NMiF looks at reckoning with forced sterilization in New Mexico

This week on New Mexico in Focus, KUNM's Jeanette DeDios sits down with three state senators who kickstarted an investigation into the state's long history of forced sterilization of Indigenous women and other women of color.

Later, DeDios asks the table how difficult it is for Native women to find a doctor in their community, who specializes in reproductive health care.

Mayor Tim Keller this week appointed Cecily Barker as the next chief of the Albuquerque Police Department. Barker has served as interim chief since January. Keller also appointed Raul Bujanda as public safety executive director, a position previously axed by Keller that will oversee police, fire and community safety. Both appointments now await final approval from the City Council.

This fall, New Mexico voters will decide whether to finally pay state lawmakers a salary, joining the rest of the nation. Senior Producer Lou DiVizio sat down with Mason Graham, a policy advisor with Common Cause New Mexico, to talk about the choice for voters - and other Common Cause priorities.

Indigenously Positive takes us on a trip to the Zuni Public Library, as NMIF's collaborative series with New Mexico In Depth spotlights a home for culture and information for more than 50 years.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, March 27, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 29 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

NMiF Segments
New Mexico to Investigate Sterilization of Indigenous Women
Correspondent
Jeanette DeDios

Guests
Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque
Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi
Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque

Voters Will Decide Whether to Pay State Legislators a Salary
Correspondent
Lou DiVizio

Guest
Mason Graham, policy advisor, Common Cause New Mexico

The State of Reproductive Health Care for Native Women Today
Correspondent
Jeanette DeDios

Guests
Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque
Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi
Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque

Zuni Library is Vital for Native Community
Host / Producer
Bella Davis (Yurok)

Director / Producer
Benjamin C Yazza (Diné)

Guests
Valarie Bellson (Zuni Pueblo), children's program coordinator and acting library director
Cassandra Osterloh (Cherokee), tribal libraries program coordinator, New Mexico State Library
Curtis Quam, (Zuni Pueblo), museum technician/culture educator
Kacey Luna (Zuni Pueblo), tribal archives digitization technician
Xyla Johnson (Zuni Pueblo), acting vital records coordinator

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic, educational, and art issues, exploring them in depth with a critical eye to provide context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.