This is a terrible time in history to be Native American. And that is really saying something.
I was elected to represent New Mexico in Congress in 1982 because of the Native American vote. I’ve always respected the traditions of Native Americans and I feel a certain obligation to speak out because our government has forgotten them and failed them over and over again.
I was recently in the Chaco Canyon area of northwestern New Mexico. Chaco is a World Heritage Site that bursts with cultural and archaeological treasures of the Pueblo culture. As a member of Congress, I introduced legislation to expand the protected areas of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park.