Our History
The Creation of the 19 Pueblos District
Officially established in 2013, the 19 Pueblos District is an area rich in history, culture, and tradition nestled within the beautiful landscapes of New Mexico.
June 7, 1882
Land Designated
Elias S. Clark, an Albuquerque resident, deeded 65.79 acres to the United States for an industrial school for the 19 New Mexico Pueblos
June 7, 1882
1886
Founding of the School
The Albuquerque Indian School was founded and existed until 1981
1981
Pueblos Purpose Land for Economic Development
The New Mexico Pueblos petitioned the United States for the transfer of approximately 44 acres of land located on the former Albuquerque Indian school site for the purpose of economic development.
1981
Land Use Approved
The Department of the Interior's Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs approved the request and conveyed the 44 acres of Federal land to the 19 New Mexico Pueblos for their use and benefit pursuant to regulations in effect at the time.
Interior Secretary Manual Lujan, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, City Councilors, and Governors of the Pueblos worked with the Department of the Interior to house the Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Office where the old Albuquerque Indian School once stood.
25 programs of the Southwest Regional Office as well as a federal DOI agency, the Office of Environmental Quality and Compliance, and some 20 different divisions of the Southern Pueblos Agency, moved from five Downtown office buildings into a brand new, 146,000-square-foot office complex owned by the Indian Pueblos Federal Development Corporation (IPFDC) at 1001 Indian School NW.
Interior Secretary Manual Lujan, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, City Councilors, and Governors of the Pueblos worked with the Department of the Interior to house the Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Office where the old Albuquerque Indian School once stood.
25 programs of the Southwest Regional Office as well as a federal DOI agency, the Office of Environmental Quality and Compliance, and some 20 different divisions of the Southern Pueblos Agency, moved from five Downtown office buildings into a brand new, 146,000-square-foot office complex owned by the Indian Pueblos Federal Development Corporation (IPFDC) at 1001 Indian School NW.
1993
Revitalizing the Property
The direction and development of the property and the land was not transparent under IPFDC. New tribal leadership emerged to rectify the issues that undermined the development and started on a path forward with accountability, integrity, transparency, and open communication needed for the proper development of the property.
1993
2013
Establishing the 19 Pueblos District
In 2013, the 19 New Mexico Pueblos adopted a Charter for the purpose of establishing a governance structure for the Albuquerque Indian School Land under sovereign authority of the Pueblos and for the benefit of the Pueblos. The governmental entity operating under this Charter, initially called the Albuquerque Indian School District, is now known as the 19 Pueblos District (the District). The District is governed by a Governing Council made up of the Governor from each of the 19 Pueblos has the authority pursuant to the District’s Charter to:
- Adopt ordinances
- Impose and collect taxes
- Regulate land uses
- Provide a judicial system and law enforcement
- Enter into agreements with other governments
- Approve budgets and distribute revenues to Participating Tribes
- Exercise other governmental powers
- Establish a policy/vision for achieving Charter directives
