In a surprising move, James Mountain, the former pueblo leader who was nominated by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to head the state's Indian Affairs Department, has stepped down from his position less than a year into the job. Mountain will now be taking on a new role as a policy adviser to the governor, confirmed on Friday by the governor's office in a statement.

Replacing Mountain as the head of the Indian Affairs Department is Josett Monette, who has previously served in various roles at the agency, including deputy director and general counsel. Monette, who hails from the Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa in North Dakota, is well-versed in tribal affairs and brings her expertise to the table.

Mountain's appointment to the cabinet secretary position immediately sparked outrage among Native American advocates who have been working tirelessly to address violence and missing persons cases within their communities. They pointed to sexual assault charges against Mountain as evidence that he was not the right person to lead the state agency.

However, Lujan Grisham's office defended Mountain's appointment, highlighting that the charges against him were dismissed in 2010 due to insufficient evidence. The governor urged those who raised concerns about his past to respect the judicial process and acknowledge the results.

It should be noted that despite the governor's push for a confirmation hearing, Mountain's nomination was never forwarded to the Senate committee for consideration. The governor's office also did not address whether they sought input from Native American communities during the selection process for Mountain as Lynn Trujillo's successor. Trujillo stepped down as secretary in November 2022 to take a position with the U.S. Interior Department.

Protesters gathered at the state capitol in March, calling for greater accountability in the system for vetting state-appointed positions that serve Indigenous communities. Mountain never directly addressed the concerns surrounding his nomination. However, in a letter to state lawmakers, his daughter, Leah Mountain, defended her father, describing him as a devoted father who instilled cultural identity, confidence, and aspiration in her after her mother left. She firmly stated that the allegations against him are false.

Prior to his appointment as cabinet secretary, Mountain had previously served as governor at San Ildefonso Pueblo from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2017. During his tenure, he oversaw significant achievements such as the completion of the Aamodt Water Settlement, which addressed the pueblo's water rights, and the Indian Land Claims Settlement in 2006. In recent years, Mountain also operated his own state-tribal affairs consulting firm.

With Josett Monette taking the reins of the Indian Affairs Department, it remains to be seen how she will navigate the challenges and concerns raised by Native American advocates. As the new senior policy adviser for tribal affairs, Mountain will undoubtedly continue to play a role in shaping policies that impact Indigenous communities under the guidance of Gov. Lujan Grisham.