caja del rio
Journey
Just outside Santa Fe, New Mexico, within O’ga Pogeh and Cochiti Pueblo territories is a place of cosmic connection and cultural convergence: The Caja del Rio.
From dramatic geologic features and diverse wildlife, to millennia-old petroglyphs and Pueblo cultural resources, to traditional Spanish land grant communities, to the original path of the modern day Route 66, the Caja del Rio plateau tells the story of human journey in this part of the world.
This sacred plateau, situated between the Rio Grande and Santa Fe Rivers, connects us to the past, the future, each other, and ourselves. It’s a continuum of human journey within and alongside the natural world. It deserves our protection.
This is the caja del rio
Connection
Since time immemorial to the present day, Indigenous communities have thrived in the Caja, building dozens of village sites and irrigation structures and leaving behind remarkable petroglyphs in the basalt canyon walls. Today, surrounding Pueblo people continue to regard the landscape of the Caja as sacred, home to ancestors and spirits, and critically important for future generations to maintain cultural connection to traditional lifeways. As the original stewards of this landscape, these Pueblo communities continue to fight for the protection of the Caja alongside many other dedicated allies from diverse backgrounds.
In addition to Indigenous communities, the history of Spanish settlement along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro dates back more than 13 generations. Communities like La Bajada, Agua Fría, Jacona, Cañón, La Cienega, El Rancho, and many more have relied on the land for hunting, grazing, foraging, firewood collection, religious pilgrimage and spiritual sustenance.
Convergence
Approximately 107,000 acres, the Caja del Rio Plateau is one of the most ecologically rich and culturally significant landscapes in the Southwest. With a wildlife corridor that runs along the Upper Rio Grande from New Mexico to Colorado, the Caja plays a critical role in maintaining animals’ mobility and provides vital habitats for a diverse range of plants and wildlife including many endangered and sensitive species of mammals, reptiles and birds.
Protection
The Caja is a strikingly beautiful place of invaluable cultural, historical, and ecological importance. Sadly, the area has long suffered the consequences of inadequate protection. Desecration of petroglyphs, persistent illegal dumping and unregulated shooting, poaching and killing of threatened and endangered species and destruction of critical wildlife habitat and irresponsible off-roading are all imminent threats that must be addressed in order to protect this cherished landscape.
Help us protect this treasured place of journey
Take Action
Visit our action center to learn more about how the Coalition is working to protect the Caja del Rio and how you can help.