Verna Teller: Opening Prayer - U.S. House of Representatives - November 13, 2019

National

Trailblazing Pueblo woman leader delivers opening prayer in Congress

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

By Acee Agoyo

• WATCH: Verna Teller Prayer | 'A Fierce Woman'

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Native women leaders continue to make history in the halls of Congress, with Verna Teller of the Pueblo of Isleta becoming the first Native person to deliver the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Addressing the chamber at the noon hour on Wednesday, Teller was introduced by another leader, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Democrat from California. As guest chaplain, she delivered a uniquely Native prayer that spoke of the work being done on Capitol Hill on behalf of the first Americans.

"Sacred Pollen, sacred Earth Mother, sacred Water that manifest your desires, oh Creator and Great Mother, we thank them for the nourishment they give us equally with no regard to race color or creed," Teller said, dressed in traditional Pueblo clothing.

"Creator and Great Mother bless those standing before you, who carry a sacred trust to all of us who inhabit Turtle Island, our homeland," added Teller, who serves as the chief judge for her tribe, located in New Mexico.

"I pray today that you will give them the wisdom and the courage to carry out their sacred trust with the same equality that we receive from the Sun and Rain," Teller concluded before offering a few words in the Tiwa language spoken by her people.

Verna Teller, Isleta Pueblo, was the first Native person to give an opening invocation on the House floor. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

🔗 READ: https://t.co/WYR6PHU72Y pic.twitter.com/DCoTxgEX0j
— Jourdan Bennett-Begaye (@jourdanbb) November 13, 2019

Standing to the side of the dais was none other than Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico), a citizen of the Pueblo of Laguna. She made history earlier this year by becoming one of the first two Native women to serve in Congress.

After a Pledge of Allegiance during which Haaland's voice could be heard strongly on the floor, Speaker Pelosi recognized the Native lawmaker for some additional remarks. Speaking with great emotion, she highlighted the historic nature of such "a fierce woman" delivering the prayer in the people's house.

"Isleta Pueblo Chief Judge Verna Teller is the first Native American to deliver the opening prayer in U.S. House of Representatives," said Haaland.

"This is a special time not only in history, but also in honor of Native American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the contributions of Native Americans to this country," she added.

Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico): 'A Fierce Woman'

Haaland noted that Teller is a trailblazer in her own right. In 1987, she broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be elected governor at Isleta, located south of Albuquerque. To this day, she remains one of just two women who have led their Pueblo communities.

"Because of the history of colonization, many Pueblos don’t allow women to hold leadership positions, but that didn’t stop Judge Teller from knowing her value as a tribal leader," said Haaland, who serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.

"I am proud to stand with Chief Judge Teller to highlight the resilience of indigenous women and our perseverance to uplift our girls and our women in all of our communities," Haaland concluded.

Teller served as governor of Isleta from 1987 through 1990, a crucial time for her people and for Indian Country in general. Her tribe was first to assert sovereignty over water, a move that paved the way for others to do the same amid legal, political and regulatory challenges.

Following her stint as governor, Teller continued to serve on the tribal council, including as the council president. Earlier this year, she was sworn in for another run as chief judge of the court system on the reservation.

"Judge Teller is well versed with the laws of the pueblo," Max A. Zuni, the tribe's current governor, said in the Isleta Pueblo News in April.

Ahead of the historic prayer, Haaland introduced H.Res.682 to recognize the cultures and contributions of Native people during National Native American Heritage Month. Co-sponsors include Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas), a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation who is a leader in her own right as one of the two Native women in Congress.

"I’m proud to co-sponsor this resolution to recognize Native American Heritage Month, honor Native veterans like my mom, and strengthen the government-to-government relationship between the federal government and our Native Nations,” said Davids in reference to her mother, who served in the U.S. Army.

H.Res.682 is largely symbolic. But it marks the first time such a resolution has been sponsored by four Native lawmakers -- in addition to Haaland and Davids, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), who hails from the Cherokee Nation, are on board.

"Though November is the designated month to celebrate and reflect on the rich history of Native Americans, I consider the importance of my own Chickasaw tribal heritage every day with great pride," said Cole, who serves as the other co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers. "And especially because of my tribal heritage and upbringing in Oklahoma, I have always counted it a privilege and honor to represent the interests and constitutionally-given rights of tribes in the U.S. House of Representatives."

Added Mullin: "Our history and sovereignty are what bind us together. I am proud to embrace my Cherokee heritage and I believe that our heritage and traditions should be celebrated not only this month, but year round."

On our way to the House Floor #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/SitFx0IxM0
— Rep. Deb Haaland (@RepDebHaaland) November 13, 2019

Chief Judge Teller’s full prayer as prepared for delivery follows:

"Oh Creator and Great Mother.

Having asked and received your permission to invoke your blessings today to all directions: East, North, West, South and the Center.

We thank you for the life you give to all your children: the two legged ones, the four legged, those who live in the waters, and those who watch over us from the skies above.

Sacred Pollen, sacred Earth Mother, sacred Water that manifest your desires, oh Creator and Great Mother, we thank them for the nourishment they give us equally with no regard to race color or creed.

Creator and Great Mother bless those standing before you, who carry a sacred trust to all of us who inhabit Turtle Island, our homeland, and I pray today that you will give them the wisdom and the courage to carry out their sacred trust with the same equality that we receive from the Sun and Rain.

Hurrd kem, Thank you."

Haaland’s remarks honoring Chief Judge Teller follow:

"Good afternoon I am honored to have a fierce woman from my district, to deliver a historic opening prayer.

Isleta Pueblo Chief Judge Verna Teller is the first Native American to deliver the opening prayer in US House of Representatives.

This is a special time not only in history, but also in honor of Native American Heritage Month, a time to reflect on the contributions of Native Americans to this country.

Chief Judge Teller made her own history in New Mexico.

She broke barriers when she was elected as the first woman Pueblo Governor.

Because of the history of colonization, many Pueblos don’t allow women to hold leadership positions, but that didn’t stop Judge Teller from knowing her value as a tribal leader.

I am proud to stand with Chief Judge Teller to highlight the resilience of indigenous women and our perseverance to uplift our girls and our women in all of our communities.

Thank you."

So proud and overjoyed to see my auntie Verna up there as the first indigenous person to share a prayer in the US House of Representatives, truly a milestone. Hopefully the first of many! You go Auntie!!! https://t.co/RkgRD2dW1c
— michaela marchi (@quanyin75) November 14, 2019

Original post follows.

Tune into the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday to watch Verna Teller of the Pueblo of Isleta make history during Native American Heritage Month.

Teller, who serves as chief justice for her tribe's court system, will deliver the opening prayer as the chamber begins its business for the legislative day. She is the first Native American to provide the invocation in the history of the U.S. House, according to Rep. Deb Haaland (D-New Mexico).

“Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the contributions that our Native communities have made to this country and the tragedies that they endured," said Haaland, who is a citizen of the neighboring Pueblo of Laguna.

"Having Verna Teller on the House floor does both – it reminds us that in the 200-plus years of our country’s history, the first people of this continent were excluded, but also that through resilience and perseverance we are still here and working to make our country a better place," Haaland said.

Posted by Native Women Lead on Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Native Women Lead: Verna Teller

Like Haaland, who is one of the first two Native women in Congress, Teller is a trailblazer. In 1987, she broke barriers by becoming the first woman to be elected governor of the Pueblo of Isleta, whose reservation is located south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. To this day, she remains one of just two women who have led their Pueblo communities.

"Verna Teller has fought for a seat at the table, broken down barriers, and achieved success in leadership positions, and I’m so proud she will be delivering this historic invocation," Haaland said.

To watch the U.S. House of Representatives, visit live.house.gov or c-span.org. The session is scheduled to begin at 12pm Eastern. The prayer is delivered at the opening of the session.

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Honoring Verna Teller

On March 13, 2015, then-Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-New Mexico), now serving as governor of New Mexico, inserted remarks in the Congressional Record in honor of Verna Teller. Here are the remarks in full:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Verna Teller, a remarkable woman whose steadfast political leadership and tireless civic activism has had a lasting impact on the people in her community.

In March of each year, we celebrate Women's History month to honor women who have made invaluable contributions to their communities and the world. Verna is one such woman. Verna has never tired of fighting for the community she loves. In the face of gender discrimination, Verna ushered in a new era of leadership, becoming the first female governor of Isleta Pueblo in 1987. By spearheading passage of a constitutional amendment requiring tribal leadership positions to be elected, as well as fighting to make tribal council meetings more open and accessible, Verna ensured that women's voices were not only heard but amplified within the Pueblo community.

Following her tenure as governor, Verna continued to serve Isleta Pueblo as Chief Justice, President of the Tribal Council, and council member. Under her watchful guidance, Isleta Pueblo became the first tribe in the United States to assert their right under federal law to establish water quality standards to protect their community.

Verna went on to serve as project manager for the Native Peoples- Native Homelands Southwest Initiative, a project sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to examine the effects of climate change on Native Americans. As Project Director for Tribal Tobacco Health, Education and Outreach, Verna helped develop cancer prevention programs through Indian Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control, and the American Cancer Society. She also ran a consulting business, ATV Enterprises; served as a member of the All Indian Pueblo Council; was named ``Indian Woman of the Year;'' and has received numerous other accolades.

It is astonishing to think of all that Verna has accomplished in her life. In the face of adversity, discrimination, and uncertainty, Verna's determination to lead her community never faltered. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said: ``We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face--we must do that which we think we cannot.'' Verna's enduring legacy of community development, service and sacrifice will continue to be an inspiration for future generations of young women.