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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Martinez, W.K.

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

02/02/08

HB 471

SHORT TITLE Native American Cultural Education

SB

ANALYST Weber

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY08

FY09

$100.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Indian Affairs Department (IAD)

Public Education Department (PED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 471 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to The Indian Affairs

Department to support Native American cultural education for youths in Albuquerque, including

music and dance performances, craftsman demonstration projects and lectures.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general

fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY09 shall revert to

the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

The Indian Affairs Department notes the following.

The preservation of the Native American culture is extremely important. In addition to the

unfortunate loss of many Native American languages, the loss of culture is one of the most

pressing. Unlike other means of teaching and learning that requires reading and writing, much

House Bill 471 – Page

2

Native American culture is passed on though oral and physical interaction between teachers and

students. Activities that include learning creation stories, dancing and singing, and arts and

crafts creation are extremely important to the continuation of the Native American culture and

are what makes the cultures unique.

There are twenty-two (22) Native American communities in New Mexico. Many of these

communities are located in remote parts of the state where employment and educational

opportunities are unavailable. With a “lack of economic development on Indian

reservations…young people leave. When youth move away to pursue education and

employment, they do not return home."

1

Often times, the City of Albuquerque is the destination

for those seeking such opportunities.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census

2

, over 10% of New Mexico’s population is American Indian.

The state’s urban Indian population lives predominately in the Albuquerque metropolitan area,

which makes Albuquerque the 4th in the nation for largest American Indian and Alaska Native

population.

3

There are approximately 328,100 students enrolled in New Mexico’s schools.

4

Of

that population, approximately 36,400 are Native American students.

5

There are “89 public school districts [in New Mexico] of which 23 are identified on or adjacent

to tribal lands."

6

“Gallup-McKinley, Central Consolidated and Albuquerque public school

districts have the highest enrollment of American Indian students."

7

This bill would help to ensure that the Native American youth living in Albuquerque are

provided cultural education. Such education would include music and dance performances,

craftsman demonstration projects and lectures.

The Public Education Department adds.

Music, dance, theater programs, dance performances, craftsman demonstration projects and

lectures can help promote student interest in learning and enhance communication in many ways

including: verbal and nonverbal; literal or symbolic; create dialogue; inform; evolve; persuade;

require interaction formally or informally.

The arts make unique contributions to education, culture and society. Students, teachers, parents

and community members would benefit from a Native American arts, culture and education

program that would support recognition and celebration of the diversity of culture in New

Mexico.

1

See, Indian Education Status Report 2005-2006 School Year, New Mexico Public Education Department, at P. 13,

http://www.ped.state.nm.us/indian.ed/dl/2005.2006.Indian.Education.Status.Report.pdf

.

2

See,

http://www.census.gov/

.

3

See, Ten Places of 100,000 or More Population With the

Highest Percentage of American Indians and

Alaska Natives: 2000, 2000 US Census,

http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kbr01-15.pdf

.

4

See, Indian Education Status Report 2005-2006 School Year, New Mexico Public Education Department, at P. 12,

http://www.ped.state.nm.us/indian.ed/dl/2005.2006.Indian.Education.Status.Report.pdf

.

5

Id.

6

Id. at 14.

7

See, Tribal-State Indian Education Summit Report, New Mexico Public Education Department, June 26, 2006, at

P. 8.

House Bill 471 – Page

3

This legislation would provide funding for the following:

•

Traditional and contemporary Native American performances in Albuquerque.

•

Opportunities for citywide participation to educate schoolchildren and the general public.

•

Support for arts and cultural disciplines.

•

Support for and to encourage new performing arts talent from the Native American

community.

Educational outreach programs based upon learning through the arts and culture promote:

•

Creative, engaged, skilled and confident students for New Mexico

•

Family and community involvement

•

Cultural and traditional celebrations, appreciation and connections

•

Celebration and development of artistic skills and knowledge

•

Support to New Mexico’s elementary arts education programs

•

Contribution to closing the achievement gap for students

•

Improved school performance, cultural preservation and rejuvenation and job training

(The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, U.S. Department of

Education, 2006).

MW/bb