Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico facts for kids
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Pueblo of Nambé
Nambé Oweengé |
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The Kiva
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 Location in New Mexico
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Santa Fe, New Mexico |
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| Area | 7.7 acres (3.1 ha) |
| Built | 1540 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001208 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1974 |
The Nambé Oweenge Pueblo (pronounced nahm-BAY) is a special community of Pueblo people in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. It is recognized by the United States government as a federally recognized tribe.
The Pueblo of Nambé has been around since the 1300s. It is one of the Eight Northern Pueblos. Long ago, it was an important place for culture, trade, and religion. This was true when Spanish explorers first arrived in the early 1600s. Nambé also played a big part in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. This was a time when the Pueblo people pushed the Spanish out of New Mexico for twelve years.
It's good to know that the community of Nambe, New Mexico, is a different place from the Pueblo itself.
Contents
What Does "Nambé" Mean?
The name "Nambé" comes from a Tewa word. It roughly means "rounded earth." The word "pueblo" comes from Spanish and means "village." In the Southwest, "Pueblo" can mean both the unique style of buildings and the people who live in them.
Who Lives in Nambé Pueblo?
In 2010, about 1,818 people lived in the area defined as a CDP. Around 568 people in the U.S. said they were only Nambé. A total of 723 people said they were Nambé, either alone or with another group.
The Nambé Language
The people of Nambé speak a special type of the Tewa language. This language is also known as Tano. It belongs to a larger group of languages called the Kiowa-Tanoan language family.
A Look at Nambé's History
How Nambé Pueblo Began
Experts believe that all Pueblo people are related to the Ancestral Pueblo people. These ancient people might have come from the Mogollon culture and other old groups. The Ancestral Puebloans left their canyon homes because of big changes in their society and climate. They moved to new areas. Over time, the Nambé culture grew in their new homeland in what is now New Mexico.
First Contact with Europeans
In 1598, the Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate arrived with his soldiers. He asked Nambé Pueblo, and other pueblos, to pay him taxes. These taxes were paid with cotton, crops, and labor. Catholic missionaries also came to the area. They built the first church, San Francisco de Nambé, in the early 1600s. The Spanish also brought new foods like peaches, peppers, and wheat. In 1620, a special rule gave civil jobs to each Pueblo.
Nambé's Economy and Jobs
Many people from Nambé Pueblo work in different jobs. Some travel to jobs outside the Pueblo lands.
Before 2020, Nambé had a casino at the Nambé Falls Travel Center. In 2021, the car company Tesla opened a service center on Nambé land. This center helps fix Tesla cars. This was possible because Nambé Pueblo leaders signed an agreement with Tesla. This was the first Tesla service center in New Mexico. State law usually stops car companies from selling cars directly to customers. It also stopped Tesla from opening a service center without selling cars through other dealers. By late 2022, Tesla opened a second service center on Native American land in Santa Ana Pueblo.
Learning and Education
Children from Nambé Pueblo go to schools in the Pojoaque Valley Schools district. Pojoaque Valley High School is the main high school for students in the area.
Famous People from Nambé
- Marilyn Bendell, an artist who painted in the impressionist style.
- Brenda McKenna, a member of the New Mexico Senate since 2021.
- Margaret Lefranc, a painter, illustrator, and editor.
- Ben Luján, a member and former speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives.
- Ben Ray Luján, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a United States Senator from New Mexico since 2021. He is Ben Luján's son.
- Nathaniel A. Owings, an architect.
- Lonnie Vigil, a talented pottery artist.
See also
In Spanish: Pueblo de Nambé para niños
