Curtis Chávez
Dr. Curtis Chávez was born and raised in Cochiti Pueblo, New Mexico. He received his BA from the University of New Mexico in Native American Studies and his MS and PhD from the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University. Dr. Chávez has worked within the tribal and public-school sectors for many years, but most recently has offered his assistance in the non-profit world. Dr. Chavez reports he learned Keres as a second language, after learning English. This is because, when he was young, a significant number of the elders and parents in the community were ashamed of speaking the Native language. As a result, many of them taught their children English first. He reports he’s still learning Keres through elders and fluent speakers in the community, as well as at the Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC), where, as the CEO of this Montessori school, he hears and speaks Keres every day. He also serves as an advocate for Native American youth.