The Foundation made its first grant to Placitas WILD in support of a groundbreaking public pueblo partnership. This unique collaboration between a public nonprofit organization and the San Felipe Pueblo strives to protect wild horses in the Placitas community from danger, while providing economic opportunities for the San Felipe Pueblo as its members work to safely maintain the heath of the horses.
In working with the community to protect the horses, the San Felipe Pueblo has also recognized the possibility of growing a sustainable green industry for tribal members. Placitas WILD employs members of the San Felipe Pueblo to care for the animals, with the San Felipe Land Management Department even sending staff to the University of Wyoming to learn methods of humanely and safely managing the herd. As the partnership evolves, Placitas WILD and the Pueblo envision an opportunity where guests and tourists can visit the preserve to learn about the native land and the importance of preserving the animals and culture that exist within Albuquerque’s pueblo communities.