Farmington Report: Civil Rights for Native Americans 30 Years Later.

摘要

The New Mexico Advisory Committee submits this report, The Farmington Report: Civil Rights for Native Americans 30 Years Later, as part of its responsibility to advise the Commission on civil rights issues in New Mexico. The Committee approved this report by a vote of 14 yes, 0 no, and no abstentions. In 1974, in response to the brutal murder of three Navajo youths and numerous complaints from Navajo leaders concerning unequal protection and enforcement of the laws, the Advisory Committee undertook an intensive study of the social and economic relationships between the City of Farmington and the County of San Juan and the Navajos living in the community and in the adjoining reservation. In July, 1975, the Advisory Committee released the report, The Farmington Report: A Conflict of Cultures. The report detailed information on the administration of justice, the delivery of health services, employment, and the economic environment. The report concluded with a series of findings and recommendations urging local and county officials in Farmington and San Juan County, in conjunction with Navajo leaders, to take steps to initiate concrete action to improve the treatment of Navajos living in the border areas of northwestern New Mexico. In April 2004, 30 years later, the New Mexico Advisory Committee returned to Farmington and San Juan County, New Mexico. The Committee desired to learn of changes in relationships between Farmington and San Juan County and the Navajos living in the community and in the adjoining reservation. The Committee is pleased to report that the intervening 30 years have witnessed an improvement with respect to the equal protection and enforcement of laws for Native Americans. Problems continue to persist; however, and these are addressed in this report to the Commission. Nevertheless, the climate of tolerance and respect between the two cultures is a marked improvement from the conditions the Committee observed 30 years ago in 1974. This improvement presents a justification for the efforts of the Commission and other civil rights organizations and local leadership for the past several decades.