Sunday, April 15, 2012

Albuquerque, NM Day Five


Barbara says the key to getting the blog done is wine. Must be true, this is the second day in a row where I have gotten this stuff done before the sun was down.

This was to be a day to get chores done, and we did. We are all caught up on bills and laundry as well as prep for our departure to Durango, CO tomorrow morning. Still no call back from the campground in Durango, so we hope we will have a place to park when we get there. Campgrounds in the area are just opening for the season so we should have a place to stay.

Once we got all our chores done, we drove to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center downtown. It functions as part museum, part training center, as well as a center devoted to the retention of Pueblo Indian culture. The museum and training functions are meant to develop a better understanding of the Pueblo People among the other societies in our country. These people are doing a very good job of that, as well as encouraging young Pueblo Indians the importance of maintaining their heritage.
















The Pueblo Indians are proud of their warrior heritage and service to this country.














 
We saw examples of the pottery and weaving techniques of the various Pueblo Tribes in New Mexico, and were lucky enough to see two traditional social dances. The ceremonial and religious dances are usually restricted from outsider viewing since they are very serious about the spiritual nature of these dances. The dances were moved indoors due to the chilly weather. That was good for the spectators, but the dancers were pretty warm by the time they were done. These dancers just happened to be from the Acoma Pueblo we visited the day before yesterday.

Turkey Dance


































Buffalo Dance


































Barbara and I have come away from this stop on our journey with a deep appreciation for Native Americans of the Southwest.  

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