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Sandia Mountain was deeded to the Sandia Pueblo tribe in a 252-year-old land grant from the King of Spain.
For centuries, members of the Sandia Pueblo have gone to the mountain to pray, visit religious shrines, and collect plants for religious ceremonies. They believe that they must protect Sandia Mountain from future development and obtain free, private access to the mountain for religious and cultural purposes.
Today, Sandia Mountain is one of New Mexico's most popular recreation areas, with an aerial tramway and hiking trails to the 10,500 foot summit. Non-native Americans have built homes on the mountain. These homeowners are concerned that if the U.S. Court of Appeals grants the Sandia Pueblo title to the land, their homes would be surrounded by tribal land and therefore would be under its jurisdiction. Their homes could be taxed by the tribe, even though the Pueblo say that legally they would not be allowed to do so. For
more information, go to www.sandiapueblo.nsn.us or
www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola. [more]
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