The Old New Mexico - part 6

At the time of European arrival, most of New Mexico was occupied by two closely related tribes - the Navajo and the Apache. Both have migrated from Canada around 1400 AD. Their relations with the Pueblo Indians were a complex combination of raiding and trading, but they gradually shifted towards raiding as the pueblos' population declined following the Spanish invasion. Unlike the sedentary Pueblo people, they were generally hated by the Americans and subjected to genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced relocations and cultural oppression.

House of Kit Karson, leader of 1863 extermination campaign against the Navajo, is now a museum. Taos, New Mexico.

Traditional sweat lodge, Navajo National Monument, Arizona.

Since the 17th century, the Navajo have been predominantly sheep herders. They lived in small family groups, mostly in framed adobe houses called hogans. After the US Army invaded their lands (1840-1886), they were forced to march to the deserts of eastern New Mexico. Those who survived were later allowed to return. Many Navajos still maintain traditional lifestyle, and most speak Navajo language.

Traditional hogan, Navajo National Monument, Arizona.

Navajo drums for sale, Alamo, New Mexico.

Navajo rugs for sale, Ramah, New Mexico.

Navajo dreamcatchers for sale, Canoncito, New Mexico.

Today the Navajo are the largest native tribe in North America (~150,000 people). They live in one very large reservation and a number of small ones in northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and extreme southeastern Utah. Their most famous arts are jewelry-making and weaving.

Hogans and sweatlodges are still a common sight on Navajo lands. Sanostee, New Mexico.

Contemporary Navajo jewelry, Window Rock, New Mexico.

Apache lands, San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona.

The Apache once inhabited a huge territory, from Texas to Arizona. They helped the USA in its war with Mexico, but were later betrayed, and fought a bloody guerilla war against US troops. Many were exiled to Oklahoma.

Former Apache lands, Gila River Valley, New Mexico.

Apache baskets, Jicarilla Apache Reservation.

Apache baskets, Jicarilla Apache Reservation.

Now most Apaches live in southeastern Arizona, but there are also two reservations in New Mexico. Logging, cattle raising, and tourism are the main sources of income. The Apaches are less involved in souvenir industry than other New Mexican tribes; they make excellent baskets and some pottery.

Apache baskets, Jicarilla Apache Reservation.

Contemporary Navajo sandpaintings.

Contemporary Navajo sandpainting.

Probably the most interesting and unique artform of Navajo and Apache people are sandpaintings. Originally they were made for religious and healing ceremonies, and then destroyed.

Contemporary Navajo sandpainting.

Contemporary Navajo sandpaintings.

Contemporary Navajo sandpainting.

In the 1940-s, the Navajo began to create permanent sandpaintings in order to preserve the tradition and earn income.

Contemporary Apache sandpainting.

Contemporary Navajo sandpaintings.

Contemporary Navajo sandpainting.

The designs of "commercial" paintings are slightly altered, so that they don't have any religious significance and can be viewed by strangers. They are, however, splendid works of art. They are made by slowly hand-trickling colorful sand (made by grinding down rocks of various kinds) onto epoxy-covered boards. Making them is much more difficult than it seems, and requires a lot of practice.

Contemporary Navajo sandpainting.

Ute pottery, Towaoc, Ute Mountain Reservation.

Ute pottery, Ute Mountain Reservation.

Ute Indians' territory once included much of Utah and Colorado. They are the descendants of the ancient Fremont Culture. They were mostly hunters-gatherers, but also practiced some agriculture. Now they have three reservations. One of them includes a small area in extreme northwestern New Mexico. Mineral leases are the main source of income. Traditional Ute arts are basketry and beadwork, but their pottery, influenced by pueblo style, is also good.

Ute pottery, Ute Mountain Reservation.

Kiowa bags and moccasins, 19th century, Metropolitan Museum, New York.

Comanche pipe, Cedar Breaks SP, Texas.

The original inhabitants of the eastern plains of New Mexico were the Apache and Kiowa people. In the 17th century, horses acquired from the Spanish made bison hunting easy, and many tribes migrated to the Great Plains. The Comanche moved from the Rocky Mountains. They fought off the Spanish and the French, but lost all their land to the US, and were confined to reservations in Oklahoma. Very little evidence of Kiowa and Comanche presence remains in New Mexico today. Native culture has survived in New Mexico to a greater degree than in any other state, but even here the cultural loss has been enormous and tragic.

Comanche necklace, Cedar Breaks SP.

Comanche saddle, shield, and leather bag, c. 1850, Cedar Breaks State Park, Texas.

Medicine Mound, a sacred Comanche site, Texas.

As for the Anglo-Americans, there cultural achievements in the Southwest have so far been modest. Will they ever create a culture as original and colorful as the ones they destroyed? Only time will tell.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, the largest city of New Mexico.

Cats and mouse, contemporary pottery, Zia Pueblo.

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