Di Wae Powa: They Came Back

After a century-long and epic journey, this sacred, ancestral pueblo pottery will return to the place of its origins, and be housed in the acclaimed Poeh Museum. For over 100 years this Tewa Pueblo ancestral pottery has been collected, shipped away and housed on the east coast, largely in private collections and the renowned Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). Several years ago, the Poeh Cultural Center began talks with NMAI, in a concerted effort to bring these pots “home.” Along the way, many Tewa Pueblo artists, elders and community members worked tirelessly to help bring this homecoming to fruition. And, in celebration of this historic achievement, in late 2019, 100 Tewa pots will return home and be reunited with the descendant of its’ creators. This groundbreaking new exhibit and educational resource center will be dedicated to, and utilized by the Tewa Pueblo peoples that live in the neighboring Pueblos of, Pojoaque, Nambe, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Ohkay Owingeh and Tesuque. It will be shared year-round with the many students, artists, scholars, educators and tourists. And, while the Poeh museum will still function as an exhibition space, it will expand its use into that of a vibrant, interactive and immersive Tewa “learning center,” dedicated to Tewa Pueblo culture, and poised to provide learning experiences for the evolving world.