Pueblo de Santa Ana Announces Reacquisition and Preservation of Ancestral Lands

Myron Armijo, governor of Santa Ana Pueblo, left, and Kevin C. Montoya, lieutenant governor of Santa Ana Pueblo. Courtesy photo

The Pueblo of Santa Ana and Bureau of Indian Affairs officials on Wednesday officially signed a trust agreement for 60,000 acres of ancestral lands with the Pueblo of Santa Ana. Courtesy photo

Santa Ana Village News:

Pueblo takes stewardship of 60,000 acres to preserve its history and culture

The Pueblo of Santa Ana and the Bureau of Indian The Southwest Affairs regional office announced on Wednesday the official signing of a trust agreement for Tamaya. Kwii Kee Nee Puu, 60,000 acres of ancestral lands, formerly known as King Alamo Ranch, on the Pueblo of Santa Ana. The land has deep traditional importance to the Pueblo.

“The Pueblo of Santa Ana is delighted to rediscover our ancestral heritage land and take stewardship of the property to preserve our historic and cultural activities,” Santa Ana Pueblo Governor » said Myron Armijo. “The 60,000 acres are being transferred into a trust to support our posterity and the future generations of our Pueblo »

Signing a trust signifies legal ownership and management of the land to preserve the Pueblo ancestry and culture. These lands represent ancestral agricultural and hunting grounds of the Tamayame people, later used for traditional grazing following the introduction of domestic agriculture. livestock by Spanish settlers. The 60,000 acres under trust are bordered to the west next to Rio Puerco and Pueblo de Laguna, to the east by Rio Rancho Estates, to the north next to the Pueblo of Zia, and to the south by private lands.

The official trust fee signing ceremony took place Wednesday at Prairie Star Restaurant, Santa Ana Pueblo and stakeholders from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, PNM, legal services representatives associated with the trust and representatives of the government of the Pueblo of Santa Ana.

About the Pueblo of Santa Ana

The Pueblo of Santa Ana is a federally recognized tribe of Native Americans. As a native sovereign nation, it has executive, legislative and judicial governmental power to govern and protect the health, safety and well-being of its members, and preserve its culture and history. Since In the early 1980s, the Pueblo of Santa Ana actively pursued a tribal development strategy businesses recognize economic independence as essential to maintaining and safeguarding their traditional concepts and values. Its indigenous community and businesses provide employment to its tribes. members, but also generates economic activity for non-natives benefiting Sandoval and Bernalillo Counties in New Mexico.

About the Bureau of Indian Affairs

At 200 years old, the Bureau of Indian Affairs is the oldest office in the Department of Indian Affairs. Interior. Our mission is to improve the quality of life, promote economic opportunities and carry out the federal responsibilities assigned to us to protect and enhance the trust assets of American Indians and Alaska Natives. We achieve this either directly through contracts or compact chords.

Ancestral land of the Pueblo of Santa Ana. Courtesy photo