ACOMA PUEBLO

THIS PUEBLO IS CALLED THE SKY CITY AS IT IS LOCATED ATOP A SANDSTONE BLUFF 360 FEET TALL. IT HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1150 A.D. AND IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY INHABITED VILLAGES IN N.A. IT IS KNOWN WORLD WIDE FOR IT'S POTTERY AND RICH CULTURE. IT IS A FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBE AND IS ON THE TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THIS PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT TO ACOMA TO EXPAND IT'S PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES AND MISSION BEYOND BRICKS AND MORTAR. MY FAMILY VISITED THE PUEBLO SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

THEIR ARE 4800 TRIBAL MEMBERS WITH 250 DWELLINGS AND NON HAVE ELECTRIC SEWERS OR WATER. IN 629CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON THE MASSIVE SAN ESTEBAN MISSION.

ACOMA COMES FROM A KERESAN WORD FOR PEOPLE ON THE WHITE ROCK. IT'S ON TOP OF A LARGE BLUFF AND HAS A GOOD DEFENSIVE POSITION AGAINST RAIDERS. BEFORE MODERN TIMES ACCESS WAS BY MEANS OF A HAND CUT STAIRCASE CARVED INTO SANDSTONE.

THEY DRY FARM IN THE VALLEY BELOW AAKU AND USE IRRIGATION CANALS THROUGHOUT THEIR VILLAGES. THEY PRACTICE THEIR TRADITIONAL RELIGION AND SOME ALSO PRACTICE THE CATHOLIC RELIGION THAT WAS BROUGHT HERE WHEN THE SPANISH SETTLERS CAME HERE IN THE 1700'S. THEY HAVE INTERACTED WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS FOR CENTURIES. THEY ALSO TRADED WITH THE AZTEC AND MAYAN CULTURES. DURING THE YEAR FEASTS ARE HELD IN CELEBRATION OF HISTORIC OCCASIONS. VISITORS CAN ATTEND THESE FEASTS BUT SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF LOCAL TRIBAL RULES.

BOTH THE MISSION AND THE PUEBLOS ARE ON THE NATIONAL LANDMARKS. LIKE OTHER PUEBLOS ACOMA AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA ARE CONSIDERED FEDERAL TRUST LAND ADMINISTERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. ONLY SEVERAL FAMILIES LIVE ON TOP OF OF THE MESA. WHEN WE WERE THERE THE ENTIRE MESA WAS FULL OF CRAFTERS AND TABLES SELLING VARIOUS POTTERY FABRICS AND NON INDIAN GOODS, AS WELL FOOD. THEIR CULTURE IS PRACTICED ALMOST THE SAME AS BEFORE THE 1589 INVASION. THEY HAVE ORAL TRADITIONS IN WHICH DANCING, MUSIC, ART, ASTROLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY ARE TAUGHT.

THEIR FOODS ARE BEANS, PUMPKINS, CORN, CHILI, ONIONS AND FRUIT - APPLES, CHERRIES, PEACHES, AND PLUMS. GROUPS TAKE CARE OF THEIR CROPS.

THERE POTTERY IS KNOWN FOR THEIR THIN WALLS AND BEAUTIFUL GEOMETRIC DESIGNS. CREATING THEIR POTTERY IS VERY TIME CONSUMING AND RESOURCE INTENSIVE. THEY MUST DIG THE CLAY COIL AND SHAPE IT. INTO A SYMMETRICAL FORM. THEN THEY FIRE IT DUNG. AFTER THAT THEY PAINT IT WITH DETAILED POLYCHROME COLORS AND PUT IT INTO A FINAL FIRING. IT IS SOME OF THE MOST DETAILED NATIVE AMERICAN POTTERY AND ONE POT MAY COST $1000 TO $2000!

THEIR SOCIETY IS MATRIARCHAL AND THE STRUCTURES ARE PASSED ON FROM MOM TO DAUGHTER. IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO LIVE ON THE MESA YEAR ROUND.

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