Jeanne Gauna

Jeanne Gauna was born September 26, 1946 in Vaughn, New Mexico. Her parents names were Willie and Josephine Gauna. growing up in New Mexico, Gauna made it her lifes mission to fight for injustices her and her family have been faced with in New Mexico. She's worked with numerous amounts of organizations to fight for injustices around the whole world. Jeanne Gauna had two sons, and later in her life, she was diagnosed with cancer and died February 17, 2003.^[1]

Family

University of New Mexico

Gauna had her son Jason with her first husband. She soon moved to Albuquerque where she remarried to Eric Schmieder who she had her son Karlos with.^[1]

Education

Gauna received her education from the University of New Mexico where she earned her bachelors of arts degree. During her education, she pursued studies in politics of traditional New Mexican communities, culture, and history, and culture^[1]

Organizations^[1]

Gauna spent her life supporting many organizations such as:

The Albuquerque Boycott Committee
Citizens Against Nuclear Threats
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán
NM Public Interest Research Group
U.S. National Board of Greenpeace U.S.A.
Board of the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economics
National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit
Committee to Stop Grand Jury Abuse
Committee Against Repression
National environmental-justice movement

Work

In the 1970's Gauna worked under Richard Moore, director of the regional office of the Children's Foundation as the office manager. After this organization was defunded, together they co-directed a new organization by the name of SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP). Later in its time, SWOP gave rise to a new organization called the Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), with Richard Moore as the director. This allowed for Gauna to become the main director of SWOP.^[1]

SWOP

The SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) co-directed by Jeanne Gauna and Richard Moore was a major grassroots organization that target racial and environmental injustices. This organization is formed mostly of activists who want to fight for the injustices that they face and see in America. SWOP fought against police brutality, gender inequality, racism, as well as the conservation of natural resources such as limiting water usage. SWOP also fought against policies and practices that targeted environmental pollution and the poisoning of low income, lower class, and colored communities.^[1]^[2]

Rio Grande river

An example of SWOP's impacts

in the 1900's, SWOP protested with the Navajo people in Albuquerque for the water rights of The Rio Grande. This site of water is extremely important not only for the livelihood of the Navajo people, but also for their sacred practices.^[3]^[2]

Major Contributions^[1]

promoted gender equality
fought for racial injustices
fought against police brutality
fought against labor issues
shared her experiences with injustice across the world
fought against government actions that polluted minority communities

Awards^[1]

Prestigious Bannerman Award for veteran organizers
The Southwest Public Workers Union Environmental Justice Award
American Civil Liberties Union Guardian of the Constitution Award
De Colores Grassroots Leadership Award

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Oboler, Suzanne; González, Deena J. (2005). "oxford reference". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States.
^ ^a ^b Motavalli, Jim. "The Desert's Open Veins: Native Rights and Water Fights in Albuquerque". The Environmental Magazine. ProQuest 229144308.
^ Weber, Jonathan (Apr 27, 1993). "Reason for Calif. Business Loss Is on the Rio Grande Economy: A New Mexico town lures companies with cheap land, low taxes and an effusive welcome.: [Home Edition]". ProQuest 282035392.

[:0-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Oboler, Suzanne; González, Deena J. (2005). "oxford reference". The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States.

[:1-2] Motavalli, Jim. "The Desert's Open Veins: Native Rights and Water Fights in Albuquerque". The Environmental Magazine. ProQuest 229144308.

[3] Weber, Jonathan (Apr 27, 1993). "Reason for Calif. Business Loss Is on the Rio Grande Economy: A New Mexico town lures companies with cheap land, low taxes and an effusive welcome.: [Home Edition]". ProQuest 282035392.

[1]

[2]

[3]