A Question of Indians

What kind of food was "pechita" among Spanish speaking Indians near the boarder of Northern Mexico and Southern California?

Who has information about the hot and cold water wells of Coachella Valley Indians from the earliest times?

What did "Piatopa" mean to Coahuila Indians and how was it related to Mt San Gorgonio?

In What ways are the Pima similar to the Cocomaricopa?

How are the Apache similar to the Yuma?

What is the history of the Yaqui as miners?

Is there a good translation of Geronimo Boscana's ethnographic work on the Luiseno of Southern California? It was written not long before 1830.

Where can I get information about the Yaqui-Mayo rebellion of 1740?

What is known of the early sea trade of the Yaqui with people of Baja California? The trade was active in about 1800. At that time Yaqui were crossing the gulf in their 'canoes' from Guyams to Loreto about 140 miles across pretty rough water.

Was there and Apache revolt in New Mexico in about 1680?

Who will tell us something about the Hachedun Indians who lived along the Colorado River?

Earliest Europeans In North America, Speculation

How the earliest European arrivals dealt with the sophisticate peoples of the Hopewell system interest es me. How early did significant culture interaction and exchange occur between Hopewell people and perhaps even Adena people and Europeans? Certainly some arrived in the decades around the time of Columbus's explorations. Some very probably before that. Europeans were in North America before Jamestown and Plymouth and some may have looked over the area we now call Kentucky and may be the source of that name. The earliest Europeans to come into the new land did not come in overwhelming numbers or with overwhelming weapons so they would have had to deal with Native Peoples on a more nearly equal basis than the did at later times.

I've heard rumors of Welsh and Irish cultural and linguistic artifacts found among Indian peoples. Must be some interesting stories there.

The Pueblo revolt of 1680 probably began at the Taos Pueblo. "Revolt" here refers to the organized and focused resistance of the non-nomadic natives of the Rio Grand area against the Hispanic colonists settling along the Rio Grand river, mostly in what is now New Mexico.
Most of the Spaniards with the resources to do so, retreated to Mexico. Others scattered. Some even marrying into nomadic tribes.

Pope was probably the most important Indian leader of that rebellion.

Spaniards returned to the Rio Grand valley of what is now New Mexico in 1692 under the leadership of Diego de Vargas.

Spain's power was beginning to decline and the upper Rio Grand was probably her most remote colony. Taos was supplied by land over a 2000 mile trail from Mexico City. So the defenders of th Colonists faced native opposition of superior numbers who were often better mounted and armed then they. The spainards fought with lance and bow as did the Pueblos.

Personalizing Thoughts About Indians.

I started thinking about American Indians and A Greek Sociology professor and came up with the following curious thoughts.

Many claim to find greater freedom, more personal fulfillment, more survivability and contentment within a community which can distinguish itself from the greater society. I see no reason to resist that claim.

This is my land. I have no other. I am related to this land by birth.

Supporting law and order by supporting the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union seems good.

Action attempted without discussion leads to dissension. Discussion that leads to action may be better than discussion which does not. Ongoing dialogue leads to harmony and understanding.

In this situation whether it is best to fight, coax, or run is probably a question of which is safest.

If he is not a friend and has power to effect my life, knowing that I can grip his Adams apple with one hand and his balls with the other comforts me.

I purposely show my feelings to good friends, still I may show them to a great enemy.

Love is great. However, love may be felt or shown for an 'inferior.' A leprous and particularly untidy pig may be loved. Where justice and equality are valued, respect may be better. Reverence seems best. I want to feel and demonstrate reverence for myself, my friends, my family, life and all. What is your view on the nature of reverence?

Overheard at the Rodeo

A: "What kind of world is it when some of the best cowboys are indians?"

B: "One where some of the best indians are cowboys."