Hundreds of years ago, when the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) were the primary occupants of the Southwest, the climate was pretty much as it is today. Cool nights and warm days during the late spring through early fall made travel for hunting or moving between the fields and their homes a challenge.The Puebloans were known for growing crops like beans and corn, and long days in the fields required water.

People have lived in the Pueblo of Acoma for over 2000 years. Set on a mesa of sandstone, it is referred to as “Sky City” and is the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. It is situated 60 miles west of Albuquerque just south of I-40.

Stella Shutiva was from the Acoma Pueblo which is West of Albuquerque off of I-40 near Grants, New Mexico. Potters from prehistoric sites in the southwest created pottery that had a corrugated look and feel. The outside of the pot is textured in rows where the coils circle the pot. Stella's mother, Jessie Garcia, is credited with being the first person to recreate this unique style.