The story I’m most proud of from 2024 is one I wrote about tribal leaders’ winning input on Petroglygh-area developments.
During one of the first few Albuquerque City Council meetings I covered as a new reporter for City Desk ABQ, councilors passed legislation that allowed tribal consultation on developments in a certain area.
The approved bill made zoning changes that ensured tribal representatives would be notified of and have the chance to comment on development applications in the areas surrounding the Petroglyph National Monument.
This spurred my curiosity because I was surprised to learn that tribes did not already have these rights over their land. After covering the council meeting, I got in touch with city officials and Naeva, a Native-led organization, to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the zoning changes.
The city’s intergovernmental tribal liaison told me he had been working to provide these rights to tribes for years. It turned out that Naeva had also been pushing for tribal consultation over the area for months after a large project went under development.
It was also interesting to learn more about Naeva and all the work the organization does to protect Indigenous communities, encourage public involvement and put pressure on local lawmakers.
The project was a 35-foot-tall apartment complex near the monument and was set to increase in height. While the approval of the zoning changes was a celebratory time for tribes and Naeva, they were still battling the project that sparked the push for the changes.
Since the new tribal consultation rules were implemented after the development application was approved, it looked like the tribes would only have a say in future projects. The development that tribal representatives said would pose risks to the monument and their history would continue.
The tribes may have finally made their voices heard, but they were losing one of their battles. Covering this issue was crucial because it shed light on a significant change for tribes, the steps it took to get them there and their ongoing fight.
This story reminded me of the importance of local journalism, because if we don’t cover these issues, who will?