quintana, margaret. me.17 jan, 2024. personal photo
-Personal Connection-
Being Native American we balance both aspects of our life which guides us within our leadership roles. We have always had our traditional ways of leadership through our culture and language and then soon adapted to the "formal" or "administratively" way of governance. From personal experience and different perspectives it's a way for our younger generation such as ourselves to make the approach in having and understanding the importance of leadership. It is important to have knowledge in both aspects as this continues to build the capacity of our communities to sustain our sovereignty.
quintana, margaret. princeton. 16 june, 2023. personal photo
-Identity-
quintana, margaret. feast day 14 july, 2019. personal photo
It is described that in the article “Sharing Ones Skin” by Jeanette Armstrong we have many connections to the land and that we have conscious/unconscious values that guide us. Also that the connections we have to the land and how we connect is something many communities share. Being “whole” is vital and without this, this could be the downfall of our community and the capacity it created and continues to build. The land and language are also important connections that hold value. Although there is importance is emotion, some emotion could cause destruction within ourselves and communities. Armstrong is able to give perspective on the good and bad of who we are but also our communities and how we can continue to maintain through our cultural and traditional values.
Armstrong, Jeanette. 1996 "Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community." Pp460-470 in Jerry Mander and Edward Goldsmith (eds.), The Case Against the Global Economy, San Francisco, CA: Sierra club books.
Every community has connections to landscape/environment, this is where our identity comes from. These places are where our ancestors resided, places we continue to value/create, and have sacred significance. Toastie captures that with perspective and explains it with knowledge giving examples of meanings these places have but how they are named as well. Few people know of the sacred significance landscapes hold for Native people but in a hoping mindset non-natives are considerate and can “learn their place” too.
Toastie, B "How Place Names Impact the Way We See landscape." High Country News, 1 May, 2022.
quintana, margaret. fields, 27 april, 2021 personal photo
quintana, margaret, NCAI, 22 june, 2023. personal photo
After reading the article/story by Joe Suina I feel it was written to have other native people relate to his experience. A sense of comfort for us to know that we can overcome hardships, but that they shape us as well. Suina begins with his home life in Cochiti Pueblo, his identity. He describes the home life, his connection to his grandma, the cultural setting and importance, but also the way Cochiti is pretty much isolated and “old fashioned.” Suine then introduces his educational journey and shares the hardships while balancing the white-mans way and cultural life at home. When sharing his experiences it shows the reality of what Native Americans/Pueblo people faced then and how they were taken away and stripped of their identities. Having this insight allows us to understand, make connections, and overcome adversity we face today. It also shows the strengths of how he carried himself and how many others did the same. Being taken from your home and being told “leave your indian at home” is traumatic and hard, today we have proved we can balance both.
Suina, Joseph. "And Then I Went to School: Memories of a Pueblo Childhood." Vol. V, No. 2 New Mexico Journal of Reading, Winter 1985
-History-
quintana, margaret. 21 June. Stansberry, 2023. personal photo
In the video "Canes of Power" it addresses Pueblo leadership and the significance behind the canes Pueblos were given. Pueblos were first recognized by Spain and Mexico and later by president Lincoln. These canes were the symbol of sovereignty that was recognized and acknowledged by people out of the communities. Pueblo leaders described the canes to have a "life," "heartbeat," and carry blessings, as a whole it is an entity of guidance. Also addressed the core value(s) instilled in us of respect and acceptance for the authority these canes and leaders carry but also the way we treat the canes in our homes; to ask for blessings, guidance, and just a prayer for all.
"Canes of power." Pbs."www.pbs.org/video/canes of power. Accessed 2023
Bandelier is the origin to some ancestral Pueblo people it provided the resources our people needed to sustain here. It is talked about how Pueblo people were able to create a life here which took the knowledge of using the land to plant using/developing agriculture techniques, also using architecture techniques to have homes and build kivas they were unique for this , but also came to know they would be provided with game to hunt and use as resources . Being skilled in pottery making this provided them resources to store food, water, but also have cultural significance. After years continued to pass the Ancestral people made their way to live along the Rio Grande which they have resided ever since and continue to thrive of their traditions and culture as they did in Bandelier.
“New Mexico: Bandelier National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).” Www.nps.gov, www.nps.gov/articles/bandelier.htm. Accessed Dec. 2023.
quintana, margaret. bandelier. 16 october, 2023. personal photo
quintana, margaret. together. 22 june, 2023. personal photo
The AIPC is the leadership of Pueblo leaders who want to guide our communities to "advance our people, protect the teachings of the past, and prepare our young for the future." The AIPC was incorporated in 1970 and has taken control over cultural and government issues. Although the AIPC accomplished self-determination it faced adversity along the way and still continues to advocate for pueblos today.
OUR JOURNEY – ALL PUEBLO COUNCIL of GOVERNORS. www.apcg.org/journey/.
"New Mexico Keeps Title to Portion of National Preserve"
The article is based on Jemez Pueblo and their rights to the "Valles Caldera National Preserve." The leaders of Jemez have been in yearslong court fighting for rights to reclaim the Valles Caldera. To the people of Jemez this is their aboriginal origin which holds such cultural significance and continues to today. Leaders fight to reclaim their land and has been marked as a significant stand across Indian Country which has encouraged other tribes and pueblos to make the same stand to reclaim aboriginal land rights. The importance of land carries sustainability and connections for our communities and to our ancestors and is the way we continue to learn our ways.
“New Mexico Tribe Keeps Title to Portion of National Preserve.” AP News, 24 Mar. 2023, apnews.com/article/native-american-land-dispute-national-preserve. Accessed Nov. 2023.
Montoya Bryan, Susan. "Valles Caldera". APnews.com/.Acessed November 2023
quintana.margaret.njhs. 23, Feb. 2023. personal photo
"Native American Education Advocates in NM Seeking Long Term Funding for Reform"
Addressing the way New Mexico fails to provide sufficient education for Indigenous students due to racism and disparity, funds are the major component in reversing this issue. Without the funds providing education through a traditional and non-traditional way they are at the cost of sufficient learning within their communities but also outside of their community. Funds are being directed towards cultural and language programs which are being prioritized by tribal leaders and are recoginized as tribal efforts. However the problem is through lack of funds that can never be sustained, without sustainable funds how do we continue to provide these programs that is in our youths best interest now and for our future.
Taros, Megan, et al. “Native American Education Advocates in NM Seek Long-Term Funding for Reform.” Source New Mexico, 17 Jan. 2023, sourcenm.com/2023/01/17/native-american-education-advocates-in-nm-seek-long-term-funding-for-education-reform/.
Fighting for What's Right and Deserved
Our wellbeing is the vitality of our peoples so our communities continue to thrive. In the Blackfeet Nation of Montana, they have faced insufficient healthcare within their tribe which has prolonged and has been demanded for a change. Indian Health Service(IHS) leaders are being called for removal by the tribe due to failure to support and improve the healthcare for tribal members. A constant fight for the people, IHS continues to dismiss their own promises to fix the problems of the healthcare system they provide. The Blackfeet Nation being sovereign they deserve the right to support and improve the healthcare systems for the well being of their people. How can we continue to provide adequate care for our people when the systems that are supposed to provide for us fall short on the priorities they signed up for. In this case the Blackfeet Nation takes matters into their own hands through leadership in care for their community.
Mabie, Nora. “Blackfeet Nation Calls for Removal of Indian Health Service Leaders.” ICT News, 20 Nov. 2023, ictnews.org/news/blackfeet-nation-calls-for-removal-of-indian-health-service-leaders. Accessed 27 Feb. 2024.
quintana.margaret. community. 16, Oct. 2023. personal photo
AfricaCDC'Public Health in Africa."Africa CDC. Nov 2023.https://africacdc.org/news-item/highlights-from-the-3rd-international-conference-on-public-health-in-africa/ . Accessed Feb 2024
"Building Research Capacity to Correct Global Health Wrongs"
Research capacity is another component in having stronger infrastructures, having people who understand data help identify resources or policies that need to be implemented into their communities. the focus was on improving health care and achieving health equity for the world. The understanding of health equity in this article is determined by income and environment. An example that’s used in the article is “lung healthcare” in Africa and how “research capacity” is highly needed for strengthening programs and having faculty to take on leadership roles. Because lung health care is vital in Africa, structural barriers have to be discussed as well. Programs that have been conducted for research are the American Thoracic Society(ATS) which was started small and has now grown from the funding of research projects. One of the main problems is associated with research capacity due to it being hard to build because of lack of grants. Another is the major gap in providing training for research that is sufficient; these both lead to weak institutions. Problems like these interfere with having global healthcare, which can be received based on this article of research capacity when strengthened.
"Building Research Capacity to Correct Global Health Wrongs."The Lancet Global Health.vol 10.no 2."Building Research Capacity to Correct Global Health Wrongs."The Lancet Global Health. Accessed 7, Feb 2024.
The CapEd program is one of “UNESCO’s key operational responses to strengthen systems and assist countries in achieving national priorities” In Afghanistan, these priorities are focused on policy planning and skills for life and work, facility/teachers. The global connection here describes Afghanistan’s challenges to providing sufficient academics. A pilot was created to enhance capacities for education. This has created awareness on an international level to make commitment through education and learning/gaining skills for life and careers. The national education indicator homework was developed to monitor educational priorities. Data is also collected to identify gaps and allow recommendations. UNESCO is working with programs to develop a national “school improvement planning.” The priorities are to create an environment surrounded by capacity building staff to ensure sufficient plans towards education.
"Capacity Development for Education."UNESCO.org2023,www.unesco.org/en/articles/capacity-development-education.Accessed 7 Feb, 2024.
unesco"Rahi"unesco.org 26 Sep, 2023.https://www.unesco.org/en/node/85305. Accessed Feb 2024
-Taking Action-