Native American Voting Rights: Before and After Trujillo v. Garley

FAIN: ZPP-283330-22

Museum of New Mexico Foundation (Santa Fe, NM 87501-4326)
Alicia M. Romero (Project Director: May 2021 to October 2025)

The development of an exhibition and programs exploring the history of Indigenous voting rights in New Mexico.

2023 is the 75th anniversary of Trujillo v. Garley, a case in which WWII veteran Miguel Trujillo (Isleta Pueblo) victoriously sued the State of New Mexico for his right to vote. In honor of this case, the New Mexico History Museum is planning a major exhibition—Native American Voting Rights: Before and After Trujillo v. Garley (working title) to explore and celebrate the dedication, organization and triumph of all who worked to secure Native voting rights, a fight which is far from over. However, COVID has put this project in jeopardy, impacting NMHM’s ability to move this project from concept to reality. NMHM seeks NEH support to engage contractors to focus solely on exhibit research, educational and public programming, and archival support. Grant goals include: completing all research, oral histories, exhibition checklists and text; developing related programming; and creating/working with an Indigenous Advisory Board to ensure appropriate and accurate representation and perspectives