Laguna Pueblo

Pueblo of Laguna symbol
Total population
3,600 (1990)[1]
Regions with significant populations
United States ( New Mexico])
Languages
Keresan language, English language
Religion
traditional tribal religion, Christianity (Roman Catholicism and other)
Related ethnic groups
Acoma Pueblo, other Keres people (Cochiti Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, Santo Domingo Pueblo, and Zia Pueblo)

Laguna Pueblo
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Laguna Mission
Nearest city:	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Area:	108 acres (44 ha)
Built:	1699
Architectural style:	Other, Pueblo
Governing body:	Private
NRHP Reference#:	73001154[2]
Added to NRHP:	June 19, 1973

The Laguna Pueblo (Western Keres: Kawaik) is federally recognized Native American tribe of the Pueblo people in west-central New Mexico, USA. The name, Laguna, is Spanish (meaning "lake") and derives from the lake located on their reservation. The real Keresan name of the tribe is Kawaik. The population of the tribe exceeds 7,000 enrolled members, making it the largest Keresan-speaking tribe. Mission San José de la Laguna was erected by the Spanish at the old pueblo (now Old Laguna), finished around July 4, 1699.

The Laguna people value intellectual activity and education, so a scholarship program has led to many well educated Lagunas. Uranium mining on Pueblo of Laguna land has contributed to this scholarship program as well as to skilled labor learning among Laguna members. While many Native Americans love basketball, Lagunas and other Pueblos enjoy baseball. Like many Pueblos, the Laguna people are skilled in pottery.

Laguna Construction Company, a construction company owned by the Pueblo of Laguna, is one of the largest U.S. contractors in Iraq, with reconstruction contracts worth more than $300 million since 2004. In addition to its headquarters at the pueblo, Laguna Industries, Inc. maintains offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Antonio and Houston, Texas; Baghdad, Iraq, and Amman, Jordan. In 2007, Laguna Construction employed 75 people, most of whom belong to the pueblo.^[3]

The Acoma Pueblo and Pueblo of Laguna have many ties, including location, language and a shared high school.

The Pueblo of Laguna has a well-established Tribal Law system. The Pueblo of Laguna has participated as a "Weed and Seed" tribe^{[citation needed]}. This Department of Justice program studied the enforcement of law and effectiveness of social programs on Native American lands.

Their reservation, at 35°02′15″N 107°15′03″W / 35.03750°N 107.25083°W / 35.03750; -107.25083, lies in parts of four counties: In descending order of included land area they are Cibola, Sandoval, Valencia and Bernalillo Counties. It includes the six villages of Encinal, Laguna, Mesita, Paguate, Paraje and Seama, and had a total population of 3,815 persons as of the 2000 census. The reservation is 45 miles (75 km) west of the city of Albuquerque. The total land area is 2,013.008 km² (777.227 sq mi).

The Irish surname Riley was adopted by many members of the Laguna tribe in the 1800s, for legal use in European-American culture, while they retained their Laguna names for tribal use.

Communities [edit]

• 

  Laguna Pueblo, 1879

• 

  Door to Baptistry, Laguna Mission, 1934

• 

  An Indian Pueblo Laguna New Mexico, by Thomas Moran

Education [edit]

Primary and middle school education is provided by the Laguna Department of Education,^[4] which also operates Early Childhood program and adult education programs. The high school is shared with nearby Acoma Pueblo.

Language [edit]

Laguna man and woman in traditional clothing

Lagunas speak a Keresan language. This language family is a linguistic isolate.

Laguna Development Corporation [edit]

The Laguna Development Corporation; founded in 1998, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Pueblo of Laguna. Laguna Development is a federally chartered tribal corporation formed under Section 17 of the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act.

The company develops and operates the tribe’s retail-based outlets, including two travel centers, a supermarket, a convenience store, an RV park, an arcade, a Superette and three casinos on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation that spans Cibola County, Bernalillo, Valencia and Sandoval counties.

Several Laguna Pueblo businesses are along tourist and truck route corridors that attract New Mexico tourists, long- and short-haul truck drivers, and residents of nearby Albuquerque. Other Laguna Development businesses provide basic services to local tribal communities.

Notable Laguna Pueblo members [edit]

• Paula Gunn Allen (1939-2008), author
• Lee Francis (1945-2003), author, educator, researcher
• Frank Hudson (1875–1950), football player, coach
• Michael Kanteena, potter
• Lee Marmon, photographer
• Carol Lee Sanchez, poet, artist, educator
• Leslie Marmon Silko, author

See also [edit]

• Laguna, New Mexico — Laguna Pueblo community and historic adobe pueblo.
• Anaconda, New Mexico
• Anton Docher "The Padre of Isleta" — served as a priest at Laguna Pueblo during his long period in Isleta Pueblo.^[5]
• Keresan languages
• Pueblo people

Notes [edit]

References [edit]

• Pritzker, Barry M. A Native American Encyclopedia: History, Culture, and Peoples. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 978-0-19-513877-1.
• Laguna Pueblo and Off-Reservation Trust Land, New Mexico United States Census Bureau
• Notable Native Americans
• Keleher, Julia M.; Chant, Elsie Ruth (2009). The Padre of Isleta: The Story of Father Anton Docher. Sunstone press Publishing. ISBN 978-0-86534-714-4. 

English:  commonscat

External links [edit]

• official Pueblo of Laguna website
• ldoe.org: Laguna Department of Education
• Library of Congress: Laguna Pueblo gallery — historic photographs of Pueblo of Laguna.
• Laguna Pueblo links — an extensive list by Will Karkavelas—Osaka University.
• HABS: San Jose de la Laguna Mission Church & Convento gallery — historic photos from the federal HABS—Historic American Buildings Survey project.