State Labor Department Secretary Conroy Chino spoke Wednesday as part of the Laboratory's American Indian Heritage Month celebration. Chino is a former television news investigative reporter. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez, Public Affairs

Chino talks about new role in state government, Native American representation at Laboratory

"First of all, I'm not Nelson Martinez, I can't sing, but I always thought I was one heck of a reporter," said New Mexico Department of Labor Secretary Conroy Chino.

"In my previous life as an investigative reporter, I discovered that fame is fleeting. I was on '60 Minutes' and gone in 60 seconds," he said. People have asked him, he said, what is it like to be a cabinet secretary. "It is a combination of different things; some days are like 'Everybody Loves Raymond' or 'Survivor' and other days it's more like a soap opera," Chino said.

Chino spoke at the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos campus on Wednesday in observance of American Indian Heritage Month. The talk was sponsored by the Laboratory's American Indian Diversity Working Group, the Diversity (DVO) Office, the Diversity Affirmative Action Board and the Lab's Tribal Relations team in the Government Relations (GRO) Office.

"I've been in office for four months and I'm still in shock and in awe as I discover that it's hard being in labor, so to speak, by being forced to deliver on jobs and opportunities," said Chino, who was named Labor Department secretary in January by Gov. Bill Richardson. "As a Native American, I'm proud about my appointment. I've gone from being an Indian in the [cupboard] to being an Indian in the cabinet," Chino jokingly said.

As Labor secretary, "I need to create more jobs and opportunities for Native Americans. Today, more Native Americans are qualified for jobs not only in New Mexico, but also across the country," Chino said.

Chino said he prepared for Wednesday's presentation by surfing the Web. He had a difficult time finding Native Americans in high-ranking positions at the Laboratory, he said. "The only person I found was Fred Begay of the Community Relations (CRO) Office and that is unacceptable," he said.

"Native Americans represent 1.6 percent of the [Laboratory's] total work force. There may be legitimate reasons why the numbers are so low, but I find that percentage hard to believe and intolerable," Chino said.

Historically Native Americans from nearby San Ildefonso, San Juan and Santa Clara pueblos and others, have contributed to the Laboratory's work force. I'm certain that you have a lot to be proud of and that news needs to be publicized, he said.

According to Chino, Laboratory recruiting efforts for Native Americans can be assisted by tapping into resources such as The Native American World, American Indian College Fund and by speaking directly to professors at universities about their students.

"I challenge the Lab to find and recruit qualified Native Americans and to place them in top-ranking positions," Chino said.

"There are 22 Native American tribes in New Mexico and more than 165,000 people who live on reservations . . . [many who] can clearly recall racism, acts of prejudice, name calling, discrimination in jobs and housing, physical abuse, violence and murder. This is the dark unspoken side in New Mexico," he said.

"Native Americans suffer primarily from image problems that perpetuate stereotypes, misinform and malign. No other ethnic group has endured more stereotypes than Native Americans," Chino said. "Hollywood supplies a major source of these images that have been burned into our psyches by providing films that are fictionalized accounts," he added.

"After researching Native American issues, I've found that it is not easy being an Indian in this state or country. We are constantly fighting for what we want, need or for what we have. It shouldn't be this way, but it is. It's a fight to stay alive," Chino added.

"My hope is for change, my wish is for fair treatment and my dream is for equality," Chino said.

The final Native American Heritage Month event is a panel discussion exploring the Laboratory-tribal relationship and how it has evolved over the last 60 years. The panel discussion begins at 11:30 a.m., next Tuesday at the Canyon School Complex.

Panelists scheduled to attend include former Santa Clara Pueblo Gov. Walter Dasheno; Julie Abeyta, director, Northern New Mexico Community College American Indian Affairs Program; Jacob Pecos, director, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Cochiti Pueblo; and Jolene Nelson, director, Education Department, Santa Clara Pueblo and Kevin Shendo, director, Education Department, Jemez Pueblo.

-- Kathryn Ostic

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