"When we walk upon Mother Earth, we always plant our feet carefully because we know the faces of our future generations are looking up at us from beneath the ground. We never forget them." -
Oren Lyons - Onondaga
Monday, June 18, 2007
Pueblo Indians
The word Pueblo is the Spanish name for "town or village."
The Pueblo Indians speak seven languages from four different linguistic stocks. However, most Pueblo people speak a variation of primarily two linguistic stocks, Keresan and Tanoan, as well as English and frequently Spanish.
The ancient area of Pueblo culture, as indicated by numerous prehistoric ruins, extended from about the Arkansas and Grand rivers, in Colorado and Utah, southwards indefinitely into Mexico, and from central Arizona eastward, almost across the Texas Panhandle.
At the beginning of the historic period in 1540, the Pueblo population centered chiefly on the upper Pecos and Rio Grande, and about the Zuñi in New Mexico, and upon the Hopi mesas in north-east Arizona. The inhabited pueblos at that date probably numbered close to one hundred. Today, 26 are occupied, excluding the two small Americanized pueblos of Isleta del Sur (Texas) and Senecú (Mexico), in the immediate neighbourhood of El Paso. With the exception of these two, all but the seven Hopi pueblos (including Hano) are in New Mexico. The Hopi are in Arizona. All have US Federal recognition except Senecu, which is in Mexico, and San Juan de Guadalupe, which is currently petitioning for recognition.
The Franciscan monk, Marcos di Niza, first saw the Zuni in 1539 but did not approach them. As soon as he returned, a new expedition was organized Francesco Vasquez de Coronado, for the conquest of this new country. In July, 1540, after nearly five months' march, the advance guard reached the principal Zuñi town, which was taken by storm.
Exploring parties were sent out in every direction, over to the Hopi, the Colorado, and the Buffalo plains, and the expedition finally went into winter quarters at Puaray, among the Tigua (Tiguex province), about the present Bernalillo, North Mexico, on the Rio Grande. The province was rich and populous, having twelve pueblos with perhaps 8000 people.
The Indians were at first friendly, but the conduct of the Spaniards soon provoked hostility and resistance, which was put down with one hundred surrendered prisoners being burnt at the stake, or shot as they attempted to escape, and hundreds or thousands of others being butchered by the Spaniards.
Click here to learn more: http://puebloindians.aaanativearts.com/
The Pueblo Indians speak seven languages from four different linguistic stocks. However, most Pueblo people speak a variation of primarily two linguistic stocks, Keresan and Tanoan, as well as English and frequently Spanish.
The ancient area of Pueblo culture, as indicated by numerous prehistoric ruins, extended from about the Arkansas and Grand rivers, in Colorado and Utah, southwards indefinitely into Mexico, and from central Arizona eastward, almost across the Texas Panhandle.
At the beginning of the historic period in 1540, the Pueblo population centered chiefly on the upper Pecos and Rio Grande, and about the Zuñi in New Mexico, and upon the Hopi mesas in north-east Arizona. The inhabited pueblos at that date probably numbered close to one hundred. Today, 26 are occupied, excluding the two small Americanized pueblos of Isleta del Sur (Texas) and Senecú (Mexico), in the immediate neighbourhood of El Paso. With the exception of these two, all but the seven Hopi pueblos (including Hano) are in New Mexico. The Hopi are in Arizona. All have US Federal recognition except Senecu, which is in Mexico, and San Juan de Guadalupe, which is currently petitioning for recognition.
The Franciscan monk, Marcos di Niza, first saw the Zuni in 1539 but did not approach them. As soon as he returned, a new expedition was organized Francesco Vasquez de Coronado, for the conquest of this new country. In July, 1540, after nearly five months' march, the advance guard reached the principal Zuñi town, which was taken by storm.
Exploring parties were sent out in every direction, over to the Hopi, the Colorado, and the Buffalo plains, and the expedition finally went into winter quarters at Puaray, among the Tigua (Tiguex province), about the present Bernalillo, North Mexico, on the Rio Grande. The province was rich and populous, having twelve pueblos with perhaps 8000 people.
The Indians were at first friendly, but the conduct of the Spaniards soon provoked hostility and resistance, which was put down with one hundred surrendered prisoners being burnt at the stake, or shot as they attempted to escape, and hundreds or thousands of others being butchered by the Spaniards.
Click here to learn more: http://puebloindians.aaanativearts.com/
The great horse of the Pawnee Nation
By: Tim Giago
There is a well-kept graveyard in the rolling, green hills on the outskirts of Pawnee, Oklahoma. There lie the graves of the fallen warriors and women of the Pawnee Nation. In one corner is the headstone of an Indian scout identical to the government issued headstones found in Indian cemeteries across America to honor the scouts who served the U. S. Army during the Indian wars of long ago.
On this beautiful June day fluffy white clouds float slowly over the graveyard and the afternoon sun reflects off of the large tombstone bearing the names of Mary and Charles George Shunatona. He was known as Chief Shunatona to the many friends he made in his 84 years on this earth.
On the back of the tombstone is the family name of the Shunatona clan. It reads, “Great Horse,” and there is a story behind the name. Told to me many years ago by Charles this is how the story goes:
“One day long ago while the warriors were away from camp hunting, only the women, children and a few elders remained in the camp. A young boy spotted enemy warriors approaching and he raced back to the camp to warn them. The only way to safety was to cross the river now swollen and crashing from the melting snow and spring rains. An elderly man told the boy who brought the news of the enemy to get the great horse that stood grazing at the edge of the camp. He then summoned all of the people together and they followed him as he led the horse to the edge of the raging river. In the Otoe language he told the horse to start across the river and he held out his hand to the boy who in turn held out his hand to a woman and so it went until all of the people in the camp were joined together with clasped hands. The elderly man then grasped the tail of the horse as it started to swim across the river and all of the people held hands tightly as the mighty horse pulled them all across the river to safety.”
Want the whole story? Click here: http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/003466.asp
There is a well-kept graveyard in the rolling, green hills on the outskirts of Pawnee, Oklahoma. There lie the graves of the fallen warriors and women of the Pawnee Nation. In one corner is the headstone of an Indian scout identical to the government issued headstones found in Indian cemeteries across America to honor the scouts who served the U. S. Army during the Indian wars of long ago.
On this beautiful June day fluffy white clouds float slowly over the graveyard and the afternoon sun reflects off of the large tombstone bearing the names of Mary and Charles George Shunatona. He was known as Chief Shunatona to the many friends he made in his 84 years on this earth.
On the back of the tombstone is the family name of the Shunatona clan. It reads, “Great Horse,” and there is a story behind the name. Told to me many years ago by Charles this is how the story goes:
“One day long ago while the warriors were away from camp hunting, only the women, children and a few elders remained in the camp. A young boy spotted enemy warriors approaching and he raced back to the camp to warn them. The only way to safety was to cross the river now swollen and crashing from the melting snow and spring rains. An elderly man told the boy who brought the news of the enemy to get the great horse that stood grazing at the edge of the camp. He then summoned all of the people together and they followed him as he led the horse to the edge of the raging river. In the Otoe language he told the horse to start across the river and he held out his hand to the boy who in turn held out his hand to a woman and so it went until all of the people in the camp were joined together with clasped hands. The elderly man then grasped the tail of the horse as it started to swim across the river and all of the people held hands tightly as the mighty horse pulled them all across the river to safety.”
Want the whole story? Click here: http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/003466.asp
Oconaluftee Indian Village offers time-travel experience
CHEROKEE, N.C. - Making a canoe doesn't seem like such a big deal. All it takes is a few power tools and a little know-how; or, even better, a trip to the local sporting goods store. Boating enthusiasts hit the water all the time and many never stop to wonder how boats were made centuries ago. One trip to the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee - where the Cherokees recreate the painstaking six-month task of hulling a canoe - will change the way guests look at these floating vessels forever.
The same can be said for baking bread, taking medicine, making a bed and turning up the thermostat. In this Cherokee village, an authentic replica dated to the mid-1700s, many simple tasks take on new significance for the people who visit. Cherokee has created a time travel experience that gives guests a fun and interesting way to think about life at home. And to realize the impact technology has had - for better or worse.
''Wandering through the village, you can't help but relate these activities to our own daily tasks,'' said James Bradley, executive director of Cherokee Historical Association. ''We are all so focused on multi-tasking and technological advances help us do that. Coming here you can slow down to recognize the beauty of doing one thing at a time and doing it well. Our culture celebrates that idea.''
Residents of this replica village are involved in numerous activities - many still practiced today - that visitors see while on tour. Canoe hulling is one example. This lengthy process catches many by surprise - it looks like nothing more than a huge downed tree with a smoldering fire in the center. This process, as the crafter explains, is a traditional burning method that creates an opening in the center of the log. The tree is packed with clay, which causes the fire to burn towards the center, and the burned sections are chipped away using stone tools. After six to eight months, the resulting canoe will be 20 to 30 feet long and hold 12 passengers.
Click here to read more: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415197
The same can be said for baking bread, taking medicine, making a bed and turning up the thermostat. In this Cherokee village, an authentic replica dated to the mid-1700s, many simple tasks take on new significance for the people who visit. Cherokee has created a time travel experience that gives guests a fun and interesting way to think about life at home. And to realize the impact technology has had - for better or worse.
''Wandering through the village, you can't help but relate these activities to our own daily tasks,'' said James Bradley, executive director of Cherokee Historical Association. ''We are all so focused on multi-tasking and technological advances help us do that. Coming here you can slow down to recognize the beauty of doing one thing at a time and doing it well. Our culture celebrates that idea.''
Residents of this replica village are involved in numerous activities - many still practiced today - that visitors see while on tour. Canoe hulling is one example. This lengthy process catches many by surprise - it looks like nothing more than a huge downed tree with a smoldering fire in the center. This process, as the crafter explains, is a traditional burning method that creates an opening in the center of the log. The tree is packed with clay, which causes the fire to burn towards the center, and the burned sections are chipped away using stone tools. After six to eight months, the resulting canoe will be 20 to 30 feet long and hold 12 passengers.
Click here to read more: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415197
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