I didn't learn of the Pueblo Revolt until I lived in Las Cruces in the 1990s and began walking the Tortugas Pilgrimage every December with my dear friend, Denise Chávez, poet, novelist, playwright and activist. I have wondered ever since why we don't celebrate it as a state holiday, but I guess the answer is what you wrote: the Pueblo Revolt was a tremendously effective and courageous strike at the heart of colonialism, and the colonists are the ones who write our history.
Yes, it was tremendously effective and courageous. Also I imagine it could be complicated to declare it a state holiday given the backlash that might come from certain segments of the Hispanic population that still identify strongly with that European colonial legacy.... that's certainly what we witnessed with all the tension and violence around removal of the Oñate statues in Albuquerque and Alcalde.
It's hard to read about the violence and colonization perpetrated upon Indigenous people. Thanks for writing about the revolt and how it paved the way for maintaining Indigenous culture in this region up until today.
Yes... and it's still going on, in other forms. The book "Nuclear Nuevo Mexico" is an excellent read to understand how nuclear colonialism works and how it's impacted Native and land-based peoples of this area.
Great piece. Thanks I can’t verify it’s accuracy, but a Tewa gentleman at First Mesa once told how Zuni folks untied the last knot early and were later sometimes called the “Too Soons”
Incredible. To think how something from so long ago has had a lasting impact to this day. I mourn for the Indigenous peoples whose cultures, faith traditions, lands, and lives were stolen.
I lived and worked in Santa Fe for half a year, nearly a decade ago, and found northern New Mexico steeped in history and culture. As an outsider, I did my homework and did become aware of this event.
I am currently writing posts in my Substack about my time there. They will start appearing in about a month, in late September.
Thank you, Maia. Growing up in NM as ethnically northern European shaped my view of myself and the long view of American history. Nothing can replace a visit to Acoma Pueblo or seeing the conquistadors inscriptions from 1500s at El Morro rock. I have a dear Pueblo friend from elementary school in touch on social media decades later and am grateful for the humility of growing up on someone else's land surrounded by someone else's language, and walking mesas rich in desert botany daily to get to public school.
Thank you, Maia, for this valuable lesson from 300 years ago as well as today!
The past is present!
I didn't learn of the Pueblo Revolt until I lived in Las Cruces in the 1990s and began walking the Tortugas Pilgrimage every December with my dear friend, Denise Chávez, poet, novelist, playwright and activist. I have wondered ever since why we don't celebrate it as a state holiday, but I guess the answer is what you wrote: the Pueblo Revolt was a tremendously effective and courageous strike at the heart of colonialism, and the colonists are the ones who write our history.
Yes, it was tremendously effective and courageous. Also I imagine it could be complicated to declare it a state holiday given the backlash that might come from certain segments of the Hispanic population that still identify strongly with that European colonial legacy.... that's certainly what we witnessed with all the tension and violence around removal of the Oñate statues in Albuquerque and Alcalde.
True. But maybe someday....
Yakoke, Maia. North American history is important, relevant and inspirational.
yes! thanks for stopping by here, James : )
Thanks to a Pueblo tour my wife and I took with a Pueblo guide, we did learn about the revolt and its’ legacy. Thank God for that revolt. Daniel
Imagine how different things would be if it hadn't happened....
It's hard to read about the violence and colonization perpetrated upon Indigenous people. Thanks for writing about the revolt and how it paved the way for maintaining Indigenous culture in this region up until today.
Yes... and it's still going on, in other forms. The book "Nuclear Nuevo Mexico" is an excellent read to understand how nuclear colonialism works and how it's impacted Native and land-based peoples of this area.
Great piece. Thanks I can’t verify it’s accuracy, but a Tewa gentleman at First Mesa once told how Zuni folks untied the last knot early and were later sometimes called the “Too Soons”
Incredible. To think how something from so long ago has had a lasting impact to this day. I mourn for the Indigenous peoples whose cultures, faith traditions, lands, and lives were stolen.
I lived and worked in Santa Fe for half a year, nearly a decade ago, and found northern New Mexico steeped in history and culture. As an outsider, I did my homework and did become aware of this event.
I am currently writing posts in my Substack about my time there. They will start appearing in about a month, in late September.
Thank you, Maia. Growing up in NM as ethnically northern European shaped my view of myself and the long view of American history. Nothing can replace a visit to Acoma Pueblo or seeing the conquistadors inscriptions from 1500s at El Morro rock. I have a dear Pueblo friend from elementary school in touch on social media decades later and am grateful for the humility of growing up on someone else's land surrounded by someone else's language, and walking mesas rich in desert botany daily to get to public school.