Laweka, Josephine

Born into Cochiti Pueblo in 1960, Josephine Laweka was the daughter of Marie Laweka. Her grandmother was Damacia Cordero, among her aunts were Martha Arquero and Gloria Herrera. Josephine grew up in an active pottery-making household. She learned through watching and helping her mother and grandmother.

Like many Pueblo potters, Josephine didn’t really start to make pottery until after her kids were grown and gone. Then she made mostly figures like her mother and grandmother had made.

Josephine and her husband died in a car accident at the Cochiti exit of Interstate 25 in 2008. Far too many Native Americans die on that stretch of the I-25 between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.