Joe A. Garcia

Joe A. Garcia ( – May 11, 2023), also known as Sokuwa Owing Taa', was a Native American leader from the US state of New Mexico. A former governor of the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo, he served as president of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) for two terms, from 2005 to 2009. An electrical engineer by profession, Garcia worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 25 years, retiring in 2003.

Early life and education Garcia was born and raised in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico, US. His name in Tewa, Sokuwa Owing Taa', means "mark of the misty lake". He grew up speaking Tewa at home and started learning English in first grade, attending a school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the first six years. He transferred to public school, where he played football and ran track.

Garcia first started working at Los Alamos National Laboratory while studying electronics at Haskell Indian Junior College.

Professional career After graduating, Garcia returned to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he worked for a total of 25 years. From 1979 to 1983, he also taught courses at Northern New Mexico College in subjects including computers, electronics, and lasers, as well as mathematics.

In 2003, Garcia retired from LANL to spend more time on tribal community affairs, and founded MistyLake Consulting Services, his own business focused on strategic planning and quality improvement. and again in 2005, after being chosen by the council, which includes religious leaders, former governors, and other appointees.

In September 2005, pueblo members voted to change its name back to Ohkay Owingeh. According to the tribe at the time, it was over 800 years old and had more than 6,800 members.

National Congress of American Indians Garcia first became involved in the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) in 1995, after attending their annual meeting in San Diego, where he was elected Southwest vice president. He went on to serve in a variety of roles, including two terms as first vice president. He was the second pueblo leader from New Mexico to hold the office since the NCAI was founded in 1944, after John Gonzales of San Ildefonso Pueblo. Based in Washington, D.C., the role at the watchdog organization required him to work with more than 250 Native American groups while monitoring federal legislation.

As president of the NCAI, Garcia advocated increased participation of the American Indian and Alaskan Native communities in the 2008 United States elections as a means of protecting Native sovereignty at all levels of government. He continued to be involved with NCAI after serving as president, and was serving as Southwest regional vice president until he died.

Task forces and committees Garcia served as co-chair of several national task forces and committees, including the Tribal Leaders Task Force for the FCC (Federal Communications Commission); the Tribal Technical Advisory Committee for SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); and the Tribal Transportation Self Governance Program. On January 1, 2007, Garcia administered the oath of office to Richardson at his second inauguration as state governor. It was the first time in state history that the governor of a pueblo had sworn in a governor of New Mexico.

Garcia received numerous other awards including:

1995 New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award 1998 New Mexico Community Foundation Luminaries Award

Personal life Garcia and his wife Oneva had three children, including a son who predeceased him in 2020. Oneva, who is originally from North Carolina, is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokees, as are their children.

While in college, Garcia belonged to an all-Native rock band called The Hunted Race, which performed across the Midwest and Southwest. In the 1980s, he was the lead vocalist and played guitar and bass for JED, a Native American country rock band which he formed with his cousin Eddie Martinez.

Garcia died on May 11, 2023, at the age of 70. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.