Hundreds of people celebrated 50 years of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, marking its growth from a cultural hub into a place focused on future generations.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Hundreds of people celebrated 50 years of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, marking its growth from a cultural hub into a place focused on future generations.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center opened 50 years ago with a mission to preserve and share Pueblo culture. On Saturday, people gathered to celebrate that legacy.
Vendor Gina Tafoya said being part of the event meant representing Santo Domingo and sharing beading, a tradition she holds close.
“It’s nice to be here to be part of the celebration, being from one of the Pueblos that they celebrate here,” Tafoya said. “Part of the 19 Pueblos, and it’s nice for them that they’re showcasing the Pueblos that are out here, and it’s good to be part of it.”
Tafoya said she started beadwork when she was 18 after her father brought home an instructor from her tribal community.
“I got into the beadwork when I was 18,” Tafoya said. “My dad just came home with an instructor who’s also a tribal member from where I’m from, and he did beadwork. So he asked him to teach me, you know, the art of it.”
She said events like the anniversary celebration let her share the stories behind her work and help visitors connect with Pueblo culture.
“This center educates the non-Natives and also other Indigenous tribes and Pueblos out there too,” Tafoya said. “So it’s nice that there’s some place that they can go to and actually learn about what’s here in New Mexico when it comes to Indigenous people.”
Monique Fragua, president and CEO of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, said education will continue to guide the center’s next chapter.
“The future of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is amazing,” Fragua said. “We’ve added the Entrepreneur Complex on our campus, so we’re helping entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams. We just opened a digital mural, the Old Road, inside our exhibit, and we’re really excited to show how technology and exhibitry can come together to tell our stories.”
Leaders hope the Pueblo community survey will help guide what the next 50 years looks like.
