Zia people (New Mexico) facts for kids
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 850 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States{br /}( New Mexico) |
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| Languages | |
| Keresan, English, Spanish | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Pueblo community |
The Zia people, also known as Tsʾíiyʾamʾé, are an indigenous nation in the United States. They live at Zia Pueblo (Tsi'ya), which is a Native American reservation in New Mexico. The Zia are famous for their beautiful pottery and their special sun symbol. They are part of the Keres Pueblo peoples and speak the Eastern Keres language.
Contents
History of the Zia People
Archaeologists believe the Zia people are descendants of the Ancestral Puebloans. These ancient people lived in the Four Corners region. They moved to the Jemez River Valley around the 13th century.
First Contact with Europeans
The Spanish explorer Antonio de Espejo first met the Zia in 1583. He noted that their largest village was called Tsiya. The Spanish later renamed it Zia.
Spanish settlers and missionaries slowly came to control the region. They tried to stop traditional Zia religious ceremonies. In 1598, the first missionary was sent to the Zia by Juan de Oñate. By 1613, a church and convent were built by tribal members.
The Pueblo Revolt
Tensions grew between the Spanish and the Zia. In 1680, a big uprising happened. It was led by Popé, a Tewa religious leader. This revolt successfully pushed the Spanish out of the region. The Spanish were forced to flee south. The Pueblo Indians also gained horses from the Spanish during this time. This helped horses spread to other tribes on the Plains.
The Spanish returned nine years later. In 1689, soldiers led by Governor Domingo Jironza Petriz de Cruzate attacked Zia Pueblo. About 600 people were killed, and 70 Zia Indians were taken captive. Three years later, the Spanish had stopped most Pueblo resistance. They convinced the Zia people and their leader, Antonio Malacate, to return home. However, fighting and diseases had greatly reduced their numbers. By 1692, only about 120 people lived in Zia.
Daily Life and Culture
Farming in the Desert
The Zia live in a very dry, or arid, climate. They had to find smart ways to farm in the desert. Since they lived in permanent homes, farming was vital for their food supply.
Rain was scarce in New Mexico for parts of the year. So, the Zia developed special farming methods. These included dry farming and crop rotation. They would plant seeds in fertile land near a river or stream. Then, they dug small paths from the stream to their fields. This allowed water to flow directly to their crops. They used rocks to control how much water went to each area.
In higher areas, men planted seeds on sunny slopes. When it rained, the water would naturally run down the slope to water the plants. Another method involved digging trenches. These trenches acted like cisterns, collecting rainwater. Women would use clay pots to carry water from these trenches to the fields.
Important Crops
Zia farmers grew many different crops. The most important were corn, beans, and squash. These three crops were so important they were called the "three sisters." They were planted in shared fields, and everyone helped. These crops were the main part of the Zia diet.
Corn was the most important of all. Some corn was eaten fresh. Most was stored in pots and cellars for winter or dry periods. When corn dried, women would grind it into flour. They sat at grinding stones, singing religious songs. They believed corn was sacred.
The flour was mixed with water to make dough. This dough was flattened into round, thin sheets. These were cooked on hot rocks over a fire. This made tortillas, which were a very important food.
Other crops were grown in personal gardens. These included peppers, onions, chiles, and tobacco. New Mexico is famous for its spicy chiles, which came from tribes like the Zia.
Sources of Meat
The Zia people mainly ate vegetables. However, they would eat meat when they could get it. Small groups of men and teenage boys would hunt. They looked for small animals like rabbits, gophers, and squirrels. They also hunted larger animals such as deer, antelope, and mountain lions. In the spring, special groups would travel near the Great Plains to hunt bison.
Pueblo Homes
The native people of the southwestern United States, including the Zia, built unique homes. These were called "pueblo homes" and were made of adobe. They looked like apartment buildings. They had a large base, with smaller sections stacked on top. This created different floors for families and for storing items.
For a long time, the bottom floor had no doors. People used ladders made from logs to enter. One ladder would reach from the ground to the second-floor patio. Another ladder led through a roof opening down to the first floor. More ladders went to higher floors. At night, ladders were pulled inside for safety. This kept outsiders from entering without permission.
Adobe houses are built using natural materials from the desert. Adobe is a building block made by mixing clay, sand, water, and organic materials. These materials include sticks, straw, and even animal dung. The mixture is shaped into blocks and left to dry. Then, a hole is dug for the new building. Strong poles are placed in the ground to create a frame. Once the adobe blocks are dry and hard, they are laid around the frame. Wet clay is used like cement to hold them together. Each year, a new layer of adobe mixture is added to the walls to keep them strong.
Spiritual Beliefs
Kachina Spirits
The Zia, like other Pueblo peoples, believe in spirits called kachinas. These are thought to be the spirits of ancestors. They once lived among the people. The stories say these spirits became upset when people didn't pay them enough attention. So, they went to live in the sky. It is believed they sometimes return to bring rain and clouds.
There are over 300 different kachinas in their worship. The Zia hold religious festivals and ceremonies to honor them. During these events, they ask the kachinas to bring rain and help their crops grow. They use drums and rattles in the dances during these ceremonies. Religious men dress up as kachinas and dance among the people during the festival. After three days, they return to the mountains.
Zia Art and Pottery
Pottery is a very important art form and a part of daily life in Zia Pueblo. Zia pottery is known for its high quality. Because the land around the pueblo was not ideal for farming, pottery became very important for trading with other groups. By the late 1800s, only about 25 women or fewer made all the pottery for the village.
Zia pottery is special because it is strengthened with basalt. Basalt is a hard volcanic rock. Potters mix clay and ground basalt with water. Then, they coil ropes of this mixture into specific shapes. After the pots dry, they are painted with designs from nature and religious symbols. The pots then sit for about a week. Finally, they are fired in a kiln, often using cattle dung as fuel. Common designs include geometric patterns, plants, and animals. These are often painted on a white or red background.
Most pottery is made by women. Elizabeth Toya Medina is one of the most famous Zia potters. She originally came from Jemez Pueblo.
The Sacred Sun Symbol
The Zia people consider the Sun to be sacred. Their special solar symbol is a red circle with groups of rays pointing in four directions. This symbol is painted on ceremonial pots. It is also drawn on the ground around campfires. New babies are introduced to the Sun using this symbol.
The number four is sacred to the Zia. It is repeated in the four points radiating from the circle. The number four represents many important things:
- The four points of the compass: north, south, east, and west.
- The four seasons of the year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
- The four parts of each day: morning, noon, evening, and night.
- The four stages of life: childhood, youth, middle years, and old age.
- The four sacred duties one must develop: a strong body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and caring for others.
This symbol is important to the wider Puebloan and Hispano communities. It is also a key part of New Mexican culture. For example, it is on the flag of New Mexico. It is also in the design of the New Mexico State Capitol. You can see it on New Mexico's State Quarter. Many city flags, like Albuquerque and Roswell, also feature it. It is even on the state highway marker.
The Zia tribe does not own a trademark for the symbol. This is because, under U.S. federal law, it is widely used in the region. The New Mexico state government provides information on how to use the sun symbol respectfully. They guide people to educational resources at Zia Pueblo and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. This includes how to ask for permission for commercial use.
The symbol was on the flag of Madison, Wisconsin from 1962 until 2018. Concerns about cultural appropriation led the city to remove it. In 2014, the National Congress of American Indians passed a resolution. This recognized the Zia Pueblo’s right to the symbol.
Notable Zia People
- Marcelina Herrera, a talented painter.
- Elizabeth Toya Medina, a famous potter (originally from Jemez).
See also
In Spanish: Zía para niños
- Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Zia
- Pueblo Revolt
- Zia Pueblo, New Mexico
