New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition (NMECTAC)
NMECTAC seeks to advise ECECD on policy, budget, and advocacy initiatives and programs. We do this by co-creating a strategic plan in service of New Mexico’s Tribal communities and building our collective technical and intellectual capacities.
In FY23, ECECD, in partnership with the 23 Tribes, Pueblos, and Nations of our state, founded the New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition (NMECTAC) to create a channel for regular communication and engagement with New Mexico’s tribal communities. The coalition highlights the distinct and unique American Indian cultures and languages across the state.
The coalition will be formed of 30 members, including at least one representative from each of the 23 Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos in New Mexico. In its first year, the coalition has developed its mission and vision, developed policy priorities to share with ECECD and their home communities, and developed work plans on how ECECD can implement the coalition’s policy priorities moving forward.
As of June 2024, the advisory coalition has 30 members (including alternates) and ECECD is continuing to work to get representation from remaining tribal communities in New Mexico. Currently the Advisory Coalition has representation from the following tribal communities and programs:
Pueblos:
Acoma Pueblo
Isleta Pueblo
Ohkay Owingeh
Pojoaque Pueblo
Sandia Pueblo
San Ildefonso Pueblo
Santa Ana Pueblo
Santa Clara Pueblo
Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo
Taos Pueblo
Zuni Pueblo
Tribes and Nations:
Mescalero Apache Nation
Navajo Nation
Other Organizations:
Education for Parents of Indian Children (EPICS)
NM School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
NM School for the Deaf
Saad K’idilye Dine Language Nest Program
TAC Contact
Mark Hume, Early Childhood Policy Analyst
Goals:
- Identify the strengths and gaps of early childhood education and care in each community;
- Help Tribal communities learn from each other to develop culturally relevant and appropriate assessments, curriculum, evaluations and innovative family engagement models;
- Develop best practices of collaboration in local, tribal, state and federal systems
(i.e., grant writing, IGAs, etc) - Communicate regularly with ECECD and make broad recommendations about Tribal early childhood education and care needs and associated education transitions;
- Strengthen ECECD’s commitment to equity and quality early childhood
education and care for tribal families; - Develop capacity building both among NMECTAC members and our respective communities to meet the first five goals
A look at NMECTAC Convenings
Mescalero Convening
New Mexico Early Childhood Tribal Advisory Coalition (NMECTAC) concluded their June 2023 convening in Mescalero, NM. NMECTAC was honored to attend a Mescalero Coming of Age ceremony, truly a once in a life opportunity that will impact our work for years to come.
Click the image below to see more.
New Mexico School for the Deaf Convening
NMECTAC was hosted by the New Mexico School for the Deaf for a two-day convening to create work plans and to revise and refine the coalition’s Mission, Vision and Goals. Thank you NM School for the Deaf and NMECTAC member Carla Gregory for hosting our coalition.
Click the image below to see more.
Representatives and Alternates
| Name | Member | Alternate |
| Pueblo of Acoma | Cassandra Sanchez, Haak’u Learning Center Director | |
| Pueblo of Isleta |
Andrea Pesina, Isleta Pueblo Headstart & Childcare Executive Director |
Melaine Valdez, Family Services Coordinator |
| Pueblo of Nambe | Samantha Viarrial, Early Childhood Coordinator | |
| Pueblo of Picuris | Marisa Armijo, Education Projects Coordinator | |
| Pueblo of Pojoaque | Beverly Fierro, Early Childhood Education Director | Carmen Rael, Early Childhood Education Teacher |
| Pueblo of San Ildefonoso | Elena Aguilar, Pueblo Education Board Member | |
| Pueblo of Sandia | Anne Duran, Child Development Center Director | |
| Pueblo of Santa Ana | Shirley Marlow, Tamaya Learning Center Program Manager | |
| Pueblo of Santa Clara | Michelle Baker, Tamaya Learning Center Manager | Carly Jo Chavarria, Teacher |
| Pueblo of Santo Domingo | Stanley Coriz, Early Childhood Learning Center Program Director | Kaylina Marquez, Education Director |
| Pueblo of Taos | Caitlin Lujan, Family Services Coordinator | |
| Pueblo of Zuni | Nicki Shije, Early Childhood Director | Michelle Kaskalla, Head Start Teacher |
| Ohkay Owingeh | Peter Garcia Jr., Councilman | Aileen Lopez, Education Director |
| Jicarilla Apache Nation | Tammy Salazar, Education Director | |
| Mescalero Apache Tribe | Rosario Dick, Mescalero Apache Early Childhood Program Director | Autumn Enjady, Parent |
| Navajo Nation | Richelle Montoya, Vice President | |
| Zach Ben, Parent Member | ||
| Saad K’Idilye Dine Language Nest | Warlance Chee, Director | Anesha Yazzie, Teacher |
| Education for Parents of Indian Children with Special Needs (EPICS) | Melissa Wassana, Early Childhood Specialist | |
| NM School for the Deaf | Carla Gregory, Developmental Specialist, Early Intervention | |
| NM School for the Blind and the Visually Impaired | Zelfa Sandoval-Sweeney, Developmental Vision Specialist |
Materials Library
Tribal Monthly Zoom Meetings
Check back soon for meeting dates and details.