As they begin to develop Indian policy proposals, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's strong record on government-to-government relations with tribal nations stands as a beacon.  Shortly after declaring his candidacy, Richardson told Indian Country Today that if elected president, he would install a cabinet-level secretary of Indian Affairs.  Given his record, this is less lip service than intention.  In 2005 he appointed Jemez Pueblo native Benny Shendo Jr. as New Mexico's first secretary of Indian Affairs.  It is the only state in the country that has a cabinet secretary and a department of Indian Affairs.  Spoken commitment followed by action is the key to winning the increasingly critical Native vote.

Before his job in state government, Shendo was involved with education at the university level (Stanford, UNM, American Indian Science and Engineering Society).  He was also held tribal government office at Jemez Pueblo.  I know from my own experience that gives you substantial knowledge of the ways of the federal government.  Shendo was unanimously approved for his position by the New Mexico Senate in its next regular session after the appointment.

He has only made a couple of political contributions:  Bill Richardson for President, which is not surprising as he's part of the Richardson team.  The second was for Marty Heinrich for NM-01, the progressive Albuquerque City Councilman.  A lot of us here in NM are excited about his candidacy to fill the seat currently held by Republican Heather Wilson.

From High Country News, we learn he plays golf:

Benny Shendo, senior manager of Native American programs at the University of New Mexico and a Jemez Pueblo member who plays golf, says kids on his isolated pueblo west of Albuquerque are 30 minutes from the nearest course (at Santa Ana), yet they flock to summer camps where they usually have only artificial grass mats and whiffle balls. "We're the best sand-trap players," Shendo jokes, "because we have nothing but dirt out there." Shendo is hoping that perhaps with the help of the First Tee Foundation, which helps fund golf programs in underdeveloped communities, his pueblo can build a driving range or maybe a three-hole course.

As Secretary of Indian Affairs, Shendo spoke at the dedication of the statue of Pueblo Revolt leader Po'Pay in the National Statuary Hall:

The idea for the statue was born in 1976, when a delegation of Pueblo people came to Washington for the bicentennial of the American Revolution. While touring the Capitol grounds, they noticed the state only had one representative in the hall -- that of the late Dennis Chavez, the first Hispanic to serve in the U.S. Senate -- and began a campaign to have Po'Pay join the collection.

With the support of tribes and the state Legislature, Po'Pay finally completed the journey almost three decades later. Benny Shendo, New Mexico's secretary for Indian Affairs, said the statue highlights the state's unique cultural history.

"It was a revolt that helped shaped the evolution and character of an entire region of our country, and it led to the survival of a culture rich in history and heritage that would one day co-exist with modern American life," said Shendo, who spoke on behalf of Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who was unable to attend the ceremony.

Our state is represented in the National Statuary Hall by an Hispanic and an Indian.  I think a progressive Native American in Congress from my district is a terrific idea!  So, keep an eye out for another announcement for NM-03.

P.S.  In the 2004 Presidential, Shendo's Jemez Pueblo had the highest percentage of votes for Kerry/Edwards at 95%.  Taos Pueblo was a close second at 93%.  Maybe it's time we were represented in Congress by a Native American, too.