ZUNI

I HAVE OFTEN VISITED THIS PUEBLO MANY TIMES. IT IS LOCATED IN NORTHWESTERN NEW MEXICO. THEY CALLED THEMSELVES ASHIWI MEANING THE FLESH. THEY ORIGINALLY LIVED IN 7 PUEBLOS ALONG THE BANK OF THE ZUNI RIVER. THEIR LANGUAGE IS UNLIKE THAT OF THE OTHER PUEBLO INDIANS. THEY SPEAK PENUTIAN. ARCHAEOLOGISTS SUGGEST THAT TWO GROUPS UNITED FROM THE NORTH AND THE WEST TO FORM THE ZUNI OF PRESENT DAY. THEIR ANCESTORS MAY HAVE BEEN FROM THE MOGGOLLON CULTURE. IN LATER TIMES THE INDIANS FROM MEXICO CAME TO THIS PUEBLO TO SETTLE WITH THEM.

THEY HAD SEVERAL STORY HOUSES CONNECTED BY LADDERS - PUEBLOS. BUILT OF STONE AND COVERED WITH PLASTER THEY LASTED LONG.

THEY FORMED SIMILAR CROPS OF OTHER PUEBLOS WHICH PROVIDED THEIR PRIMARY FOODS. THEY ALSO HUNTED, FISHED, AND FORAGED FOR WILD PLANTS. VARIOUS SPANISH EXPLORERS VISITED ZUNI FROM 1500 TO THE 1600S. SPANISH FOLKS BUILT THEIR MISSION HERE AT HAWIKAH IN 1629. THE ZUNIS KILLED THE MISSIONARIES. IN 1672 THE APACHES RAIDED THE MISSION AND IT WAS ABANDONED. THE ZUNIS KEPT THEIR TRADITIONAL RELIGION. THEY ARE FAMOUS FOR THEIR SILVER AND TURQUOISE JEWELRY. THEY ALSO MAKE POTTERY , PRACTICE WEAVING, AND BASKETRY. WE HAVE SEEN THE SHALAKO FESTIVAL WHICH IS HELD IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE TRIBE BUILDS A NEW HOME FOR A FAMILY. EVERY ONE'S HOME IS OPEN AND PEOPLE STROLL FROM ONE HOUSE TO ANOTHER EATING THEIR FOODS.

FREDERICK HOXIE