Miguel Trujillo: New Mexico's Unknown Civil Rights Hero

What was it about postwar New Mexico that encouraged Native Americans to push for voting rights? When New Mexico became a state in 1912, its
constitution denied Indians the right to vote. In 1948, Miguel Trujillo, a WWII Marine veteran from Isleta Pueblo and teacher at the Indian Affairs day school at Laguna Pueblo, sued New Mexico and obtained the right to vote for Indians of the state. This presentation tells his remarkable story and connects it to the struggle that really began with the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 and continues today.

Gordon Bronitsky, PhD, trained as an archeologist and anthropologist and received his PhD in anthropology from the University of Arizona. Many years ago, he worked as an archeologist at Salmon Ruins and Mesa Verde. More recently, he is the founder and president of Bronitsky and Associates, dba IndigeNOW! He has worked with the U.S. State Department and several international cultural groups and embassies to conduct cultural workshops around the globe promoting Indigenous arts. He resides in Albuquerque. He has done extensive research with the family of Miguel Trujillo, and brings this important but unknown story to new generations of New Mexicans.

This is a free public event made possible through the generosity of the New Mexico Humanities Council. Please enter through the west gate behind the Pioneer Village by the Aztec Splash Pad. Guests may park in the municipal lot behind the museum; gate opens at 1pm. Concessions available for purchase. No pets, please. Service animals only in the Pioneer Village. For information, call 505-334-9829.