Gov. attends tribal summit

Associated Press

Updated: Jun 8, 2012 1:50 PM

MESCALERO, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez and Native American leaders are meeting in southern New Mexico for an annual tribal-state summit.

Education, water rights and natural resources, and tribal infrastructure and economic development are among the topics for Friday's meeting at a resort hotel and casino operated by the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

A banquet was held Thursday evening for the governor and leaders of New Mexico's 22 tribes and pueblos.

A 2009 state law requires the governor to meet with tribal leaders each year in a summit to address issues of mutual concern. American Indians account for about 9 percent of New Mexico's population, according to the Census Bureau.

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