44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

REQUESTING THAT A PLAN BE NEGOTIATED TO RESOLVE ISSUES BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE PUEBLO OF ZIA REGARDING THE STATE'S USE OF THE ZIA SYMBOL ON THE FLAG OF NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, in the early 1920s, the local chapter of the daughters of the American revolution, backed by several women's clubs, decided that the state of New Mexico needed a flag that was more representative of New Mexico's unique character and initiated a design contest; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Harry Mera won the contest with a flag that incorporated colors and patterns from both Indian and Spanish traditions; and

WHEREAS, to symbolize New Mexico's tradition of cultural diversity, Dr. Mera adapted a sun symbol from a Pueblo of Zia pot and combined it with the red and gold colors of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; and

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico, through its legislative process, formally adopted the flag in 1925, and it has continuously flown over the state since that time, displaying a symbol of "perfect friendship among united cultures"; and

WHEREAS, all accounts of the flag explicitly acknowledge the origin of the design as an ancient symbol of the Zia people; and

WHEREAS, the Zia sun symbol has been commercialized over the years by private interests that have recognized its commercial value and adopted it for their own benefit; and

WHEREAS, harmony among New Mexico's cultures and the mutual respect towards traditions and sacred symbols need to be strengthened in order to close the circle of unity;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it acknowledge the Zia sun symbol as an "ancient symbol of the Zia people"; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislature recognize that the use of the sacred sun symbol on the state flag was never authorized by the Pueblo of Zia and the legislature regrets the unauthorized use of its sacred symbol on the state flag; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the New Mexico office of Indian affairs be requested to enter into negotiations with the Pueblo of Zia to develop an appropriate and acceptable plan that would satisfy the desire of the Pueblo of Zia to preserve the sacred nature of the Zia sun symbol, provide just recompense for the use the state has made of the symbol over the last seventy-four years, allow the state to continue using the symbol on the state flag in perpetuity and preserve the harmony, understanding and mutual respect among New Mexico's cultures; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the plan be presented to the legislative finance committee for review and comment prior to the first session of the forty-fifth legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor of the Pueblo of Zia, the governor of New Mexico and the executive director of the New Mexico office of Indian affairs.