We are honored to be hosting an opening reception for the Tortugas Pueblo: "Land of the People: Tierra Sagrada." An opening reception will be held Saturday, December 20, from 10am to 11:45am MST at the Branigan Cultural Center.
Located south of Las Cruces, the ancestors of the current Tortugas Pueblo left Spanish missions in El Paso during the early 1800s and moved into the Mesilla Valley, ultimately settling in their present location by the 1880s. Working with Colonel Eugene Van Patton, the Pueblo obtained 40 acres of land in 1908, and in 1914, La Corporacion de los Indigenes de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe was formed.
Their annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Fiesta in December is a significant ceremony for members of the Pueblo, which is also enjoyed by members of the surrounding community. Come learn about the Tortugas Pueblo and their rich history and legacy in the Mesilla Valley.
"Land of the People: Tierra Sagrada" will be open December 20, 2025, through March 14, 2026, within the "Land of the People" Exhibit.
Within the "Land of the People: Shimba Tainin kau natheure wein - Tierra Sagrada - Ndende bì Ke’ya - Naf'ole atsihem - Nde benah - Ndee Biyááh" exhibit at the Branigan Cultural Center, a secondary, rotating gallery allows each Indigenous group to go deeper into their unique stories.
This secondary rotating space 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
Tortugas Pueblo: 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.
You may also like the following events from Las Cruces Museums:
