March 10: Black Mesa

Pueblo of San Ildefonso

Welcome to the first Postcard from New Mexico!

Through these weekly posts, I’ll share the beauty, history, and culture of this region that has been my home since 2008. I’m still feeling my way into how this Substack will unfold, but it will probably feature a photo (taken by me unless otherwise noted), and a few words about what you’re seeing. I’m very open to your feedback and would like to hear what you’re interested in finding here. Please take a moment to fill out the Reader Survey or just leave a comment below.

Black Mesa

This majestic landmark on San Ildefonso Pueblo holds great significance for the Pueblo peoples of the Northern Rio Grande. It was on top of Black Mesa that the Pueblo held off Spanish soldiers during their reconquest of New Mexico in 1694. If you don’t know about the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, it’s well worth reading about to have a deeper understanding of what makes this region so special. Check out “The First American Revolution,” from Archaeology magazine.

“I always wonder how the Pueblo would live today if there had been no Revolt. It’s a scary thought, because if those colonial practices had played out over the course of another century, there’s no telling what the state of my pueblo would be. We are living where we are and we are the people we are thanks in part to the Revolt.”
- Joseph Aguilar, archaeologist and member of San Ildefonso Pueblo

This photo was taken in March 2022. The Sangre de Cristos mountains are in the background, capped with late winter snow. The small adobe church in the foreground is La Capilla de la Familia Sagrada.