Santo Domingo Jewelry Demonstration

Santo Domingo Pueblo Jewelry demonstration with Harvey Abeyta and Priscilla Nieto Santo. Santo Domingo, one of the Rio Grande pueblos, lies between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Don Juan de Oñate y Salazar and the conquering Spaniards named this place in the 1600’s; Santo Domingo was the Spanish headquarters in the province of Queres, though the earliest known name for the village was Gipuy. Locally, this pueblo has been called Kewa for many years, and in 2009 the name was formally changed to reflect this. The Santo Domingo Pueblo people of New Mexico are known worldwide for their talents as lapidary artists. Bead making is a timeless art form that has changed little over the years. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Santo Domingo people actively mined turquoise from what is now the Cerrillos Mine, and made turquoise necklaces which were used for trading between tribes. Each bead was entirely cut, shaped, drilled and polished by hand. Today, many of the village’s people make jewelry, pottery, and beaded art work. Eighty percent of children entering school speak Keresan, their native language. At this demonstration participants will learn about the artists’ process and materials and the important role jewelry making plays in the Santo Domingo Pueblo and many other Native American cultures.