CONTACT: Greg Cajete, 277-3917 Media Contact: Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

Oct. 9, 2002 CAJETE NAMED DIRECTOR OF UNM NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES Greg Cajete, Ph.D, of Santa Clara Pueblo is the new director of Native American Studies (NAS) at the University of New Mexico. He is an associate professor with NAS and the UNM College of Education. At the forefront of a teaching movement that encourages students to be creative and productive within their social and cultural contexts, Cajete's research also focuses on holistic ways that indigenous cultures sustain and preserve natural environments. He is also known for his design of integrated curriculums. As director, Cajete will sculpt curriculum in a quest to create a UNM bachelor's degree in Native American Studies. "I will be doing what I know best," he says. A 1970 graduate of Española High School, after earning a degree in biology and sociology from New Mexico Highlands University, he entered the field of education at age 21 teaching biology at Robertson High School in Las Vegas, N.M. In 1975, he accepted a position with the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) high school program in Santa Fe where he planned to stay for a year. He became "deeply involved" with the nationally renowned school and 12 months turned into a 25 year career, he says. "It was such an amazing experience," he recalls. "I was immediately involved with a program that I found exciting and I had lots of support to develop curriculum that integrated science, art and cultural perspectives." After attending a special graduate teacher certification program in wildlife biology at Colorado State University he earned a master's degree in adult and secondary education at UNM. Cajete's design of integrated curriculums at IAIA formed the basis for a Ph.D. dissertation "Science from a Native American Perspective." Great minds in education, anthropology and intercultural studies made up the committee overseeing his work - Edward T. Hall, Malik Eversol, Alfonso Ortiz, Chuck Allen Ross and Vera John Steiner. He earned a doctorate in social science education from International College, Los Angeles. Cajete's studies gave rise to a series of books including "Look to the Mountain: An Ecology of Indigenous Education" (Kivaki Press, 1994), "Igniting the Sparkle: An Indigenous Science Education Curriculum Model" (Kivaki Press, 1999), "A People's Ecology: Explorations in Sustainable Living" (Clearlight Publishers, 1999), and "Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence" (Clearlight Publishers, 2000). Currently, he is writing "Native Games for Life: A Culturally Based Curriculum for Native Youth Leadership and Development." "Now my work revolves around exploring aspects of the cultural histories of American Indians which may be translated into curricula for the education of native students today," Cajete says. NAS, established in 1970 as the Native American Studies Center, offers a variety of courses and research opportunities focused on the cultures, contributions and ideas of Native Americans. In September 1998, NAS became an academic unit in University College by a unanimous vote of the UNM Faculty Senate. More than 20 courses at UNM have native focus. Undergraduate students can declare a minor in Native American Studies. Internship opportunities for academic credit with native organizations and merit scholarships are available. For information, call NAS at 277-3917. ###

The University of New Mexico
Public Affairs Department
Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011
Telephone: (505) 277-5813
Fax: (505) 277-1981