This week on New Mexico in Focus, correspondent Antonia Gonzales leads a discussion on efforts to return sacred objects to tribes in New Mexico and across the United States. There’s an ongoing debate among tribal leaders, artists, art dealers and federal officials about how to handle the return of items that were removed from tribal lands without permission. NMiF looks at how that conversation has changed in recent years.

Also on the show this week, correspondent Russell Contreras sits down with photographer Maria Varela to talk about her experience photographing voting rights demonstrations in Alabama and efforts to create Head Start programs in poor, rural areas of the American South during the Civil Rights movement. Varela has an exhibit up now in the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.

Finally, host Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists discuss the latest news on the special session, a recent announcement that APD officers will issue more citations and make fewer arrests for some crimes, and new questions about financial management inside the UNM Athletics department.

The show regularly airs Fridays at 7 p.m. and repeats Sundays at 7 a.m. on Channel 5.1 and Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. on Channel 9.1, except during pledge drives.

Studio Guests

  • Aaron Sims (Acoma Pueblo), Attorney
  • Robert Gallegos, https://www.atada.org/ATADA
  • Dallin Maybee (Northern Arapaho/Seneca), COO
  • Southwestern Association for Indian Arts
  • Maria Varela, photographer

Line Panelists

  • Merritt Allen, Vox Optima LLC
  • Diane Denish, former lieutenant governor
  • Dan Foley, former New Mexico House minority whip
  • Sophie Martin, attorney and editor of DukeCityFix.com

Correspondents  

  • Russell Contreras  
  • Antonia Gonzales

New Mexico in Focus is New Mexico PBS’ prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people that are shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. Hosted by Gene Grant, New Mexico in Focus takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, health, education and arts issues and explores them in-depth, with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment.”

The producer of New Mexico in Focus is Sarah Gustavus with Kathy Wimmer, associate producer. NM PBS Public Affairs executive producer is Kevin McDonald.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided in part by the McCune Charitable Foundation.

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