Laguna Pueblo facts for kids
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 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) |
|
Laguna Pueblo
|
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Laguna Mission
|
|
 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
|
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| Nearest city | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Area | 108 acres (44 ha) |
| Built | 1699 |
| Architectural style | Pueblo |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001154 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 19, 1973 |
The Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico is a group of Native American Pueblo people. They live in west-central New Mexico, near the city of Albuquerque. The Laguna people are a federally recognized tribe, meaning the U.S. government officially recognizes them as a sovereign nation.
Their traditional language is Western Keres, which they call Kawaika. The name Laguna comes from the Spanish word for "small lake." This name was given because of a lake on their land. The lake was created by an old dam built by the Laguna people long ago. After the Pueblo Revolt (a rebellion against Spanish rule) in the late 1600s, the Spanish built the Mission San José de la Laguna at their old village, finishing it around 1699.
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Where the Laguna Pueblo Lives
The Laguna Pueblo reservation is located in parts of four counties in New Mexico. These are Cibola, Sandoval, Valencia, and Bernalillo Counties.
The reservation includes six main villages: Encinal, Laguna, Mesita, Paguate, Paraje, and Seama. It is about 45 miles (72 km) west of Albuquerque. The total land area of the reservation is about 500,000 acres (2,000 km2).
The Laguna Pueblo, along with the nearby Acoma Pueblo, is located in the river basin of the Rio San Jose. The lake that gave the Pueblo its name used to be much larger. It was home to many kinds of birds, like ducks, geese, and swans. The Rio San Jose flows into the Rio Puerco river near the southeast part of the Laguna Reservation.
Laguna Communities
Laguna Pueblo Population
According to the 2010 census, 6,758 people in the U.S. said they were only Laguna. A total of 8,358 people said they were Laguna, either only Laguna or mixed with another group. The State of New Mexico estimates the current population to be around 7,700 people.
History of the Laguna People
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The Laguna people have lived and farmed along the Rio San José in New Mexico for a very long time. Their history goes back much further than written records. While the Mission was built in 1699, studies of ancient sites and Laguna oral traditions show that people have lived in this area since about 6500 B.C.
The Laguna Pueblo and the Acoma Pueblo are closely connected. They share a similar location, language, and even a high school. The Pueblo of Laguna has its own well-developed Tribal Law system. This means they have their own laws and courts to govern their community.
In the 1800s, many Laguna people adopted the Irish last name Riley. They used this name for legal purposes in the wider American culture. However, they kept their traditional Laguna names for use within their tribe.
Education and Culture
The Laguna Department of Education provides schooling for primary and middle school students. They also have programs for young children and adults. The high school is shared with the nearby Acoma Pueblo.
The Laguna people value learning and education. They have a scholarship program that has helped many Laguna members get a good education. Money from uranium mining on Laguna land has helped fund these scholarships. It has also helped train Laguna members in skilled jobs.
Lagunas, like many other Pueblo people, enjoy playing baseball. They are also very skilled in making pottery.
Laguna Language
Laguna people traditionally speak the Western variety of the Keresan language. Many older Laguna people do not speak English.
Laguna Pueblo Economy
The Laguna Development Corporation was started in 1998. It is a company fully owned by the Pueblo of Laguna. This company helps develop and run the tribe's businesses.
These businesses include two travel centers, a supermarket, a convenience store, an RV park, an arcade, a Superette, and three casinos. These businesses are located on the Laguna Pueblo reservation.
The Laguna Construction Company is another business owned by the Pueblo of Laguna. It is a construction company that has worked on large projects, including reconstruction contracts in Iraq. Besides its main office at the Pueblo, the company has offices in other cities like Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Antonio and Houston, Texas; Baghdad, Iraq; and Amman, Jordan. In 2007, Laguna Construction employed 75 people, most of whom were from the Pueblo.
Many Laguna Pueblo businesses are located along busy roads. These roads attract tourists, truck drivers, and people from nearby Albuquerque. Other Laguna Development businesses provide important services to the local tribal communities.
Notable Laguna People
- Larry Bird (born 1941), a talented painter and filmmaker.
- Deb Haaland, the 54th U.S. Secretary of the Interior. She is the first Native American to lead a cabinet-level agency in the U.S. government. Before this, she was a U.S. Representative for New Mexico (2019–2021).
- Frank Hudson (1875–1950), a football player and coach.
- Michael Kanteena, a skilled potter.
- Lee Marmon, a well-known photographer.
- Josephine Waconda (1935–2013), the first Native American woman to become a rear admiral in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
Descendants (Not Enrolled in the Tribe)
- Paula Gunn Allen (1939–2008), an author, novelist, and scholar.
- Leslie Marmon Silko, an author, educator, and filmmaker.
Images for kids
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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
See also
In Spanish: Pueblo de Laguna para niños
