All pueblos invite you to visit on feast days as well as other days of the year and observe the dances, ancient traditions of song, dance and feasting .
The inhabitants invite you to share with them the beauty of all their traditions. Each pueblo is different in their rules, so when visiting them, check all posted signs as far as hours to visit, photography rules, video and film taking rules, and sketching. Please observe these rules.
If photography is allowed, please maintain a respectful distance from dancers and drummers. Try to be as nonobstrusive as possible. If the dance ends and you want to follow them to the next location; follow behind. Walking ahead of the group is considered disrespectful.
Dances are prayers in motion and require a great amount of concentration on the part of the dancers, so quiet is appreciated during the dances. Applause is considered inappropriate. Dancing along with the dancers is distracting and should not be done.
Understand and explain to others the point of being respectful and not raising your voice and refraining from excessively loud speech or offensive language. Do not let children wander unattended, climb on walls or look into windows. Do not allow them to walk into graveyards, pick up rocks or remove anything.
High tech laptops and cell phones should not be at a religious festival and should be left in the car.
Pueblo life is filled with daily activity: children out playing, elders strolling, and pets are about so consider these points when driving in a pueblo.
All these considerations are to give respect to the activity and the people who are sharing their tradition with you. The public is always welcome and encouraged to share the festivals and way of life, just in a respectful way.
The Pueblo of Taos
- State Road 68 in Taos NM
- Feast Day September 29 and 30
- Taos Pueblo Tourism Office
- 505 758 9593
The pueblo has been home to the Red Willow People since time has been recorded. It has survived a very violent history from the invasion of the Spanish in the 1540’s, to the Pueblo revolt of 1680, and the Taos Rebellion against the United States government in 1847.
But the inhabitants of Taos have continued to live in their homes on the pueblo.
Today the inhabitants of Taos Pueblo welcome visitors to share in their ancestry and traditional feast day. On this pueblo there are shops that carry unique items and bread is cooked in the outdoor ovens for visitors to buy and eat.
Horse and cattle raising along with hunting are traditional Pueblo methods of earning a living. The inhabitants of the Taos Pueblo are talented in using these animal hides in making drums, boots, moccasins, and clothing. The local shops have many fine examples.
During Feast Day activities visitors are asked to be respectful. Cameras are not allowed during Feast Days. Asking about their spiritual ceremonies is also considered disrespectful.
Taos Pueblo is struggling for economic self sufficiency.
Tribal members speak the language Tiwa. They continue to conduct their lives as they did generations ago even though the children are encouraged to be well educated to deal with the challenges of the future.
The Taos people manage to practice traditional ways and maintain modern living conditions at the same time.
Pueblo of Picuris
- 13 miles east of State Rd 75 from Embudo,
- or 21 miles south on Hwy 518 from Taos to Junction 75
- Feast Day August 9 -10
- 505 587 2519
Early man lived in the region as early as A.D. 750. Around 1250 the Picturis left a larger pueblo to settle here and make their home in this secluded mountain valley. Here is where they fared well until the Spanish arrived. The Picturis played a major part in the Pueblo revolt in 1680. After this revolt however the pueblo was reduced from a size of 3,000 to 500. But the Picturis regained their traditions and home and now the pueblo is home to 339 people.
A few of the original homes still stand and are home to the elders of the pueblo.
A very visible 700 year old kiva can be seen at this pueblo. Other buildings to be observed are excavated kivas and storerooms.
The beautiful restored adobe church in the middle of the pueblo was restored by the inhabitants of the pueblo as well as neighboring communities
Picturis is set in a wooded valley of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
It is surrounded by orchards and corn and alfalfa fields.
Its remote location has made it difficult economically. But some visionary members have made the pueblo more prosperous. These visionaries had decided to buy the Hotel Santa Fe. This hotel brings jobs to the tribes members, and is helping to build a large community center as well as community service programs for the pueblo.
On the pueblo the museum, restaurant, and gift shop is being renovated and the planned reopening is in the Spring of 2003. The Picturis are known for their beautiful micaceous pottery. Two trout fishing lakes are available on the pueblo for fishing enthusiasts.
The religious ceremonies of the Picturis are still conducted in the kivas and many can be seen by the public. The only request by the members is that the rules and regulations are followed when visiting.
Pueblo of San Juan
- 25 miles north of Santa Fe off state rd. 68 from Espanola
- Feast Day June 23 and 24
- 505 852 4400
San Juan is the largest of all the pueblos. Twenty two years before the pilgrims landed on Plymouth rock Don Juan Onate declared San Juan the first Spanish capital of the New Mexico territory. But the pueblo people were not happy with the oppressive rule, and pushed back the invaders back to Mexico.
Most of the 700 year old homes still stand. In the center of the pueblo is a Catholic church, a chapel, two kivas where are all a part of the ceremonial life.
The San Juan people are gifted craftsmen, known worldwide for their intricately decorated red pottery. The color itself comes from the native clay on the Pueblo which has an inner glow and luster that makes it distinctive. In these pieces of art are cut geometric patterns.
The Oke Oweenge Crafts Cooperative displays this pottery as ell as stone and wood carvings, weavings and paintings and necklaces made from native materials.
San Juan is progressive in their business endeavors. It owns a casino, campground and RV park.
San Juan houses the eight Northern Indian Pueblos Council which promotes joint projects among the Pueblos.
The people of San Juan pueblo strive for economic prosperity but treasure and maintain the ways of their past.
Pueblo of Santa Clara
- Twenty six miles north of Santa Fe in the Espanola Valley of State Rd. 30
- Feast Day August 12
- 505 753 7330
The Santa Clara Pueblo originally carved cave like dwellings in the Santa Clara Canyon, but about 600 years ago a severe drought forced the people to move into a valley near the Rio Grande known by the Tewa people as the “Valley of the Wild Roses”.
Today tribal members live in modern houses on their 50,000 acre reservation.
There is a distinct culture here with a sovereign government.
Traditions are maintained and are a part of life from generation to generation.
Santa Clara is known for its artists. Their polished black and red pottery is world renown.
Many shops in the pueblo are open to visitors selling the famous pottery, beadwork, and embroidery and sculpture.
The Pueblo strives to develop economically in ways that do not harm their traditional ways of life. Many new jobs were created with the opening of the Big Rock Casino and bowing alley and the Black Mesa Golf Course.
Santa Clara Pueblo is where the past is preserved and the future is moved to confidently.
Pueblo of San Ildefonso
- Twenty two miles north of Santa Fe on State Rd. 502
- Feast Day January 23
- 505 455 2273
The people of San Ildefonso migrated from the Mesa Verde colony in Southern Colorado.
Then they built their home at Bandelier. But in the 1300’s a drought brought the people to a more hospitable environment near the Rio Grande near Los Alamos where they are today.
The view here is Black Mesa which is sacred to the San Ildefonso people because it is where the Pueblo people defended themselves from the Spanish recon quest of New Mexico.
Today you will see San Ildefonso as a central plaza designed for protection with adobe houses surrounding the enclosed plaza with the kiva at on end. This is much like it has been for several hundred years. Most of the architecture has been reconstructed, but the Tewa architecture has been preserved.
Outside the pueblo members harvest corn and other vegetables.
San Ildefonso has preserved its strong cultural identity and still observes ancient traditions.
This pueblo is famous for its black on black pottery. There is a step by step exhibit of the way pottery is made entirely by hand without use of commercial equipment or glazes at the pueblo museum. Since the art is taught by one family member to another. There are many fine artists living on the pueblo. Some small family owned business sell pottery as well as pueblo paintings, embroidery, moccasins, and silver jewelry.
Many celebrations and ceremonial dances are open to the public, but some are not. Call the San Ildefanso Visitor Center for information.
Pueblo of Nambe
- Two miles from State Rd. 502
- Feast Day Oct. 4
- 505 455 2036
Because Nambe was a religious and cultural center for the Pueblo people, the Spanish targeted it. As a result the population and religious foundation of the pueblo were almost destroyed. Nambe has revived some of the traditions and hold several ceremonial dances a year.
Today 600 tribal members live on the reservation. Nambe falls recreation area offers camping, fishing and boating in one of the region’s favorite picnic spots.
Along the shaded cottonwood trails you can see three of the most spectacular waterfalls in the Southwest.
The revival of traditional arts is a source of income for the pueblo. You will find many examples of the micaceous pottery that the nambe ancestors used for cooking. There are several individually owned shops and stores, and a sculpture gallery.
A growing herd of 21 buffalo on the pueblo serves to educate the young, enhance tribal unity, and instill Native values of respect, harmony and understanding.
Pueblo of Pojoaque
- Fifteen miles north of Santa Fe on US Hwy. 84/285
- Feast Day December 12
- 505 455 3460
The tribe had been decimated by Small Pox a century ago and the pueblo was abandoned in 1915. In 1932 a handful of people returned to the pueblo. They began to rebuild their culture, language, and art forms at this time.
Pojoaque has certainly achieved this goal successfully.
Tribal leaders are aggressive in their programs of economic development. On the pueblo there is a shopping center, the tourist information center, the Towa Golf Course, and the Cities of Gold Casino.
The Poeh Cultural center houses the traditional arts of the Northern Pueblos. Artists teach pottery, sculpture, textiles, and art management to tribal members.
Pojoaque is also a part of a program to reintroduce buffalo to all Native American lands thru the Intertribal Bison Cooperative.
Pueblo of Tesuque
- US Hwy. 84/285
- Nine miles north of Santa Fe
- Feast Day Nov. 12
- 505 983 2667
This pueblo has been standing since 1694. The Tesuque struck the first blow in the Pueblo revolt of 1680. They have remained committed to their beliefs and traditions and
Are one of the most traditional of all the New Mexico Pueblos in observing their ceremonies and preserving their culture.. The annual feast day of San Diego on Nov. 12, the Christmas Day celebration, the Kings Day festivities in January and the Corn Dance in June are open to the public. The Pueblo closes with very little notice sometimes, so it is best to call ahead.
Today about 450 people live at the Pueblo. Here they speak the native Tewa language, English, and sometimes Spanish.
The Tesuque Pueblo promotes its beautiful lands as a backdrop for movies and television commercials.
The Camel Rock a sandstone formation has been guarding for centuries.
The Camel Rock Casino is owned by the pueblo. The Tesuque Flea Market is also on the pueblos and is a Santa Fe tradition for offering items from around the world.
Camel rock Suites in Santa Fe is also owned by the Pueblo.
There are many fine artists on the Pueblo. They create pottery, paintings, silverwork, and traditional Pueblo clothing
The Pueblo of Tesuque welcomes visitors to share in the serenity of a visit to their home.
All the traditions and ceremonies of the Pueblo people are to be enjoyed respected and honored. Enjoy your visit to all or some of these ancient places in Northern New Mexico.
Eileen Richardson
