Zuni Pueblo, NM
McKinley County · Northwest NM
Zuni Pueblo
Zuni Pueblo, with approximately 6,302 residents (2020 Census), is the largest of New Mexico's 19 pueblos and is located in McKinley and Cibola counties approximately 35 miles south of Gallup. The Zuni people, or A:shiwi, have occupied this area for thousands of years and maintain one of the most culturally intact indigenous communities in North America. The pueblo is renowned worldwide for its artists, particularly those who create fetish carvings, needlepoint and petit point jewelry, and inlay silverwork.
Cultural Significance
The annual Shalako ceremony, held in late November or early December, is one of the most significant religious events in the Pueblo world. The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center preserves Zuni history and cultural artifacts. Zuni lands are held in trust and are not available for private real estate purchase. The pueblo operates the Halona Plaza trading area where visitors can purchase authentic Zuni art directly from artists. The nearby Village of the Great Kivas, a Chaco-era outlier, reflects the pueblo's deep archaeological heritage.