Rep. Derrick Lente (D-Sandia Pueblo) speaks to students from Navajo Preparatory School after the House Education Committee on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. The students traveled from Farmington to testify in support of two of Lente’s tribal education bills. (Photo by Megan Taros for Source NM)
When Hailey Thomas first started going to school in New Mexico, she immediately noticed the difference in the quality of her education in comparison to Arizona.
“It felt like there were lower standards for Native schools,” she said. “It feels like there’s an unequal education for Navajo students. It’s not right. We deserve a good education. We deserve to be here.”
Thomas (Diné) donned turquoise and her crown that identifies her as royalty from Navajo Preparatory School as she and a cohort of fellow students from the school in Farmington testified before the House Education Committee on Friday to ask lawmakers to support two bills that would fund tribal education, including bilingual and multicultural programs for Native students throughout the state.