Rise of the Pueblo of Isleta

Welcome from the Isleta Pueblo !

~ Home of the Southern Tiwa People of New Mexico ~

***“MaGuWam!”*** means ***“Welcome!”*** in the native language of the **Tiwa People** of the Pueblo of Isleta. The Isleta people descended from the first humans to arrive in **the Americas** about 15–20,000 years ago. The Isleta Pueblo is located in the central region of **New Mexico** in the **United States,** about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Albuquerque along the **Rio Grande**.

The Pueblo of Isleta is the home of the largest of the southern Tiwa Tribes, one of about 634 tribes of the Native American Nation that are both federally and state recognized. We are one of the larger pueblos in both size and population in the state of New Mexico, United States.

The native name for the Isleta Pueblo is Shiewhibak which is a traditional footrace played by the community. Isleta is the name given to the pueblo by the Spanish when they arrived in the 1500s. It means “Little Island.”

The Tiwa population descended from the first people to arrive in the Americas about 15-20,000 years ago. They formed as a distinct group from the original Paleo-Indians that migrated from Eurasia and spread across the vast canvas of the Americas, branching into diverse cultures and languages. From this group emerged the Kiowa–Tanoan macrofamily — a lineage that would one day give rise to the Tiwa people of Isleta Pueblo, whose roots stretch deep into the soil of the Southwest and echo across the plains.

The Pueblo of Isleta tribe has been officially recognized by the United States government since the mid-1800s and was formally recognized with the passage of the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Explore the ecological wisdoms and deep cultural richness of The Pueblo of the Isleta here with the Tiwa People and Ecology Prime^™ Indigenous Peoples !

**Janice Lucero**
*“Cotton Blossom”*
**The Pueblo of Isleta**

MaGuWam! Welcome!

Welcome to my home! I am Janice Lucero, also known as Cotton Blossom. I am an eighth generation farmer on the Pueblo. I grow a variety of crops, but mainly corn, beans and squash. One particular part of the garden is dedicated to salsa with a variety of tomatoes and peppers which I bring to market. I am deeply immersed in our traditional lifestyle, culture and language. The passion that I have for the land of the people is very significant to me and being able to teach the youth about our rich history is extremely fulfilling and it is a purpose I feel called to.

Cotton Blossom Gardens is a website I created that embodies the spirit and culture of the Isleta people. Our purpose is to cultivate meaningful relationships with ourselves, friends, family, community and Mother Earth, living by the core values of Love, Respect, Gratitude, Equality, Compassion and Unity. We strive to help the world blossom into ascension, we are growing stronger kinships to provide a better tomorrow for the next generations to come. ☀️

Visual Timeline:
Visit the Ancient Rise of the Tiwa People and the Isleta Pueblo.……
CLICK HERE!

Isleta Pueblo Ecology & Cultural Statistics

Native Language: Southern Tiwa (Isleta Dialect).
Working Language: English.
Population (2025): 4,478.
Population Density: 1.83 people per km² | 13.61 people per mi².
Location: Southwestern United States in the state of New Mexico. It is centrally located in New Mexico, about 24 kilometers (15 miles) south of Albuquerque in the Rio Grande Valley bordered by the Rio Grande River and the Manzano Mountains to the east and the desert mesa lands of Rio Puerco (the Puerco River) to the west.
Land Area: 2,411.3 km² | 329 mi² | 210,560 acres
Water Area: About 1.5% of total land area or 36.2 km² | 4.9 mi² | 3,258 acres
Air Quality: 42 – GOOD. The current average annual air quality index is in the GOOD range. It is tied in with the air quality of neighboring Albuquerque, New Mexico.

View the Isleta Pueblo’s Current Air Quality

Real Time Air Quality Index – AQI

(Provided by IQAir)
Click Here!

The **Pueblo of Isleta** plays an important role in stewardship and conservation efforts in the **Isleta Reach**, an ecologically rich 34-mile stretch along the **Rio Grande**. While not actually located on the Isleta Pueblo reservation, the pueblo has partnered with organizations like **Audubon New Mexico** to support **riparian** habitat restoration and water conservation in the area. Pictured: Isleta Reach Farmland – Rio Grande (Photo by Amy Erickson, **Audubon Southwest**)

Flora and Fauna of the Isleta Pueblo

Running about 33.8 kilometers (21 miles) along the riverfront of the Rio Grande, the Pueblo of Isleta harbors a rich mosaic of riparian forests, woodlands and wetlands (located on or by riverbanks and streams), desert scrub and seasonal wetlands and playas. The Pueblo of Isleta’s flora and land are home to a wide array of fauna species, including a wide range of birds, fish, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and arachnids. The Pueblo of Isleta has also been involved in projects related to wildlife habitat enhancement.

Estimated Living Species (Flora and Fauna) : 600 – plus

~ There are over 600 plant and animal species that live on the Isleta Pueblo land, annually and seasonally. ~

Vascular Plant Species: ~350
Bird Species: ~225
Mammal Species: ~60
Amphibian Species: ~25
Native Fish Species: ~10

Main Flora Groups

Bosque (riparian forest): Dominated by cottonwood, willow, and native grasses.
Piñon–Juniper Woodlands: Piñon pine and junipers interspersed with desert shrubs.
Desert Scrub: Sagebrush, creosote bush, yucca, grasses and a rich herbaceous understory.
Seasonal Wetlands and Playas: Home to cattails, sedges and a suite of moisture-loving forbs.

Main Fauna Groups

Mule Deer – Arizona (Wikimedia CC 2.0 by Henry)

Birds: From waterfowl (mallards, herons) along the river to raptors (Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle) and desert songbirds (verdins, cactus wrens).
Mammals: Mule deer, desert cottontail, coyote, bobcat, and numerous small rodents and bats.
Reptiles & Amphibians: Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, Collared Lizard, New Mexico Whiptail, Northern Leopard Frog, among others.
Fish: Native Rio Grande cutthroat trout, Rio Grande silvery minnow, and various catfish and sunfish species in the river corridor.
Invertebrates: Thousands of insect species, including pollinators like native bees and butterflies crucial to bosque and upland ecosystems.
Arachnids: The desert, forest and water biomes of the Isleta Pueblo support a rich diversity of spiders. scorpions, tarantulas that are native to the area from the Arizona Bark Scorpion and the Texas Tan Tarantula to the Western Black Widow and Daddy-longlegs.

**Cuckoo Birds in the Rio Grande habitat – Albuquerque, NM (Pexels photo by Ben Vickers)**

The Dragon Fly Symbol in Isleta Pueblo Culture

The Dragonfly symbol is associated with the Isleta Pueblo. The Isleta Cross, also known as the Pueblo Cross, is a significant design in Isleta Pueblo culture; it is a very old Pueblo design associated with the Isleta Pueblo and is similar to the dragonfly symbol of their culture. Many Puebloans incorporated the Isleta Cross into their jewelry, reflecting the spiritual and cultural significance of the dragonfly. The dragonfly symbol in Isleta Pueblo culture signifies rain and its life-giving force, representing a source of renewal for the land, plants, animals, and human life. It embodies the stripping away of negativity, helping individuals achieve their dreams and goals. The dragonfly also represents the keeper of dreams, the energy that sees all of our true potential and ability.

Built in 1934, the **Isleta Iverson Dam** is situated on the Rio Grande within the Pueblo of Isleta and serves the irrigation needs of the area. It is 6.4 meters (21 feet) high and 205.5 meters (674 feet) long, with a capacity of 30.3 cubic meters (1,070 cubic feet) per second; however, it poses some ecological challenges which are being addressed by the **Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District**, among others. (Wikimedia CC 3.0 by John Phelan)

Did You Know…?

Check Out These Fascinating Facts about the Isleta Pueblo and People

The Isleta Pueblo is located on a low lava flow and gravel bench on the west bank of the Rio Grande. Its Tiwa name is Tsugwevaga, means “kick flint,” a popular game.
The Pueblo of Isleta is situated in a valley at the southern base of the Sandia Mountains, with the Rio Grande running down the middle of it.
Environmental stewardship is part of the Isleta philosophy, as with all Native American cultures. Its core values are: reverence for nature, reciprocity, everything has spirit and is alive.
The Pueblo of Isleta’s concern regarding water quality is that it is vital to every aspect of their way of life from farming to religious ceremonies.
Primarily noted for its extensive crops and orchards, the Isleta was one of the largest and most prosperous pueblos in New Mexico in the 1700s and 1800s.
The oldest section of the Isleta Pueblo comprises adobe buildings surrounding a central plaza and cultivated lands on all sides.
Despite many ecological, colonization, intertribal conflicts and pressures from the outside world, the Isleta people have managed to preserve their cultural identity and traditions through the generations. This commitment is evident in its efforts to revitalize traditional farming practices, promoting language preservation and its unique identity, among others.

Related Sources and Research on the Pueblo of Isleta