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New Mexico is home to 19 pueblos: Acoma, Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, Laguna, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, Sandia, San Felipe, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Santa Ana, Santa Clara, Santo Domingo, Taos, Tesuque, Zia, and Zuni.
My wife tells me we have been to 10 tribes in the past (but not recently)...
My understanding that in many pueblos a visitor isn't allowed to freely walk around and has to take a tour, the rest is off limits (one I know that is exception is Taos pueblo, but still it's only the tourist area where one can walk).
Outsiders often not welcome to rituals and all. You can visit the Taos Pueblo under strict and reasonable rules of behavior, but it can seem weird to watch people go about their lives like zoo animals.
Most pueblo dance observations are open for observation, again, with rules of propriety and courtesy.
Rituals - yet, these are sacred ceremonies, I'm surprised some rituals and ceremonies actually allow outsiders at all.
I did not mean walking around looking at people like at zoo animals (and hint: part of my growing up was outside the States in a place poorer than any pueblo here where life was even simpler). I think life in pueblos is more normal and natural in many ways than "regular" modern Western civilization life. I meant walking like you'd walk through any American town you visit. This doesn't equate gawking. I understand, though, that certain tourists would do gawking...and this would be the exact reason living quarters of pueblos would be off limits. On many reservations outside NM a visitor isn't really restricted and can walk everywhere...may be pueblos were overwhelmed with tourist attention.
I wonder if there're any that don't limit visitors' paths, though.
Acoma Pueblo is also open for tours year-round, there is a good visitor center/museum/restaurant, and the guided tour to the village on top of the mesa is notable for its history, architecture, and stunning views in all directions. The mesa top is mostly used for tours and occasional ceremonial purposes, so you won't see much in the way of typical daily life going on during a tour, since very few people live up there year-round.
Acoma pueblo isn't open for visitors to freely walk though, you have to take a tour and most of pueblo is off-limits. You have to wait by the visitor center (or parking lot) for tour to start. I meant not touring historic sites bur rather be among regular life.
It's 2020. They are people's neighborhoods, not Colonial Williamsburg: Native Edition.
Not sure what you mean...I'm not an anglo, neither American born or bred. And I admit I skipped Colonial Williamsburg when I lived in VA, so not sure what it's all about. I assume you can walk in any people's neighborhood in ABQ, where you seem to live without feeling like you're a museum exibit. You also can walk anywhere in VA pretty much. And on most reservations - you can, no big deal.
Most of them still practice their ancient healing traditions, but they maintain this as a secret from non-Natives. These traditions have their downside, btw, that you could inadvertently end up being a casualty of. Keep your distance for your own personal safety.
Not sure what you mean by personal safety, honestly... again I grew up outside the States, in multiple countries, I'm pretty used to all kinds of enviornments.
It makes sense I guess that they make their regular life a secret, if it helps to protect the Native customs....with all the globalization and homogenization of societies all over the world these days, especially.
But I still wonder if there're any pueblos that don't make regular living quarters off limits - or is it all of them?
I'm used to being in a regular town on reservation near where I lived in the past, I went there to buy fish for example
LOL not to gawk, not sure if all pueblos are different.
Well put. None of these folks are preserved in aspic. While the Pueblo tribal members I know certainly "practice ancient beliefs" to some extent by participating in tribal ceremonies and religious observances, they also wear blue jeans, drive cars, own businesses, commute to jobs in the city, go to the casino, and watch Netflix and Hulu just like everybody else. If you're looking for people whose way of life is an unaltered slice out of the 18th or 17th centuries, you'll be disappointed - that doesn't exist. While the Pueblos are justifiably proud and protective of their traditional culture, it thrives in no small part precisely *because* that culture is so remarkably adaptable, able to retain core beliefs while also moving seamlessly within mainstream society.
Importantly, secrecy and protectiveness are also key parts of preserving traditional culture. While certain dances and rituals take place on feast days that are open to all (usually the only time most Pueblos welcome visitors), the majority of Pueblo ceremonial life takes place out of the view of outsiders. As other folks have mentioned, most villages beyond Acoma and Taos don't welcome tourists. During many ceremonies, communities regularly close themselves completely to all outsiders (even USPS or FedEx).
That said, there are several groups and individuals in New Mexico that offer tours for interested parties that provide a deeper dive into Pueblo culture. Led by knowledgeable tribal members who know what is appropriate to share with outsiders and what is not, these are great opportunities to experience the richness of tribal culture, as shared by tribal members themselves. Here are a couple I'm aware of:
Tsikunu Tours | Wix.com: Led by Dr. Porter Swentzell, a member of Santa Clara Pueblo and professor at Northern New Mexico college. Porter's family includes a number of influential potters, artists, and farmers and he is extremely knowledgeable about the sites you'll visit.
Native Cultures Feast & Float: Led by Louie Hena, a Tesuque Pueblo farmer, permaculture expert, and activist, and his family, these river-rafting tours focus on the Rio Grande and its importance for Pueblo people.
Zuni Cultural Adventure Tours: Led by Kenny Bowekaty, Zuni Pueblo archaeologist, researcher, and traditional leader, out of the Zuni Visitors Center. Kenny is a very nice and knowledgeable guy and these tours offer a wide variety of options for really immersing yourself in Zuni history and culture. Here is a brochure describing the tours that were offered as of a couple of years ago.
Some folks have already mentioned the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, but if you really want to learn more about the Pueblos from their own perspectives and in their own words, both historically and as they exist today, it's a must-visit. (The restaurant there is pretty good too).
I also recommend the museum at the Poeh Cultural Center at the Pueblo of Pojoaque. It's small, but includes a beautifully done retelling of Pueblo history and culture, again from a Pueblo perspective, as illustrated by ceramic dioramas created by famed Santa Clara Pueblo artist Rena Swentzell (Porter Swentzell's mom).
You see, I'm not really interested in commercialized tours, honestly, because I, myself, don't want to feel like some kind of zoo visitor or commercial/money-source subject... (see what I said above). I don't mind to read books about culture, art or visit museums and historic sites but not as a part of herded highly commercialized tour (in general don't do well in tours of anything, can't keep attention focused, just find all tours a bore).
I was looking to just walk down the street like regular people do.
If pueblo is in general limits a visitor to tour only, I don't think I'd be comfortable on the grounds because it really means they don't want outsiders there. May be will go to Zuni, though, to replace my lost zuni bear fetish (I take these things pretty seriously and believe my zuni bear had been protecting me in all the wanderings through remote forests. Unfortunately, the bear disappeared last year)
I understand that pueblos might be overwhelmed with tourist attention and intrusion of external "civilization" and feel the need to protect their culture by making regular living areas off limits. I can see how tourists can start walking around staring, snapping secret pictures and all. (I believe making pictures of people and their houses is very bad...kind of like stealing their spirit) I guess each Native Nation views things differently, as it has not been my experience with various tribal lands in other states.... I was just wondering if any pueblo here feels different from the most and allows visitor to just walk anywhere.
I've been also wondering if there're healers who're a real deal, not just for a show.
I believe every land out there has it's own spirits inhabiting it, and the local native people are the most connected to them. I've spent much of my childhood where shamanism was practiced. To safety travel the land, especially solo and in the remote wilds, I think one better ask permission of local spirits... I truly believe in that, this also leads to more things experienced out there, as the land will reveal things that you otherwise won't see, not to mention the healing and longevity powers. So of course I wouldn't be gawking at anything, say, in pueblo....I just think the spirits are stronger in those places, though you can find their presence being strong deep in the woods or the desert too.
My understanding that in many pueblos a visitor isn't allowed to freely walk around and has to take a tour, the rest is off limits (one I know that is exception is Taos pueblo, but still it's only the tourist area where one can walk).
Each Indian reservation has its own laws, regulations, rules and etiquette for visitors. So it is best to research each pueblo in advance.
You see, I'm not really interested in commercialized tours, honestly, because I, myself, don't want to feel like some kind of zoo visitor or commercial/money-source subject... (see what I said above). I don't mind to read books about culture, art or visit museums and historic sites but not as a part of herded highly commercialized tour (in general don't do well in tours of anything, can't keep attention focused, just find all tours a bore).
I was looking to just walk down the street like regular people do.
If pueblo is in general limits a visitor to tour only, I don't think I'd be comfortable on the grounds because it really means they don't want outsiders there. May be will go to Zuni, though, to replace my lost zuni bear fetish (I take these things pretty seriously and believe my zuni bear had been protecting me in all the wanderings through remote forests. Unfortunately, the bear disappeared last year)
I understand that pueblos might be overwhelmed with tourist attention and intrusion of external "civilization" and feel the need to protect their culture by making regular living areas off limits. I can see how tourists can start walking around staring, snapping secret pictures and all. (I believe making pictures of people and their houses is very bad...kind of like stealing their spirit) I guess each Native Nation views things differently, as it has not been my experience with various tribal lands in other states.... I was just wondering if any pueblo here feels different from the most and allows visitor to just walk anywhere.
I've been also wondering if there're healers who're a real deal, not just for a show.
I believe every land out there has it's own spirits inhabiting it, and the local native people are the most connected to them. I've spent much of my childhood where shamanism was practiced. To safety travel the land, especially solo and in the remote wilds, I think one better ask permission of local spirits... I truly believe in that, this also leads to more things experienced out there, as the land will reveal things that you otherwise won't see, not to mention the healing and longevity powers. So of course I wouldn't be gawking at anything, say, in pueblo....I just think the spirits are stronger in those places, though you can find their presence being strong deep in the woods or the desert too.
None of the tours I mentioned are "commercialized;" the folks leading them are knowledgeable members of their societies who have developed ways to appropriately share their culture with interested outsiders...is it wrong for those people to be compensated in some way? It's really no different than someone who makes and sells traditional arts like pottery or fetishes: as ABQConvict's story illustrates, for many Pueblo people traditional knowledge is more valuable and precious than any handicraft. Why should we then expect that knowledge to be given away freely, especially in a culture that values secrecy and discretion around such matters?
Outsiders have been commodifying and profiting from Native culture for more than a century now. If anyone is to make money off of indigenous culture, shouldn't it be members of the community themselves?
Not sure what you mean by personal safety, honestly... again I grew up outside the States, in multiple countries, I'm pretty used to all kinds of enviornments.
It makes sense I guess that they make their regular life a secret, if it helps to protect the Native customs....with all the globalization and homogenization of societies all over the world these days, especially.
But I still wonder if there're any pueblos that don't make regular living quarters off limits - or is it all of them?
I'm used to being in a regular town on reservation near where I lived in the past, I went there to buy fish for example
LOL not to gawk, not sure if all pueblos are different.
It is pretty much all of them. I can't think of a pueblo that doesn't have at least some restrictions for visitors.
My understanding that in many pueblos a visitor isn't allowed to freely walk around and has to take a tour, the rest is off limits (one I know that is exception is Taos pueblo, but still it's only the tourist area where one can walk).
Taos does not allow people to visit "freely" either...currently, the admission fee is $16 and visitors must follow strict rules of behavior.
Protective secrecy is integral to Pueblo society, and a big part of what's allowed traditional culture to survive. It's worth understanding that if you intend to learn more about it.
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