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New Mexico
Last post 06-08-2007 5:08 PM by Mike Leco. 0 replies.
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06-08-2007 5:08 PM
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Mike Leco
  - Joined on 06-06-2007
- Posts 519
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Mike Leco
USATourist Administrator
Joined: 14 Jun 2004
Posts: 101
Location: Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
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 Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject: New Mexico |
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I just returned from a trip to various parts of New Mexico. I visited Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Taos. I attended the Gathering of Nations, the biggest Indian powwow in North America. I visited several of the local pueblos and attended one of the ceremonial dances and feast days.
New Mexico is an authentic US Southwestern state. It is the land of cowboys and Indians. It is a land of beautiful scenery and interesting geological formations. If you want to experience the culture of our Native American inhabitants, this is good place to find it.
The Gathering of Nations powwow is held in Albuquerque once a year. It draws dancers, singers, drummers and spectators from many of the diverse indian tribes throughout the USA and Canada. There were over two thousand dancers and at least 20 different drummer groups competing for prizes. The dancers wore spectacular outfits adorned with intricate beadwork, multicolored feathers and various animal furs. Each tribe had different styles and motifs that matched their cultural heritage. It was quite astounding to see.
We visited some of the Anasazi ruins at Bandolier National Monument and some of the ancient drawings at Petroglyph National Park. It reminded us that our Native American neighbors have inhabited this land for thousands of years.
We also visited some of the remaining pueblos. There are still 19 active pueblos in New Mexico. These traditional Native American villages with condominium-style adobe structures have been continuously inhabited for over 500 years. We were fortunate enough to be in the area when it was a feast day at one of the pueblos. These communities are normally closed to the outside public, as the inhabitants value their privacy, but on feast days they invite the public to join them in celebration. On this particular feast day, the entire village joined in a corn dance celebration. Men, women and little children participated in an ancient dance ceremony designed to favor them with a good growing season. It was fascinating to watch this ancient religious ceremony that was performed not for tourists, not for the public, but solely for their own benefit.
For anyone that wants to learn about the Native American culture and the traditions of the Indian tribes, the Gathering of Nations is a great experience. The feast days at the pueblos are something quite different. They provide a more intimate, less public display of Native American culture. | |
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