Rina Swentzell, 1939-2015: Daughter says Santa Clara artist, activist fought for all but put family first

Rina Swentzell, a Santa Clara Pueblo author, potter, historian and architect, died Friday. Courtesy photo by Bill Steen

Rina Swentzell of Santa Clara Pueblo was known as an architect, a potter, a teacher, an author, a historian and a lecturer. She also was an activist for justice who wasn’t afraid to stand up to her own tribal council to argue for the rights of all people, her youngest daughter said.

Swentzell died Friday, friends and family said.

Despite her accomplishments, Swentzell was modest, never wanting people to make a big deal about her, her daughter Poem Swentzell said Saturday.

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