*Pirates of the Caribbean instrumental theme song*

Day 5: May 29, 2011 - Hiking

- We left the hotel pretty late this morning and headed off to Bandelier National Monument. 

- I had googled pictures of this place before coming on this trip but no picture could begin to do justice to what one sees at the actual place. Cliffs soared with the original cave dwellings visible from a distance. The holes in the rock face looked pretty small from far away and once close up they still were rather small. It's almost impossible to imagine any human living in the crevices. (It seems almost impossible to me that people have lived in this desert-like area for so long without modern day facilities and luxuries.) We also were fortunate to see some wildlife. We saw some really large deer that I forget the name of as well as a bear (cub)!!! It looked like one of the grizzlies I saw in Alaska in 2009. I know some other people on the trip saw a rattlesnake, but I must have walked right past it! :(

- After Bandelier we drove back to Albuquerque. 

- We are staying in the same hotel that we did the very first night.

- It's late now...

- I'm going to sleep.

Fun Fact of the Day: Apparently there have been multiple nose bleeds from people.. Unfortunate.

Bandalier National Monument and Taos Pueblo

Today our group visited the Bandalier National Monument (why it is called this, I do not know). This sight is one of the most breathtaking I have seen since the beginning of our trip. The rich colors of the rock and the beauty of the cliff sides are a privilege to be able to see in person. The idea that people could thrive in the rocky facades of these magnificent mountain fronts is astounding. The small wooden ladders that lead to the mouths of their small cave dwellings seem to be something from a child's play-set. As one looks along the rock, series of small, uniform holes can be distinguished. These orderly holes are from the support beams that once held up the structures that lined the cliff faces. Today can also be considered "Wildlife Day". We had the pleasure of seeing a black bear cub, a mule deer, a diamond back snake and several small lizards. The bear cub walked innocently along side a small crick looking in the dirt and foliage for something to snack on. The mule deer was one of the most tame wild animals I have come in contact with as I was just two and a half feet from him. He was so calm with having a group of humans standing around gawking and taking photographs that one almost questioned his existence as a wild animal. As for the snake and lizards, I did not put forth any extra effort to try and get closer to them. Todays sights were definitely ones that should be considered honorary and a privilege.

Yesterday, our group had the ability to visit the gorgeous Taos Pueblo village. These pueblos ruins are around 1000 years old and the newer ones are still lived in today by the Pueblo Indian people. These pueblos, with their romantic backdrop of a breathtaking mountain, look like something out of a book. Here, one has the chance to purchase local crafts and trades such as jewelry, clothing, drums and replica weaponry (I bought my younger brother a tomahawk). Along with the crafts, one can also purchase foods of the Pueblo people. The main food item that is enjoyed by visitors is the amazing blue corn fry bread. I had the chance to sample this tasty treat that has the flavor of funnel cake sans confectioners sugar. Honey, if added, completes this delicious carb and makes it a great little treat. In the streets of the pueblos, dogs roam freely and happily greet the sightseers and tourists. As one walks throughout the alleys and streets, one can take in the small baking ovens, the cool mud walls of the houses and the vibrant colors of the signs and chili strands. The people who sell their trades and live in the pueblos, are some of the kindest people I have ever met. I visited an older gentleman's jewelry shop, and he asked if "anything exciting was going on in my life". This made me exceedingly happy to know that there are still some people that care about others and their happiness. I stayed a discussed many things with this man including his craftsmanship, different types of cameras (as I had mine strapped around my neck) and what our group is studying on our visit. His kindness and hospitality was something that I greatly appreciated.

Taos Pueblo

Yesterday, we traveled to Taos Pueblo and had the unique opportunity to go on a tour of the Native American community led by a native of the pueblo. She first brought us into the pueblo’s church, which is devoted to both the worship of Catholicism and their ancient Native American religion. The church was beautifully adorned with paintings and figurines. Through these art forms we learned that the Virgin Mary and Mother Earth are commonly used interchangeably in this culture. As a representation of this synthesis, four Virgin Mary figurines were placed at the church’s alter, each decorated to represent one of the four seasons. Our guide explained other examples of the harmony that has developed between Catholicism and their native religion such as the use of ancient Native American dances on Catholic feast days. Upon leaving the church, our guide brought us through the weaving paths between the pueblo kivas or homes. We observed a few kivas that, according to our guide, were “relatively recent structures” in comparison to other dwellings that are several centuries old. Due to inconsistencies with the yearly maintenance that is necessary to keep up the adobe’s durability and functionality, these buildings were crumbling and caving in. It was very interesting to see the technology that went into the building of these dwellings so many years ago and how the natives have preserved their ancestor’s community even under the pressure of our constantly developing world. This community has remained so untouched and content with their traditional ways that even visiting the Taos Pueblo for a few hours felt like we had been transported to a different world. It was an absolutely amazing experience!

Sauerkraut.

Today, I woke up and after getting dressed (in my red shorts... I did not mention this in my previous posts, but I have been wearing the same jean shorts every.single.day.this.trip... its pretty sanitary I think) and all packed, I dawned my cowboy hat and aviators and went down to get breakfast with the girls :). 

I took my camel pack as well (the backpack filled with water that you suck out through a tube).. after filling it, I tried some and it tasted like gasoline.

apparently its mold.

YUMMY. 

We went drove two hours to hike the Bandelier Trail. IT WAS AWESOMMMEEE! 

.......

Well, I mean... I took two steps, and basically passed out from exhaustion. (it MUST be the altitude.. it couldn't POSSIBLY be the fact that while my friends are working out in the hotel gym, I am taking the elevator to the hotel's dining hall, while also chowing down on the complimentary cookies they offer......... yea. ). 

....

After hiking, or moseying rather, the trail, we went to the restaurant by the visitor's center, and I rewarded myself with a hot dog, french fries, a bag of chips, a side of guacamole, and a side of sauerkraut.  It was fantastic. 

......

Then we went back to the hotel, to get ready to eat again..

Now I am blogging :)

Love.

M

I didn't get any sunburn...

Bandelier National Monument was absolutely amazing. The cave dwellings are beautiful and it's an experience to walk through. One of the highlights of the hike was when Liv, Sophie, Laura, Ms. McGrover, and I climbed into one of the cave dwellings by ladder. I can't put into words how amazing it was. After exploring the mountains, on our way back, we ran into many many animals including a bear cub, a deer, and a snake. A few of us stayed behind to watch the deer.... Yes that's a bit weird, but what was really cool was how comfortable it was with people. By the time we decided to leave, it was about 5 feet from Hannah and crossed the road literally right in front of us. If we had tried that in New Jersey the deer would've bolted away.

Yesterday was pretty cool too. We visited Taos Pueblo. While being a public place, it was also residential. Everyone there was really nice and we had a great time, a few of us tried blue corn fry bread, and Mr. Hodgson tried to lure a snake out from the bridge.

Extra little fun fact: Last night we went out to dinner at Time Out Pizza and got two 30" pizzas. That was interesting.

Adios. Auf Wiedersehen. Good Bye.

May 29,2011

In light of recent events, I’ve come to realize how precious life is, and I feel like there’s no better place to come to this realization than with the Native Americans in New Mexico. Through every interaction, they’ve stressed how important life is, and how every moment is precious, and must be lived in balance with nature. The Native American’s believe that death is the soul’s journey back to Mother Earth, the source that gives us life. They don’t like to talk about death or bad memories, but they commemorate the dead through sacred traditions that have been practiced for hundreds of years. We’ve had the amazing experiences of visiting sacred and historical Native American sites, and also the opportunities to interact with the native people, who have all been so friendly, welcoming, and responsive to our questions. Although their lives were uprooted by the practices of colonizers not long ago, the Native American’s have created new life, where they flourish and still manage to keep age-old traditions alive. I have been so inspired by the strength of these people, to completely start over and lead such fulfilling lives, and hope that I can bring this strength and resilience back to New Jersey with me. I hope that after this trip, each of us will remember how lucky we are to be gifted with all that we have, and will take with us the lessons (of strength, and reverence for each day of life) that we learned here in New Mexico.

-Sophie

The Adventures of Nick Bilynsky in New Mexico

Both yesterday and today were both part of the adventuras, so to speak, that I have truly been enjoying. However the arid the landscape, the Taos Pueblo contained a richness in history, philosophy, and culture and it is showcased through the many items that the Pueblo peoples were selling in their gift shops. Although I had much content throughout my adventures in the Taos Pueblo Reservation, my favorite part of Spring Unit 2011, so far, would have to be our hike through Bandelier Mountain. The Pueblo dwellings in that region were extremely neat to explore and we witnessed many creepy-crawlies mostly on our way back to the cafe. (Inside note: we watched Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday and it was...interesting I guess lol.) Sorry, I'm getting off topic, anyway, both the Taos Pueblo and Bandelier Mountain were clear manifestations of the richness in cultural, historical, and philosophical significance in the native peoples and in the general area of New Mexico. However, the next three days are probably going to be what I could probably say, our climax of my adventures in New Mexico as we actually get to experience the everyday lifestyle of the Navajo Amerindians. I'm very excited to this and I'm looking forward to more fun and adventure for the rest of Unit. Cheers y'all!!!

- Nick Bilynsky

Taos Pueblo

I really loved walking around Taos Pueblo. It was amazing to see the way Native Americans live and work. There was one shop keeper that I really enjoyed talking to. He was so kind and took time to explain the significances of some symbols from their culture and to tell us about the Pueblo. However, it was really hot that day and I got a little sunburnt and it was very dusty.

There were also many cute dogs running around the pueblo and we watched one jump into a garbage can. Later in the day we went to Los Alamos and went to the home of the 30" pizza pie, which was delicious. It was nice to have something besides mexican food even though the mexican food here has been GREAT.

Today, we hiked Bandelier which is one of the most beautiful parks I have ever been to. We were able to climb up ladders that connected to caves and got to see beautiful cave drawings as well as an abundance of wildlife. The highlights: we saw a bear cub and a deer. It was really amazing to see a bear cub up close.

I am really excited to meet Ruth tomorrow and have the ability to sleep in a traditional Navajo hogan.

Taos and Bandelier National Monument

Sorry I missed you yesterday (it was a very busy day),

Yesterday we visited Taos pueblo, which is community still inhabited by Pueblo people. The picture below shows the type of dwellings, called kivas, the people of the community live in. They are, in fact, made of adobe and most are one story with multiple rooms. Fun Fact: Almost all of the kivas in the Taos pueblo do not have staircases and to get to the second level of their kiva by using a ladder outside the house. After we went on a quick tour of the pueblo, we were given the chance to walk around town and visit the shops (which you can also see in the picture above) where I got to meet the people of the pueblo.

Today we hiked Bandelier National Monument, which was absolutely beautiful. Before we actually went on the hike, we watched a movie that briefed us on the park and its history. There was one quote by a Pueblo man that said "We survive because we remember." He then went on to explain that they remember their connection to their ancestors as well as nature. That kind of made me think about my own life and what I remember. Do I even really "remember?" (In that whole metaphorical way.) Well I guess that will be my tidbit of wisdom for the day; remember your who you are and where you came from and don't take that for granted. During the hike we saw these huge mountains with tiny holes in them where Native Americans used to live. In the picture below, you can definitely see this (at least I hope). Well that's all for now.

L

Taos Pueblo and Bandelier

What a spectacular day! After the scenic journey to the Taos Pueblo, the powerful imagery of both the civilizations past and present threw even the quietest of us to express a vocal compassion for the native peoples, and withdrew a great sense of guilt for the deeds committed by my ancestors. Having recently discovered that my great-great-grandfather fought in the Indian wars, the tales of American and Spanish conquest seared deeply into my heart as i witnessed firsthand the damage done by the U.S. cavalry and and the Spanish conquistadors. The Christianization of the Native Americans along with the destruction of their cultures inspired an anger in me I had not felt before. It is truly amazing how contemplative and accepting the Pueblo Indians are in the presence of European Americans, despite the horrific relationship among these peoples in the past. Yet, we see the majestic beauty of Bandelier, through the animals, plants, and structures erected by the Anasazi. The cave dwellings showed the true architectural brilliance of the Indians, as well as a spiritually-inspired respect for the wildlife surrounding the buildings. It was truly another powerful and magnificent day.

Taos Pueblo and the Bandelier National Monument

Yesterday we traveled to the Taos Pueblo, the oldest currently inhabited community in the United States. This community is inhabited by Christianized Pueblo Indians, many of whom own shops in which they sell hand crafted art and musical instruments. I purchased an ocarina (a form of indigenous flute) from one such craftsman. Today we traveled to the Bandelier national monument, a large protected area of forest and cliffs for tourists to visit. In the span of ten minutes, i was lucky enough to take pictures of a diamond back rattle snake, black bear cub, and mule deer, all of which were within thirty feet of me. It was truly an awesome trip.

I think today is day four... not so sure though.

Yea I think it is..

Well anyways today our group woke up early and loaded up our wonderful bus to go to Taos Pueblo. Our two hour journey was accompanied by an insane amount of M&M's and Snickers. So much for trying to be healthy. That idea kinda went out the window.

 On our way to Taos,  we stopped at a church called  Santuario de Chimayo. This is a sacred place that is still a fully functional Church. It is very old, yet very amazing. There were beautiful stained glass windows, and inside the Church there is a small room designated for gathered the sacred dirt( the supply never runs out no matter how many people take it).  This Church is special for the fact that it has healing powers. In the basement of the Church, there were pictures posted of people who needed help, and there were also crutches, leg braces, and wheel chairs left by the people who had been healed by this Church.

 From there, we finished our trip to Taos Pueblo. The buildings were very interesting to learn about because they were all made of mud, yet have been standing since the original Pueblos had created them. 

The most shocking thing I learned today though was that Native Americans did not get the right to vote until 1950, nearly 90 years after African Americans were able to vote. It seems so weird to see how our country had treated these people so poorly. We gave slaves the right to vote before the Native Americans. That just seems very weird to me because of the way the American society had treated slaves nearly 100 years ago. The US had treated the Natives so badly. 

The Way I Am

Day 4: May 28, 2011 - Culture, culture, culture... 

*I know this is being posted on May 29th very early...

- So, per usual, the day started out at the hotel with some waking up, packing, getting ready, and eating breakfast. (You know, the whole sha-bang.)

- We departed the hotel at approximately 9:00 am and began our drive to Taos Pueblo. 

- We made a stop at the Santuario de Chimayo. This place was absolutely beautiful. People from all over visit this sanctuary to experience the healing powers that are believed to reside in the soils on which the Santuario is built. 

- After leaving the Santuario de Chimayo we finished off our bus ride to Taos Pueblo. Upon arrival to Taos Pueblo we were able to pet a few of the dogs that roam in the community. Surprisingly every one was nice. I could only imagine how my dogs would react to thirteen teenagers crowding around saying "Awwwwwwww." Taos Pueblo was a very interesting society. We were given a guided tour in the beginning and then were free to roam the grounds and look in gift shops. What stuck out the most to me about this place was the fact that it was a functioning community not just a historical attraction. People come from all over to look at the homes from hundreds, even thousands of years ago. I felt intrusive walking around. Some people were taking pictures. I can't imagine having hundreds of strangers walk through my back yard taking pictures of my home.

- We left Taos and drove another hour or so to Los Alamos. We had dinner at a pizzeria next door to the hotel we are currently staying in. (It is famous for its 30 inch pizza pies) 

- We then took a trip over to a local (ish) movie theater to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4. (They really need to stop with the sequels.) I fell asleep which is why I'm not really having a problem staying up.

ANYWAY..

Fun Fact of the Day: Children who are half Taos Pueblo (which is the northern most Pueblo in NM) and half something else are still considered a full part of the society and can live in the Pueblo and learn all of the religion, language, and traditions of the society. 

MY FEET ARE DIRTY!!!!!

Today is Saturday, well Sunday. But Saturday in my mind.... :) I am currently blogging at 12:31 (becaauuuseeee I do not want to go to sleep and let all of the genius of my day get muddled in my dreams)...

We woke up and I had a hot chocolate (like a G.)

Then we got on the bus and drove to the Taos Pueblo, where Hayley and I walked around in our matching cowgirl hats and aviators. (tools? I think NOT!)

We took a guided tour of the Pueblo and it was crazy to see how different the architecture was compared to New Jersey. The most interesting part about the tour, I thought, was the fact that people actually lived in the area we were touring. I tried to imagine what it would be like if I looked outside my window and just saw a group of people taking pictures in my backyard. I feel like my dad would just call the cops... because isn't that called a Peeping Tom or something? (Sketttchhhyyy...). 

It was really amazing to see the different shops, (and to buy things.. :D), and really get a sense of how the people there made their living. We then drove back to Los Alamos (where we are now).

On the bus, Hayley and I successfully consumed an entire bag of Cheese Puffs, a good amount of York Peppermint Patties and a strange amount of chips. ...

THENNN

We walked over to the pizza place next to our Hampton Inn, and I met a very charming young man named James who was working there (JAMES! I HOPE YOU ARE READING MY BLOG!!!)....I gave James the link to my blog ;) 

ACTUALLY, I doubt he found me very appealing, after watching me inhale about my body-weight (which is rapidly increasing by the hour...) in BBQ Chicken and Bacon pizza, drink a small child's weight in Diet Dr. Pepper. (Yes, Diet... I'm watching my figure), and spit a little.. .okay.. a lot all over Jess in the midst of one of my giggle fits. 

BUT ANYWAYYYSSS.....

We went to the Reel Deal movie theater right after pizza. annndd while waiting for Pirates of the Caribbean 4 *On Stranger Tides* (about Jack's search for the Fountains of Youth... I guess so they can continue making movie sequels without him needing to resort to using one of those remote scooters they have in Walmart.. you know the ones that have the beepbeepbeep when they back up)

Well, at the theater (or in the bathroom of the theater) I got a bloody nose...

Well, no. It was more like a scene from the Exorcism. I just got up to blow my nose, and all of a sudden, I look down at my hands, and I swear, the Red Tide was spilling from my face (Imagine the Niagara Falls, and the Saw Movies 1,2,3,and 4)... and then there is me, in my cowboy hat (yes. I wore it to the theater.. you know how gosh darn sunny it can be in the movie theater at night time..) and my 3D glasses(No, I did not take them off..), and there is just a big bloody strand of toilet paper stuffed in my nose, and dangling down to my hip. It was sexy, I must say. ... if only James could have seen. Maybe he would check out my blog (sighh..)

Some poor girl walked into the bathroom, saw me, and just turned around and walked out. .... (awwkkkwaaarrddd...) 

Ms. McGrover actually came to check on me to make sure I didn't get abducted by some New Mexican Movie Theater Gang (You know how those are) soo brownie points for being responsible! (yyayyyyy :D) <3 

But yes. So after I dealt with that fiasco, I went back to the movie theater. And fell asleep.

In the Theater. I'm pretty sure I snored a little..... .... 

THE END. 

M

P.S. MY FEET ARE DIRTY!

.....

The Native American Artisans Market

Our group arrived in Santa Fe yesterday afternoon and immediately headed to the historic Santa Fe Plaza and Governor’s palace to explore the Native American Artisans Market. There, Native American jewelers, sculptors, carvers, beaders, and leatherworkers gather to sell their work. We had the unique opportunity to talk to many of the artisans about their various crafts and the many symbols featured in their works. While I strolled through the market, I talked at length with a Navajo woman who makes copper guitar picks and jewelry. She explained the meaning behind the symbols that she commonly etches on her pieces such as fish, the sun, and corn. In Navajo culture, fish represent water, which is considered an extremely important symbol for all Native Americans. Since New Mexico is such an arid state, water is considered especially sacred and symbolizes life. The sun symbol is the featured on the New Mexican state flag and holds several different meaning such as the four seasons, the four directions, and the life cycle. Corn is a staple in Native American life and, according to this particular artisan, is commonly featured in art as a symbol of new beginnings. It was very interesting to learn how important these symbols are to Native American culture and later see them used in the pieces at the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts!

Olivia

Im From London

Day Two.

I HATE FOOD NOW. i cant stop eating. and buying jewelry. i dont understand why this is happening. today we woke up and went to the market again in the Plaza. I bought a necklace for my mom, and an ear cuff or myself. All of the jewelry that the artists make are so pretty and unique. From there we met again in the center  of the Plaza, then off to a museum.

The museum we saw was really cool actually. I think it was the best one so far. After that we had lunch at a nice little restaurant on a side street. From there we had more time to shop, but i didnt feel like buying anything else. I saw the coolest dog tho. He was half St. Bernard and half Golden Retriever. He looked like a lion( his name was Leo). There was also a movie being filmed on one of the streets which was pretty cool. There was a cop car hooked up to a bigger truck, and then pulled behind down one of the other streets.

We had to meet again in the center of town, and from there we went to a different museum about 20 minutes away. At this museum we met with a woman who taught us about Navajo weaving. It was really cool to learn about because it was such an incredibly complicated process. Her hair reached her hip too.. i thought it was very pretty.

We went back to the hotel after, then to dinner. Dinner was soooo good. I love guacamole. 

Tomorrow we are of to Taos, then from there to Los Alamos. In Taos, we are meeting some of the people who live there and we are learning about their culture. 

Say What You Need To Say

Day 3: May 27th, 2011- One day in Santa Fe

- 7:24 am: I woke up.
- 7:36: everyone else woke up...
- ^Obviously not important
- Our day began in the plaza. We watched as a handful of different artists spread out their pieces of art. I scanned everything and finally saw something I wanted. Unfortunately, the artist was not there so I was worried that I'd have to leave Santa Fe without the necklace. So I strolled on over a museum right in back of the Palace of Governors along with the rest of the group. We were given a guided tour of an exhibit that focused on the Navajo long walk and the Indian schools all around the country. One of the most heart wrenching things about the exhibit was a photograph of young Native American boy before he was sent away to an Indian boarding school in Pennsylvania paired with a photograph of the same boy after he left the boarding school. His long hair: cut. His traditional clothing: gone. His face: tired and saddened.
- After the museum we walked over to a restaurant a few blocks away from the plaza. Guess what I ate! Tostadas... more Mexican food. I may as well mention now that we had Mexican food for dinner too - Officially five meals of Mexican cuisine.
- Luckily, we had some free time before we had to leave for the next museum so I booked it over to the spot where I saw the necklace early in the morning. THE ARTIST WAS THERE! So needless to say I bought the piece of jewelry. As he was wrapping it up, he asked me about the necklace I was wearing - it was an Indian Fetish of a horse. I asked what it meant and he told me all of the different origins of the horse fetish. Many people wear jewelry containing horses when they want to own a horse which shows their spirituality, commitment to prayer, and the belief that good will come. He said, though, that it is most commonly believed to represent courage. I figured that this man was very knowledgeable about Indian Fetishes so whipped out the earrings my mom let me borrow for my trip and asked if he could explain the meanings of the three fetishes found on them. The first, which I thought was a fish, was actually a dove. (shows what I know) He said that it a very widespread symbol of peace and that it is exactly the same in Indian cultures. The second was a bear. Many people wear it to symbolize strength. The last was a mountain lion. It conveys a meaning that people are able to find what they want if they believe that they will find it. (this was my favorite part of the day)
- We also went to another museum where we met with Joyce Begay Foss (sp?). She introduced us to the intricate art of weaving as well as the need for patience and balance. Her work was beautiful and her passion shined through as she spoke about her culture and growing up as a Navajo woman. She wanted to convey to us that it is extremely important that we speak up about what we want to know or what we believe in.

Tomorrow we head out to Taos Pueblo, and I can not wait!

Oh and...

Fun Fact of the Day: The Navajo society is matriarchal rather than patriarchal is it is in the Pueblo culture and many others.

It's Friday, Friday, Gotta Get Down on Friday...

Enchilada.
Enchilada is the only word that can properly describe my day.
Enchiladas....and Burritos... and Meat. And Carbs.Carbs.Carbs.CARBS.CARBS....

Today for breakfast, I ate a tiny muffin :)... and then I had three more. :D
Then we went on the bus to the plaza. and I bought a ring.. or two... okay.. I bought four of them. But then we were walking about annnddd...
HAYLEY AND I SAW A WOMAN WHO WAS SHORTER THAN US!!!!!!! (I am 4 foot 10, soo it is always an accomplishment to meet someone, and not be able to see his or her boogers up his or her nose...)

We went to two different museums today. One of them was exhibiting a "Puberty Dress.". . . . . (yeaaa.a.....)

and the other a very interesting woman who taught us how to weave. It was very educational.

Anyways.... We then went to lunch and I had the most delicious fried carbohydrate puff ball of yumminess EVER.

I put honey on it. It was delicious.
...I may or may not dream about it tonight....
That and the gorgeous man I saw in the hotel lobby about 20 minutes ago. (dot..dot..dot...).

I also bought a cowboy hat today. It was only SIX DOLLARS (talk about a bargain!!!)

But before dinner, and after the purchase of the hat, Jess and I went to the pool (that is 5 feet deep in the DEEP end.. soo its more like an over sized bathtub), and as I was peacefully resting in the warm New Mexico Air, I opened my eyes for a brief moment and saw a small man (about 5'3 I would guesstimate) with a long triangular beard, throwing his body (yes.. THROWING his body) into the water. After frolicking for about 6 minutes, and successfully soaking me with water in the midst of his euphoric leg spasming, (mind you, I was NOT in a bathing suit, sooo I was NOT happy...), he climbed out of the pool, hopped up and down like he was warming up for some sort of marathon...and then he left....... yea.

I had flan today. It was yummy... but jiggly. and gross..and mushy.
and I had an enchilada...which has lead to about 5 enchilada babies brewing in my belly as we speak... but it was TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Soo All in all, I had a very educational day :)
My waistline just about doubled in size, I bought a cowboy hat... andddd I was fortunate enough to witness a tiny leprechaun swimming in an oversized puddle.
M :)

P.S. I LOVE JOHNATHAN (aka: my new boyfriend)... ;)

Weave Gone Crazy for Weaving

Today we got the amazing chance to speak one-on-one with one of the most renowned Navajo weavers. In the Navajo community weaving is a task designated for women (the matriarchs), and their weaving secrets are passed down by the female elders. As an outsider, it was a treat to have some of these processes revealed to me, and to learn about a craft that is so integral to the roots of Navajo culture. To be a successful weaver, one must have an everlasting reservoir of patience, an understanding of balance, and a knowledge about all of the plants on the reservation. Joyce, the weaver we spoke with, still weaves in the traditional way : she builds her own loom, spins and dyes her yarns, and uses the patterns that her grandmothers (who lived to be 100+) first taught her to make when she was little. Joyce told us that it can take 6 hours just to set up the loom for a textile she's going to make. Every inch of traditional blankets takes hours to create, I can't even imagine the patience and pride she has in her work. Joyce could name hundreds of plants indigenous to her reservation and what color dye they would produce. She uses no chemicals or toxic preservatives in her dyes, and instead boils down the plants her grandfather taught her about and uses natural mordents. Joyce doesn't look down upon others who choose to use modern methods of weaving, but she stresses how important it is to her to keep the ancient customs alive and pass down traditions to future generations. Joyce creates beautiful and truly unique weavings, and it was an honor to learn from her today. We had so much fun that a few weaving puns were thrown around throughout the day (see title).

Overall a very fun and enlightening day!

-Sophie

I lost count of the days...

I never thought I'd actually start to get tired of Mexican food, none the less, food in general...... And it's only around day three.

Aside from that my favorite part of today was the first museum. The exhibit was really interesting and was filled with artifacts.  After that we went to another museum, where we were met by Joyce who is a well known weaver. She explained the importance of weaving and the complexity of it. She was really calm and I left feeling quite relaxed. The rest of the museum where we were for the weaving was really amazing due to all the hand crafts.  Type, type, type. Tomorrow is looking fun and exciting. Adios. Auf Wiedrsehen. Good bye.

Day 2: Santa Fe

Today, we went to two museums in Santa Fe; both of which share Native American traditions and history with its visitors. The first one we explored was called the New Mexico History Museum. Here, I really enjoyed learning about the great importance the Navajo people had during World War II. During the war, the United States government used the Navajo for their language so that the Japanese could not decipher it. Sadly, this contribution to the War gets lost in many history textbooks about American history, and I believe it should have a greater standing in history classes around the country. My favorite artifact in the museum was the great seal of New Mexico that was made out of various pieces of hardware such as knives, keys and spoons. After this first museum, we went to lunch at Tia Sophia's. I had a chicken enchilada which was delicious! Then we went to the second museum- The New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Here, we had the ability to speak with a famous Navajo weaver named Joyce Begay-Foss. I really enjoyed the presentation she gave us. She not only explained the long process of weaving, but also told us about many Navajo traditions. She also said that we are hurting Mother Earth and that we know Mother Earth is not happy due to all the recent natural disasters like the Tsunami/Earthquake in Japan. This inspired me to become a more environmentally friendly citizen of the earth and I will try to work harder to recycle, reduce and reuse. At night, we went to a restaurant called Gabriel's to stuff our faces with more wonderful Mexican food. This place was particularly special because they make the guacamole at your table! So Yummy!!! I can't wait to visit Taos tomorrow and to have the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating culture of the Navajo!

Life is Good

Whoever came up with the brand of T-shirts with the logo "life is good" is a genius. Life is most definitely good; Santa Fe blue skies, Burritos galore, and Sun Light all around us. To top it off we had a personal Navajo weaving workshop given to us today. Joyce Begay Foss, a forefront Navajo artist sat down with us for two hours as we learned all about native weaving, ancestral significance, and life on Earth. As I walked through the main exhibit I found myself reading every Navajo poem in the museum. These poems resonated with me to a great extent. So great that one has remained in my head for the last six hours

"I am here, I am here now, I have been here always."

Santa Fe and her Museums

For 400 years, Santa Fe has been both a cultural and political hub for activity among numerous nations, including Spain, France, and the many native tribes that originally inhabited the area. From the historically significant artifacts to the magnificent artwork, each exhibit perfectly outlined the importance of New Mexican history. The restaurants kept our stomachs and spirits nourished, while the wonderful encounter with Dr. Joyce Begay-Foss allowed us to emerge ourselves in native culture, as well as a spiritual experience none of us expected. Overall, another wonderful day in Santa Fe. We are all looking forward to an excellent trip to the Taos Pueblo.

Another Day in Santa Fe

Hello again,

So today we basically went museum hopping. We first went to New Mexico History Museum where we learned about the history of the Long Walk and the US involvement in the Indian tribes of the nation. Its so frustrating to think about how the people of the nation I am a part of could treat those people so horribly. Not-so-fun Fun Fact (for those of you who did not read the informative Q and A post... shame....): thousands of Indians died on the Long Walk and even more died at Bosque Redondo (the reservation where they were incarcerated). There were a couple other exhibits about New Mexico and its statehood and how people who are native to New Mexico describe the state. Our second museum was the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Culture where we learned about weaving and its significance in the Navajo culture. Fun Fact: Navajo society is matriarchal. Unlike the Pueblos who refused to let their women weave, Navajo women are encouraged to weave. Weaving has been a part of Navajo culture for so long and unfortunately, weaving is a slowly losing its significance in modern Navajo culture. A main theme in Navajo culture is balance and that is a major part of the Navajo weaving. The woman who led the workshop talked about the four corners of the rug being North, South, East, and West, which were considered to be balanced. So I guess to make this post a little more interesting....consider this: how would you keep your life or any aspect of anything balanced? Well...I'll just leave you with that for now. I hope you enjoyed this tidbit of the day!

L

The Santa Fe Artisan Plaza and Square

Today and yesterday, our small group had the privilege of visiting the Santa Fe artisan market. Here, one has the ability to purchase gorgeous sterling silver and turquoise jewelry that is hand made by the natives of New Mexico. I had the chance to buy a sterling and turquoise necklace and small ear cuff. Along with jewelry, the natives are also very talented leather workers. I purchased a black leather wrist cuff from a very kind leather smith. A small group of us made our way over to the Loretto Cathedral. This cathedral is famous for the "Miraculous Staircase". As well as visiting the cathedral and artisans, we had the pleasure of speaking with a Navajo weaver named Joyce. She spoke with us about peace of mind, balance of the soul and paying attention to ones elders. The food is absolutely incredible and the scenery is breath taking.



Above are strands of chiles for sale in a small market.




A small tapestry shop in the center of Santa Fe.



Bull skulls, tapestries and sun pottery for sale in a market.

Santa Fe's Cultural Museums

Today, we visited the New Mexico History Museum and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture which were both very fun and interesting places. However, the most interesting part of my day today was when we met Joyce Negay-Fost, an acclaimed Navajo weaver. I was particularly intrigued with the repeating idea of balance in the things we do and learn throughout the course of our lives and her philosophy, the embodiment of Navajo belief, is one that I take a firm stand on. It was beautiful outside with the weather being warm but breezy. The restaurant we ate tonight was great! I think I am starting to develop a tolerance for spicier cuisines now because of me having a red chile dressing on each of my Mexican meals lol. Overall, the 2011 Spring Unit is going fantastically and I am looking forward to more fun over the next 7-8 days.

-Nick Bilynsky

Santa Fe Cultural Museums.

Today we went to the Santa Fe Governors' Palace museum. This museum showed a great deal of historic artifacts from Native American cultures dating back to pre-historic times. We also went to the museum of Native American art where we met Joyce Begay Foss, a passionate Navajo weaver. Here we learned about her beliefs as a Navajo tribe member and got to see a personal demonstration of how she weaves traditional Native American rugs. It was a greatly intriguing experience. I'm still getting used to the altitude change and feel a bit sick, but our travels north to the Taos Pueblo and being outside constantly should help with that.

Send Me On My Way

May 25, 2011- Day 1: Travelin'

-arrive at Gill: 5:45

- depart Newark, NJ (sitting between a very kind elderly couple, the reason for which they wanted to sit apart is still unknown to me): 8:55

- arrive in Denver, CO: 11:10 (Denver time) 1:10 (New Jersey time)

- much confusion occurred when six of our names (one of which was mine) did not appear in the system preventing an easy printing of our boarding passes for the next flight

- luckily we had plenty of time to console ourselves with Tacos To Go-Go. -yummy

- depart Denver, CO (on a little plane, sitting in the 13th ~ aka last row of the plane): 1:30 (ish)

- arrive in Albuquerque after a bit of turbulence due to the beautiful Sandia (watermelon) mountains disrupting the air flow: a little less than an hour after departing Denver

- we claimed our baggage (a relief to see all 16 bags sitting there waiting)

- After checking into our hotel, we headed to the Sandia Tramway. I had tacos for the second time in one day. 

- Soon after eating we set off on an adventure up to the peak of the mountain on suspended tram. Heights have never been my favorite thing so I didn't move about the tram all that much. Our tour guide was funny... to some. I don't know what it is about people, but they just love to scare tourists! At the top of the mountain it was only 45 degrees- a good 30 degrees cooler than the base!

Fun Fact of the Day: The Sandia Mountains mean Watermelon mountains.

May 26, 2011: Day 2- ...And the Education Begins!

- My room woke up at 6:15 am. Clearly still adjusting to the small time change.

- We all had breakfast at the hotel and checked out.

- We literally drove across the street to the Pueblo Cultural Center. The first guide we had was an enthusiastic Pueblo woman from Isletas near the Rio Grande. She had actually retired and was filling in for her son. She seemed so excited to meet with us and share her experiences and culture with us. She greeted us in her native language called Tiwa (Tee-wah). It sounded pretty awesome! She spoke with us at two times. The second time she explained about traditional Pueblo customs. She talked about the evolution of their society- including language and religion and even food. The Pueblos are deeply connected with Mother Earth. If they use a resource, they must give something in return. They were introduced to Christianity (mainly Catholicism) by the Spanish. It has remained a huge part of the cultre. Many Pueblo tribes actually have patron saints. For example: Santo Domingo Pueblos (St. Dominic) or San Antonio Pueblos (St. Anthony). The woman taught us all about different ceremonies. 

- In between the programs with the woman a man brought us to see Native American pottery and jewelry. I could go on forever on the intricacies of the arts!

- After the museum we drove to Santa Fe. We were able to explore the plaza for 2 hours. The Native artists have the coolest crafts. I bought a bracelet from a Santo Domingo Pueblo man. He was so excited about his jewelry. He explained in detail all of the steps that the artists must take to be able to sell their art underneath the overhang of the Governor's Palace. He was also a teacher at one point, but he had been selling his jewelry since 1967! Every artist I interacted with was so proud of his or her works. (I would be too! It's all beautiful.)

- We made our way back to the hotel and soon we went off to dinner at the Flying Star Cafe. The food was delicious and our conversations at my table couldn't help but make everything more enjoyable. 

- When we got back to the hotel, we walked over to a nearby park to play a game of "wiffle ball." However, our ball was a tennis ball and our bat was a foam sword wrapped in clothing. It was very entertaining, until someone hit the ball into a fenced back yard. We played a game of "Tongues" aka "spoons" or "pig" instead in the lobby.

-Now  everyone is blogging about their experiences... or sleeping. I can't wait for the rest of the trip!!

Fun Fact of the Day: Pueblos actually do have a "rain dance"

The Sandia Peak Tramway

After spending the flight from Denver to Albuquerque talking to Haley about our mutual fear of heights, our group journeyed to the Sandia Peak tramway to travel to the top of the Sandia Mountains (The Watermelon Mountains). We climbed into the tram and as the tour guide announced, “You might feel a bit of a swing and a bump, folks”, I felt my stomach churn with fear. However, within thirty seconds, we were slowly climbing the 2.7 long cable to the summit and my fear was dissolved by the spectacular view of the city of Albuquerque and the surrounding mountain ranges and desert. Our guide informed us about the many forms of wildlife that are native to this part of New Mexico such as bobcats, bears, and roadrunners. We learned about the different parts of the mountain such as Ego Boost Rock and the abandoned scout’s cabin that now serves as a shelter for lost hikers and skiers. The sound of cameras snapping filled the tram’s interior as everyone ooed and ahed at the sun beginning to set against the crystal clear Albuquerque sky. After about twenty minutes, we reached the summit at an elevation of 10,378 feet and were greeted by 46 degree winds. Sweatshirt-less, I felt goosebumps crawling up my arms but I’d like to believe it was the view that sent such chills up my spine. As you can see from the pictures, the observation deck allowed us to fully take in the sight. I hope you enjoyed my blog for today!

That’s all for now,

Olivia

Im From London

Day two.

Yesterday took basically TWELVE hours of traveling. It was crazy. The first plane ride took forever, yet the second one was barely an hour.  The two hour time change is kinda weird getting used to, and so is the high altitude. I thought i was incredibly out of shape from eating tacos and burritos and chips, but im just gonna say that it was the altitude. Last night was the first night, and it went pretty well. I was up at 4 in the morning, and then at 6 but thats just because im still on East coast time. Ive been freakishly early for everything. This morning we went to a museum which was pretty cool. We had lunch at the museum, then from there took the bus for an hour up to Santa Fe. I kinda enjoy the bus rides. The people on the unit make it really fun. I dont think i have laughed so much. We arrived in Santa Fe, and we were shopping for a looonnngggg time. I bought a lot of jewelry and it was really cool seeing all of the different stuff that the people had created.

The other thing thats pretty cool is that all of the artists are required to put their initials on their work  in order to sell it in that Governor's Palace. 

 After we checked into the hotel, then we had an hour to relax before heading out for dinner. I had the most AMAZING mud pie ever. it was literally a block of fudge. From the restaurant we came back to the hotel. We then decided to go play outside.  We made a baseball bat out of two foam swords that the boys had bought. we tied them together with hairties and a towel....

we called it the "ghetto bat" 

it was great until mr hodgsons epic through went over my head( i kinda ducked so i just gave up on trying to catch it) and then the ball mysteriously disappeared. we had no idea where it went. we think it went under the car and got stuck. So that seriously sucked. Since that ended that fun, we went into the lobby and everyone in our group played cards for nearly an hour.

Tomorrow we are going back to the plaza, and then to a few museums and we are also having a demonstration  on weaving which seems pretty cool.

The First Day

My favorite activity so far, was taking the tram to the top of the Sandia Mountains. Once at the top of the mountain the view was absolutely stunning, but it was quite chilly and very windy! The best part of this was also the food! The mexican food we ate at the base of the mountains was delicious and very authentic! Santa Fe is a very cute city. The architecture of the buildings in the city is unique and the Plaza is a very relaxing little square of green where people can walk around, play music, and sit. There are also many Native American artisans that sell their goods (mostly jewelry) in the area around the plaza. I spent a little too much money on many beautiful pieces of jewelry such as a bracelet made out of copper. Overall, the day was very exciting and I really enjoyed exploring new places! Can't wait for tomorrow!

The First Day

Weary from the journey, we settled in to our rooms, mingling with our roommates. After a feast at Sandiago's at the foot of the Sandia Mountains, we began the 2-mile trek up the massive summit. Passing "golf ball rock" and various other monuments of the Sandias' natural beauty, we finally reached the top of the beautiful hills and paused to take in the glorious view of the surrounding landscape. Each and every student, as well as the teachers, paused for one breathtaking moment and observed the natural spectacle that is New Mexico. We cannot wait for the next day.

First Day's Post

I'll try to be a little different and tell you some details about our day that other's may have overlooked, or consciously left out due to insignificance. My post today will be about the food we've eaten today. This morning we enjoyed a Continental style breakfast at our hotel, where it was clear everyone was feeling the effects of the time-change and the much higher altitudes. After an enlightening tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, we had lunch at the cafe attached to the building. The cafe offered typical American style food, but also indigenous cuisine. It was a great chance for us to taste this different style of food before we spend a few nights on the reservation. It was interesting to look at the menu because it showed the extent to which the Pueblo and Mexican cultures are connected and borrowed from. The Pueblo Indians are very open to incorporating other cultures into their own, and don't have words for many of the things that Mexicans introduced to them, and therefore have incorporated Spanish words into their native language. Identity and tradition are very important aspects of Pueblo life, and while the origins of the Pueblo people are varied, their culture has retained its originality for thousands of years, passed down from elders to children. The menu offered traditional Pueblo stews and Mexican style quesadillas, a delicious juxtaposition. Before I move on to dinner, another interesting thing i learned from our tour was how proud our tour guide was of being a Pueblo Indian. Whenever we mentioned the Navajo she was quick to tell us how much longer the Pueblo Indians have been on this land, and how much more ancient their culture is. It was interesting to see some of the competition (if you can call it that) between the different tribes.

We traveled to Santa Fe for dinner at the Flying Star Cafe where the theme was Southwestern/Cosmos (Space Cowboy anyone?). The food was delicious and the desserts decadent; I'm sure everyone left a few pound heavier than they came in.

I hope everyone is happy to hear that we're being well fed (a little too well fed if you ask me, I might need to upgrade to a seat with extra room on the flight back!)

I'll check in a bit later!

-sophie

Do You Know The Way To Santa Fe

Known as the land of enchantment, New Mexico is famous for its spectacular history and beautiful scenery. I have visited with my family once before, however we did not visit the Sandia Mountains on our past trip. Just that one stop on our trip made my entire unit worthwhile. I have never witnessed such beauty in all of my life and the feeling of the wind blasting at my face was incredible. A day earlier i had listened to the song "Higher" by Creed where the lyrics go something like "Can you take me higher to a place where blind men see can you take me higher to a place with golden streams" It was almost like a divine intervention taking place on that mountain. As if the lyrics to Creed's masterpiece had been answered.

The Sandia Mountains/Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

I am really enjoying myself so far in New Mexico. The sights that I saw over the past two days was truly fascinating and exciting to see and I have been able to keep an open mind. I got to experience the Sandia Mountain Tram and be at an altitude that was over 10,400 ft. The views were spectacular although it was rather cold and windy. Today, I had a good time at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and I look forward for experiences similar to or better than the past two days. Cheers!

-Nick Bilynsky

First Day

Today, we went to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. After touring, we headed to Santa Fe. We walked around the plaza and looked at the many artists around the square. Last night we saw the sunset from the Sandia Peak Tram at an elevation of about 11,000 feet.  

Being Silly in New Mexico.

Hi.. My name is Maggie Bedrosian.

And I am Blogging.......

Starting...

NOW:

I woke up at 6 in the morning to the beautiful view of Hayley Diverio's peacefully sleeping face in front of me. (Apparently she did not have as sound a sleep as I did, with me supposedly sleep-stroking her cheek, and then snoring like a 50-year-old nicotine addict.) After washing the ugly off my face and covering it with makeup, I went downstair with Jess and Hayley, and we had breakfast. We met a man in the elevator. He had a braid that went down to his butt.

Post-breakfast, we went to a local museum where we learned about different aspects of the Native American culture. Our tour guide was an adorable woman. My altitude-induced exhaustion, sausage-like bloated fingers (it must have been the altitude... couldn't possibly be the thousands of calories of tacos and tortilla chips I have consumed during the past 48 hours...), and sore feet were no match against her highly contagious enthusiasm and pride for her culture, and soon I, too, was enthralled in the tour. 

I love Ms. McGrover. She is my favorite teacher.

But anyways, we THEN hopped onto the bus en route a la Santa Fe (throw in some espanol for effect...). At the plaza in Santa Fe, Hayley, Jess and I bought many an item.

We spoke to one man selling his handmade jewelry. He explained to us how he had to make everything by hand in his area (because otherwise he would not be able to sell in the place that he was selling.) He explained how he used to teach children how to make jewelry, but soon he was "broke" and had to keep working.

This man in the plaza spoke about his work, and his culture with such pride. Similar to the woman from the museum in the beginning of the day, this man's undeniable warmth when speaking about his heritage, made me feel like less of an intruder on his culture, and more like a guest :) 

Dinner was awesome. I'm having fun :) 

Love you Zach :)

M 

Santa Fe and the Sandia Mountains

So far I've truly enjoyed this unit. I'm still getting used to the altitude change, as we're 10,400 feet above sea level. I've been shrugging off altitude induced fatigue by tacking tons of breathtaking pictures of the landscape. Learning about the Pueblo Native American culture at the Indian Pueblo Cultural center was also greatly intriguing. I am very excited to learn more about Native American culture in the coming days.

Experiencing The Sandia Mountains

Yesterday evening, our small group of sixteen people visited the beautiful Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, NM. We made our way to the top via cable car. When we reached the summit, we were at an astounding 10,400 feet above sea level. With the magnificent view came a wave of dizziness and lightheadedness due to altitude increase. The word "sandia" means "watermelon" in Spanish. The mountains acquired this name because at sunset their facades gain the rich, red color of the large round fruit. The view of the city from the top was absolutely incredible and the sunset was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The sun seemed to melt behind the plateaus in the distance.



The above photo is of the mountain rage and a boulder that was twice the size of the cable car.




This is the sunset seen from the top of the mountain with a large boulder in the foreground.

First Day: Albuquerque/Santa Fe

Hello,

So today was the first full day in New Mexico. It started the day at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The first exhibit was about Native Americans with African American heritage. It was interesting to hear about their struggles with their identities and their strong feelings towards the cultures the belonged to. Next, we took a trip downstairs to learn about traditional pottery and jewelry of the Pueblo people. Fun Fact: On some pots there's a symbol of an animal and an arrow running from its nostrils to its heart, which is to honor the animal's life. I like that they honor the lives of the animals and make sure not to waste any part of it. (If you did not read the answers to the questions in one of the first posts, there are 19 Pueblo tribes). The exhibit also had a whole section about the history of the Pueblos, which was great because I love history. Not-so-fun Fun fact: Some Pueblos were forced into boarding school in order to assimilate them into European and culture and "kill the Indian, but save the man." The last exhibit we visited talked about the significance of all things in the Pueblo culture. The Pueblos believe that everything in life has a significance. I think that's really cool because they don't take anything for granted and appreciate all things in life. Fun Fact: the Pueblos practice not only their own spirituality, but also Catholicism and each Pueblo tribe is associated with a patron saint. We then travelled to Santa Fe and explored the Plaza where Native American artisans were selling jewelry. Well that's all for now....I hope you enjoyed this small tidbit of the day.

L

An Introduction to The Navajo Nation

1. Who are the Navajo/Dine?

They are the largest Native American Tribe in the US. They come from the Northwest Pacific coast and Canada. They live on the largest reservation in the US. "Dine" means "the people." They live in the Four Corners (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado) region of America.

2. Who are the Mescalero Apache/N'dé?

Ulysses S. Grant establishes the tribe. They are nomadic hunter/ gatherers and are a branch of the Apache Tribe. Their economy is based off of ranching and tourism. They are a part of the Southern Athabaskan Native Americans. There are 4,000 Mescalero Apache people.

3. What was the Long Walk, when did it take place and what was its purpose?

It was a forced Indian removal effort, or genocide, from 1863-1864 that ended at Bosque Redondo/Fort Sumner. It can be considered as an act of ethnic cleansing. The walk itself took the Indian people eighteen days.

4. What is the Bosque Redondo/Hweeldi/ Fort Sumner and where is it?

It is located on Peco's River in Southwestern New Mexico. Bosque Redondo was originally a trading post between the Native Americans and the Anglo people. It was the destination of the Long Walk. Bosque Redondo is located in Fort Sumner State monument. "Hweeldi" means "the land of suffering."

5. What happened to the Navajos the the Mescalero Apache at Bosque Redondo?

One third of the captives were killed. Pollution and crop failure were large problems when the Native Americans had been relocated. The Native American people were starved into submission. Many of the people fought with each other.

6.Who was Barboncito?

He was a famous Navajo political and spiritual leader (1821-1871). He signed many treaties with US government and he achieved recognition of Chief by the US. He was called the "Peace Chief."

7. Who was Brigadier General James H. Carleton and what was his role in the Long Walk?

He was a general in the US army and he played a large role in the Long Walk. He was ordered the first orders to drive out the Navajo people. He was second in command to Kit Carson. He was also the commander of military in Arizona and New Mexico.

8. What role did Fort Defiance play in the Long Walk?

It was the US military camp on the Navajo land which the US planned their attacks from. The Navajo attacked and ultimately surrendered to the US army at Fort Defiance.

9. How was Kit Carson involved in the Bosque Redondo of Navajos and Apaches?

They starved the Navajo into submission and poisoned their water supplies. When the Navajo people surrendered, he forced them to do the Long Walk.

10. What is the Canyon de Chelly?

It is national monument and is the ancestral homeland of the Pueblo and Navajo people.

11. Which Pueblo Indian tribes are in New Mexico?

There are 19 different tribes that reside in New Mexico. A few of them are: Taos, Santa Clara, Cochiti, Santa Domingo and Hopi.

12. What is the role of story telling in Navajo culture?

It is part of the oral tradition of the Navajo tribe. It maintains their thoughts, rituals, and the culture of their people.

13. What is the role of dance in Navajo culture?

Most of the dances are ceremonial and they are used to represent things in their culture. The dances are used as a form of storytelling, to show their heritage as well as spiritual healing.

14.What is the Kinaaldá Ceremony in Navajo culture?

It is the ceremony when a girl reaches puberty. It generally lasts for a period of four days. It is based on a myth regarding the deity (Mother Earth). During the ceremony the story of how life originated on earth, and they reenact it during the ceremony.