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The Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area is a significant component of the national story. The area of northern New Mexico, comprising the Heritage Area, carries its own history and course of occupation distinct from that of the rest of the country and the rest of the Southwest. This history preceded the formation of the United States, including an indigenous revolution against the dominant power—the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, which left its imprint on the cultural heritage that remains in northern New Mexico and in its people.
In Northern New Mexico, every face tells a story,
every hand helps build a legacy, and every voice sings the song of an enduring culture.
The Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) stands as a dedicated steward and advocate for the rich tapestry of culture, heritage, language, and environment of Northern New Mexico. Our mission is to sustain the communities, heritages, languages, cultures, traditions, and environment of Northern New Mexico through partnerships, education and interpretation.
Our Vision is Community and economic viability rooted in the heritage and the environment of Northern New Mexico.
Cerrillos Hills State Park
Established by the US Congress in 2006, the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) encompasses Río Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos counties and is dedicated to conserving and sustaining the varied cultural, historical, archaeological, and natural resources of Northern New Mexico. To fulfill this Congressional mandate, NRGNHA developed a comprehensive grant program designed to distribute federal funds for a wide array of projects within the Heritage Area.
In collaboration with multiple community members and partner organizations, Rio Arriba County and the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) presents a groundbreaking initiative to promote economic development while preserving and celebrating the unique cultural heritage of New Mexico. The program, centered at the historic Los Luceros Historic Site, will establish an arts incubator offering comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources to individuals seeking careers in culturally appropriate arts. By nurturing artistic talents and fostering a thriving arts economic cluster, we aim to redefine economic development through the lens of New Mexico’s cultural richness and artistic expression.
In 2006, the US Congress established the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) (Río Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos counties) to help tribal and local governments and other public and private entities conserve and sustain cultural, historical, archaeological, and natural resources. To meet the Congressional mandate, NRGNHA developed a grant program to make federal funds available to support a variety of projects in the Heritage Area.Communities, tribal and local governments, land grant associations, non-profit 501c3 organizations, youth programs, historical and archaeological societies, and preservation groups are encouraged to apply for grant funding up to $10,000 that support the NRGNHA’s mission and goals.
In 2023, the Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) (Río Arriba, Santa Fe, and Taos counties) opened a grant application opportunity to help tribal and local governments and other public and private entities conserve and sustain native languages of the Pueblos. NRGNHA developed this grant program to make federal funds available to support the preservation of Native Languages in the Heritage Area. Communities, tribal and local governments, and non-profit 501c3 organizations are encouraged to apply for grant funding up to $21,500 for projects that support the preservation of language.
NRGNHA works with the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs Historic Sites to develop and implement economic development programs based out of the Los Luceros Historic Site located in Alcalde, NM. This program will feature economic development activities that are culturally appropriate for Northern New Mexico and supports the cultural heritage programming of the Historic Site. Each of the projects at Los Luceros have been designed and created to diversify the regional economy and provide the residents of Northern New Mexico with alternative economic opportunities based on our rich cultural heritage
Projects: Commercial Kitchen at Los Luceros,Traditional Agriculture Training Project, Cultures and Creators
NRGNHA is actively championing Northern New Mexico as a promising film and media hub. The organization is proactive in engaging in discussions with local stakeholders and has created opportunity and potential for substantial economic growth in the region. NRGNHA actively collaborates with Milagro Storytelling Project and the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival to further this initiative.
Projects: Milagro Storytelling Project, SF International Film Festival Endowment, Northern NM College Drone Training and Podcasting Courses
