Laguna Pueblo facts for kids
Pueblo of Laguna symbol
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| Total population | |
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| 6,758 (2010) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( New Mexico) |
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| 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) |
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Laguna Pueblo
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Laguna Mission
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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| Area | 108 acres (44 ha) |
| Built | 1699 |
| Architectural style | Pueblo |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001154 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
The Laguna Pueblo (Western Keres: Kawaika [kʰɑwɑjkʰɑ]) is a federally recognized tribe of Native American Pueblo people in west-central New Mexico, near the city of Albuquerque, in the United States. Part of the Laguna territory is included in the Albuquerque metropolitan area, chiefly around Laguna's Route 66 Resort and Casino. The name, Laguna, is Spanish (meaning "small lake") and derives from the lake on their reservation. This body of water was formed by an ancient dam that was constructed by the Laguna people. After the Pueblo Revolt of 1680–1696, the Mission San José de la Laguna was erected by the Spanish at the old pueblo (now Old Laguna) and finished around July 4, 1699.
Contents
Geography
Rio San Jose
The Laguna Pueblo (and the Acoma Pueblo) lie in the river basin of the Rio San Jose. The laguna or lake was historically much larger than the present time and hosted waterfowl of many kinds, including ducks, geese and swans. The Rio San Jose flows into the Rio Puerco near the southeast corner of the Laguna Reservation.
Communities
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Laguna Pueblo, 1879
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Door to Baptistry, Laguna Mission, 1934
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An Indian Pueblo Laguna New Mexico, by Thomas Moran
Language
Lagunas speak a Keresan language.
Laguna Pueblo members
- Frank Hudson (1875–1950), football player, coach
- Michael Kanteena, potter
- Lee Marmon, photographer
- Leslie Marmon Silko, author
- Paula Gunn Allen (1939-2008), author, novelist, and scholar
Economy
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, Bernalillo, Valencia and Sandoval counties.
Laguna Construction Company, a construction company owned by the Pueblo of Laguna, was 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.
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.
Demographics
On the 2010 census 6,758 people in the U.S. reported being exclusively Laguna and 8,358 people reported being Laguna either exclusively or in combination with another group.
The State of New Mexico says the population is 7,700.
Education
Primary and middle school education is provided by the Laguna Department of Education, which also operates Early Childhood program and adult education programs. The high school is shared with nearby Acoma Pueblo. Lagunas 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. Lagunas and other Pueblos enjoy baseball. Like many Pueblos, the Laguna people are skilled in pottery.
Notable people
- Paula Gunn Allen (1939–2008), author, novelist, and scholar
- Deb Haaland, 54th U.S Secretary of the Interior, the first Native American to lead a cabinet-level agency. She was former U.S. Representative for New Mexico's 1st congressional district (2019–2021), former chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico (2015–2017), and nominee for lieutenant governor in 2014.
- Frank Hudson (1875–1950), football player, coach
- Michael Kanteena, potter
- Lee Marmon, photographer
- Leslie Marmon Silko, author
Images for kids
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photo of Laguna Pueblo from airplane
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Grinding maize in Laguna Pueblo, c. 1900s
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Ceramic Laguna canteen
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See also
In Spanish: Pueblo de Laguna para niños
