From the County Vice-Chair – May 2024 – Native American Gathering
The 1st Annual Native American Gathering of Sandoval County will take place on June 15, 2024 (Saturday) at Rotary Park in the Town of Bernalillo from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Discover and meet other Natives who live in Sandoval County, from the: Jicarilla Apaches, 3 Navajo Chapters, 7 Pueblos, Algodones, Bernalillo, Cochiti Lake, Corrales, Pena Blanca, Placitas, Rio Rancho & other areas I might have missed in Sandoval County.
Comedians, music, food trucks, & vendors will be available for entertainment, along with local and state candidates. If you are interested in participating in the event, please contact Aleta “Tweety” Paisano-Suazo at 505-321-2773 (c) for more information.
New Mexico Pueblo Governors
The first recorded assembly of the Pueblo Leaders was on July 7, 1598, at Santo Domingo Pueblo with Onate. The Spanish at the time, had a pattern of assigning each Pueblo a Land Grant approximately twenty-five square miles. Therefore in 1620, the King of Spain issued a Royal Degree, requiring each Pueblo, to choose a governor, lieutenant governor and such other officers as needed to carry on the Pueblo affairs, by popular vote, at the close of the calendar year. This was to be done without the interference of the Church or Crown. The elections were to take place the last week of the calendar year, and the inauguration of the new officers were to take place at the beginning of the new year. At that time, a silver headed cane was given to each Pueblo for the governor as a symbol of his commission and authority to be passed on to the succeeding governors. A cross was inscribed on the silver mount to show the support of the church. According to the Franciscan Fathers, “the rod and staff should be their comfort and strength, and their token against all enemies.”
Of the nineteen pueblos, only 5 pueblos elect their tribal leaders. The rest of the fourteen pueblo’s officers are appointed the traditional way. These are the 2024 Pueblo Governors & Lt. Governors in Sandoval County.
- Cochiti Pueblo – Governor Joel Arquero & Lt. Governor A. Jude Suina.
- Jemez Pueblo – Governor Peter Madalena & 1st Governor Isaac Romero.
- Kewa Pueblo – Governor Frank Nieto & Lt. Governor Jonathan Garcia.
- San Felipe Pueblo – Governor Anthony Ortiz & Lt. Governor Maurice Sandoval.
- Sandia Pueblo – Governor Felix Chaves & Lt. Governor Tristan Paisano.
- Santa Ana Pueblo – Governor Myron Armijo & Lt. Governor Kevin C. Montoya.
- Zia Pueblo – Governor Ben Shije & Lt. Governor Delbert Pino.