Staff

Ahtza (Ahh-ttsaa) D. Chavez is a two-spirit asdzą́ą́ member of the Diné Nation born for Kewa Pueblo. She is the proud mother to a son and the daughter of Cari W. (Diné) and Everett F. Chavez (Kewa Pueblo). As the Executive Director of Naeva (501c3) and NM Native Vote (501c4), she oversees partner organizations tasked with educating and creating an indigenous voting bloc in New Mexico working with key organizations and governance within the state.

She is the small business owner of IndigeLens Media, which focuses on showcasing Indigenous voices, enhancing tribal community, promoting social entrepreneurship, and increasing visibility of authentic representations of Indigenous culture and language.

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Charlotte joined Naeva/NM Native Vote in April 2022 as the Deputy Director. She previously contributed to the NAVA Education team as a small business owner, hired to lead Get-Out-The-Vote efforts for elections and campaigns in targeted tribal communities, coordinating the Native Census Coalition during the 2020 Decennial Census, and the 2021 Redistricting efforts. Born in Albuquerque and raised in San Felipe Pueblo, Charlotte received a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and previously worked in Government Relations, Tribal Administration, Human Resources, and as an Administrative Officer in the Indian Health Service. Charlotte has most recently served as Vice-Chair of New Mexico Voices for Children, President of Emerge New Mexico, and Chair of the San Felipe Pueblo Health Board. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband, Joseph (Mescalero Apache/Ohkay Owingeh). They are the proud parents of a blended family: Victoria, Daniel and Christopher and 10 grandchildren.

In the 2022 General Election, Charlotte Little became Representative for NM House District 68, representing northwest Albuquerque.

Bernadette Hardy is from Albuquerque New Mexico. Bernadette is a member of the Diné Nation and Jemez Pueblo. She is the proud mother to one teenage son. Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of New Mexico. Being an Urban Native herself she has experienced and witnessed the disenfranchisement and inequities of urban Natives striving to achieve and live a good heathy life in our urban city.  Bernadette has several years experiences as a mentor, mentor trainer and supervisor of several mentoring programs. Bernadette has more than fourteen years experience in grassroots organizing in the Albuquerque area as co-coordinator of the International District Healthy Communities Coalition. With the support of many partners, family and community, Bernadette continues to be an advocate for our Native families who deserve access to housing, healthy food, safer infrastructure and the right to live a long healthy, prosperous life.
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