Newsletter: September 2024

MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

Hello everyone and Happy Fall! I hope this message finds you, your family, and community in good health and happiness. Here at the Chamiza Foundation, we have been busy with a variety of things. First and foremost, we have been busy preparing for the upcoming Grant Writing Training. The workshop will be taking place at the Institute of American Indian Arts on October 10, 2024, from 9 am to 4 pm. This training is targeted towards Pueblo grant writers & administrators, Pueblo program staff, and Pueblo Tribal Program Administrators. Participants will learn how to complete the Chamiza Foundation application, hear from two past grantees on program implementation, and learn about our reporting requirements. Our goal is to help our Pueblo people become better grant writers and to encourage Pueblos to continue applying to the Chamiza Foundation for support for their cultural preservation projects. We are very excited about this training!

The Chamiza Foundation has been providing grants to our New Mexico Pueblos for 35 years. The board and Phillips family are interested in learning about the impact that the foundation has made on our Pueblos throughout the years. Therefore, we are in the process of planning a “Pueblo Symposium”. The symposium is currently in the early planning stages and will take place in the fall of 2026. Please stay tuned for more information.

Also, as mentioned in a previous newsletter, the board is currently working on new application guidelines. These new guidelines will go into effect in 2025. They are being put in place to ensure that Chamiza funding benefits our Pueblo communities and to ensure that our Pueblo people, culture, and knowledge are protected. I will be announcing what those are in next month’s newsletter.

Lastly, I would like to wish all my Taos Pueblo people a Happy San Geronimo Feast Day, September 30^th!

Sincerely,

Dr. Amanda J. Montoya

 

 

 

Chamiza Foundation Site Visit

Acoma Pueblo-Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps

 

On September 23, 2024, our Executive Director visited Acoma Pueblo for a site visit to learn more about the Acoma Pueblo Ancestral Lands Conservation Corp Program. During the visit, she met with Aaron Lowden, the Ancestral Lands Food Systems Program Manager, and Domonique Lowden, the Farm Coordinator. They provided a brief history of the program, highlighting its progress from humble beginnings to having an air-conditioned trailer, running water, ample space for staff and activities, as well as new trucks for program tasks.

Mr. Lowden mentioned that the program initially operated from a small traditional stone building and had an old vehicle. He emphasized the significant progress the program has made since then. Aaron and Dom then showed the seed bank, which contains seeds saved from their produce, seeds received from other tribal communities, and seeds obtained from seed exchange programs. They explained the proper way to dry and store seeds.

Next, they showcased their greenhouse, where a variety of crops are grown by them, as well as Acoma senior citizens and children interested in farming. Currently, they are growing beets, cotton, amaranth, green chili, and kale in raised garden beds. The visit also included a tour of the fields where corn, squash, melons, chili, and Acoma red on red beans are cultivated. The red beans were particularly special as they had not been grown in Acoma for quite some time.

During the visit, Aaron also demonstrated how to braid corn for drying. Two crew members from the Albuquerque office were present as well. Finally, Aaron and Dom showed the river used to irrigate the fields, emphasizing that it is entirely spring-fed, which is remarkable considering the dry conditions of the area.

The Executive Director had an incredible visit and encourages anyone interested in community farming to visit the Acoma Pueblo Ancestral Lands Conservation Corp program, as they have a wealth of knowledge and are eager to share it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Chamiza Foundation Welcomes a New Board Member

Please help us welcome Ms. Kayleigh Warren!

 

Kayleigh Warren is from the Pueblos of Santa Clara and Isleta. She is an ethnobotanist and environmental professional, grounded in her land-based upbringing and strong community mentorship. Her expertise spans the fields of botany, conservation, and environmental justice, and is further enriched by extensive experience in program and project management, strategic planning, and communications, gained through her work in nonprofit administration and development at both the national and local levels. Kayleigh is first and foremost a farmer, seedkeeper, basket maker, daughter, sister, and relative, devoted to uplifting the relationships and practices that support vibrant community wellness and ecological health in our Pueblo communities. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Conservation and Management at Fort Lewis College.

 

 

 

 

 

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2024 Gala

On September 21, 2024, three of our board members and one staff member attended the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Gala. They had an incredible night at this year’s Gala, the purpose of the gala was to raise seed funds to commission and install artwork, enhance exhibits, and tell the stories of the students, teachers, and legacy of the Albuquerque Indian School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invisible No More: Voices from Native America

 

 

On Friday, September 13, 2024, our Executive Director attended a book talk and Q&A for a book entitled, “Invisible No More-Voices from Native America”. One of the authors of this book is Mrs. Trisha Moquino, Chamiza Foundation Board Member. We are very proud of her! If you would like to purchase this book, please click here.