Taos Pueblo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taos Pueblotə̂otho or tə̂obo ȉałopháymųp’ȍhə́othə̀olbo or ȉałopháybo Pueblo de Taos |
|
|---|---|
Taos Pueblo In 2017
|
|
| Location | Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Governing body | Native American tribal government |
| Official name: Pueblo de Taos | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iv |
| Designated | 1992 (16th session) |
| Reference no. | 492 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Designated | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference no. | 66000496 |
| Area | 19 acres (7.7 ha) |
| Architecture | Pueblo |
| Designated | October 9, 1960 |
| Designated | March 13, 1972 |
| Reference no. | 243 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| t’óynemą | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 4,500 (2010 U.S. Census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( New Mexico) |
|
| Languages | |
| Taos (Tiwa), English, Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Taos religion (Pueblo religion), Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Tanoan peoples |
Taos Pueblo (also called Pueblo de Taos) is a very old village in New Mexico. It belongs to the Taos-speaking Native American tribe. This village is one of the oldest places in the United States where people have lived without stopping.
Taos Pueblo is about one mile north of the modern city of Taos, New Mexico. It is part of the Eight Northern Pueblos. The tribe also has a large area of land, about 95,000 acres, where about 4,500 people live. In 1992, Taos Pueblo was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place for everyone in the world.
Contents
Exploring Taos Pueblo's Location
This ancient village was built with the Taos Mountains in the background. A small stream, called Rio Pueblo de Taos, flows right through the middle of the village. This stream is also known as Rio Pueblo or Red Willow Creek.
The most famous part of Taos Pueblo is its tall buildings. They are made of reddish-brown adobe (a type of mud brick). These buildings are on both sides of the Rio Pueblo. The Pueblo's website says these buildings were likely built between the years 1000 and 1450.
Taos Pueblo was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960. Later, in 1992, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As of 2010, about 150 people live in the historic part of the pueblo all the time.
Understanding the Name "Taos"
The Taos Language Name
In the Taos language, which is a Northern Tiwa language, the village is called "the village." This can be tə̂otho (meaning "in the village") or tə̂obo (meaning "to/toward the village").
The full, proper name for the pueblo is ȉałopháymųp’ȍhə́othə̀olbo. This means "at red willow canyon mouth." Sometimes, people use a shorter version: ȉałopháybo, which means "at the red willows." These longer names are often used during special ceremonies.
The Spanish Language Name
The English name Taos comes from the Spanish word Taos. The Spanish probably got it from the Taos word tə̂o- meaning "village." They might have heard it as tao and then added an -s to make it sound like a plural word, even though it's not plural in the modern language.
A Look at Taos Pueblo's History
Early History Before Europeans Arrived
It is believed that the Taos Indigenous people, along with other Pueblo Indigenous people, moved to the Rio Grande area. They likely came from the Four Corners region, where the Ancestral Puebloans lived. A long dry period in the late 1200s might have made them move to the Rio Grande, where there was more water.
In its early days, Taos Pueblo was a very important place for trade. Native groups along the Rio Grande would trade with their neighbors from the Plains Tribes. Every fall, after the crops were harvested, Taos Pueblo would host a big trade fair.
History After European Contact
Spanish explorers first came to Taos Pueblo in 1540. They were part of the Francisco Vásquez de Coronado expedition. This group visited many pueblos in New Mexico, looking for a legendary place called the Seven Cities of Gold.
Around 1620, Spanish priests started building the first Catholic Church in the pueblo. It was called the mission of San Geronimo de Taos. Records from that time show that the native people of Taos did not want the church built. They also resisted being forced to follow the Catholic religion.
Throughout the 1600s, there was growing tension between the native people and the Spanish colonists. By 1660, the native people of Taos killed the priest and destroyed the church. The Spanish responded very harshly. Several years later, the church was rebuilt. Then, in 1680, the Pueblo Revolt began, a major uprising against Spanish rule.
The Return of Taos Mountain
A large area of the Pueblo's mountain land, about 48,000 acres, was taken by President Theodore Roosevelt in the early 1900s. It became part of the Carson National Forest. However, this land was finally given back to the Taos Pueblo in 1970. This happened when President Nixon signed a special law.
Later, in 1996, an additional 764 acres of land were returned to the Pueblo. This land was south of a ridge between Simpson Peak and Old Mike Peak, and west of Blue Lake.
The Sacred Blue Lake
Blue Lake is a very important place for the people of the Pueblo. They consider it sacred. This lake was part of the land returned to them. The Pueblo people even asked non-native people to help them convince the government to return Blue Lake. They argued that they needed to access the lake and the area around it to practice their religion freely.
The Pueblo's website says that getting Blue Lake back was the most important event in their history. This is because they believe the Taos people came from the lake. They also believe their ancestors live there. The Pueblo people only go up the mountain for special ceremonies.
The Unique Architecture of Taos Pueblo
When the Spanish first arrived, they described the pueblo houses as being built very close together. They were stacked five or six stories high. The homes got narrower as they went up. The roofs of one level became the floors and terraces for the level above it.
Originally, the buildings at Taos had very few windows and no regular doors. To get into a room, people would climb long wooden ladders to square holes in the roof. Then, they would climb down an inside ladder. Large logs, called vigas, supported the roofs. These roofs were made of layers of branches, grass, mud, and plaster. This building style and the materials used were perfect for the environment in the Taos Valley.
The first Spanish-influenced buildings appeared in Taos Pueblo after Fray Francisco de Zamora came in 1598. He was sent by the Spanish Governor, Don Juan de Oñate, to start a mission there.
The Main Structure of the Pueblo
The north-side Pueblo building is one of the most photographed and painted buildings in North America. It is the largest multi-story Pueblo structure still standing today. It has very thick adobe walls, sometimes several feet thick. Its main purpose was for defense.
Until about 1900, people got into the lower rooms by climbing outside ladders to the roof. Then, they would go down an inside ladder. If there was an attack, the outside ladders could be quickly pulled up.
Homes Inside the Pueblo
The homes in these buildings usually have two rooms. One room is for living and sleeping. The second room is for cooking, eating, and storing things. Each home is separate; there are no hallways connecting the houses. In the past, Taos Indians used very little furniture. Today, they have tables, chairs, and beds.
It's important to know that in the historic pueblo, electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing are not allowed.
The Spiritual Life of the Community
Two main spiritual practices exist in the Pueblo. These are the original native spiritual traditions and Roman Catholicism. Most Indigenous Taos people continue to practice their ancient religion, which is still very active. Also, about 90% of the Taos Pueblo community members are baptized as Roman Catholics. Saint Jerome, or San Geronimo, is the special protector saint of the pueblo.
Cultural Traditions of Taos Pueblo
Traditions Connected to the Land
Since the time of Spanish colonization, the native Taos people have worked to keep their culture strong. They have resisted new ideas from Europe. Many experts say there is a strong connection between the Taos Pueblo people and their land. Many of their cultural traditions come from this connection.
There is a friendly rivalry between the people on the South side of the river (called summer people) and the North side (called winter people). Foot races are a common way for these two groups to show their rivalry. These races have deep religious meaning for the tribe. The Taos Pueblo also value Blue Lake greatly for their "living culture and agricultural sustainability."
Traditions About Death
The Taos Pueblo people are known for being polite and welcoming. They usually do not turn strangers away. However, on All Souls' Day, the Taos Pueblo spend the day with their families. On this day, they close their village to anyone who is not Native American. The Taos Pueblo approach death with a calm and strong attitude. They are only allowed to visit cemeteries on All Souls' Day or on the day someone is buried.
The Role of Gender in the Community
In the Taos Pueblo culture, women have a lot of influence, even if they are not always in formal leadership roles. The social structure is partly based on kiva memberships. Kivas are sacred spaces for rituals. Women are not allowed to take part in these specific rituals because they are not trained for them.
However, women in Taos Pueblo society have a lot of power in economic, political, and personal ways. For example, single women can manage their own homes. Married women control their own money because they often work as cooks or maids. Women also have informal power to make decisions. They use their skills to influence the men around them.
Protecting Taos Pueblo for the Future
In 2011, the Taos Pueblo Preservation Program received a large grant of $800,000. This money came from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The goal was to hire more workers, especially those skilled in traditional building methods. These workers help repair and maintain the traditional adobe homes.
The first part of the conservation plan for Taos Pueblo was to build a training center. It also included restoring many houses, training local people, and creating a detailed plan for the village's structures. The second part of the plan was funded by the World Monument Fund. Taos Pueblo is on their watchlist because it is culturally and structurally at risk.
The main idea behind the conservation efforts is to involve the community. This means training local people to take care of their own property. It also means working with government and non-government groups. The project aims to keep the traditional way of life in the community alive and protect its cultural traditions.
In August 2020, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development gave another grant of almost $900,000 to the Taos Pueblo Housing Authority. This money was to fix up five homes. This helped reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The grant also helped provide money for rent, food, and utilities.
Notable People from Taos Pueblo
- Antonio Archuleta, a painter
- Trinidad Archuleta, an artist
- Ochwiay Biano, an elder and political leader
- Pop Chalee, a painter
- Juanita Suazo Dubray, a potter
- Albert Looking Elk (c. 1888–1940), a painter
- Albert Lujan (1892–1948), a painter
- Patricia Michaels, a fashion designer and textile artist
- Eva Mirabal (1920–1968), a comic artist and painter
- Juan Mirabal (1903–1981), a painter
- Robert Mirabal, a Native American flute–player
- Tomás Romero (revolutionary) (died 1848), a military leader
- DeAnna Autumn Leaf Suazo (1992–2021), a painter
- Pop Wea, also Lori Tanner (died 1966), a painter
