Teaching kids the art of circus performance

Meek Watchman (Bit’ahnii, born for Ts’ah yisk’idnii) is a mother, aerialist, poet, and painter. She received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the Institute of American Indian Arts in May 2016, and now she’s gallupARTS’s Summer 2022 Social Justice Creative-in-Residence.

From June through August, Watchman will be working at ART123 Gallery to develop a  youth-focused Indigenous social circus curriculum that brings together aerial arts, creative writing, and the principles of  K’e to help pre-teens and teens build self-esteem, develop trust, and establish a sense of belonging.

In an interview with the Sun, Watchman explained...

Federal legislators shoot down committee reviewing clinics for closure

Veterans in Gallup, Las Vegas, N.M.; Raton, N.M.; and Española N.M. can breathe a sigh of relief today after a bipartisan group of senators said they won’t support appointments to the committee studying closure of their VA community-based outpatient clinics, effectively scuttling the mission.

“From day one, I’ve been clear that the process to close four veteran health clinics in New Mexico didn’t have my support,” Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., said. “It’s not what’s best for our veterans or those who support them. I’m proud to announce the Senate won’t be moving forward with the process. Our...

Equine horse rescue adds crucial acreage

Wild, surrendered, or abused and neglected horses often find their way into the Four Corners Equine Rescue, a non-profit organization located in Aztec, New Mexico. Rescues are trained using the Natural Horsemanship philosophy of training without fear, pain, or forced submission—an ideal method for wild horses or horses wary of humans due to prior abuse or neglect.

“Usually the horses are thin and haven’t been taken care of,” FCER CEO Debbie Coburn said.  “We get a lot of our horses from the New Mexico Livestock Board. They pick up the stray horses and if they can’t find the owners, the horses come to the rescue. We also take in...

Due to pandemic-related staffing shortages and supply chain issues, the City of Gallup will not be hosting a fireworks display this year. City residents are allowed to use permissible fireworks within city limits obtained from approved vendors.

A few reminders when using permissible fireworks: When igniting, an adult must always be present, fireworks must be confined to areas that are paved, barren, or readily accessible to a source of water by the homeowner or general public. Fireworks must be ignited before 11 pm to ensure compliance with the city’s noise ordinance.

Also, the city would like to encourage the community to take advantage of other local events in the area during the...