Learning and Living Diversity
Indigenous People are celebrated in the month of October, and living in New Mexico provides opportunities to learn firsthand about the culture of the Pueblo people. Let me share what I’ve learned from one such opportunity.
Recently I watched young native dancers from Zuni Pueblo, the largest of the 19 New Mexico Pueblos. In this time of cancel culture and attacks on learning history, it was heartwarming to see these young people learning about, and sharing, their culture including their ancestral language and customs.
The Zuni people have lived in the American Southwest for thousands of years. Their culture and religious traditions are rooted in their deep and close ties to the earth and their ancient homeland. Primarily farmers, they raise maize and wheat, but also engage in jewelry making, a major source of income for the people.
Traditional Zuni life is oriented around a matrilineal clan system and a complex ceremonial system based on a belief in the ancestors or ancient ones. During the Sha’lak’o festival held in early winter, dancers representing the couriers of rain deities come to bless new homes.
The elder, acting as MC of the dance event I attended, shared that he became interested in native dance, learned it from his elders and then formed his own troupe. He is excited that his son, too, wants to learn the dances and hopes he will form a troupe of his own someday and tour.
The dances began with Miss Zuni 2023-24 first introducing herself in her native language, Shiwi’ma, then in English. Shiwi'ma is spoken by a majority of individuals in Zuni Pueblo. The language is taught within the Zuni schools and is also actively spoken at home and in public environments. In her introduction, Miss Zuni named her tribe, and her clans. She explained that the teenager dancers act as mentors to the younger ones.
The first dance featured the Corn Maidens of Zuni who personify the bounty of life giving corn that grows in six colors. The Yellow Corn Maiden symbolizes the north; the Blue Corn Maiden represents the west; the Red Corn Maiden represents the south; the White Corn Maiden is of the east; the speckled Corn Maiden stands for the zenith or highpoint; and the Black Corn Maiden stands for the nadir or lowest point. Each maiden is accompanied by the Shiwani, or rain priests, to their homes in the respective directions.
Next was the Rainbow dance featuring The Rainbow Man. He is a sacred Zuni Indian guardian spirit identified with the life-giving summer rains and the colors of the rainbow after the rain. Although this figure is not a Kachina or spirit being, he is very important in Zuni traditions, culture and society.
The dances conducted by today's Pueblo Indians are part of a year-round, continuing cycle of rituals based on agriculture and achieving a proper balance with nature. The cycle of planting foods, most importantly corn, shaped the ancient Pueblo religion at its origins.
“The drum is the heartbeat of the Pueblo People. It is our footsteps, our prayer, our dances, our blessings for good harvest and good rainfall. It is everything to us.” – Emmett Garcia, Santa Ana Pueblo