Native Vote 2026
The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) is condemning the Albuquerque Journal for publishing an editorial cartoon that it says relies on racist stereotypes to depict New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna.
The cartoon, created by editorial cartoonist John Trever, appeared in the newspaper’s Sunday, Nov. 8, print edition. IJA is calling on the Albuquerque Journal to issue a public apology and explain how the cartoon was approved for publication.
According to IJA, the cartoon uses a reference to a “totem pole” to turn Haaland’s Indigenous identity into a punch line. The organization said the reference incorrectly attributes a cultural practice associated with Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest to a Pueblo woman, while also misrepresenting the cultural significance of totem poles…