ABQ Times

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, a U.S. Congress representative from New Mexico's 1st District, actively engages with issues concerning Indigenous history and environmental stewardship. Her recent social media posts highlight concerns about the preservation of American history, protection of national monuments, and forest conservation. Stansbury replaced previous U.S. Congress member Deb Haaland in 2021 and has been a vocal advocate for her constituency since.

In an April 22 post, Stansbury criticized the current presidential administration, claiming "It’s clear this Administration is trying to erase American history.” She emphasized the importance of preserving Indigenous history as a vital part of American history, urging the public, "we must continue to speak up and speak out!"

On April 23, Stansbury highlighted the importance of protecting national monuments, which include sites significant to Indigenous communities, habitats, and ecosystems. She stated, "That’s why the entire New Mexico Delegation urges the Secretary of the @Interior to protect the Organ Mountains, Rio Grande del."

Later that day, Stansbury celebrated the day after Earth Day by acknowledging Mescalero Apache President Thora Padilla for her efforts in forest stewardship. She remarked on a recent visit to the Mescalero site, "Happy day after Earth Day!... the incredible forest stewardship being done at Mescalero," highlighting the integration of scientific approaches with generational knowledge.

Stansbury, aged 44, was born in Farmington, New Mexico, in 1979 and currently resides in Albuquerque. She is an alumnus of Saint Mary's College of California, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2002. Before her current role, she served in the New Mexico House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021.