WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL WE LEFT AND VISITED OUR FRIENDS IN ZUNI NEW MEXICO A NUMBER OF TIMES. IT IS A UNIQUE PUEBLO IN NORTHEAST NEW MEXICO ABOUT 1 HOURE SOUTH OF GALLUP. IT IS AN AREA OF ENCHANTING MESAS. THE TRIBE HAS 450,000 ACRES AND IS ABOUT 7 TO 8,000 ' HIGH. THE ZUNI HUNT AND FISH IN THEIR MOUNTAINS AND THEY HAVE 6 RESERVATIONS HERE. WE HAVE VISITED HERE DURING WINTERS WHEN THE RED CLAY WAS SO GOEY IT STUCK TO OUR FEET AND CAR TIRES. WE ALSO WERE HERE IN THE PLEASANT SUMMERSW WHEN FOLKS HAD PLANTED CORN, BEANS, SQUASH AND OTHER VEGETABLES. MANY ZUNIRAISE LIVESTOCK IN 88 GRAZING ALLOTMENTS.
WE WENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND TO HIKE AND VISIT SEVERAL ROCK ART SITES HERE AND TO CLIMB TO THE TOP[ OF A SPIRITUAL MOUNTAIN WHERE YO8U COULD THE DISTANT MOUNTAINS. THERE WERE POTTERY SHERDS ALONG THE PATH.
WE ALSO TOOK IN THE SHALAKO CEREMONY THERE WHEN ALL PEOPLE WERE INVITED TO PEOPLES HOMES TO GREET EACH OTHER AND EAT THEIR COOKING. SHALAKO OCCURS AT THE WINTER SOLSTICE FOLLOWING HARVEST. SINCE 1990 IT HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE NON NATIVES SO I GUESS WE WERE THERE TO EXPERIENCE A UNIQUE SPECIAL DANCE. MANY ZUNIS WORK OFF THE RESERVATION. THEIR JEWELRY WAS AT THAT TIME VERY INEXPENSIVE AND I BOUGHT SOME JEWELRY WHEN WE VISITED THERE A NUMBER OF TIMES, AS WELL AS SOME POTTERY.
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