A sad report from FWIW's New Mexico correspondent

His summary:

I don't know if you can use this as a blog item, but I was saddened by it as I think you'll be. It appears these proud and independent people have become Americanized in the worst possible 21st Century way, using opaque, jargony bureaucratese, over reaction to the serious, but not catastrophic COVID virus and perhaps worst of all, sticking their hands out to the State and Feds for assistance with a problem not long ago they would have insisted handling themselves. My guess is too many of the young people on the Taos Pueblo have succumbed to another pernicious virus, college educations.

Even Indian politicians have figured out that COVID offers a terrific opportunity to extend their power and grab more loot from the feds.

Taos Pueblo officials to serve two-year terms for first time in history.

These are people who refused to allow electricity in the Pueblo until 1971. The passing of the elders.