ABOUT

Here, at the Poeh, old rhythms of life and ways of making beauty are still vital. People bring beauty to the world on a pathway of being, doing, and sharing called the Poeh. In the Tewa Pueblo language, Poeh translates to “path,” and the Poeh Cultural Center embodies that pathway, the essence of what it means to be a Tewa person – to be Pueblo.
Like all Tewa Pueblos of northern New Mexico, the Pueblo of Pojoaque or its traditional Po’su wae geh name, which translates to “water gathering place,” was systematically stripped of its culture and traditions by European contact in the 16th century. The Pueblo of Pojoaque is revitalizing and sustaining its cultural traditions in part through the efforts of the Poeh. In 1988, the Pueblo of Pojoaque established the Poeh Cultural Center as the first permanent tribally owned and operated mechanism for cultural preservation and revitalization within the Pueblo communities of the northern Rio Grande Valley. The Poeh has since become a resource for Pueblo people to learn the arts and culture of their ancestors. The facility resembles a traditional Pueblo village with its adjacent art studio buildings and outdoor gathering areas. The Center emphasizes the arts and cultures of all Pueblo People, focusing on the Tewa-speaking Pueblos of Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Clara, Tesuque, and Nambe.

The Poeh is guided by planning sessions with the Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Council, elected Pueblo of Pojoaque Tribal Officials, Poeh Advisory Committee, Poeh staff, students, faculty, and local community members. After twenty-five years, the Poeh conducted strategic planning, and the outcome has initiated an even greater emphasis on Tewa cultural values. A new vision statement, mission statement, mission objectives, and strategic themes guide the center in becoming a more significant asset to the community by uniquely promoting Tewa values in its organizational principles.