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.

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Pop�'s long trek ends in U.S. Capitol (The Santa Fe New Mexican 9/18)
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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

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