Celebrate Native American Heritage in Albuquerque
It's Native American Heritage Month and New Mexico is home to 23 diverse Native American pueblos, tribes and nations.
There’s so much to do in Albuquerque anytime of year — a certain cult-fave show was filmed here (and since then it’s become a production hot spot) and the yearly International Balloon Festival takes place here, too. You’ll probably recognize Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm in dreamy IG posts featuring lavender fields and alpacas.
But did you know that there are 23 Native communities in New Mexico alone? When you visit Albuquerque make it a point to learn about New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos, 3 Apache tribes, and the Navajo Nation — each a sovereign nation with its own traditions, culture and government. November is Native American Heritage Month and a great time to visit the Land of Enchantment. I was in Albuquerque a couple years ago and really got to experience the culture through museums, art exhibits, native dishes and local festivals that were taking place at the time. I even learned to make frybread, a recipe born out of necessity over 150 years ago.
Eat and Drink
Learn about the Pueblo people at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and dine at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen.
I would usually never send you to a Starbucks, but the one at Avanyu Plaza is unique because it’s the only freestanding Starbucks Coffee licensed to a Native American-owned company in the US. This coffee shop features Pueblo-inspired architecture, two kiva fireplaces, handmade Pueblo pottery and art commissioned specifically for the location.
ABQ has so many breweries, it’s hard to decide which to visit when you have a limited amount of time. I caught up with friends at Bow & Arrow, the first brewery in the country owned by Native American women. The brewery has a cool, industrial design inside and food trucks line up outside most days. You can see the food truck schedule here.
Stay
Stay at Hotel Chaco, Albuquerque’s newest luxury hotel, built with inspiration from the ancient pueblo culture of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The hotel is in ABQ’s Historic Old Town and features authentically-designed interiors and an extensive collection of contemporary Native American New Mexican art. The hotel’s rooftop restaurant and lounge, Level 5, offers local and regional wines and ingredients as well as stunning sunset views.
Nativo Lodge, part of the Heritage Hotels and Resorts family (like Hotel Chaco), is a cool budget hotel with rates starting at less than $100 per night. With a shaman statue in the lobby, Nativo has an important story to tell. The hotel donates money to local causes and invited local artists to design 36 of its rooms in 2018. Each is original and different and guests can choose a room design they like when booking.
Explore
See 400 to 700-year-old ancient carvings at Petroglyph National Monument.
Shop for Native American art and jewelry at Bien Mur Indian Market Center, Palms Trading Co., Indian Pueblo Store and other boutiques/galleries in the city.
Tour Downtown Albuquerque’s murals created by Native American artists.