New Mexico's Native Americans | New Mexico Magazine Travel Guide

Native Americans

Nearly everything about New Mexico's diverse Native American people is legendary, from their distinct lifestyles and traditions to their beliefs and architecture to their arts and food. In fact, there isn't one corner of the state that isn't influenced by Native American history and culture.

Indian cultural traditions permeate many aspects of contemporary life in the state. Perhaps the most obvious is the architectural style of the typical pueblo village, which is routinely imitated statewide and often combined with other historic and contemporary building styles.

Navajo boy in New Mexico The mystique of New Mexico's various tribes is powerful. Their unique dialects, colorful dances, unparalleled arts and crafts, and cultural stories and traditions handed down through scores of generations are like that of no other human group on the planet.

Archaeologists believe this distinct blend of Native Americana began evolving from 12,000 to 30,000 years ago, when many bands of prehistoric Indians wandered throughout New Mexico, some possibly from across the Bering Strait. Some of these nomads developed into farmers and began this region's first agrarian communities, whose fruits and labors still thrive today on many of New Mexico's farmlands. The descendants of these early people belong to as many as 22 distinct pueblos and tribes, each of which maintains separate, sovereign governments and makes it a high priority to preserve ancient traditions and language.

Most contemporary anthropologists hold that the Hopi and Rìo Grande Pueblo people descend from the Ancestral Pueblo culture, which built the giant stone structures aligned with the heavens at Chaco Canyon and other locations in the state, southern Colorado, eastern Arizona and northern Mexico. Today, the Pueblos are classified into three language groups: the Zunis, the Keres and the Tanoans. Zuni people speak Zuni, while the Keres speakers include the pueblos of Acoma, Cochiti, Laguna, San Felipe, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo and Zia.

The Tanoans are divided into three subcategories: Tewa, Tiwa and Towa. Tewa-speaking pueblos are Nambé, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, San Juan and Tesuque. Tiwa-speaking pueblos are Isleta, Picurís, Sandia and Taos. The only Towa-speaking pueblo is Jémez.

New Mexico's Apache and Navajo people, who are historically nomadic, belong to the Athapascan group. Both tribes migrated here about the time of initial Spanish exploration in the mid-1500s. The Pueblo people taught farming to the Navajos, who in turn learned about sheepherding and ranching, which were introduced to the Southwest by Spanish colonizers.

During the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the rivalrous pueblos put aside their differences and united under rebel leader Popé against the Spanish, mostly because of religious persecution by Christian missionaries and forced servitude. Many Spanish settlers were killed and the survivors fled south to friendly Isleta Pueblo, then to Paso del Norte (now El Paso, Texas).

During Spanish exile, the Ute, Navajo and Apache tribes relentlessly raided the Pueblo people, who later allied with the Spanish against the Athapascan tribes after the Europeans returned in 1692. The Comanche people harassed natives and non-natives alike until aggressive Spanish military campaigns forced them to agree to peace in the Treaty of 1786.

After the reconquest, the Spanish established isolated settlements to act as buffers to the hostile Indian raiders between the frontier and more populated areas such as Santa Fe. These settlements stretched as far north as southern Colorado, east into northwest Texas and the Oklahoma panhandle and west into east-central Arizona.

American Indians didn't achieve U.S. citizenship and the right to vote nationally until 1924. It wasn't until 1948 that they were allowed to vote in New Mexico elections. A federal law guaranteed their religious freedom in 1978. Indian people have served notably in every U.S. conflict since World War I. Last year, the U.S. government bestowed long-overdue national recognition upon the Navajo Code Talkers for their vital service in World War II. These men, of whom only a handful are still alive today, communicated military strategy over the airwaves in the Navajo language. Japanese code breakers were never able to figure out what these Navajo soldiers were saying.

Indian Etiquette

New Mexico's various Native American tribes welcome guests onto their lands for recreation and into their communities for celebrations. It is important to know that each pueblo and tribal reservation is a sovereign nation. They individually belong to distinct cultures that are governed by different sets of laws. Most speak different native languages from each other. Tribal communities do not depend on the clock to tell them when it is time to conduct activities. Acts of nature, as well as the sequence of events that must take place (some not for public viewing) usually determine start and finish times for public ceremonies. When asking questions, do not push for an answer since it may be addressing a sensitive issue or event. In most situations, the people around you can provide an example of appropriate behavior. The following guidelines will also be helpful:

Each tribe has its own government and visitors policy. They value common sense, continuity and respect. Please obey all laws when visiting Indian lands.
Tribes value traditions, customs and religion. Some actions and/or questions may be offensive. Tribal dances are religious ceremonies, not performances put on for tourists. It is a privilege to be part of a ceremony. Keep quiet and don't applaud or touch the dancers.
The pueblos are not theme parks. They are villages and should be respected as such. Do not wander into homes without invitations.
Photography is a particularly sensitive issue: Fees and restrictions vary from each pueblo and tribe and at times from activity to activity. Do not attempt to take photos, recordings or sketches if not allowed. The embarrassment of being caught is extreme.
Certain areas of tribal communities are off limits to visitors and might not be posted. They include cemeteries, ceremonial buildings (kivas) and private homes. Do not climb walls or other structures.
Do not remove artifacts, pottery shards or other tempting items.
Do not bring alcohol or drugs onto the reservation.

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque provides insight into Pueblo culture, art and history. The center houses two museums and several gift shops. The Pueblo House Children's Museum offers a hands-on experience for youngsters to learn more about the Pueblo people, while the main museum, through its extensive collection, traces the development of Pueblo culture. Traditional dance performances are held every weekend as well as art demonstrations that are free to the public. Special activities are also held throughout the year. There is New Mexican and traditional Pueblo cuisine at a restaurant in addition to banquet and conference facilities. The cultural center is at 2401 12th St. NW in Albuquerque; call (505) 843-7270 or (800) 766-4405 outside of New Mexico.