Laweka, Marie

Marie Laweka was born into Cochiti Pueblo in February, 1931, the daughter of Santiago Cordero and his second wife, the famous figurine maker Damacia Cordero. Marie had three sisters: Josephine Arquero, Martha Arquero and Gloria Herrera. All four girls learned to make pottery figurines from their mother and each became an award-earning potter.

Marie liked to make animal figures: deer, frogs, turtles, snakes, fish, cows, birds, dogs, cats and penquins. She made more than a few storytellers, too.

Marie’s daughter Josephine Laweka was born in 1960 and she grew up making figurines with Marie. Marie passed on in 2002, Josephine died in a car accident on the I-25 in 2008.