Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 24

1 i i 1 B6 Albuquerque Journal THE WEST Sunday, April 26, 1998 Quiet 50th Anniversary of N.M. Indian Voting Rights some Indians. "Mr. and Mrs. Voters, we are not interested in mix-up with the political affairs," then-Taos Pueblo Gov.

Manuel Lujan said in October 1948. "We have been getting along nicely from generation down to generation until this thing of registering and voting comes in our way." That same month, then-Attorney General Walter Kegel rejected a request by District Attorney Marcelino Gutierrez of Santa Fe for double lines at polling places so "intelligent voters can vote without having to wait for all of the Indian voters who will need assistance." Yet today, Trujillo's court battle is largely unknown among the young. And Martinez, the Laguna teacher, says many children "are mirroring the apathy of the parents" at the ballot box. Martinez said she makes the extra effort to educate her students about Trujillo, who lived and taught at Laguna. "My father was a big voter and he really stressed the importance of Miguel Trujillo and I was really shocked that he wasn't mentioned anywhere," she said.

Despite some indifference, tribal members seem more receptive to voting as Indian issues have become campaign issues, said Martin W. Aguilar, coordinator for the Native American election information program in the state Bureau of Elections. "The last issue that came up was the gaming issue," he said. "That kind of like sparked a momentum in the last gubernatorial election." Education is the only remaining obstacle in getting more Indians to the polls, he said. could be ostracized because people would say, 'Who does he think he Because he is a teacher, did he think he was better (than the) rest of us? What is he trying to do? Just because he could write and speak English, who's he to do that?" Waconda said.

From outside the tribe, there was prejudice and discrimination, said Waconda, who was director of the U.S. Indian Health Service's Albuquerque-area office before retiring last year. And there was envy. Indians had a lot of prime agricultural land and their reservation property was not taxed, said Carol A. Venturini, who wrote her master's thesis at the University of New Mexico on the fight for Indian voting rights in New Mexico.

"Dad used to say, 'We have to do what's Waconda said. "He VOTING RIGHTS PIONEER: Josephine Waconda sits next to a portrait of her late father, Miguel Trujillo, at her Isleta Pueblo home. Fifty years ago 1 Trujillo helped to force New Mexico to give Indians living on reservations the right to vote. Trujillo's Effort Largely Unnoticed By Matt Mygatt The Associated Press ISLETA PUEBLO In 1948, Miguel Trujillo tried to register to vote in New Mexico's upcoming state elections. The school teacher, a former Marine sergeant, was turned away by a county clerk.

Trujillo, who lived on the Isleta Pueblo reservation, was deemed an "untaxed" Indian who was ineligible to vote. Despite opposition from inside and outside the Indian community, Trujillo filed a federal lawsuit. A court ruling in August 1948 finally forced New Mexico to give Indians living on reservations the right to vote. It was the last state to do so. Fifty years later, Trujillo is not even mentioned in the textbook most schools use to teach New Mexico history.

Except for a proclamation presented in a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda on Tuesday, there has been little fanfare for the anniversary. "Like other New Mexicans who know something about the bravery, sacrifice and tenacity of Miguel Trujillo, and the historical stand he took for American Indian suffrage, I am saddened by the general lack of awareness about the man and his victory," said Secretary of State Stephanie Gonzales, who organized the proclamation ceremony. Natalie Martinez, a Laguna Indian who teaches social studies at Lagu- na Middle School, calls Trujillo a forgotten hero. Trujillo's daughter, Josephine Waconda, 63, agrees. She has become the caretaker of the memories the history books ignore, proudly opening a cardboard box and gingerly lifting yellowed newspaper-clippings and court documents crisped by age.

Lettering in felt-tip pen on the side reads: "Dad's UNM diploma court decision for voting rights." "Dad had mixed feelings about it," Waconda said. "He knew it was a real benefit, but at the same time he did turn many people against him even from his own tribe." Spme Indians were afraid the right to vote would chip away at tribal sovereignty or that the government would impose more taxes or strip them of their rights. "There was a real possibility he PAID ADVERTISEMENT Weight Loss Puzzles Doctors ATLANTA, GA. Doctors were sur rounded when two separate studies found that a natural dietary supplement could cause significant weight loss. Although not conclusiveboth studies found that patients receiving the formula called Bio-Rex 3000 lost more than twice as much weight as those in control group on the same fat reduced diet.

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Itasca Spur Emerald Victor Cane KivaPI Ridgecrest SE -Wellesley SE Buck Brush PI. 5 15c journal YOU PAY $28.68 $57.37 $114.75 LARGEST NEWSPAPERS, 2-3 4 4 0 0 if payment accompanies order. change without notice. scout savings i said, 'If you're honest, if you're dedicated, if you're committed, you don't have anything to be afraid or ashamed The fight for voting rights was over one line in the New Mexico Constitution, which was adopted in 1910, two years before New Mexico became a state. It said every man over 21 who had lived in New Mexico for a year could vote, except for "insane persons, persons convicted of felonious or infamous crime unless restored to political rights, and Indians not taxed." America's Indians became U.S.

citizens in 1924, "but it was the states which decided the qualifica tions for voting, and New Mexico, it was 'Indians not taxed' could not vote," Venturini said. The phrase would not be stricken from the state Constitution until 1967. Ulysses Paisano, 85, of Albuquerque, Waconda's uncle, owned property outside the reservation and started voting in 1939. He could not understand why Indians living on reservations could not join him. "They pay taxes coming and going going to the store, going to Albuquerque they pay taxes on everything.

You buy a car, you pay taxes," Paisano said. The federal court ruled New Mexico's Indians paid the same taxes as other citizens, except for property taxes, so the state law was racially discriminatory and violated the U.S. Constitution. Trujillo died Aug. 27, 1989, at age 85.

But he lived long enough to see sporadic assaults on Indian voting rights, which were shunned by television time before the primary. "If I win the primary, I'm going to try to organize a wide-scale, small-contributors fund." Hughes has so far received about 30 contributions and said that he intends to begin soliciting more. About $1,000 of the $5,000 or so in his war chest came from his own pocket. He believes he can mount a "pretty good" primary campaign for between $10,000 and $15,000. "I haven't had the problem of people not knowing me." He plans to fund a direct-mail campaign, put up some signs and possibly buy radio time.

"I dont envision TV. TV is awfully expensive." The winner in the June 2 primary will face the winner of a three-way Democratic race in the November election. The candidate voters send to the commission will represent a district made up of Albuquerque east of the Rio Grande, parts of the South Valley, Downtown and the near North Valley and Bernalillo County east of the city. $7,000 and $10,000 for the primary and plans to contribute between 10 percent and 20 percent of that himself. Most of his budget will support a direct-mail campaign.

Paster said she has so far raised about $11,000 "primarily from people who supported me in the past" Advertising her candidacy on television would be too expensive, she said. "But we're looking at everything else." Griego expects to spend about $10,000 in the primary. He said he doesnt know how much of that money will come from his own pocket Mostly, he said, he will "pound the pavement" and hand out brochures. The winner in the June 2 primary will face the Republican survivor of a two-way race in the November election. The candidate voters send to the commission will represent a district made up of Albuquerque east of the Rio Grande, parts of the South Valley, Downtown, the near North Valley and Bernalillo County east of the city.

SAVE from PAGE BS If also bars candidates from either soliciting or accepting "anything of value" from anyone whose charges to the public are regulated by the commission. Financial disclosure forms that candidates must file with the secretary of state wont become available until May 11. Both Reed and Hughes said they have not accepted any donations over $500. Reed said he has personally contributed about $20,000 toward his campaign. Another $200 or so has been provided by "friends and family that wanted to pitch some -money into the pot." Salary for a commissioner is $72,500.

"I'm spending my own money because it seems that people deserve to have someone who is going to campaign hard and put in his own money for a job that's going to pay that much," he said. Reed plans to use some of the money for a direct-mail campaign and spend some on newspaper ads. He also plans to buy some albuquerque of months regular rate 3 6 12 $33.75 $67.50 $135.00 $5.07 $10.13 $20.25 Dems Say Experience Qualifies Them for New Regulation Panel the albuquerque tribune number of months regular rate savings YOU PAY 3 $18.00 $2.70 $15.30 I 6 $36.00 $5.40 $30.60 I 12 $72.00 $10.80 $61.20 from PAGE BS must be elected may be influenced by politics. Both Griego and Barnaby said leaving the choice of commissioners to voters will result in greater accountability. A position on the panel will pay $72,500.

The PRC, which will begin operating on Jan. 1, will be New Mexico's most powerful regulatory agency. The bill creating the commission included a $500 cap on campaign contributions. It bars candidates from either soliciting or accepting donations from anyone whose business is regulated by the commission. The $500 donation limit doesn't go into effect until May 20.

Paster said she has been careful to collect no more than $500 from each contributor. Both Barnaby and Griego said they have accepted a small number of contributions greater than the $500 limit but will not accept any after the break-off day. Barnaby has a budget of between START AMD END YOUR DAY WITH THE BEST BARGAIN IN TOWN, NEW MEXICO'S TWO subscription information 8 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL Must not have been a subscriber in the last 30 days and must reside within the designated delivery area. Discount applies only Not valid in conjunction with other offers. After the trial period, the regular home delivery rate will apply.

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