SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 2

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2006

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

ACKNOWLEDGING THE NAME CHANGE OF THE PUEBLO FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE PUEBLO OF SAN JUAN AND NOW TO BE KNOWN AS OHKAY OWINGEH.

     WHEREAS, the tribal entity formerly known as the Pueblo of San Juan is located north of Espanola; and

     WHEREAS, the name "San Juan de los Caballeros" was bestowed upon the pueblo in 1598 by Don Juan de Onate in honor of his patron saint John the Baptist; and

     WHEREAS, the people living in the area formerly known as the Pueblo of San Juan have traditionally called their ancestral home Ohkay Owingeh or "place of the strong people" in the Tewa language; and

     WHEREAS, the pueblo members and the tribal council have concurred and endorsed officially changing the pueblo's name to Ohkay Owingeh in recognition of the long history of the Indian pueblo prior to the arrival of Spanish colonists and missionaries in the sixteenth century; and

     WHEREAS, the support of the legislature of New Mexico is requested in acknowledging the name change of the pueblo of San Juan to Ohkay Owingeh;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the name change of the Pueblo of San Juan to Ohkay Owingeh and the effort of Governor Joe Garcia in working to restore the true tribal name to the community be acknowledged; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state change highway and road signs, maps and any other public documents printed by the state to reflect the name Ohkay Owingeh; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States department of the interior be requested to acknowledge the name change of the pueblo of San Juan to Ohkay Owingeh; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor of Ohkay Owingeh, the secretary of the interior and the New Mexico secretary of transportation.

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