Tribal communities, including the Santa Clara Pueblo in New Mexico, face potential loss of funding for local libraries amid sweeping federal cuts under the Trump administration. The IMLS has canceled grants for over a hundred tribal libraries, critically impacting literacy and cultural preservation. Legal battles are underway, yet uncertainty about the future of these essential services remains high.
In the serene stretch of northern New Mexico, the Santa Clara Pueblo Community Library stands as a beacon for the local tribe nestled between the Jemez Mountains and the Rio Grande. This library is essential for the 1,700 tribe members, providing limited internet access and crucial literacy programs. However, its survival — like many others across the nation — is threatened as federal grant cuts loom ahead due to decisions made under the Trump administration.
Tribal leaders, including Santa Clara’s Governor James Naranjo, worry that the library relies heavily on federal funding, which now hangs in a precarious balance. An alarming notice from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) revealed that the library is among over a hundred on tribal lands facing grant termination. “IMLS has determined that your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities,” it read, signifying a shift that puts these local services at risk.
The letter, signed by acting director Keith Sonderling, comes just after President Trump mandated a slash in funding across several federal agencies, including IMLS. The director had been appointed shortly before Trump’s executive order instructed the agency to curtail operations severely. Almost overnight, the staffs were drastically reduced, leaving the IMLS struggling to maintain its service commitments to tribes and communities.
Naranjo shed light on the plight of libraries, stating that the funding cuts messily ripple out, affecting not just literacy efforts but communities at large. The IMLS cuts are part of a broader strategy that appears to freeze federal grants, leading to employee layoffs in different sectors, not just libraries. Legal actions are now being pursued by organizations like the American Library Association and unions to safeguard the future of these essential services.
Recently, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon stepped in, issuing a temporary restraining order on new cuts, yet uncertainty looms as the grants remain canceled. With the administration proposing to defund the IMLS entirely by 2026, tribal leaders particularly fear the loss of vital resources. “This is something that’s personal to me,” said American Library Association President Cindy Hohl, a member of the Santee Sioux Nation, emphasizing the cultural importance of these libraries.
The ramifications of the cuts extend far beyond New Mexico; for instance, in Alaska, a small village library also saw its operational funding cut, halting crucial programs like summer reading. Across tribal lands, funding that previously supported librarians and community coordinators has vanished, pushing programs and even jobs to the edge of collapse.
“Honestly, it’s hurting our children… our unborn,” Naranjo reflected, pointing out that the $10,000 grant, while seemingly small, is a lifeline to the community. Santa Clara Pueblo received these funds last year to boost its library initiatives, which serve as a cultural vault preserving community history and language.
The threat isn’t just financial. For the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, the IMLS-funded language preservation project could be axed, endangering the already endangered Tewa language. As Lt. Gov. Matthew Martinez noted, the library sits at the heart of their community, and losing it would be catastrophic.
The implications touch on deeper historical injustices faced by Native tribes. Decisions rooted in the past continue to echo painfully in the present. As Martinez put it, “language was not taught; we were punished for speaking our language.” The libraries represent a commitment to re-establish and uplift these cultures. Every closed library page risks turning a chapter in tribal history darker.
Original Source: www.nbcnews.com
