A:shiwi Earth Day Celebration

Read the full report about Earth Day 2024

 Shaun Tsabetsaye is a Zuni Tribal member and a seasoned leader in engineering, project management, and tribal business, specializing in renewable energy. Shaun is the Engineering Manager for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, co-founder and Chief of Marketing & Development of Major Market Inc., serves as the founding board Vice President of Hawikku.org non-profit.

 Octavius Seowtewa, a member of Zuni Pueblo is a cultural advisor who plays a crucial role in Zuni site protection and preservation projects. As a leader of the Zuni Cultural Resources Advisory Team, Octavius surveys traditional cultural properties and provides consultation on their treatment, as well as on matters related to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Octavius is head of a traditional medicine group and he has most recently served as a religious advisor for the Bears Ears National Monument Inter-Tribal Coalition. He is also a master jeweler, specializing in needlepoint jewelry.

 Dr. Hayes Lewis, a member of the Zuni Pueblo tribe, has committed his life to advancing indigenous education and community empowerment. Grounded in ancestral teachings, his dedication to uplifting his people through education has been exemplary. He has served as the founding Director of the Center for Lifelong Education at the Institute of American Indian Arts, Superintendent of Schools for the Zuni Public School District, and led the efforts in the accreditation of the A:shiwi College and Career Readiness Center at Zuni Pueblo. Dr. Lewis’s visionary leadership continues to have a lasting impact on the Zuni community and beyond

Congressman Gabe Vasquez is a first-generation Mexican-American who served as a City Councilor in Las Cruces.  Congressman Vasquez grew up in the borderlands and saw the value of hard work in his family while growing up. As the first in his family to be born in the United States, he’s made the most of his opportunity and has worked hard to make a positive difference in his community and in the lives of others. Congressman Vasquez is a champion for working families, he believes we need to build an economy that benefits everyone.

 Jackie Francke is a member of the Navajo Nation and is Vice President of Programs and Administration at First Nations Development Institute. Prior to joining First Nations, Jackie spent 11 years as president of Geotechnika, Inc., which provided products and consultancy in the areas of geo-environmental monitoring, energy efficiency, and renewable energy development to large federal agencies, tribal organizations, corporate entities, and nonprofit organizations.

 Calvin Chimoni, a member of the Zuni Pueblo tribe, with over 22 years of experience working for the National Park Service, specializing in preserving historic architecture, conducting conservation efforts, and protecting archaeological sites. His skills span masonry, structural assessments, and erosion control. He actively mentors both staff and youth conservation workers, stressing the importance of safeguarding local tribal history. Calvin is deeply committed to upholding Zuni values through his cultural leadership and co-founding of the Hawikku nonprofit for the Zuni Pueblo community.

Tahlia Natachu-Eriacho, a member of the Zuni Tribe and Executive Director of the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, is committed to her organization’s mission to promote resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong and healthy adults that are connected with Zuni traditions. Tahlia feels a deep sense of responsibility to continue the ZYEP tradition of providing high quality activities and caring mentors to Zuni’s current and future generations of youth.

Derrick Toledo grew up in Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico and graduated from the University of New Mexico in Multimedia Journalism and Marketing Management. He was formally appointed as a tribal official but now serves as a field representative for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández where many of his responsibilities are to work very closely alongside indigenous communities. Additional issues also included in his portfolio are natural resources, energy, education, healthcare and law enforcement. He will be receiving his master’s degree in Political Psychology soon from Arizona State University.

 Darrell Tsabetsaye is a seasoned entrepreneur serving as the President & CEO of Major Market Inc., established in 1988 specializing in retail grocery with a focus on custom cut meat, fresh produce and staples. Darrell raises Black Angus Beef with his family and offers consultancy services to Native and tribally owned enterprises, focusing on economic development and farm-to-table food concepts. Darrell has extensive experience in navigating congressional and New Mexico State Legislative processes. Darrell notably led initiatives for the division and transfer of Ft. Wingate Land from the US Army to the Zuni and Navajo Tribal Nations. He is committed to the Zuni community through his traditional leadership and founding Executive director of Hawikku non-profit.

 Andrew Stone is a dedicated solar advocate with a lifelong commitment to renewable energy. He organized The First Annual Solar Fair at UNM in 1977 and has since been involved in various solar projects, including constructing passive solar adobe additions to homes and installing the first grid-tied PV system permitted by PNM in 2005. Andrew is an early adopter of Tesla technology, owning one of the first Model S cars in New Mexico in 2008 and integrating one of the first grid-tied Tesla Powerwall battery storage systems into a residential nanogrid in 2016. He actively promotes community-owned solar resources through his involvement with the Renewable Energy Industry Association and as a member of NREL’s National Community Solar Partnership. With a background in software development, including 27 years with Steve Jobs, NeXT Inc., and Apple Computer, Andrew retired in 2015 to focus on expanding solar access in New Mexico.

Joe is a member of the Puyallup Tribe of Tacoma, Washington, and has over 20 years’ experience partnering with Native American communities as a teacher, coach, executive, and consultant. Joe currently leads Strength-Based Consulting and works directly with the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project, First Nations Development Institute, Major Market Inc., and Hawikku, providing them wide range of capacity building services (i.e., technical writing/reporting, evaluation, and facilitation).

Kevin, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, serves as the Program Manager for the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) Zuni Program, a non-profit initiative launched in 2016. Over the years, Kevin has been deeply involved in the program, starting as a corps Crew Member and progressing through various roles such as Crew Leader, Field Supervisor, Program Coordinator, and, for the last four years, as Program Manager. His work within the program has focused on Historic Preservation, Trail Building, Traditional Agriculture, Fence Building, Invasive Species Removal, and Land Restoration, providing him with a diverse skill set that he connects to his ancestral heritage. In his current role, Kevin engages with local youth and young adults, aiming to inspire the next generation of community leaders. His upbringing, marked by community challenges like alcoholism, has instilled in him a commitment to creating safe and healthy environments within the community. As someone who has battled alcohol addiction and will mark nine years of sobriety in July ’24, Kevin aspires to lead by example and encourage others to stay true to themselves and pursue their dreams. One of Kevin’s aspirations is to construct a home for his family reminiscent of the dwellings found at sites like Chaco Canyon, complete with a flourishing garden nearby.