FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/12/2026
Media contact — ija@indigenousjournalists.org 

The Indigenous Journalists Association (IJA) condemns the Albuquerque Journal’s decision to publish an editorial cartoon by John Trever that relies on racist stereotypes to depict New Mexico Governor-elect Deb Haaland, a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. The cartoon appeared in the Sunday, Nov. 8 print edition. IJA calls on the Journal to issue a public apology and explain how the cartoon was approved for publication. 

The cartoon references a “totem pole” to turn Haaland’s Indigenous identity into a punch line. In doing so, the Journal incorrectly attributed a cultural practice of tribes in the Pacific Northwest to a Pueblo woman, and the practice itself was not properly characterized. That choice reinforces the false idea that Indigenous peoples and cultures are interchangeable.Totem poles serve a specific cultural purpose and should not be a punchline. 

While political cartoonists have every right to scrutinize Haaland’s record, her policy proposals and the challenges facing New Mexico, the Journal’s editors are responsible for what they choose to publish. Readers deserve political commentary that holds public officials accountable without reducing them to racial caricatures. 

IJA urges the Journal to take the following steps:

• Publish an apology in print and online that names the racist stereotypes in the cartoon and takes responsibility for publishing it.
• Explain how the cartoon was approved and identify what editors will change in their review of cartoons and other opinion content.
• Provide opportunities to educate staff in order to report for the community it serves rather than further marginalizing the Indigenous community. 
• Seek and utilize resources by IJA and other organizations. IJA provides newsroom training to ensure coverage of Indigenous issues, people and communities is accurate, ethical and culturally appropriate, through the Indigenous Media Initiative. 

New Mexico and the Southwest are home to many Native communities and Indigenous people are among the Journal’s readers, sources and neighbors. They deserve the same care, accuracy and respect that every community should expect from its newspaper.

About the Indigenous Journalists Association
The Indigenous Journalists Association supports Indigenous journalists, advocates for press freedom and promotes accurate, contextual coverage of Indigenous peoples and communities.