Taos Pueblo

Yesterday's activity consisted primarily of visiting Taos Pueblo. It was our first visit despite our traveling to Taos several times in the past.

The Pueblo is a mix of authentic Native American culture and commercialism. Many of the homes are open as shops where handmade jewelry, furniture, drums and other items are sold. You have to cut through all the "distractions" to get a feel for the spiritual nature of the place.

I recall from stories told us by Gordon (@ Little Tree B&B), from our last Taos visit, that this pueblo is one of the last that is inhabited. It's a living pueblo of a few hundred people. There is no plumbing or electricity. A stream flowing through the center of the pueblo provides drinking water.

Of most interest are the stories and people we met while visiting the shops...

We met Patrick Maribal brother of Robert, the popular Native American flutist. He volunteered to give Vicki some flute playing pointers since she is trying to learn how to play. So, he played a short song for her to demonstrate the fingering. He also described his role as "giant" in Robert's video...a PBS created show (we bought the DVD).

At another shop we visited with an owner who was a healer. His principal tools are smudge sticks and feathered prayer fans. His grandfather negotiated for 60 years the return of Pueblo lands from the Federal government. There were a number of framed photos of the signing in Washington D.C. with President Richard Nixon.

He told us that his grandfather's advice to him was..."the best form of engagement is diplomacy." I immediately thought how much that advice was needed by the Bush administration.

There was a framed picture of his daughter behind the counter in a military uniform. She joined the Army out of high school in 2003. He is very proud of her.

Finally, on our way out, a five foot dreamcatcher caught my eye. There were also some beautiful benches inlaid with turquoise. The shopkeeper was unloading his truck and took some time to speak to us. He handed me a diamond back rattlesnake skin as we walked into his shop.

In his shop was a six foot long wooden snake with inlays like the benches. He met the snake when he and his wife went to retrieve some hay bales that were drying. One bale was stuck, so he reached underneath it to get leverage and grabbed onto the body of a rattler. Both were surprised. He told the snake in his native language to go, the snake bowed to him and left.

On the next hay bale he uncovered a mouse, that frightened him more than the snake, resulting him yelling his surprise and dropping the bale. Apparently, the mouse had been the snake's prey.

A few moments later the shopkeeper picked up a small drum and sang us a song of welcome in his native language, Tiwa. Very cool.

So, there are some special moments, nuggets in the sea of commercialism.