The Zia now have a protocol to follow if someone wants to use the sun symbol, he said. Recently the pueblo brought up that The Legislative Council Service requested that the Department of Cultural Affairs make a report and answer two crucial questions that arise when dealing with the Zia Sun symbol: who has the right to use the Zia symbol, and what the restrictions are on how the symbol may be used.In response to the first question, the report concluded that no one is prohibited from using the symbol as it does not belong to anyone. As an example of use the Zia … The Fire Society pot bore a Zia symbol—a round sun with stylized eyes and a mouth, surrounded by groups of three rays in each of the four directions. You’ll help grow student reporters committed to high quality, ethical journalism for New Mexico. Students in an […] By Tomás Moya and Julian Chavez/NM News Port As part of our Curious New Mexico project, UNM senior Jaylee Caruso wanted to know when students can expect to see renovations at Johnson Center. Our mission is to support the state's local news ecosystem through innovation, collaboration and publication -- with students. In the past ten years, the Zia have looked beyond trademark law and fashioned an informal system whereby the tribe is able to control, and obtain monetary benefits from, outsiders’ uses of its symbol… (Courtesy of Chris Lang)ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Chris Lang, a Las Cruces businessman, took the unusual step of meeting with Zia Pueblo leaders before using the tribe’s iconic symbol in his company’s products.He got their permission — along with a potential partnership with the pueblo northwest of Albuquerque.The Zia symbol has long been used without the pueblo’s permission, from the state flag to alien stickers, pueblo Gov. effective than legal ones in the tribe’s fight to protect its sacred symbol. However, it can be registered with modification to the version of the Zia symbol on the state flag. Under the Lanham Act, no one can register a trademark of a symbol as it appears on the NM state flag. The symbol is a circle that has four groups of four lines, extending from the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the circle.“[The symbol] is a big aspect as far as religion and culture, and it goes back to what I was saying earlier about building that foundation to better yourself and to just make something of yourself,” Hardy said.The four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west)The circle in the middle of the rays ties the rays together to represent love and life.Zia Pueblo officials have tried to trademark the symbol, but because it is on the New Mexico state flag, it cannot be trademarked, according to guidelines set by The symbol is now exclusively associated with New Mexico, as it is printed on the state flag, state license plate, and even the state quarter. Schwav said he knew the meaning behind the Zia before getting the tattoo and was also aware of the issues surrounding its use.This spring, student reporters in the UNM C&J department are bringing back Curious New Mexico. For the second question, there are restrictions for the use of the symbol. There may be an issue with the delivery of your newspaper. But to the people of the The symbol is considered sacred in the Zia Pueblo, as it represents the father of their people. The Zia are trying to raise awareness among the New Mexican government and the general public about the significance of the sun symbol and the importance of not defaming it. TheBecause other businesses can use the symbol, the pueblo has tried to limit the commercial use of it to preserve its meaning by asking businesses to ask for the pueblo’s blessing to use the symbol to make sure that business isn’t distorting the meaning. “The symbol means so much to us, too much for me to explain and for that matter, holds many secrets that are for our people only,” he said.The center circle, for example, is a key component, he said.“The center is where we are born and where we return to after this life,” he said. Chris Lang owner of Organ Mountain Outfitters has just made an agreement with the Zia Pueblo to use its symbol. Community members asked us questions like what is the oldest building in the state and are there dead bodies and giant catfish in Elephant Butte, and […] Recently released city of Albuquerque data about its 311 hotline shows Albuquerqueans who call the number are looking for info on bus routes, trash removal and animal services, among other topics. When the pueblo did not respond to his phone calls and emails seeking permission, Lang said he “made the decision a few months ago to visit with the pueblo face-to-face.”“I was asked to join the Zia Council for their morning meeting the next day and presented our products and talked about who we are and what we are about,” he said.Lang said the council asked him not to alter the image or change it in any way because of how sacred the symbol is.Delgarito said the tribal council recently voted to register the sun-like image as a trademark in the hopes of gaining control of its use. Owen Schwav is one of the many New Mexicans who have the Zia Sun symbol tattooed on their body. Contact: nmnewsport@gmail.comJournalism and Innovation from The University of New Mexico“He wanted our coffee, because it has the piñon, which is so New Mexican, to be almost the quintessential product of New Mexico,”Congratulations to News Port!