Newsletter: March 2025

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

 

Greetings everyone, I hope this message finds you all in good health and happiness. Here at the Chamiza Foundation we are steadily moving along in the new year. Seems like the year is already flying by! We had our first board meeting for the year on March 7, 2025. I am happy to announce that we awarded $98,095.00 towards programs and projects that will benefit our Pueblo people. This includes projects and programs that focus on the following areas: Language preservation and revitalization, Intergenerational & Intercultural exchange programs, Tribal & ancestral history, Environmental stewardship, Youth education and leadership, and Arts & Crafts. Please check out the “Impact” page on our website to see who was awarded for the first round of 2025.

Our next application deadline is May 2, 2025. We will be accepting applications for our “Traditional” priority areas which include language preservation, traditional architecture, sustainable agriculture, traditional arts & crafts, tribal & ancestral history, oral histories & storytelling, youth education & leadership, intercultural/intergenerational exchange and education. The online application portal will begin accepting applications starting April 4, 2025. If you have any questions about how to submit your application, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can apply directly online through our website. Please be aware that when you start the process you cannot stop and save your application, you must start and finish in one sitting. So please have all your documents that you will need to complete the application on hand. You can also still download the application from our website as well. If you have a project or program idea that you need help developing, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to seeing many more great applications for our next round of funding.

Below  you will find a tribute to a former board member, Mr. Hayes Lewis. Yesterday, March 26th, I attended a “Celebration of Life” event for him at Zuni Pueblo. At that event, it was announced that March 26th, would be known as Hayes Lewis Education Champion Day. It was a beautiful event attended by so many people who knew and loved Hayes. Additionally, you will an announcement of a new board member, Ms. Nina Swistel. And, lastly, you will find an announcement from the Indian Land Tenure Foundation, a board that I sit on. Please share this announcement with your Natural Resources Departments, Realty Offices or Tribal Land Offices.

Warm regards,

Dr. Amanda J. Montoya

 

 

 

 

 

Celebration of Life

Mr. Hayes Lewis

June 26, 1946- January 25, 2025

 

 

Hayes was born on June 26, 1946, to Virginia Bantia and Robert B. Lewis. He grew up in Zuni and graduated from Zuni High School in 1965. Following high school, he attended Fort Lewis College before answering the call to serve his country at the age of 19, completing two tours of active duty in Vietnam.

Upon his return, Hayes went back to Fort Lewis, where he met his future wife, Linda Vilarde. Both later attended Harvard University to earn their degrees.

In 1976, they returned to Zuni and started a family, welcoming two children, Miranda and Raven. Hayes began a distinguished career in education, founding the Center for Lifelong Education at the Institute of American Indian Arts. Additionally, he advocated for Zuni Pueblo to become the first Native American-run school district in the United States.

In 1993, he married Leatrice Pinto, and they lived in Zuni Pueblo. The couple temporarily left Zuni to join others in the pursuit of justice and equity, which became a lifelong mission for Hayes. He emerged as a transformative figure in redefining education in New Mexico and across the United States.

Hayes eventually returned to Zuni as Superintendent to realize the vision of educational sovereignty. He served as Superintendent for 11 years. He challenged the state of New Mexico for failing to meet its constitutional obligations regarding education.

He became an expert witness in the landmark case Martinez/Yazzie versus the State of New Mexico, contributing significantly to the 2018 decision that marked a watershed moment in education—one not seen since the original Indian education policies were enacted over 150 years ago. His final legacy was the successful establishment of the A:shiwi College and Career Center.

Hayes served as a board member of the Chamiza Foundation from 2005 to 2022. During his long tenure, he helped establish the Pueblo values that guide our grant-making process. Hayes was a remarkable individual whose strong spirit contributed to uplifting the Zuni people and indigenous communities around the world. His genuine concern for all Pueblo people inspired the Chamiza Foundation to make decisions that were beneficial to our Pueblo communities.

We want to express our deep respect, admiration, and love for our former board member. Our heartfelt thanks go to Lea, his family, and the Zuni community for sharing this extraordinary person with us. He will be dearly missed.

 

Photos from the Celebration of Life Event

 

 

Hayes Lewis Education Champion Day-March 26th

 

Governor Grisham has signed a proclamation designating March 26 as “Hayes Lewis Education Champion Day”, recognizing Mr. Lewis’s unwavering commitment to driving a transformative change in education through his visionary leadership. The proclamation was announced and presented to the Zuni Pueblo community on March 26, 2025 by Mr. Regis Pecos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chamiza Foundation Welcomes  a New Board Member

Please help us welcome Ms. Nina Swistel to our board!

 

 

Nina Swistel is a visual artist, jeweler, and ceramist from New York City. Daughter of Alice Phillips Swistel, and granddaughter of Joann and Gifford Phillips. She has spent most of her career working in fabrication for design objects, jewelry, and jewelry sales. In 2021, Swistel became a sales consultant for the wine and spirits industry. She currently lives in Brooklyn, NY, working on her artisanal pottery, and selling ethically sourced wines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPLY FOR ILTF GRANT FUNDING

 

 

 

 

Summer internship grant opportunity for high school students in tribal land offices

 

Are there high school students in your community who are interested in exploring a career in tribal land management? Indian Land Tenure Foundation (ILTF) is offering grant funding to support summer internships in tribal land offices in 2025. Grants are available for up to $10,000 for one intern with options available for two or more interns. These internships provide a valuable enrichment experience for students while supporting the tribal land office.

Ideally, the student would shadow a different land office employee each week to gain first-hand experience in different jobs. This is a great opportunity to engage and inspire the next generation of professionals in tribal land management! We encourage tribal land offices to apply and support students in gaining meaningful work experience.

 

WHO CAN APPLY?

• High school students who have completed their sophomore, junioror senior year.
• Sudents with an interest in tribal land managementand related careers.
• Students who are not immediate family membersof current department staff.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

• Internships run for 10 to 11 weeks during the summer, with students commiting to 400 hours of work.
• Interns will gain real-life experience,exposure to tribal land issues, and hands-on involvement in the work of the tribal land office.
• Students must maintain a brief daily logand submit a 2-to-5-page reportdetailing their experiences and learnings.

SUPERVISOR REQUIREMENTS

• Tribal land office staff will recruit and selecttheir own interns.
• Supervisors must submit a final report summarizing intern activities, successes, and challenges.
• Supervisors must provide quality photographsof interns working on-site.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Internships are for high school students only (college students are not eligible).
• ILTF will select which tribal land officesreceive funding.
• Indirect costs cannot exceed 10%

 

The internship application form is available at www.iltf.org/resources/news-events/

To apply, please email a completed application to Nicole Olson (nolson@iltf.org) at Indian Land Tenure Foundation.

Application deadline is Friday, April 18, 2025

Funding is limited. Please apply now!

 

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About ILTF

The Indian Land Tenure Foundation is a national, community-based organization serving American Indian nations and people in the recovery and control of their rightful homelands. ILTF promotes education, increases cultural awareness, creates economic opportunity, and aims to reform the legal and administrative systems that prevent American Indian people from owning and controlling reservation lands. For more information, please visit www.iltf.org.