Pueblo Governors Council Chair Resigns After DWI Arrest
James Mountain submitted an immediate resignation Oct. 3, 2025 as chairman of the All Pueblo Council of Governors and ended his contract advising New Mexico’s Department of Indian Affairs days after Pojoaque Pueblo police arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated at a tribal casino. Mountain was held after declining a field sobriety test and a tribal‑court arraignment is scheduled next week; the development complicates state‑tribal relations given Mountain’s recent advisory roles and previously dismissed but serious criminal allegations from 2010.
Politics
Crime
Native Affairs
📌 Key Facts
- Resignation submitted Oct. 3, 2025, effective immediately; All Pueblo Council of Governors represents 19 New Mexico pueblos and one in Texas
- Pojoaque Pueblo police arrested Mountain about a week earlier on suspicion of DWI at a tribal casino; he was held in Santa Fe County jail after declining a field sobriety test
- New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office confirmed Mountain terminated his contract advisory role with the state Department of Indian Affairs; a Pojoaque Pueblo court arraignment is scheduled next week