The 19 Pueblos District, formerly known as the Albuquerque Indian School District, is a political subdivision of the nineteen (19) New Mexico Pueblos.

In 2011, the Albuquerque Indian School Task Force formulated this unique governmental entity and the Tribal Councils of the 19 New Mexico Pueblos passed resolutions creating the new government and granting authority to their respective Governors to govern this property.

The governing body of the 19 Pueblo Districts, consisting of the 19 Governors or their representatives, is called the Governing Council. The governing document for the District is its Charter. The Charter was adopted by the Pueblo Governors for the purpose of establishing a governance structure for the 19 Pueblos District Lands under the sovereign authority of the Pueblos, and for the benefit of the 19 Participating Pueblos. Prior to 2011, the now defunct Indian Pueblo Federal Development Corporation (IPFDC) managed the lands and businesses within the District. The conflicts between governmental and business functions demonstrated the importance of separation between government and business.

Per the Charter, the Governing Council has the authority to adopt ordinances, impose and collect taxes, regulate land use, provide for a judicial system and law enforcement, enter into agreements with other governments and establish the vision and policies for achieving Charter directives. The ordinances and laws are enacted by the Governing Council. While in some instances, the District has adopted New Mexico or City of Albuquerque laws and ordinances, in others, the District adopted its own ordinances such as its tax ordinances. The District’s laws are separate from the 19 New Mexico Pueblos’ laws and ordinances.

The Oversight Commission provides due diligence and makes recommendations to the Governing Council on District matters, for final decision-by the Governing Council. The Oversight Commission consists of six Commissioners appointed by the 19 Pueblos (three from the Northern Pueblos and three from the Southern Pueblos) and one At-Large Commissioner appointed by the six Commissioners. The Oversight Commission meets monthly, while the Governing Council meets quarterly. The daily operations of the District are managed by a District Manager/Tax Administrator and an Executive Assistant. The District contracts its accounting and legal services.

The 19 Pueblos District operates as an efficient, transparent, and fiscally prudent government whose purpose is to provide governmental revenues to the 19 Participating Pueblos.