Albuquerque Journal: Congressional proposal would transfer more land to fast-growing Indian Pueblo Cultural Center campus

A fast-growing area of Albuquerque would get another boost from federal legislation that would transfer the nearly 10 acres that were part of the former Albuquerque Indian School to a trust run by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.
The transfer would be for the benefit of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which is run jointly by the 19 pueblos of New Mexico.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich sponsored the legislation, while U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is a co-sponsor. Luján is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. On the House side, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury is supporting the legislation. All are New Mexico Democrats.
“My legislation expands on decades of bipartisan work to put the former Albuquerque Indian School campus and surrounding tracts of land in to trust for the 19 Pueblos in New Mexico,” Heinrich said in a statement. “This land, in particular, will be used by the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to scale Native-owned businesses, create jobs, and expand business services for local and Native-owned businesses – an economic win for everyone.”
“Our 19 Pueblos of New Mexico have come together to create a place in the heart of Albuquerque where Pueblo culture is celebrated and uplifted while creating pathways for progress,” Indian Pueblo Cultural CenterPresident and CEO Monique Fraguasaid in a statement. “This congressional action to transfer federal land honors our mission and empowers us to expand economic opportunities and cultural initiatives. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Sen. Heinrich and his team for their unwavering commitment to this cause and to the future of Pueblo people.”
TheIndian Pueblo Cultural Center campusincludes 80 acres of land in Albuquerque, which includes a museum and gallery space. The campus is located in a cultural and business district, which is also owned and operated by the Pueblos.
This includes theIndian Pueblo Kitchen,an entrepreneurial complex, the Four Winds convenience store, commercial retail and restaurant lease space, multiple hotels and more.
“The Albuquerque Indian School Land Transfer Act of 2025 will expand economic development and cultural education opportunities for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, which serves all nineteen of New Mexico’s Pueblos,” Luján said in a statement. “I am proud to introduce this legislation to help the center grow its capacity as a cultural and economic institution, creating jobs and generating revenue for New Mexico’s Pueblos and our communities.”
In 2015, Congress passed a law that transferred 11.1 acres that were part of the Albuquerque Indian School to the trust of the 19 Pueblos.