"A letter of approval to form a tribal colony in Albuquerque came from the Laguna Pueblo Tribal Council on Dec. 31, 1955.

On Feb. 16, 1956, 60 Laguna tribal members living in Albuquerque came together in the auditorium of the Albuquerque Indian School - which was at Menaul Boulevard and 12th Street Northwest until about 1980 - to establish the unique urban Indian organization, called The Laguna Colony of Albuquerque. Today it is still alive and well, with some of the 300 property-owning, taxpaying, urban Lagunas at its threshold.

The purpose of the colony is to maintain communication between the pueblo's government and colony members. Members preserve their culture in an urban setting and adhere to the pueblo's constitution, ordinances, customs and regulations, as well as promote and provide educational and charitable services to members.

To demonstrate their sincerity about cultural preservation, many of the members return to the pueblo to take part in the traditional religious ceremonies. Some, especially the elders, speak the Keresan language fluently and converse in this dialect at the monthly meetings and/or social gatherings. Younger members take the Keresan course provided by the colony."

Get the Story:
Katherine Augustine: A milestone worth noting (The Albuquerque Journal 2/15)

Relevant Links:
Laguna Pueblo - http://www.lagunapueblo.org