Flashback to 1986, Laguna Pueblo, the iconic view from Interstate 40, New Mexico. I’ve revisited Laguna Pueblo twice in the last two months. Each time reiterates the experience I had the first time I visited Laguna Pueblo in 1986. I was looking back in time, much like visitors had, over the centuries past. The view from the freeway is pretty much unchanged with the terraced housing and mission church of Saint Joseph dominated by Mount Taylor, a stratovolcano, named in 1849 after then president Zachary Taylor. In the village today, there is a “round-about”, sidewalks, some street lighting and a new administration building. The charm and friendly nature of the people I met there thirty years ago, was exemplified on these last few visits by the local priest sitting in a pew, with his bare feet resting on the earthen floor. He regaled us with many stories in the cool, slightly moist, air of the cavernous mission church. His voice rose softly, echoing around the interior, and off the walls of the building as if summoning up the ghosts from the past to bare witness to his tales. Thanks for looking. G
4 thoughts on “Laguna Pueblo New Mexico”
A nice image made better by a great description. I love the word picture you created of the priest and his bare feet on the dirt floor.
I thought you’d like it, Ron. A combination of our trip and the previous trip. I would have liked you to meet the priest. Chat soon. G
I am a decendant of Harvey Thomas Mosley. He was the son of a woman named Sue that was half Native Laguna Indian. They lived on the pueblo sometime between 1921 and 1940.
Is there any possible way to learn more? I wished I’d have payed more attention. Sometimes grandpa would chant in the car on our way to school.
Thanks for taking the time to write. My knowledge is limited.
Here’s what the internet says.
G
Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico: A Rich Cultural Landscape
Location & Scope
•Laguna Pueblo, known in Western Keres as Kawaika (“lake people”), is a federally recognized Native American tribe in west-central New Mexico, about 45 miles west of Albuquerque, along historic Route 66  .
•Its reservation spans roughly 500,000 acres across four counties: Cibola, Sandoval, Valencia, and Bernalillo   .
•The land includes six villages: Laguna, Encinal, Mesita, Paguate, Paraje, and Seama  .
Historical Roots
•Archaeological evidence places human presence in the area as far back as 3000 B.C., with more continuous occupation since A.D. 1300  .
•Laguna Pueblo was formally established in 1699, after the Pueblo Revolt (1680) and Spanish reconquest, by Kawaik refugees from other pueblos such as Santo Domingo, Cochiti, Zia, and others   .
The Laguna “Lagoon”
•The name Laguna—Spanish for “small lake”—refers to a long-dry lake originally created by the Laguna people via an ancient dam and irrigation system, which supported extensive agriculture  .
Cultural & Spiritual Life
•The Mission San José de la Laguna, built between 1699 and 1701, remains a vivid landmark and functioning parish church, built of stone and adobe and listed on the National Register of Historic Places   .
•Feast days are central communal events: each village holds its own celebration, and all come together for the Feast of St. Joseph on September 19, with Mass, traditional dances, and arts and crafts booths  .
Language & Social Structure
•Laguna Pueblo residents speak Western Keresan, and their ancestral name Kawaik reflects a longstanding cultural identity  .
•Historically, the Pueblo featured agricultural, matrilineal clans, with strong community and ceremonial traditions .
Economy & Modern Life
•The economy historically relied on agriculture, shifting later to livestock, uranium mining (c. 1950s), tourism, and crafts   .
•Today, economic development includes businesses operated by the Laguna Development Corporation, such as a casino, travel center, supermarkets, convenience stores, and construction ventures—even with international operations  .
• The Pueblo also provides education, scholarships funded partly by mining revenues, healthcare, public safety, and community foundations   .
•Social challenges persist: per-capita income stands around $17,000, with about 27 % of tribal members living below the poverty line .
Art, Culture & Heritage Preservation
•Laguna is celebrated for its pottery, textiles, jewelry, and other artistic traditions that carry symbolic designs through generations  .
•Traditional dances like the Corn and Buffalo Dances reinforce spiritual and communal bonds .
•Cultural resilience continues through educational programs, government structures, and cultural events that pass heritage to youth  .
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In Summary
Laguna Pueblo is a deeply rooted community, with an expansive ancestral history, a resilient cultural and spiritual identity, and evolving economic frameworks. From the iconic St. Joseph Mission to feast celebrations, pottery artistry, and modern enterprises, the Pueblo of Laguna offers a living legacy that remains both rooted in tradition and growing toward the future.