The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has a stated mission to support and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. In 2024, they awarded El Paso area Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo, Department of Tribal Empowerment (DTE) Library Center a Native American Library Services Grant.

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is one of three federally recognized Native American tribes in the state of Texas. Located in the Ysleta section of El Paso, the Tribal community was established in 1682 after being displaced from Spanish New Mexico during the Pueblo Revolt against the Spaniards. The people and language are called Tigua. Spanish mostly replaced the indigenous language in the early 1900s, and today, English is increasingly gaining ground in the community, but with the help of the new grant, there are efforts to revive and preserve the indigenous language.

The purpose of the grant is explained on the IMLS website: “Ysleta del Sur Pueblo will support the preservation and instruction of Indigenous education through educational programs. The Library Center will deliver the Tiwa Loteria Game to enhance family relationships and incorporate learning the Tiwa language into play. Like Bingo, the game will incorporate culturally relevant content, English to Tiwa translations, and artwork created by tribal youth. The Library Center will also commission tribal youth to design a Department of Tribal Empowerment Library Center Calendar that promotes academic and culturally significant events while teaching the Tiwa language. The project will prioritize cultural education and exposing the tribal community to the Tiwa language while improving family bonds and engaging youth.”

It takes a lot of effort and tenacity to apply for federal grants, and I’m always impressed and inspired by anyone who is successful. I wanted to learn more about this tribal community and how they planned on using the grant. I recently spoke with Kathy Chavez and Clara Lucero of the Department of Tribal Empowerment Library Center about their plans. Kathy is an Executive Assistant and Clara is the Library Clerk, and they were a big part of the application process, which was overseen by Anna Silvas, Director.

LDO: What was the inspiration for the grant application?

Kathy Chavez: We wanted a way to preserve the Tigua language. Make it basic and easy to understand. We wanted to do something that would involve the tribal community and strengthen family relationships. DTE provides services to the children in the Tuy Pathu Early Learning Program (0-3 years old), Tuy Pathu Pre-K Program (3-5 years old), and the BRAVE Program (5-12 years old). They contribute by coloring the artwork provided to them and we include this artwork in the final grant projects. 

Clara Lucero: Here in El Paso, we have a loteria that has themes of El Paso, so we wanted to make one for Tigua themes and something to represent the tribe: things like animals, anything that represents the Tigua. It’s a way for them to learn the language.

LDO: Tell me about the library and how it will be involved?

Clara Lucero: The library is very small. It’s just me. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. We have publicly available internet, but it’s only for the tribal community. We also use the library as a creative space for students outside of the classroom. We give out art supplies and school supplies every July through Tribal Council Funds during our Back to School Fair event. Like Kathy said, the kids will contribute by coloring the artwork provided to them and the people just love it. It’s a way for them to feel involved in the community. Most of our projects, I do the design work since it is too expensive to use an outside vendor, as was the case with our most recent cookbook project.

LDO: What other projects are you working on to preserve your heritage?

Kathy Chavez: We put out a 2023 calendar with the children’s artwork and words in English, translated to our Tiwa language. This was one of our previous grant projects. It was very popular in the past, we had tribe members from California and Arizona asking for them. Therefore, one of our upcoming grant projects is the 2026 calendar.

Clara Lucero: We also have a cookbook. We’ll be putting those out at our Red Ribbon Block Party on October 19th. The cookbook is one of our more successful projects.

LDO: What’s the Red Ribbon Block Party?

Kathy Chavez: It’s a community event to raise drug prevention awareness. It begins with a prayer and a parade around the reservation. There’s a big tent with service providers providing information, music, entertainment performers, as well as some game booths. Also, throughout the reservation tribal community members are selling food, arts and crafts, and much more from their homes.

Clara Lucero: It’s our most popular event.

LDO: How do you get the word out to the community about your projects and these events?

Kathy Chavez: We have a Facebook and an Instagram page. A special thank you to our Tribal and Traditional Council for all the continuous support in all our efforts!

Clara Lucero: We send out flyers through email to the tribal community members. Sometimes people want a hardcopy, and we post flyers on the tribal community members’ mailboxes. The Cultural Center on the reservation is also helpful. They sell various items like jewelry, pottery, blankets, crosses, and more. They get the word out about the Tiguas and living in a city like El Paso where there is a tribe with so much history.

Maintaining historical records and local heritage has long been a task for public libraries, but for this tribal community, the entire Department of Tribal Empowerment Library Center team, including Kathy and Clara, are taking their efforts to the next level when it comes to preserving the past. By involving the children of the tribe in these endeavors, they are ensuring the legacy of the Tigua will be passed down to future generations.

For more information about Ysleta del Sur Pueblo, you can visit their website.