The University of New Mexico

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Contact: Karen Wentworth, (505) 277-5627
kwent2@unm.edu

February 21, 2006

University Libraries Implements Name Change for Ohkay Owingeh

How do archivists handle a major name change for a Native American group? University Libraries at the University of New Mexico has just completed a change in the online archiving system that identifies the pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. It is the first library in the nation to do make the change. Historical information about the pueblo can now be found by using Ohkay Owingeh or San Juan Pueblo.

For the past four centuries the pueblo has been known as San Juan Pueblo in New Mexico, but last December the tribal government formally changed the name back to the designation tribal members use when speaking of the pueblo. The name means place of strong people in Tewa.

The San Juan Pueblo designation came about in 1598 when Don Juan de Oñate explored the territory on behalf of the King of Spain and decided to name the community San Juan de los Cabelleros, in honor of his personal patron saint.

The online access points are now available for anyone using the University Libraries online catalog.

 


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