Indigenous students have the right to a quality education that meets their cultural needs. This includes access to support programs in tribal communities and public schools following tribal guidance to address student needs in culturally responsive ways. But without dedicated funding to support these critical programs and services, Native students continue to face immense systemic barriers.

Thanks to everyone who contacted lawmakers this legislative session, House Bill 134/aaa, the Tribal Education Trust Fund bill, passed out of Senate Finance Committee unanimously today. The last stop is to get it passed by the Senate before heading to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

The legislative session ends on Thursday at noon. We need your help now to get it passed in time! Please join us in emailing the four senators listed below and urge them to support HB 134/aaa as written.

Let’s make our voices heard!
Please send an email to these senators tonight, or as early as you can on Wednesday, February 14. If you live in their district, please consider calling their office as well.

Sen. William Soules, 505-986-4834
District 37 (Doña Ana county)

Sen. Shannon Pinto, 505-986-4835
District 3 (McKinley & San Juan county)

Sen. Peter Wirth, 505-986-4727
District 25 (Santa Fe county)

Sen. Mimi Stewart, 505-986-4734
District 17 (Bernalillo county)

Now is the time to invest in Tribal Education Departments to create community-based supports like enrichment programs, Native language programs, tribal libraries, tutoring services, and more that is proven to positively affect Indigenous student outcomes.