50 Years of the Indian Pueblo Store

As the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Indian Pueblo Store (IPS) is honoring this milestone by reflecting on its decades of sharing Native art with visitors. Since its founding in 1976, the Cultural Center has served as a gathering place where Pueblo Culture is celebrated through creative and cultural experiences and the story of the Pueblo people is told through their own voices. The Indian Pueblo Store has been part of this mission from the beginning by showcasing authentic artwork from Pueblo and Native Southwestern artists. 

IPS began as a store with several departments within the Cultural Center. These departments were organized by different types of products and art. More recently, the store combined all of the departments into a single location showcasing all of its products. In 2010, the store was moved to its current location in the Cultural Center's east lobby and given the name Shumakolowa. This comes from the Zuni word for dragonfly, an important symbol for the Pueblo people of New Mexico and other tribes of the Southwest. These special creatures are seen as messengers, speaking to the thunder and clouds to bring moisture and blessings to the people. It was later renamed again to the Indian Pueblo Store to give a sense of unity between the store and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. 

IPS is committed to being a trusted destination for handcrafted Native American art. During the store's decades as part of the Cultural Center, we’ve developed lasting relationships with artists, dealers, and collectors. Our in-depth purchase and certification process ensures all work in the store is handcrafted by Native American artists as defined by the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. Visitors can be sure that the art that they purchase from the store is made by and supports Native artists.