Native American Pueblos and Reservations near Albuquerque

A valued part of the cultural wealth of southwest living in New Mexico is the proximity to Native American Pueblos and Reservations. Native American culture permeates everything from architecture to cuisine in New Mexico. One way to learn more about it is by visiting the numerous pueblos and reservations near Albuquerque. What is the difference between a pueblo and a reservation?

Pueblos are traditional Native American communities of the Southwest. Though some pueblos have few standing adobe buildings, the communities are recognized worldwide for adobe buildings, which are also sometimes called "pueblos." The word pueblo, in Spanish, means "village". An Indian reservation is land which is managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs. Reservations were established when Americans began to forcibly take land from the American Indians, who had lived there for thousands of years. Because the land is federal territory and Native Americans have limited national sovereignty, there are often legal casinos on reservations, usually to attract tourists.

Native American Pueblos are sovereign nations, with their own laws and culture. A basic knowledge of proper etiquette when visiting these homelands is vital. This article from New Mexico magazine provides a brief guide to Native American Pueblos in New Mexico and basic etiquette required when visiting them.

The photo above shows part of the Walatowa Reception Area on the Jemez Pueblo in Central New Mexico (Highway 4, Jemez Mountains). This is the only part of the Jemez Pueblo where photography is allowed.