Panel discussion Monday focuses on tribal-Lab government relationship

The relationship between local pueblos and the Laboratory, from the viewpoint of tribal government officials, will be discussed at a forum at 11 a.m., Monday (May 5) at the Laboratory.

San Ildefonso Pueblo Gov. John Gonzales; Santa Clara Pueblo Gov. Denny Gutierrez; Cochiti Pueblo Gov. Simon Suina; and Jemez Pueblo Gov. Raymond Loretto will talk on the government-to-government relationship of the pueblo nations with the Laboratory and Department of Energy; it's past and present situation; and views of the future. A discussion with the audience will follow the presentations.

The panel discussion is in the Pecos Room on the second floor of the Industrial Business Development (IBD) office building on Trinity Drive downtown. It is open to all Laboratory workers.

"This accord governors forum is a unique opportunity to understand what the neighboring pueblos' concerns are. After making initial statements describing their individual views of the relationship between the Laboratory and their pueblos and their plans for the future, the governors will take questions," said Barbara Grimes of the Lab's Tribal Relations Team in the Government Relations (GRO) Office. "The four governors are seldom able to meet in a single meeting, so I encourage Laboratory employees to attend."

The American Indian Diversity Working Group, the Diversity (DVO) Office, the Diversity Affirmative Action Board and the Tribal Relations Team in GRO is hosting the panel discussion with the governors of the four Native American pueblos that have signed accords with the Department of Energy.

San Ildefonso Gov. Gonzales is serving his second year as governor. He also is chairman of the Eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council and serves on the board of the National Congress of the American Indian and the Native American Rights Fund.

Santa Clara Pueblo Gov. Gutierrez is serving his fourth year as governor. He has served on the Santa Clara Pueblo Tribal Council for 22 years.

Cochiti Pueblo Gov. Suina, a 28-year Laboratory employee now working in Security Support (S-5), is in his first year as governor. Suina was lieutenant governor in 1998 and is currently secretary-treasurer of the Ten Southern Governors Council.

Jemez Pueblo Gov. Loretto also is serving his first year as governor, after having served as lieutenant governor for the pueblo in 2001. He is vice-chair of the Ten Southern Governors Council.

-- Steve Sandoval

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