Ohkay Owingeh, “Place of the Strong People,” was established on the Rio Grande over 600 years ago. 30 miles north of Santa Fe, it is the largest of the Tewa pueblos. The historic core contains over 100 buildings, including ancient homes, an 1890 chapel, and tribal facilities from the 1970s. The buildings are in poor condition and 30% of the dwellings are uninhabitable.

We have worked closely with the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority on a preservation plan for Owe’neh Bupingeh, the Tewa name for the plazas. The plan provides for quality housing within restored and new buildings, while returning the area to its traditional form. The project began with a small grant from the NM Historic Preservation Division through which we trained Pueblo students in GPS technology and mapped the village. The plan included assessments of all dwellings and preservation standards developed collaboratively with the tribe. Oral histories from tribal elders regarding the physical history of the Pueblo were integrated into our findings.

The first phase of construction, funded through HUD grants, including a federal stimulus award, was recently completed. The renovations include modern amenities and adobe restoration, including the reintroduction of mud plaster.