, Raymond Loretto, Claudia Vigil-Muniz and Arthur "Butch" Blazer. Not shown is Nelson Cordova.

Arthur "Butch" Blazer '75 never imagined when he invited NMSU President Michael Martin for coffee and conversation that it would lead to a homework assignment for him, but he couldn't be happier with the results.

What followed was the formation of the President's Council on Native American Relations (PCNAR), which Martin hopes will guide him toward a better understanding of the diverse roles of Native Americans in New Mexico.

"Butch approached me about reaching more aggressively into the Native American communities in the state and I asked if he would help me become more attuned to the different cultures," Martin says. "Native Americans represent a special part of New Mexico history, culture, economy and society. I think it is important as the president of the state's land-grant university to do my best to understand the cultural uniqueness of the nations, tribes and pueblos in New Mexico and forge new partnerships in those communities."

In addition to Blazer, the council includes five Native American leaders from different tribal entities within the state, all of whom attended NMSU. They are Sherry Rita Allison '80, a supervisory education specialist for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian Education Programs; Nelson Cordova '73, Taos Pueblo water rights coordinator and former governor of Taos Pueblo; Tsosie Lewis '97, general manager of Navajo Agricultural Products Industry; Raymond Loretto '73, a veterinarian and former governor of the Pueblo of Jemez; and Claudia Vigil-Muniz, former president of the Jicarilla Apache Nation. Blazer is director of the New Mexico State Forestry Division.

"Butch has cleverly helped assemble people who care about NMSU and will guide us on what we should care about," Martin says. "These terrific people are enthusiastic about serving."

The council is meeting regularly to provide Martin and other university administrators with advice on ways to build bridges to the Native American communities.

"We really want to bring a greater understanding to the university administration on how to effectively link with tribal leadership," Blazer says. "Although we will not be representing the interests of the tribal leadership because we have been appointed by Martin and not the tribal leaders, we are members of these tribes and want to see good things happen for our tribal students."

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