The Native American Community Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, will get a new home later this year.

The charter school currently operates on a shared campus with a public middle school and the University of New Mexico Law School. But students will soon their own space at the site of the old Albuquerque Indian School, which is held in trust for the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico.

"We can be ourselves,” senior Shantael Booqua of Zuni Pueblo told The Albuquerque Journal. “At other schools, you can’t really express who you are.”

For now, the school is proud to be competing in district sports for the first time. The first "home" game was actually held at Isleta Pueblo three weeks ago, the Journal reported.

“They have to love this game to play for NACA,” boys basketball coach Josh Dunlap told the paper of the students' commitment to the game.

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Academy blends native culture, city life (The Albuquerque Journal 2/20)