From left, LAMS Principal Mike Johnson and LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus thank the Honorable J. Michael Chavarria and Gov. James R. Mountain for attending the dedication of a Native American Literature collection at LAMS. Courtesy photo

Los Alamos Middle School’s new Native American Literature Collection was dedicated by the Native Hawks (a LAMS student group) the Honorable Governor James R. Mountain of the San Ildefonso Pueblo and the Honorable J. Michael Chavarria of the Santa Clara Pueblo, LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus, LAMS Principal Mike Johnson and Native Hawk Staff Sponsor Bernadette Lauritzen. Courtesy photo

LAPS News:

Los Alamos Middle School hosted a dedication ceremony for its Native American Literature collection May 12 in the school library.

LAMS Librarian Lisa LaPrairie-Whitacre curated the collection of 195 Native American works that are directly linked to local pueblos. The collection is displayed on a special book shelf purchased with proceeds from school book fairs.

“The collection includes books from mythology, cooking, poetry and especially a beautiful history collection,” LaPrairie-Whitacre said. “The art work by Zachery Moquino is a focal point of the collection and I am so proud of the wonderful visual representation for the collection.”

Moquino is an eighth grade student and member of the Native Hawks, a new student group that began in August.

Two tribal governors, the Honorable Gov. James R. Mountain of San Ildefonso Pueblo and the Honorable Gov. J. Michael Chavarria of Santa Clara Pueblo, attended the event. They thanked the students for their service to the school and to their culture, while encouraging them to make the most of their educational journey.