ABEITA, PABLO

(Isleta Pueblo; Feb. 10, 1871-Dec. 17, 1940), attained prominence in early 20th-century New Mexico as a leader of the All-American Pueblo Council.

Born at Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, Abeita was enrolled by a local Roman Catholic priest in a Jesuit school in Old Albuquerque because of his aptitude for learning. Later he transferred to St. Michael's College in Santa Fe. His ten years of formal education were rare for anyone in territorial New Mexico at that time, but especially for a Pueblo Indian.

Abeita returned home from boarding school in 1889 and was appointed by the governor of his village to serve on the Isleta Council. From that time on, he remained a member of the council and served in all the offices of the village government, from war captain to governor, serving several times in each post. Also in 1889, he was married to Marie Delores Abeita; they had five sons.From 1900 to 1902, Abeita worked as a typesetter on the Albuquerque Morning Democrat (now the Journal ), followed by three years as a commercial clerk. In 1907, after serving in the Indian Service as a resident farmer for two years, he began to operate the family general store at Isleta. He was appointed a judge of the Indian Court by the Indian Service in 1913 and served until 1923.

With his knowledge of English, Spanish, and several dialects of Tiwa, plus Towa, Western Keresan, and some Hopi and Navajo, he was selected by the “19 Pueblos of New Mexico” as their unofficial chairman. In this position Abeita conducted the meetings of the All Pueblo Council before 1922. In November, 1922, when the All Pueblo Council officially reorganized and elected officials, he was elected secretary and served in this post until May 1940.

As a tribal leader he travelled a great deal, visiting Washington, D.C. on several occasions. He often claimed that he met and shook hands with every U.S. president from Grover Cleveland to Frankiln D. Roosevelt, (except Calvin Coolidge.)