Governor Paul Chinana's Welcome Message

Welcome to the Pueblo of Jemez and thank you for visiting our web site.

The Pueblo of Jemez is one of 19 Native American Pueblos in New Mexico. The Pueblo is home to approximately 2,700 people, nearly all of whom are Jemez tribal members and speak the Towa language. From a recent report, the total tribal membership is 3,374.

With a rich history, traditional culture and religion, and the preservation of our complex ancient language, the Pueblo of Jemez possesses qualities unique from any other community in the United States.

From our migration to the Four Corners area in the 13th century and the first European contact in 1541, through the Pueblo Revolt against the Spanish in 1680, and the resettlement and integration of the Pueblo of Pecos into the Pueblo of Jemez in 1838, the Pueblo of Jemez is prepared to build on our people's strengths and resources to move to a better future. With the preservation and conservation of our cultural and natural resources as our guide, we stand ready to meet the changes and challenges of this 21 st century

Like many tribal communities, Pueblo of Jemez has many challenges to face: the need to settle tribal water rights claims; stable funding for health care; improved education methods for our children that incorporate our language and culture; competitive telecommunication services and practices; and improved housing conditions.

One venture toward improving our economic capacity is the proposed Jemez-Anthony Casino Project, the largest private economic development project in the history of New Mexico 's Doña Ana County . This proposed casino will provide 950 good-paying jobs with health insurance, on-the-job training, opportunities for advancement and other benefits for area residents, as well as resulting in millions of dollars in revenue. This casino will greatly improve both the Pueblo of Jemez community and Doña Ana County .

As the Governor of the Pueblo of Jemez, I am excited about the many changes and opportunities to provide a brighter future for the Pueblo of Jemez. Enjoy your visit to our website. We welcome you to visit our community as well.

Paul S. Chinana
Governor