Joe A. Garcia

Joe A. Garcia (c. 1952 – May 11, 2023), also known as Sokuwa Owing Taa', was a Native American leader from New Mexico.[1] He served two terms as president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), three terms as governor of the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo, and was chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council.[2] At the time of his death, he was head councilman of the Ohkay Owingeh, formerly known as the San Juan Pueblo.[3] An electrical engineer by profession, Garcia worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 25 years, retiring in 2003.[4] He was also a singer-guitarist for the country music band Jed, and performed in the first Native Roots & Rhythms Festival in New Mexico in 1995.[5]

Joe Garcia
Sokuwa Owing Taa'
Governor, Ohkay Owingeh
In office
1995–2006
President, National Congress of American Indians
In office
2005–2009
Chairman, All Indian Pueblo Council
In office
2007–2010
Head Councilman, Ohkay Owingeh
In office
2009–2023

Early life and education

Garcia was born and raised in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico.[4] His name in Tewa, Sokuwa Owing Taa', means "mark of the misty lake".[6] He grew up speaking Tewa at home and started learning English in first grade, attending a school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the first six years.[7] He transferred to public school, where he played football and ran track.[7]

Garcia first started working at Los Alamos National Laboratory while studying electronics in junior college.[7] He then joined the United States Air Force for four years, leaving the service with veterans benefits which allowed him to pursue an engineering degree.[7] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico.[4][8]

Professional career

After graduating, Garcia returned to Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he for worked for a total of 25 years.[9] An electrical engineer and manager, he worked in weapons research, quality improvement, and as a tribal relations team leader, responsible for liaising with the four pueblos sharing boundaries with LANL.[10][9] From 1979 to 1983, he also taught courses at Northern New Mexico College in subjects including computers, electronics, lasers, and math.[2]

In 2003, Garcia retired from LANL to spend more time on tribal community affairs, and founded MistyLake Consulting Services, his own business focused on strategic planning and quality improvement.[9]

Career in tribal government and advocacy

Ohkay Owingeh

In 1991, Garcia was appointed lieutenant governor of the Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Council, and was re-appointed in 1993.[10] He became governor in 1995, after being chosen by the council, which includes religious leaders, former govenors, and four appointees.[10] Known previously as the San Juan Pueblo, the tribe voted to change the name back to Ohkay Owingeh in September 2005.[11] According to the tribe at the time, it was over 800 years old and had more than 6,800 members.[11] Garcia completed his third term as governor of the Ohkay Owingeh in December 2006.[4]

National Congress of American indians

Garcia first became involved in the National Congress of American Indians in 1995, after attending their annual meeting in San Diego, where he was elected Southwest vice president.[12] He went on to serve in a variety of roles, including two terms as first vice president.[12] In November 2005, Garcia was elected president of the NCAI, the highest elected position in Indian country, with 60 percent of the vote in a three-way race.[13] He was the second pueblo leader from New Mexico to hold the office since the NCAI was founded in 1944, after John Gonzales of San Ildefonso Pueblo.[14] Based in Washington, D.C., the role at the watchdog organization required him to work with more than 250 Indian organizations while monitoring federal legislation.[14] He went on to serve the maximum two terms as president through October 2009.[12]

As president of the NCAI, Garcia advocated increased participation of the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities in the 2008 United States elections as a means of protecting Native sovereignty at all levels of government.[15] He also led the "Indian Country Counts" 2010 Census campaign pushing for a more accurate count of the Native American population to improve federal funding.[15]

References
  1. "Inaugural P'ôe: Pathways Lecture Series Featuring Joe A. Garcia". Northern New Mexico College. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. Chacón, Daniel J. (May 12, 2023). "Former Ohkay Owingeh governor remembered as fierce champion with kind heart". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  3. "Native leader and advocate Joe Garcia dies at 70". Indian Country Today. Associated Press. May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  4. "Tribal Technical Advisory Committee Members Biographical Information". Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  5. Sanchez, Aurelio (August 18, 2006). "Native Roots & Rhythms Takes Hold". Albuquerque Journal. p. 22. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "[TRANSCRIPT] Tribal Consultation – NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program" (PDF). U.S. Department of Commerce. February 5, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. Dorgan, Byron L. (2019). The Girl in the Photograph: The True Story of a Native American Child, Lost and Found in America. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 9781250173652.
  8. "Third National Leadership Summit: Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health - A Blueprint for Change". Office of Minority Health. p. 32. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. Linthicum, Leslie (November 20, 2005). "Leader Urges Assertiveness (Taking the Reins, Continued)". Albuquerque Journal. p. B5. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. Rave, Jodi (December 31, 2005). "National Indian leader says he never sought political role". The Billings Gazette. p. 2B. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Shaw, Shannon (November 15, 2005). "Pueblo's name predates arrival of Oñate". The Santa Fe New Mexican. pp. A1, A3. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Reiner, Krista (June 2009). "A Man of Many Names". International Professional Performance Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 3. p. 21. Retrieved May 17, 2023 – via EBSCOHost.
  13. Linthicum, Leslie (November 20, 2005). "Taking the Reins". Albuquerque Journal. pp. B1, B5. Retrieved May 18, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Shaw, Shannon (November 15, 2005). "Rising to Indian Country's call: Pueblo leader elected new leader of tribal congress". The Santa Fe New Mexican. pp. A-1, A-3. Retrieved May 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. Wilkins, David E. (2011). American Indian Politics and the American Political System. Vol. 3. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 30–32, 175–176. ISBN 978-1-4422-0387-7.
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