The Branigan Cultural Center is honored to host a multi-cultural, collaborative exhibit focusing on six Indigenous groups in our area. Land of the People: Shimba Tainin kau natheure wein - Sacred Grounds - Ndende bì Ke’ya - Naf'ole atsihem - Nde benah - Ndee Biyááh tells the story of six Indigenous groups with historic roots and contemporary involvement in the Borderland region.
The exhibit opens Saturday, September 6, and runs through May 2027. There is a grand opening that will include members from all the Indigenous groups on September 6 at the Branigan Cultural Center courtyard from 9am to 1pm MDT.
Through their own words and perspectives, each group presents information about their traditions and current lifeways. Featured groups in the exhibit are Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, Pueblo of Tortugas, Mescalero Apache Tribe, Piro-Manso-Tiwa Indian Tribe, Chiricahua Apache, and Gila Apache. Reflecting the collaborative nature of this exhibit, each group has included their interpretation of the term “Land of the People” within the title.
A secondary, rotating gallery changes every 12 weeks, which allows each Indigenous group to go deeper into their own unique stories, traditions, and perspectives. The exhibit sequence is as follows:
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, September 6 –November 29, 2025
Pueblo of Tortugas December 20, 2025 – March 14, 2026
Mescalero Apache Tribe April 4 – June 27, 2026
Piro-Manso-Tiwa Indian Tribe July 18– October 10, 2026
Chiricahua Apache Nation November 7, 2026 – January 30, 2027
Gila Apache February 20 – May 15, 2027
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