Meet the Team

Tristan Ahtone

Poverty and Public Health Reporter

Tristan Ahtone is a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma. He’s also German and English and a few other dashes of European (just to make things more interesting). Before becoming a reporter, Tristan held a number of exciting jobs, such as door-to-door salesman, delivery driver, telemarketer, secretary, janitor, busboy, and office clerk to name a few. In 2006, Tristan graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts with a bachelors degree in Creative Writing. In 2008, he received a masters degree in broadcast journalism from the Columbia School of Journalism. Since 2008, Tristan has specialized in covering Native American, environmental and healthcare issues, and has worked with The Newshour with Jim Lehrer, National Native News, Frontline, Indian Country Today, Sirius Satellite Radio and NPR. Before moving to the southwest, Tristan worked as Morning Edition Host and Reporter for Wyoming Public Radio. He currently serves as KUNM's Poverty and Public Health Reporter.

MORE STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR

Economy

Agriculture Secretary Calls Defeat Of Farm Bill 'Unconscionable'

Tristan Ahtone

The sparring point that lead to the Farm Bill's failure in the House was Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs, known sometimes as SNAP. Republicans sought nearly $20-million dollars in reductions and Democrats refused.
Navajo Nation's Plan To Buy Coal Plant Put On Hold

Tristan Ahtone

Plans for the Navajo Nation to buy a coal mine in New Mexico from an Australian company have been put on hold, as negotiations between companies for a generating plant fed by the mine has raised questions about the future of Navajo controlled coal.
Education

New Mexico Lawmakers Push For Improved Indian Education

Tristan Ahtone

To improve Native American education, proponents of the recently introduced legislation are pushing to secure more money for Native students and schools.
Environment

Taxpayers Lose $62 Million On Federal Coal Leases

Tristan Ahtone

According to a new study, the federal government lost about $62 million dollars on recent coal lease sales.
Native Americans Receive Checks From Massive Class Action Settlement

Tristan Ahtone

Native Americans in the Southwest have received more than $96 million as a result of the nation's largest class action lawsuit against the federal government, and an additional $312 million is expected to be sent out this fall.
New Mexico Ranks Highest For Childhood Hunger

Tristan Ahtone

The report, authored by Feeding America, ranked New Mexico first for child hunger, followed by Arizona in third place, Nevada in eighth, Texas in ninth place, and California tenth.