Reclaiming Trust, Rebuilding Legacy

Lucero, who is Cherokee and Irish, has made ensuring authenticity a priority.

One of many people involved in changing the name from the Smoki Museum to the Museum of Indigenous People, Lucero has witnessed the museum’s positive evolution and growth. He has been the director for six years but has worked at the museum for 15. Today, the museum has a board of directors and five employees, who are supported by 70 volunteers.

The museum, housed in a pueblo-style building, hosts the largest displayed collection of Native Arizona pottery in the country, along with an extensive collection of Kachina dolls, jewelry and books.

Lucero came to the Prescott area 16 years ago with his wife, Nicole, who is Yaqui and Kiowa. The two met when they were attending De Anza College in the San Francisco Bay area and were members of the Native American Club. They have four children.

They ended up at Arizona State University, where Nicole earned her degree in history and Manuel earned his degree in Native American studies.

When he first found out about the Smoki Museum, he was invited to attend a powwow gathering but was apprehensive because of the museum’s past. However, the executive director at the time, Cynthia Gresser, told him about changes the museum was planning, by first creating a Native American advisory council.

Just as the museum was changing its name and practices, COVID-19 struck and the facility became a shelter to help those impacted by the pandemic. Volunteers brought food and other goods to reservations.

“That brought us a lot of good medicine,” he said about the museum’s relationship with Native American people.

Born in Oklahoma, Lucero was raised in California and Oklahoma. One of his goals at the Museum of Indigenous People is to make it a place of learning. He enjoys offering tours and sharing stories.

The Museum of Indigenous People hosts many events including auctions, rug and Native art sales, backpack drives for school children and powwows.

Role Models

My parents are my role models because they were caring community members. My father’s side was Irish and my mother’s side was Cherokee, so family get-togethers were a hoot. My parents and my grandma stressed the importance of culture. I served three combat tours in the Army and my family taught the importance of powwows and healing – not drinking.

Best Advice

Do not judge a book by its cover. In basketball pickup games, the little guys are usually the last ones picked, but they are often the best players.

Where I Like to Visit

Oklahoma, because that’s where family is.

What I Wanted to be as a Child

I wanted to be in the Army Special Operations. I ended up being in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Unit out of Fort Liberty, formerly Fort Bragg, in North Carolina. I was glad, but I saw a lot that I could have lived without. Yet, I would still do it all again. There were a lot of lessons that I learned over those eight years.

What I Do to Relax 

Powwow. My wife is a historical costumer for powwow, so we work on the costumes for our dances. FBN

By Stan Bindell, FBN

Courtesy Photo: Executive Director Manuel Lucero emphasizes authenticity at the Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott.