Zuni people

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Zuni
A:shiwi
Pueblo people
Map of historical distribution of Zuni (light green) and current Zuni land (dark green)

The Zuni (

federally recognized as the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, and most live in the Pueblo of Zuni on the Zuni River, a tributary of the Little Colorado River, in western New Mexico, United States. The Pueblo of Zuni is 55 km (34 mi) south of Gallup, New Mexico.[1] The Zuni tribe lived in multi level adobe houses. In addition to the reservation, the tribe owns trust lands in Catron County, New Mexico, and Apache County, Arizona.[2] The Zuni call their homeland Halona Idiwan’a or Middle Place.[3] The word Zuni is believed to derive from the Western Keres language (Acoma
) word sɨ̂‧ni, or a cognate thereof.

History

Archaeology suggests that the Zuni have been farmers in the general area for 3,000 to 4,000 years. It is now thought that the Ancestral Zuni people inhabited the Zuni River valley from the last millennium B.C., when they began using irrigation to farm maize on at least household-sized plots.[4][5]

Zuni Salt Lake, New Mexico, where the Zuni have harvested salt for centuries

Zuni culture is associated with

Seven Cities of Cibola, a legendary 16th century wealthy empire.[6][7][8]

In 1539,

Hawikuh in 1629 with two Franciscan priests. They completed a church compound in 1632, and established a second mission in Halona. Shortly afterwards, the Zuni destroyed the missions, killing two priests, and then retreated to Dowa Yalanne, where they remained for the next three years. The Spanish built another mission in Halona in 1643.[7][8]
: 56–59 

Before the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, the Zuni lived in six villages. After the revolt, until 1692, they took refuge in a defensible position atop Dowa Yalanne, a steep mesa 5 km (3.1 miles) southeast of the present Pueblo of Zuni; Dowa means "corn", and yalanne means "mountain". After the establishment of peace and the return of the Spanish, the Zuni relocated to their present location, returning to the mesa top only briefly in 1703.[10] By the end of the 17th century, only Halona was still inhabited of the original six villages. Yet, satellite villages were settled around Halona, and included Nutria, Ojo Caliente, and Pescado.[8]: 67–69, 73–78 

Of the three Zuni missions, only the church at Halona was rebuilt after the reconquest. According to Nancy Bonvillain, "Indeed, by the late eighteenth century, Spanish authorities had given up hope of dominating the Zuni and other western Pueblo Indians, and in 1799 only seven Spanish people were recorded as living among the Zuni.". In 1821, the Franciscans ended their missionary efforts.[8]: 71–74 

In 1848, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Henderson P. Boyakin signed a treaty with Zuni and Navajo leaders stating the Zuni "shall be protected in the full management of all their rights of Private Property and Religion...[by] the authorities, civil and military, of New Mexico and the United States." Observing the Zuni in the 1850s, Balduin Möllhausen noted "In all directions, fields of wheat and maize, as well as gourds and melons, bore testimony to their industry."[8]: 81, 83 

The Zuni Reservation was created by the United States federal government in 1877, and enlarged by a second Executive order in 1883.[8]: 86–88 

Frank Hamilton Cushing, an anthropologist associated with the Smithsonian Institution, lived with the Zuni from 1879 to 1884. He was one of the first non-native participant-observers and ethnologists at Zuni. In 1979, it was reported that some members of the Pueblo consider he had wrongfully documented the Zuni way of life, exploiting them by photographing and revealing sacred traditions and ceremonies.[11]

During the early 2000s, the Zuni opposed the development of a

Zuni Salt Lake, a site sacred to the Zuni and under Zuni control.[12] The mine would have extracted water from the aquifer below the lake and would also have involved construction between the lake and the Zuni. The plan was abandoned in 2003 after several lawsuits.[13][8]
: 117–119 

  • We'Wha (1849–1896), a celebrated Zuni lhamana weaver at work on a backstrap loom, photo: John K. Hillers, c. 1871–1907
    John K. Hillers
    , c. 1871–1907
  • Image of Zuni Pueblo created during the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers's 1851 expedition to Arizona which was led by Captain Sitgreaves[14]
    Image of
    Corps of Topographical Engineers's 1851 expedition to Arizona which was led by Captain Sitgreaves[14]
  • Lutakawi, Zuni Governor, photographed before 1925 by Edward S. Curtis
    Lutakawi, Zuni Governor, photographed before 1925 by Edward S. Curtis
  • Zuni pueblo middle court, in 1879
    Zuni pueblo middle court, in 1879
  • Zuni River, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico. The Zuni people have inhabited the Zuni River valley since the last millennium BCE
    Zuni River, Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico. The Zuni people have inhabited the Zuni River valley since the last millennium BCE
  • Zuni men and the ancient Pueblo Town of Zuni, c. 1868
    Zuni men and the ancient Pueblo Town of Zuni, c. 1868
  • Two Zuni girls, photographed by Edward S. Curtis, c. 1926
    Two Zuni girls, photographed by Edward S. Curtis, c. 1926

Culture

Kachina doll (Paiyatemu), late 19th century. Brooklyn Museum

The Zuni traditionally speak the

Pima pertaining to religion. The Zuni continue to practice their traditional religion with its regular ceremonies and dances, and an independent and unique belief system.[citation needed
]

The Zuni were and are a traditional people who live by

irrigated agriculture and raising livestock. Gradually the Zuni farmed less and turned to sheep and cattle herding as a means of economic development. Their success as a desert agri-economy is due to careful management and conservation of resources, as well as a complex system of community support. Many contemporary Zuni also rely on the sale of traditional arts and crafts. Some Zuni still live in the old-style Pueblos, while others live in modern houses. Their location is relatively isolated, but they welcome respectful tourists[citation needed
].

The Zuni Tribal Fair and rodeo is held the third weekend in August. The Zuni also participate in the Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial, usually held in early or mid-August. The A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center is a tribal museum that showcases Zuni history, culture, and arts.[citation needed]

Ethnobotany

The Zuni utilize many local plants in their culture. For an extensive list, see the main article, "Zuni ethnobotany". Zuni have developed knowledge of local plants that are used for medical practices and religious rites.[16]

Pottery

Water Jar, 1825–1850, Brooklyn Museum
Zuni olla, late 19th – early 20th century, 12.5″ high, Brooklyn Museum

Traditionally, Zuni women made pottery for storing food and water. They used symbols of their clans for designs. Clay for the pottery is sourced locally. Prior to its extraction, the women give thanks to the Earth Mother (Awidelin Tsitda) according to ritual. The clay is ground, sifted, mixed with water, rolled into a coil, shaped into a vessel or other design, and scraped smooth with a scraper. A thin layer of finer clay, called slip, is applied to the surface for extra smoothness and color. The vessel is polished with a stone after it dries. It is painted with home-made organic dyes, using a traditional yucca brush. The shape and painted images depend on the intended purpose of the pottery. To fire the pottery, the Zuni used animal dung in traditional kilns. Today, Zuni potters might use electric kilns. While the firing was usually a community enterprise, silence or communication in low voices was considered essential in order to maintain the original "voice" of the "being" of the clay, and the purpose of the end product.[17][18] Sales of pottery and traditional arts provide a major source of income for many Zuni people today.[19] An artisan may be the sole financial support for her immediate family as well as others. Many women make pottery or, more rarely, clothing or baskets.[20] Brown, black and red ornamentation can be found on traditional Zuni pots that are first covered with white slip. Common motifs are spiral scrolls edged with triangles, deer, as well as frogs, dragonflies and other symbols associated with rain and water. In addition to pots, Zuni produce owl figurines that are covered with white slip and painted with black and red motifs before firing.[21]

Carving and silversmithing

Zuni also make fetishes and necklaces for the purpose of rituals and trade, and more recently for sale to collectors.

The Zuni are known for their fine lapidary work. Zuni jewelers set hand-cut turquoise and other stones in silver.[22] Today jewelry-making thrives as an art form among the Zuni. Many Zuni have become master stone-cutters. Techniques used include mosaic and channel inlay to create intricate designs and unique patterns.

Two specialties of Zuni jewelers are

coral and occasionally with other stones in creating necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings. Petit point is made in the same fashion as needlepoint, except that one end of each stone is pointed, and the other end is rounded.[citation needed
]

Religion

Religion is central to Zuni life. Their traditional religious beliefs are centered on the three most powerful of their deities: Earth Mother, Sun Father, and Moonlight-Giving Mother. The religion is katsina-based, and ceremonies occur during winter solstice, summer, harvest, and again in winter.[8]: 14–15, 25–40 

Priesthood includes three priests (north, above and below), and Pekwin (the above priest) determines the religious calendar. A religious society is associated with each of the six kivas, and each boy is initiated into one of these societies.[23]

Shalako

Shalako is a series of ceremonial dances that take place throughout the night[24] on or around the winter solstice. They are closed to non-native individuals unless there is a personal invitation by a tribal member. The ceremony also blesses the houses that were built during the year. The blessing takes the form of singing that accompanies six dancers who are dressed in Shalako outfits.[25] These outfits can be as high as eight feet; the dancers wearing them represent "couriers of the rain deities come to bless new homes".[26][27][28] The dancers move from house to house throughout the night; at dawn Saiyatasha performs a final prayer and the ceremony is complete.[28]

In popular culture

In the novel Brave New World, a Zuni native named John comes to grip with sexual realities in the New State and how they differ from his own culture.

Gallery

  • Zuni Girl, photographed by Edward S. Curtis
    Zuni Girl, photographed by Edward S. Curtis
  • Zuñis in typical modern costume, 1896
    Zuñis in typical modern costume, 1896
  • Zuni water vases
    Zuni water vases
  • Zuni pottery
    Zuni pottery
  • Zuni paint and condiment cups
    Zuni paint and condiment cups
  • Zuni ceramic ladles
    Zuni ceramic ladles
  • Zuni bird effigies
    Zuni bird effigies
  • Zuni clay baskets
    Zuni clay baskets
  • Zuni animal effigies
    Zuni animal effigies
  • Zuni woven sashes
    Zuni woven sashes

Notable Zuni people

See also

Citations

  1. ^ "Zuni Tribe: Facts, Clothes, Food and History ***". www.warpaths2peacepipes.com. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "Welcome", Pueblo of Zuni, (retrieved 13 Feb 2011)
  3. ^ "Experience Zuni". www.zunitourism.com. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  4. , edited by David A. Gregory and David R. Wilcox, p. 119
  5. .
  6. .
  7. ^ a b c Pritzker 109
  8. ^ .
  9. ^ Flint, Richard and Shirley Cushing Flint "Dowa Yalanne, or Corn Mountain". Archived 2012-07-14 at archive.today New Mexico Office of the State Historian. 21 April 2012.
  10. ^ Frank Hamilton Cushing, Zuni (University of Nebraska, 1979).
  11. ^ Neary, Ben (February 18, 2001). "Mining Plan Pits Tribe Against Power Industry". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  12. Santa Fe New Mexican. Archived from the original
    on June 30, 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2009.
  13. ^ Granger, Byrd H. (1960). Arizona Place Names. University of Arizona Press. p. 21. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
  14. ^ "Zuni Origins". Archaeology Southwest. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  15. PMID 6893476
    . Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Morrell, Virginia. "The Zuni Way ." Archived September 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Smithsonian Magazine. April 2007 (retrieved 13 Feb 2011)
  17. . Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  18. ^ Belarde-Lewis, Miranda, A Zuni System of Knowledge: The Arts, University of Washington
  19. .
  20. ^ Adair 14
  21. .
  22. ^ "Zuni Shalako Figure". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  23. .
  24. ^ "Our Culture". Pueblo of Zuni. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  25. .
  26. ^ .

References

Further reading

External links