The state of New Mexico is installing a statue of a Pueblo leader in the National Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C..

The state chose Po'pay as its second representative in the hall. Po'pay was a leader of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt during which the pueblos of New Mexico and the Hopis of Arizona asserted their independence from the government of Spain.

The installation ceremony takes place at the U.S. Capitol at 1pm on Thursday. Since very other state has its two representatives in the hall, it will be the last such ceremony. Tribal leaders, Gov. Bill Richardson (D) and New Mexico's congressional delegation are expected to attend.

Other Native Americans in the hall include Sarah Winnemucca, a Paiute woman who represents Nevada, Eastern Shoshone Chief Washakie of Wyoming, Sakakawea representing North Dakota and Will Rogers and Seqouyah, two Cherokees representing Oklahoma.

The Po'pay statue is the first and only one in the hall to be designed by an enrolled tribal member. Sculptor Cliff Fragua is from Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico.

Get the Story:
Pop's long trek ends in U.S. Capitol (The Santa Fe New Mexican 9/18)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
Cliff Fragua - http://www.singingstonestudio.com
National Statuary Hall Collection - http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh
National Statuary Hall Gallery - http://www.virtualology.com/hallofusa/nationalstatuaryhall

Related Stories:
Tim Giago: First revolutionary was a Native man (05/31)
Dream of Pueblo leader in Washington realized (05/23)
New Mexico unveils statue of Pueblo Revolt leader (5/19)
New Mexico to install statue of Pueblo Revolt leader (05/09)
Paiute activist takes place at National Statuary Hall (03/10)
Nevada installs statue of Indian woman at U.S. Capitol (3/9)
Student to sculpt Winnemuca for U.S. Capitol (02/20)
Native woman receives long overdue recognition (10/17)
Indians finally take a stand in U.S. Capitol (05/01)
Work on Pueblo leader statue begins (05/13)
Another Native joining national hall (03/07)
Shoshone chief represents state (9/08)
Editorial: Sakakawea campaign in trouble (11/26)
Editorial: Help students and Sakakawea (11/19)
Several projects to honor Washakie (4/2)
Pueblo leader still controversial (2/26)
State chooses Pueblo statue (11/9)
Pueblo leader unveiled today (10/27)
Pueblo leader comes to life again (10/24)
Second Shoshone statue unveiled (10/03)
Shoshone chief represents state (09/08)
Pueblo Revolt hero will represent state (09/05)