Op-Ed: Protection of Sacred Sites

Editor's Note: The following is an op-ed we sent to the Albuquerque Journal and Albuquerque Tribune on behalf of DFA-Democracy for New Mexico. Although neither newspaper decided to print it, we wanted to get our points published. The Cultural Properties Review Committee met last Friday.

Rank and File Democrats Stand for Respect for All Cultures and the Protection of Sacred Sites

Democracy for New Mexico promotes a democratic, fair, and equitable society for all New Mexicans. We have seen city, and state officials proclaim, on occasion after occasion, the “tri-cultural” legacy as positive proof of a vibrant New Mexico.  So it is with great concern that we find the Paseo Del Norte issue once again being discussed absent basic respect for Native American cultural values. 

This Friday the Cultural Properties Review Committee of the State of New Mexico will meet to decide whether or not to grant the City of Albuquerque a permit to remove Petroglyphs that are within the Paseo Del Norte road corridor. At the last meeting of this State Committee, Governor Richardson’s Cabinet Secretary for Cultural Affairs, Stuart Ashman, advocated in favor of the construction of Paseo Del Norte extension.

Yet just six months ago, Governor Richardson signed an Executive Order urging full tribal consultation on issues concerning sacred sites. No such tribal consultation has taken place.

If as Democrats, we do not stand for respect for all cultures and the protection of sacred sites, who will? Perhaps Governor Richardson should stop following Mayor Martin Chavez’s dictates. They both ought to be less concerned with re-election and more concerned with supporting basic Democratic values.

The Bernalillo County Democratic Party and the New Mexico State Democratic Party – representing the rank-and-file and heart and soul of our Party – have standing resolutions in opposition to the Paseo Extension. It’s high time we respect those resolutions from the base of the Party.

DFA- Democracy for New Mexico, Albuquerque