IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 655 

Recognizing the historical significance of the city of Santa Fe. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 16, 2009 

Mr. LUJA ́N (for himself, Mr. TEAGUE, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and 

Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the historical significance of the city of Santa 

Fe. 

Whereas before 1598, the Pueblos of the Rio Grande region 

of New Mexico had inhabited the area now officially 

known as Santa Fe; 

Whereas from the first arrival of Spanish colonists in August 

of 1598, the Pueblos of the Rio Grande and adjoining regions of New Mexico provided support and sustenance to 

those colonists, which allowed the colonists to persevere 

at San Gabriel del Yunque, the first villa and capital of 

New Mexico located in the pueblo lands of Ohkay 

Owingeh; 

Whereas, on March 30, 1609, the viceroy of New Spain, Luis 

de Velasco II, upon the royal proclamation from the King 

of Spain and captain general of New Mexico, ordered 


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•HRES 655 IH 

Governor Pedro de Peralta to arrive in New Mexico before the end of 1609 and to establish a villa at the site 

of what is now Santa Fe; 

Whereas the Spanish colonists and the Pueblos engaged in a 

two-way exchange of knowledge and cultural folkways 

that would be mutually advantageous for both peoples; 

Whereas some 70 years following the establishment of the 

villa of Santa Fe, the Pueblos took up arms and forced 

the inhabitants of the villa to retreat to El Paso de Guadalupe in what was then Mexico; 

Whereas in 1692, the Spanish colonists began a return to the 

villa, which following an initial peaceful return, resulted 

in several armed conflicts lasting through 1696; 

Whereas following the repopulation of Santa Fe and reinstitution of Spanish government in New Mexico, the 

Pueblos and Spanish colonists found ways to engage in 

mutual cultural interchange; 

Whereas over the following years and despite intermittent 

disputes, the colonists and their descendants formed alliances and accommodated each other’s cultures, allowing 

Santa Fe to flourish; 

Whereas the peaceful acceptance of each other’s cultures continued through the United States’ conquest of New Mexico during the war with Mexico and contributed to the 

evolution of Santa Fe’s cultural heritage and resulted in 

the recognition by the State and Federal governments of 

the sovereign rights of the Pueblos including their rights 

to self-government; 

Whereas during the period of 2009 through 2010, Santa Fe 

will proudly observe the 400-year anniversary of its settlement and subsequent founding as a villa and its multiVerDate Nov 24 2008 04:42 Jul 17, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR655.IH HR655

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cultural heritage with suitable events and observances to 

commemorate its 400 years and to pass on to future generation the heritage of Santa Fe and the surrounding region; and 

Whereas it is important that the commemoration provide a 

foundation for peace, hope, and collaboration for Santa 

Fe and its surrounding communities, and a foundation to 

move forward as a flagship community within the State 

of New Mexico: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the historical significance of the 

3 city of Santa Fe; 

4 (2) recognizes the 400th anniversary of the es5 tablishment of Santa Fe; and 

6 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

7 to observe the anniversary with appropriate cere8 monies and activities. 

Æ 


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