photo #9060336

Meet Pablo Abeita (Isleta Pueblo, 1871–1940) Born into a native family of Isleta Pueblo, Abeita grew up speaking Tiwa and English. He was educated in the Jesuit School at Old Albuquerque, then at St Michael's College in Santa Fe because of his aptitude for learning. His ten years of formal education were rare for anyone in territorial New Mexico at that time, but especially for a Native American. After that, he worked first as a typesetter at the Albuquerque newspaper and then at a family business in Isleta. With his knowledge of English, Spanish, and several dialects of Tiwa, plus Towa, Western Keresan, and some Hopi and Navajo, he was selected by the “19 Pueblos of New Mexico” In 1889, at only nineteen years old, to serve on the All Indian Pueblo Council, which was organized again after a 300-year hiatus during the colonial period. Even at such a young age, Abeita's wisdom and diplomacy impressed those around him. In the same year, 1913, Abeita was appointed by the tribe as a judge, and elected Secretary of the All Indian Pueblo Council. Under his leadership, the Council became more active in the 1920s, fighting off attempts by the federal government to confiscate and sell off pueblo lands. In a major reversal to powerful business interests, the Council convinced Congress to pass the Pueblo Lands Act in 1924, which confirmed pueblo title to their lands. Historian Joe Sando later said of Abeita's diplomatic skills and leadership ability, “in another era the pueblo governor might well have been elected as a governor of the state of New Mexico.” At the time, Native Americans generally did not run for general state offices and were restricted from voting as US citizens, if they were members of federally recognized tribes. A man of ability, Pablo served where he could and helped make a place for his people in our contemporary world.