It is the purpose of the Native American Counseling Act to provide a program of counseling for native Americans confined in penal institutions in New Mexico, to teach good work habits and develop motivation through work; to develop and instill cultural pride and improve the self-image of native Americans; to develop an understanding of the cultural differences between native Americans and other ethnic groups and assist the native American in relating and adjusting to such differences; to train the native American and his family to develop attitudes of mutual trust, mutual respect and an interdependence based on mutual understanding; to increase the availability of Indian spiritual leaders for teaching native Americans in the areas of Indian history, cultural sensitivity and Indian religion; and to generally involve native Americans in those aspects of the penal system that will assist in their rehabilitation and adjustment to a fuller life after their release from confinement.
History: Laws 1983, ch. 276, § 2.
ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law.
Compiler's notes. — The heading of Laws 1983, ch. 276, purported to enact certain provisions, relating to developing a pilot program for the counseling of native Americans confined in state penal institutions, which do not appear in the act.