SAN ILDEFONSO PUEBLO, N.M. (AP) — A mother of three has become one of the first women elected to the tribal council of the San Ildefonso Pueblo.
Irene Tse-Pe was sworn in Saturday as a council member of the pueblo in northern New Mexico, near Santa Fe.
Members were previously appointed to the 10-person panel. KOAT-TV (http://bit.ly/AcEJAz ) reports that a new agreement allows women to vote and run for office.
Pueblo Gov. Terry Aguilar says the agreement lets them preserve their tradition but also incorporate parts of modern government and society.
Tse-Pe says the pueblo's females "have good minds, strong hearts." She says she ran because she wanted to be a role model.
Altogether, three women were elected to the council. The new members say they will start work on Monday.
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Information from: KOAT-TV, http://www.thenewmexicochannel.com/index.html
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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